South Africa Medal (1854)

Infobox Military Award
name= South Africa Medal (1854)


caption= Obverse (top left) and reverse (top right) of the medal. Ribbon: 32mm, gold with broad and narrow deep blue stripes towards each end.
awarded_by= United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
type= Campaign medal
eligibility= British forces.
for= Campaign service.
campaign= Southern Africa 1834-53.
status=
description= Silver disk, 36mm diameter.
clasps= None authorised.
established= 1854
total=


caption2=

__NOTOC__The South Africa Medal (1854 SAM) was a campaign medal approved in 1854, for issue to officers and men of the Royal Navy and British Army.

The 1854 SAM was awarded to participants in three campaigns in Southern Africa: the "Kaffir" or "Frontier" Wars of 1834–5 (First Kaffir War, also known as the Sixth Frontier War), 1846–7 (Second Kaffir, Seventh Frontier), and 1850–3 (Third Kaffir, Eighth Frontier).

No clasps were issued, therefore it is not immediately possible to determine which war(s) any particular medal was awarded for (reference must be made to the appropriate medal rolls).

This medal was notably awarded to the officers and men of HMS "Birkenhead". On 26 February 1852, during the course of the Third Kaffir/Eighth Frontier War, this ship struck rocks. Within 25 minutes, the ship broke up and sank. Of the 638 persons on board, there were only 193 survivors.

Clasps

None authorised.

Notes

Bibliography

* Mackay, J and Mussel, J (eds) - "Medals Yearbook - 2006", (2005), Token Publishing.
* Joslin, Litherland, and Simpkin (eds), "British Battles and Medals", (1988), Spink