The Collection of Medals Formed by Bill and Angela Strong

A British South Africa Company Medal for Matabeleland to Lieutenant T. E. Tanner, Salisbury Horse - ‘the first man to enter Bulawayo’

British South Africa Company Medal 1890-97, reverse Matabeleland 1893 (Lieut. T. E. Tanner, Salisbury Horse) nearly extremely fine £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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T. E. Tanner attested on 27 April 1891, having been a station cadet for four years on a sheep farm in New Zealand. He was discharged from C Troop in December 1891 and was then employed in the Mashonaland Civil Police. In the Matabele War of 1893, whilst still a member of the Police, he was appointed to the personal staff of Major P. W. Forbes who commanded the Salisbury Column and later the whole force, as Orderly Officer and Galloper. His first encounter with the Matabele was on 15 October 1893 when he was involved in a skirmish whilst with a herd of captured cattle. The commanding officer present, Captain J. A. L. Campbell, was shot and later died of his wounds. Tanner brought the news of the action to Major Forbes. Campbell was the first casualty of the war.

On 3 November 1893, Captain H. J. Borrow with ‘A’ Troop of Salisbury Horse, as advance guard, was sent forward to occupy Bulawayo. A little time afterwards, Tanner was sent by Forbes to impress upon Barrow that there should be no looting, until the main columns arrived. Tanner rode hard after Borrow’s Troop but failed to catch him, Borrow having turned aside at the outskirts of the kraal. Not knowing this, Tanner then entered the burning kraal, which except for dogs, was deserted. Finding himself in such an exposed position, Tanner quickly made his escape. Nevertheless, Tanner had been the first man of the columns to enter Bulawayo.

Tanner was with Forbes in the pursuit of Lobengula but was sent back to Umhlangeni with captured cattle and sick men; Tanner himself suffering from malaria. Tanner later became Magistrate’s Clerk to Major Forbes when the latter was appointed Resident Magistrate of Bulawayo. (Men who made Rhodesia refers).