HONOURS AND AWARDS

THE FIRST VICTORIA CROSS

As we have seen in the previous chapters the Matabele were a force to be reckoned with and although they had outwardly submitted, with fairly good grace after the war of 1893, the major part of their Impis had not been tested in the field. Beneath this outward good grace was a feeling of humiliation and frustration.

On the 29th December 1895, Dr Jameson, had, as a result of his abortive 'raid' into South Africa from Pitsani with its disastrous consequences, virtually stripped the white population in Rhodesia of its Police Force and principle weaponry, thus leaving the Pioneers in a precarious position in the possible event of trouble.

When news of this disaster filtered through, the smouldering Matabele were deluded into a belief that their time had come and they rose, with the usual terrible accompaniment of murder and rapine.

The first incident took place on the night of Friday 20th March, 1896, with the murder of a native policeman. This was followed on the 23rd by the slaughter of the Cunningham family, three generations of which fell to the stabbing assegais and battle-axes of the Matabele.
News of the rebellion quickly reached Bulawayo and a hasty laager of wagons was drawn up in the town square.

Captain Selous brought his wife in with him from Essexvale and immediately set about raising a mounted force of thirty-six men, all that could be armed and horsed. This formed the nucleus of what was to be known as H Troop, Bulawayo Field Force.

According to Selous, there were only five hundred and eighty rifles belonging to the Government in the whole of Rhodesia when the rebellion commenced, with a few machine guns at Bulawayo; the horse supply was virtually non-existent due to the rinderpest, the food supply was low and they were faced with more than ten thousand Matabele, many of whom were armed with Martinis and muzzle-loaders.

Several volunteer troops were rapidly raised, or united on the spur of the moment and these consisted of the Grey's Scouts, Gifford's Horse and the Rhodesia Horse.

There were more than six hundred women and children in Bulawayo alone, and prompt action was a matter of top priority for their protection and the relief of many more scattered about the land in lonely farms and isolated stations.

To add to the authority's problems, the native police deserted to the enemy with their Winchester repeaters. The telegraph wires had also been cut, thus effectively isolating them from the rest of the country.

In the first few weeks of the up-rising many lonely prospectors were caught unawares and unspeakably put to death and whole families were surprised, raped, tortured and butchered.
Many of them however, finding themselves surrounded and outnumbered, fought to the last taking many of the enemy with them. Standing out in bold relief against the background of slaughter are many incidents of rare heroism and bravery. The West brothers for instance, both former members of the Bechuanaland Border Police, in their splendid, but hopeless, defence in their store at far-off Thabas Amamba, fought with true British grit and kept the enemy at bay for ten long hours falling at last surrounded by a pile of dead Matabele. Or the story of the German family on the Shangani where the Matabele having killed the old farmer and his wife, dragged the bodies out of the house and after leaving them before the door took up an ambush position in a nearby kopje to await the return of the rest of the family. The youngest son, a lad of sixteen, who was staying with his parents whilst his older brother rode transport, was out shooting at the time. Suspecting nothing, as news of the rising had not yet reached this remote area, he noticed on his return that the house looked deserted. On closer inspection he was horrified to find the dead bodies of his parents in front of the house.

Sighting the movement of the Matabele, he took up a defensive position on a granite ledge and calmly awaited their coming. A band of thirty warriors rushed him. With cool precision he opened fire accounting for fourteen of the enemy before the remainder took to flight. The danger over, the young lad proceeded to where his dead parents lay and was preparing to bury them when a Matabele crept up from behind and killed him with a battle-axe. This was taken from an eye-witness account and is given in detail in Frank W Sykes' book, 'With Plumer in Matabeleland'.
This then, was the scenario all over Matabeleland.

TROOPER HERBERT STEPHEN HENDERSON, VC

On Saturday 27th March 1896, news was received in Bulawayo that seven white men were surrounded by the Matabele at Inyati, a post some 15 miles (24km) north-east of the Queen's Mine and 50 miles (80km) north of Bulawayo. A small party of eleven men under Captain Pittendrigh of the Africander Corps rode out of Bulawayo just before midnight to rescue the trapped men, first stopping at Jenkin's Store and then on to relieve Mr Graham, the Native Commissioner in Inyati.

Finding all was quiet at Jenkin's Store, the party, now raised to nineteen, pushed on through the bush to relieve Mr Graham. They were riding through the Elibaini Hills when they were attacked by a strong detachment of Matabele armed with assegais and rifles. Two men were wounded before the patrol managed to throw off the attackers and made for Campbell's Store across the Bembesi, where they learned that Mr Graham, Sub-Inspector Hanley and four miners had been massacred after holding out against overwhelming odds.

As the area was swarming with warriors, mainly from the crack Ingubo Regiment, they decided to fortify the store. They had about two thousand rounds of ammunition and felt that they could withstand a night attack. Two men, Fincham and Mostert, were sent back to Bulawayo by another route for reinforcements, and got away safely.

