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Auction: 7012 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 1012

An Extremely Rare South Africa With Clasp 1877 Medal to Lieutenant C. Van Hohenan, Cape Mounted Rifles South Africa 1877-79, one clasp, 1877 (Lieut. Vononheim. (sic) C.M.Rifles.), extremely fine, scarce and sold with a large amount of research Estimate £ 1,500-2,000 Lieutenant C. Van Hohenan is listed with this spelling on the roll and as Sub Inspector No. 7 Troop Cape Mounted Riflemen. The roll also gives his clasp entitlement as 1877-78, and that the medal was returned to Woolwich as unclaimed, 28.11.1911. However, a large number of South Africa 1877-79 medals ´sent back to Woolwich´ have in fact subsequently appeared on the market, and may well have been the subject of an ´unofficial distribution´. This medal, and the edge inscription, appears entirely as issued, and the errors are almost certainly attributable to human error, as was quite often the case when transcribing unusual names from the Royal Mint rolls to the relevant medal. One thing is clear: the name Vonoheim does not appear on any roll or any history. As Van Hohenan was killed in action at Gwanda, 29.9.1877, he was not in a position to query the spelling or any other aspects of this medal. In trying to assist some Fingoes against a Galeka force at Gwadana, a patrol found itself heavily outnumbered and beat a hasty retreat to camp at Ibeka. Digging themselves in around a brick house, 180 police and 2000 Fingoes were attacked by thousands of warriors, 29.9.1877. The defenders had a gun and Congreve rockets at their disposal and inflicted such casualties that the Galekas broke and fled. As a result the decision was taken to annexe Galeka territory. Van Hohenan is mentioned in relation to this action in a number of publications including, ´General Cunynghame reported that "nothing could exceed the bravery of Inspector Van Hohenan, who lost his own life in his endeavour to carry off the field one of the men (Private Evans) who had been wounded, and, while he was endeavouring to place this man on his own horse, he was shot through the body, and died like a British soldier. I had the honour in assisting to raise a cairn to his memory. Its position command Galekaland" (British Battles on Land and Sea, J. Grant, refers). Provenance J.B. Hayward December 1975

Sold for
£3,200