United Kingdom. A British South Africa Company Medal To Pte O’donnell, 2Nd West Riding Regiment

Instituted in 1896 by Queen Victoria. In silver, rim engraved 4069 PTE B. O’DONNELL 2. W. RID. REGt., suspended from a scrollwork swivel suspension and attached to a modern ribbon with a grommet at the top, polished to brilliance, light scratches and edge bruising, considerable knock at 6 o’clock rim, remains in extremely fine condition.

Footnote: The British South Africa Company Medal was initially sanctioned by Queen Victoria in 1896. It was granted to military personnel in commemoration of the First and Second Matabele Wars. There are four versions of the British South Africa Company Medal. Queen Victoria sanctioned the Matabeleland 1893 Medal in 1896 and the Rhodesia 1896 and Mashonaland 1897 Medals in 1897. In 1926, King Edward VII approved the Mashonaland 1890 Medal, which was administered by the Southern Rhodesia government. Only the Queen Victoria versions feature a reverse inscription of the campaign served.

Pte. Bernard O’Donnell appears on the rolls of the 2nd West Riding Regiment for operations in Matabeleland and Mashonaland in 1896.