British South Africa Company Medal 1890-97, reverse Matabeleland 1893 (1614 Pte. F. Hutley. 2nd W. Rid. Regt.) with lid of original card box of issue; together with 40th Anniversary of the Occupation of Matabeleland 1893-1933 commemorative medal, bronze, and Matabeleland 1893 60th Anniversary presentation ‘Pioneer Axe’, silver, officially numbered ‘29’ and engraved ‘F.E.H. 1893 Column’, with related presentation certificates from 1953 in red leather wallet, this named in gilt letters ‘Fred Ernest Hutley, the first nearly extremely fine (Lot) £600-700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Medals Relating to Rhodesia and South Africa.

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Collection

Only 88 medals for Matabeleland issued to Imperial troops, including 53 to the West Riding Regiment.

Fred Ernest Hutley was born in Stansted, Essex in November 1868 and enlisted in the West Riding Regiment in November 1885, aged 17 years. Having then served in Bermuda, Barbados and Halifax, Nova Scotia, he was embarked for South Africa in April 1893, and was present in the Matabeleland operations as a member of the 2nd Battalion, attached ‘C’ Troop, Bechuanaland Border Police, under Captain Watson. Transferred to the Army Reserve on returning home in October 1894, Hutley was finally discharged in November 1897, but on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the Occupation of Matabeleland in 1953, his services to the colony were rewarded by the presentation of one of just 41 “Pioneer Axes” in silver (George VI being another recipient) - the accompanying certificate being signed by V. N. Kennedy, the Governor of Southern Rhodesia. Hutley died in Ruislip, Middlesex in May 1957; sold with research, including a copied photograph of the recipient in old age.