Orders, Decorations and Medals

British South Africa Company Medal 1890-97, reverse undated, 2 clasps, Mashonaland 1890, Rhodesia 1896 (Cdr. Palmer, J.W. - Pioneers) extremely fine and rare £600-800

John Walter Palmer was born in the Peddy District, near Port Alfred, South Africa, and left home as a very young man. He conducted transport for the Bechuanaland Exploration Company from 1888, started the first dairy in Mashonaland, and was a Transport rider in Rhodesia for many years. His date of attestation into the Pioneer Corps is unknown but he was promoted Conductor with effect from 1st June 1890. He subsequently served with the Mashonaland force during the 1896 Rebellion, as Lieutenant with the Salisbury Field Force. He settled at Thornpark Farm, near Salisbury, in 1909, growing maize and raising dairy cattle. He sold the farm in 1927, moving to a house near Salisbury, and died at Port Alfred in April 1931, leaving £5,000 in his will to Rhodesia Children’s Home and Emerald Hill Orphanage. He had married in 1896 and had one son, E. R. B. Palmer, who hoisted the Union Flag at the Pioneer’s Day Service, Cecil Square, in 1958.

A total of only 200 medals were issued for Mashonaland 1890, of which 90 went to the Pioneer Column. Only 65 recipients went on to serve in the 1896 Rebellion.