Stevenson's Horse 1879 medal

Posts : 10 Join date : 2021-05-18

Hello-

New to the forum and am a novice regarding the South Africa Medal. I recently came across a South Africa medal with 1877,1878, 1879 clasp to a Trooper Flowers in the Stevenson's Horse unit. I mostly collect US and German WW1 items, but find the English colonial wars to be very interesting.

I have not been able to come up with much information on this unit and was wondering if anyone knew anything about them.

Thanks very much for the help!!!

Posts : 12 Join date : 2020-05-29

Hello Blind Pew, welcome to the forum,
The Stevenson Horse did not serve in the Anglo-Zulu War, but based on the medal clasp dates did possibly do so in earlier Frontier Wars and later post AWZ campaigns. I will have to do a little research to be more specific. Dutton's Medal Roll lists a Trooper P. Flowers South African Medal 1877-78 79 with clasp, hope this is a start.

Regards Ells

Posts : 10 Join date : 2021-05-18

Thanks very much!

Yes- any info you could find would be great!

Posts : 10 Join date : 2021-05-18

Perhaps was Stevenson's Horse unit involved in the Xhosa wars in the Eastern Cape?

As an American, my history of this region is quite poor.

Subject: Stevenson's Horse Wed May 19, 2021 2:34 am

Hi Blind Pew
A quick check of the Forsyth Roll has 28 medals Clasped 1877-78-79 issued to Stevenson's Horse , of which 17 were returned to the Woolwich mint as they were unclaimed , the remaining Medals to that unit numbering 42 Clasped 1877-78 , 21 of which were also returned to the Woolwich Mint also being unclaimed . So with a total of 70 Medals issued to Stevenson's Horse 38 were returned to the Woolwich Mint to be melted down .
90TH Salute

Posts : 10 Join date : 2021-05-18

Thanks!

So “returned” just meant that they couldn’t find the troopers to give the medal?

Also, do you know if this unit fought the Xhosa? Another member has provided info that they did not fight the Zulu.

Subject: Stevenson's Horse Wed May 19, 2021 1:37 pm

Hi Blind pew
Yes that's correct they didn't fight in the Zulu War , I think to earn the 77-78 Clasp they may've taken part in the Gaika and Galeka Campaigns , those who earnt the 77-78-79 Clasp most likely fought in the campaigns against Morisi and Sekukini ? . Yes they couldn't find the recipient or they were unclaimed by the recipients .
90th Salute

Posts : 10 Join date : 2021-05-18

Thanks very much!

Collecting medals prompts me to read and learn more about the history of a conflict. That is great information!

I usually only collect US and German WW1 and WW2 items, so learning about English colonial wars is quite new to me.

Subject: Stevenson's Horse Wed May 19, 2021 1:49 pm

Blind Pew glad I was able to be of some help . I looked through ' The Armed Forces Of South Africa 1659 - 1954 ' by Major G Tylden here's the entry re Stevenson's Horse '' A small Eastern Province Unit of the ninth Kaffir War , disbanded June 30th June 1878 .
90th

Posts : 10 Join date : 2021-05-18

90th wrote:: Blind Pew glad I was able to be of some help . I looked through ' The Armed Forces Of South Africa 1659 - 1954 ' by Major G Tylden here's the entry re Stevenson's Horse '' A small Eastern Province Unit of the ninth Kaffir War , disbanded June 30th June 1878 .
90th

Thanks again- I appreciate the information!

So the Xhosa wars it is. I will have some reading to get to now. It's odd, but reading and learning about an event from which you have an artifact, no matter how small, makes it more interesting and proximate.

Subject: Stevenson's Horse Thu May 20, 2021 1:57 am

Blind Pew
Yes that's true , once you have an artifact or possess an item owned by someone from their time , it certainly takes on much more appeal when reading of that era .
90th

Posts : 182 Join date : 2017-02-05 Location : Texas, U.S.A.

blind pew,

According to the South Africa Medal Roll for “Stevenson’s Horse” (contained in WO 100/49) there was only one man name “Flowers”. He is listed as Trooper Peter Flowers. Under the column “Whether engaged against Gaikas, Galekas and other Kafir tribes, 1877-8” “Yes” is written next to Flower’s name. There is also a “Yes” in the column “Whether engaged against the Zulus, 1879.”