That night, Sunday 28th March, a second stronger patrol, under the command of Captain MacFarlane, left Bulawayo to effect a rescue. This consisted of thirty horsemen; fifteen from the Africander Corps under Commandant van Rensburg and Captain van Niekerk and the remainder from the Rhodesia Horse volunteers.

Riding through the night with only a brief halt at Queen's Reef Mine, they pushed on to Campbell's Store. Heading the patrol as scouts and advance guards, at a distance of some 300 yards (270m), were Troopers Celliers and Henderson.

Trooper Henderson, a 26 year old mine engineer, had volunteered earlier to ride from Queen's Reef Mine to Bulawayo for help. For protection on this perilous ride he had been given a revolver and one cartridge, all that was available.

In the early hours of the morning of Monday the 29th, the patrol was attacked in dense bush about 5 miles (8km) from Campbell's Store. The Matabele opened fire at close range and although the darkness and thick bush favoured the Matabele the accurate return fire from the patrol enabled them to fight their way through the ambush. A running fire which lasted for half an hour.

Finally emerging from the bush at dawn, the patrol rode across the open veld and dashed up the river bank to the store to the relieved cheers of the beseiged men.

It was only then that it was realised that Troopers Celliers and Henderson were missing.
Celliers and Henderson had been well ahead of the main body when the Matabele sprang the ambush. Celliers was shot through the knee and his horse hit in five places. Subjected to heavy fire and effectively cut off from the main party the two men swung their horses off the track and headed into the dense bush. After a wild gallop lasting a few minutes they reined in their horses. Sporadic firing could still be heard above the shouting of the Matabele.

Celliers' horse finally collapsed from its wounds. Henderson dismounted, lifted the injured Celliers onto his own horse and taking the reins led it away from the noise of battle. Celliers, in great pain, and suffering from loss of blood appealed to Henderson to leave him. It would be suicidal, he reasoned, to try to walk to Bulawayo. Rather that one should die than both. Henderson refused to listen. Ahead lay 35 miles (56km) of rough country thick with marauding bands of fierce Matabele.

As dawn was breaking, Henderson led the tired horse carrying the swaying Celliers into thick bush where he treated the injured man's wound as best he could. They had no food with them but managed to catch some sleep although they were unpleasantly close to some Matabele encampments.

For two days and two nights Henderson trudged through the bush leading the horse carrying his injured companion. Both were suffering from hunger and Celliers was in intense agony. On Tuesday the 30th (Henderson's birthday), they hid in the hills. Never, he said later, did he want to spend another birthday like that again. That night, Henderson had to exercise extreme caution as he weaved his way through the Matabele impis which encircled Bulawayo.

On Wednesday morning a bone-weary Henderson walked into Bulawayo with his faithful horse and injured companion.

Celliers had his leg amputated and he died in hospital on the 16th May 1896.

At a general parade called by Earl Grey on the 3rd June, he referred, in his address, to Henderson's gallant conduct and brave feat.

Captain MacFarlane, the leader of the patrol, wrote a letter to the Administrator of the British South Africa Company, recommending Henderson for the award of the Victoria Cross. As all communication with Salisbury had been cut, the letter was forwarded to Cape Town and from there to London.

The award of the Victoria Cross (the first won on Rhodesian soil) to Henderson was gazetted on the 7th May 1897. The citation was drawn from the letter written by Captain MacFarlane. Trooper Henderson was decorated by Lord Milner at the opening of the Bulawayo Railway on the 4th November 1897.

Trooper Herbert Stephen HENDERSON was born at Hillhead, Glasgow, on the 30th March 1870. The fourth son of William Henderson, Bishop Street Engineering Works, Glasgow and grandson of James Henderson, shipbuilder, Glasgow. Educated at Kelvinside Academy, Hillhead, Glasgow and served his apprenticeship with J and J Thomson Engineers, Glasgow. He then moved to Belfast where he worked for Harland and Wolff. In 1892 he left for the Rand in South Africa where he was connected professionally with the Langlaagte, Primrose, Croesus and George and May Gold Mines. Two years later he moved to Rhodesia where he became the engineer of the Queen's Mine. When the Matabele rebellion broke out he joined the Bulawayo Field Force, initially as a scout, and served as a gunner in the Artillery Troop.

Henderson remained in the gold-mining industry for some years and was, at one stage, the timber contractor to the Globe and Phoenix goldmine. He later prospected for the German Administration in South West Africa.

During the First World War, Henderson was not permitted to leave Rhodesia on active service, as gold-mining was considered an essential service. In 1924 he married Helen Joan Davidson. They had two sons, Alan Stephen Accra in 1926 and Ian Montrose in 1927.

For the duration of the Second World War, Henderson had all profits from the Prince Olaf Mine given to the War Fund.

