Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

British South Africa Company Medal 1890-97, reverse undated, 2 clasps, Mashonaland 1890, Rhodesia 1896 (L/Cpl. Scott, Fife J. - B.S.A.C.P.) nearly extremely fine and scarce £1200-1500

John Fife-Scott was the eldest son of Fife J. Scott, a well-known merchant of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and a brother of Harry N. Fife-Scott, with whom he attested for the B.S.A. Company’sPolice on 2 December 1889. He served in “B” Troop in the Pioneer Column of 1890, which was the only troop present at the raising of the Union flag at Fort Hampden (Salisbury, now Harare) on 13 August 1890.

Early in September 1891, Fife-Scott called at Fort Tuli on his return from Salisbury. He had had a most adventurous journey as he related to Captain A. G. Leonard, commanding “E” Troop at Fort Tuli. He set out from Salisbury, travelling by footpath to Tete on the Zambesi River in Mozambique, a distance he calculated to be 367 miles. From Tete he went down the river in a boat with a carrying capacity of two and a half tons, something like a large lifeboat, with reed matting to cover in the stern. At Quilimane he boarded a Portuguese steamer which took him to Delagoa Bay (Lourençco Marques), where he transferred to a Castle steamer which took him to Capetown. Then he completed the circuit to Fort Tuli and on to Salisbury by rail and road.

Fife-Scott was discharged from “C” Troop on 15 October 1891. He subsequently served as a Trooper in the Gwelo Volunteer Corps in the Matabele Rebellion of 1896, and died in October 1933.

A total of only 200 medals were issued for Mashonaland 1890, including 111 to the British South Africa Company’s Police. Only 59 of these ‘1890’ medals were issued with two clasps.