“Disbanded 30th June, 1878” is recorded at the top of the page.

Since the “Stevenson’s Horse” was disbanded in 1878 Trooper Flowers would have had to have joined another colonial unit to have served in the Zulu War. The only man I could find on the medal rolls was a “Trooper P. Flower” who enrolled 8-7-78 (8 July, 1878) in the Frontier Light Horse. His date of discharge was 3-2-79 (3 February, 1879). His listing shows he was engaged against the Zulus in 1879, and against Sekukuni. I don’t know if this “Trooper P. Flower” is the same man as “Trooper Peter Flowers”, but further research might give you the answer.

Tom

Posts : 10 Join date : 2021-05-18

Wow!

That is fantastic information!

You know, I try to read about such things, but you guys are certainly remarkable in the information you have.

Thanks!

Subject: Stevenson's Horse Fri May 21, 2021 4:01 am

Hi Blind Pew
Must admit I was a little slack in not chasing some more info re Flowers , if he was awarded the 77-78-79 he must've joined another Unit after Stevenson's horse was disbanded in 78 , I checked Cam Simpson's excellent work on the Frontier Light Horse which is basically impossible to get unless you're in Sth Africa , the following is from his outstanding research ... FLOWERS Peter ( also referred to as P. Flower ) Trooper Stevenson's Horse , Ninth Eastern Cape Frontier War ( Ngqika and Galeka ) 1877-78 ; Discharged 30/6 / 78 ; Enlisted 8/ 7/ 78 ; Trooper Frontier Light Horse ( no 211 ) ; First Anglo - Ba Pedi ( Sekukuni ) war 1878 and Anglo Zulu War 1879 ; Discharged 3/2/79 ; He is most probably the same ' Peter Flowers' who was born in the Eastern Cape on 9/ 11/ 56 and whose Father was known to have resided in Queenstown ; There was a ' P Flowers' who enlisted in the Umtata Volunteer Rifles on 30/ 12 / 90 '' . I'm sure this is much more than you expected to come across ? Very Happy

as did I ! .
90th .

Posts : 182 Join date : 2017-02-05 Location : Texas, U.S.A.

blind pew,

I come across further information on Peter Flowers at Ancestry.com. He was born on 9 November 1856 in Glen Lynden, Eastern Cape, South Africa to James and Maria Flowers. He died on 12 April, 1935 in Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa, and 13 April he was buried at Brixton Cemetery, Johannesburg.

I have sent a message to his descendent who posted the above information asking for confirmation of his service in the Frontier Light Horse and Stevenson’s Horse. I will give an update when I hear back from her.

Tom

Posts : 10 Join date : 2021-05-18

Petty Officer Tom wrote:: blind pew,

I come across further information on Peter Flowers at Ancestry.com. He was born on 9 November 1856 in Glen Lynden, Eastern Cape, South Africa to James and Maria Flowers. He died on 12 April, 1935 in Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa, and 13 April he was buried at Brixton Cemetery, Johannesburg.

I have sent a message to his descendent who posted the above information asking for confirmation of his service in the Frontier Light Horse and Stevenson’s Horse. I will give an update when I hear back from her.

Tom

Wow!

I really appreciate your effort, which is certainly above and beyond the call. I can't believe all the detailed information you guys are able to come up with.

Once again, thanks very much for the information and the superlative effort you guys have undergone to uncover details about trooper Flowers.

Subject: Stevenson's Horse Sat May 22, 2021 3:22 am

We're always happy to try and help , if able ! .
90th Very Happy

Posts : 182 Join date : 2017-02-05 Location : Texas, U.S.A.

blind pew,

I received an email from P. Flowers' descendent. Unfortunately she doesn't have anything that would confirm, or deny, her ancestor's service in Stevenson's Horse or the Frontier Light Horse.

Tom

Posts : 10 Join date : 2021-05-18

Well........................ I think the information you guys have provided is outstanding, nonetheless. I would offer that you probably know more about Trooper Flower's military history than his current family members. It is sad, but many times such family history is not passed down as it should be.