S.J. Robins HMS Himalaya.

Moved to thread below,posted by 1879Graves.

Hi Liitlehand

Did not take part in the Zulu War of 1879.

https://www.1879zuluwar.com/t3585-hms-himalaya-involved-in-zulu-war-or-not

SOUTH AFRICA 1877-79, no clasp (S. J. Robins. Engr. R.N. H.M.S. “Himalaya”)

"Samuel John Robins was born on 5 April 1851 and was appointed Assistant Engineer in the Royal Navy, 24 July 1872; Engineer, June 1877; Chief Engineer, August 1885; Staff Engineer, August 1889; Fleet Engineer, August 1893; Inspector of Machinery, April 1900; Chief Inspector of Machinery, later Engineer Rear-Admiral (Bermuda Yard), April 1902. Passed Special Course at the Royal School of
Naval Architecture, and the R.N. College, Greenwich. Engineer of Himalaya during the war against the Zulus in South Africa, 1877 to1879 (Medal)."
"
Source: DNW

The HMS Himalaya took no part in the actual AZW of 1879 , this has been debated here previously .
90th

Interesting, why was he issued a medal.

https://www.dnw.co.uk/auction-archive/past-catalogues/lot.php?auction_id=249&lot_uid=212042

Here's another one.

Royal Navy HMS Himalaya Officer’s South Africa Zulu War Medal.
Awarded to “S. BICKLEY DOM: 3RD CL HMS HIMALAYA”. Ships name split by suspender.Confirmed on medal roll

OUTH AFRICA 1877-79, no clasp (R. Searle, A.B., H.M.S. Himalaya)

Hi 24TH
I'm running late for an appointment , read the earlier post by Graves79 , hopefully Petty Off Tom may reply also .
90th

I have read it. But it doesn't answer the question.
If they played no part why were medals issued to crew members? Ok they didn't cross into Zululand so no clasp. But medals were issued.

I found no record of troop transport on 'Himalaya' mentioned in ‘Narrative of The Field Operations Connected With The Zulu War” or in any Naval Correspondence from South Africa.

The South African Medal is for the period 1877 – 1879. ‘The London Gazette’ lists the period of service for each ship whose crew was awarded the medal. HMS Himalaya’s period of service was 9th March to 15th March, 1878. In February, 1878 she took the 2nd Battalion, 24th to East London, South Africa to fight in the 9th Frontier War. On March 16, 1878 she picked up the naval brigade of HMS Active and transported it “Active” which was in Simon’s Bay.

In April, 1878 ‘Himalaya’ took the 42nd Regiment from Malta to Larnaca, Cyprus.

On 14 April, 1879 ‘Himalaya’ left Port Said for Queensland.

On 13 May, 1879 ‘Himalaya’ arrived in Portsmouth.

On 10 June, 1879 “Himalaya’ arrived at Gilbraltar.

On 14 June, 1879 “Himalaya’ left Gibraltar for England.



On 31 December, 1879 ‘Himalaya’ departed South Africa with the 99th Regiment for Bermuda.

I could find no record of any troops being transported on ‘Himalaya’ from England, or anywhere else in the Empire, to South Africa in late 1878 or at any time in 1879.

Since the officers and men were all entitled to the 1877-79 medal without clasp I had assumed it was because they had not served ashore in Zululand like ‘Tamar’, ‘Orontes’ and ‘Euphrates’.

24th here's your answer , the Himalaya and it's crew were awarded the Medal for it's 6 days of service in 1878 ! , they weren't as I mentioned involved in the zulu war whatsoever , the table and comments above will answer all your questions , don't forget the medal was awarded for service in Sth Africa from 77 - 79 . Himalaya medals being unclasped not only means they didn't cross the border , they weren't anywhere near zululand in 1879 .
Cheers 90th

90th I know that. Its been on the forum for ages. The question is why were medals issued to men who were not there.

In total 229 of which 27 were RM (all no clasp medals) were issued to those on HMS Himalaya.

24th I'll try to put it as simply as I can The Zulu War Medal was issued for ALL campaigns against Sth African tribes from 1877 up to 1879 . The Himalaya and it's personal were awarded the Medal for 6 days of service in 1878 ! , the dates are on what I sent you , 1878 is between 1877 and 1879 , so therefore they are awarded the Zulu War Medal , it's correct name is the South African General Service Medal ( Everyone calls it the Zulu War Medal , even though it was issued to those who took part in other theatres of operation these being in 1877 and 1878 which weren't the years of the Zulu War ) Hopefully it's easier to grasp this time ?
90th

The British Government did not issue a medal exclusively for the Zulu War.  In 1880 the Queen authorized the issuance of a medal, to be called the “South Africa Medal”, for the wars in South Africa including:

    (a) The Galekas, Gaikas, and other Kaffir tribes, from the 26th September, 1877, to the 28th June, 1878, inclusive.
   (b) Against Pokwane, from the 21st to the 28th January, 1878, inclusive.
   (c) Against the Griquas, from the 24th April to the I3th November, 1878, inclusive.
   (d) Against the Zulus, from the 11th January to the 1st September, 1879, inclusive.
   (e) Against Sekukuni, from the 11th November to the 2nd December, 1879, and including the troops that were stationed at Fort Burghers, Fort Albert Edward, Seven Mile Post, Fort Oliphants, Fort Weeber, and in Sekukuni’s Valley.
   (f) Against Moirosi’s stronghold.

The medal was often referred to as the “Zulu War Medal” in the newspapers, by the public and often by the military thus causing present day confusion.  This was most likely due to the Zulu War being the last, and most wrote about, war of the time.

The South Africa Medal was awarded to those who served aboard HMS Himalaya, a troopship, for the period 9 March 1878 to 15 March 1878 during the war in the Eastern Cape Colony known as the 9th Cape Frontier War.  All the medals were issued without clasp.

HMS Himalaya did not serve in South Africa during the time of the Zulu War which was from 11 January 1879 to 1 September 1879.  

Tom