Full medal write up
SOUTH AFRICA 1877-9, CLASP, 1879 ‘TR. GREEN. STANGER MD. RIFLES.’
The Stanger Mounted Rifles were a Natal Volunteer unit raised in 1875, very much along the lines of Volunteer and yeomanry units were in the UK. By late 1878, they had a strength of 55 Officers and men, split into 2 troops under the overall command of Captain Friend Addison. On 1st December 1878, four officers (including Knox) and 32 men reported for duty and would be assigned to Colonel Pearson column at the start of the Zulu War. Here they would serve with 3 other small Volunteer units; the Alexandra Mounted Rifles, Durban Mounted Rifles and the Natal Hussars. These would fight at the battle of Inyezene on 22nd January 1879. However after on Eshowe being besiged, the SMR’s, along with the other Natal Volunteer units of Column, were sent back to Natal . For the next few months they would do patrol work on the border and would be joined by more men who hadn’t joined earlier.
Prior to the second invasion of Zululand, a call was made for volunteers to serve in an ad hoc unit, made up from the Volunteer units that had served with Pearson’s column and the since arrived Isipingo Mounted Rifles. 25 men from the Stanger Mounted Rifles to serve in what would be called the Natal Volunteer guides. This unit which was approximately 55 in number, commanded by Captain Friend Addison, would take part in at the battle of Gingindlovu and other operations, before finally returning home in August 1879. Although 25 men from the Stanger Mounted Rifles served in the Natal Volunteer guides, only the names of 4 men are known. The Stanger Mounted Rifles survived until 1887 when the corps was amalgamated with the Victoria Mounted Rifles.
The unit was issued with just 55 Medals were awarded to the Stanger Mounted Rifles, 5 to officers and 50 to NCO’s and men. All bar one medal with the '1879' clasp.
Condition VF, a little contact wear and small EK’s. Original section of ribbon.