He died of a duodenal ulcer on the 10th August 1942 and was buried in the Bulawayo cemetery. His grave number is 887. The grave is otherwise unmarked, apart from the number.

CITATION

London Gazette, May 7th 1897: "H S Henderson, Bulawayo Field Force. On the morning of the 30th March 1896 just before daylight Captain MacFarlane's party was surprised by the natives. Troopers Celliers and Henderson, who formed part of the advance guard, were cut off from the main body and Celliers was shot through the knee. His horse was badly wounded, and eventually died. Henderson then placed Celliers on his own horse and made the best of his way to Bulawayo. The country between Campbell's Store, where they were cut off, and Bulawayo (a distance of about 35 miles) was full of natives fully armed and they had, therefore, to proceed principally by night, hiding in the bush in the daytime. Celliers, who was weak from loss of blood and in great agony, asked Henderson to leave him, but he would not, and brought him in, after passing two days and one night in the veld without food."

ORDERS, DECORATIONS AND MEDALS

Victoria Cross (Bulawayo Field Force), BSA Company Medal, 1896, for Rhodesia (Artillery Troop, Bulawayo Field Force).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

PRINCIPLE RESEARCHERS: Elizabeth and Graham Colhurst-Freymuth.
Principle works consulted and from which information has been extracted:
CREAGH, Sir O'Moore, VC, GCB, GCSI and E M Humphris (eds). "The Victoria Cross 1856-1920" (originally published 1920 as Vol 1 of "The VC and the DSO"), J B Hayward & Son reprint (Polstead, Suffolk, 1985).

GALE, WD, "One Man's Vision", Rhodesiana Reprint Library - Silver Series, Vol 12 (Books of Rhodesia, Bulawayo 1976)
.
PARRY, DH, "The VC, its Heroes and Their Valour", (Cassell & Company Ltd, London).
REGISTER, "The Register of the Victoria Cross", This England Books (Chettenham, Glos, 1981).

SYKES, Frank W, "With Plumer in Matabeleland", Rhodesiana Reprint Library, Vol 21, (Books of Rhodesia, Bulawayo, 1972).

UYS, Ian S, "For Valour: The Story of Southern Africa's VC Heroes". Ian S Uys, (Johannesburg, 1973).

RECORDS CONSULTED:

Colonial Office Papers; Folios 7 to 554B and 560.
War Office Papers: Folios 32/8546.
Treasury to War Office Papers: T.1/9165A/11007.
British South Africa Company to Colonial Office Papers.
British South Africa Company to War Office Papers.
High Commissioner for South Africa to Colonial Office Papers.
Major General Sir F Carrington to Colonial Office: 652/98 (from Gibraltar).

Rhodesian Honours and Awards 1965 - 1980

Shortly after the Rhodesian Government declared Unilateral Independence from England in 1965 the new government instituted its own list of of Honours and Awards, depicted here. The first picture is of those of Higher Order, and then all are individually described.

NOTES:

1. The official order of precedence for all honours and awards shall be as follows:

(i) Rhodesian orders, decorations and medals.
(ii) Foreign orders, decorations and medals in this order and by date of their award.

2. Bars may be awarded where appropriate and will be attached to the ribbon when the medal is worn. When ribbons only are worn a bar will be indicated by a small silver rosette attached to the centre of the ribbon or by a miniature replica of the award where applicable.

3. The following coloured rosettes will be worn in the centre of the under mentioned ribbons in order to distinguish thern from the other ribbons of the same pattern:

I.D. — Green to distinguish this award from the I.C.D. On ribbon only.
G.C.L.M. Green to distinguish this award from other classes of the Legion of Merit. On ribbon only.
C.L.M. (Military) Red for combat distinction.
O.L.M. (Military) Silver for combat distinction.
M.L.M. (Military) - Bronze for combat distinction.
(For C.L.M., O.L.M. and M.L.M these will be worm on full size and miniature medals and ribbon bar.)

4. Where the initial letters of awards are shown in this order of precedence, they may be used after the name of the recipient.

Note:
Medals 4,5,8 and 9 in the illustrations are worn as breast medals in miniature, but as a neck badge when full size medals are worn.

5. The Rhodesian District Service Medal (DSM)
Dudley Wall notes:
“For some unknown reason the Government felt that African members of Intaf in uniform were not eligible for the RGSM (whereas whites were) and therefore brought out the DSM specifically. Ironically many African members of Intaf were ex Rhodesian African Rifles and held the RGSM anyway. I had several ex RAR chaps (and one ex Kings African Rifles medic.) in my ARU Troop and they were awarded both the RGSM and the DSM”
Lewis Walter notes:
“Our DAs and DSAs were in closer and more intimate contact with the terrs than most of the other forces, as well as living full time in operational areas. I cannot understand what contorted thinking from our leaders deprived them of the right to receive the RGSM - something which I know caused them deep hurt”