General Service medal awarded to Private W T Hodgman for service in Bechuanaland 1896 to 1897

Surname	Forename	No	Rank	Notes	Unit
Hodgman	W T		Private	CGHGSM (1) Bechuanaland Source: Roll of the CGHGSM	Stellaland Light Horse

 This medal was instituted by Queen Victoria on the 4 December 1900 at the request of the Cape of Good Hope authorities to mark several uprisings by tribes in the Transkei, Basutoland and Bechuanaland that had spanned the years 1880-1897. 

The medal bears on the obverse the veiled and crowned Jubilee head of Queen Victoria by Sir Joseph Boehm with the legend ‘Victoria Regina et Imperatrix.  The reverse has the arms of the Cape with the legend ‘Cape of Good Hope’.  The ribbon is dark blue with a broad central buff-yellow stripe.  It was intended the medal would be awarded with one or more of the three clasps marking the geographical areas of the conflict, however a small number were issued without a bar.

Bechuanaland. 

This clasp was awarded to the troops for operations which spanned the 24 December 1896 to the 30 July 1897.  This uprising stemmed from an edict to slaughter native livestock to prevent the spread of virulent cattle disease in April 1896.  The revolt rapidly gathered alarming momentum and the local troops under Lt Colonel Dalgety were hard pressed to contain the uprising.  A large force was required to subdue the fighting and troops and volunteers were mobilized for the Bechuanaland Field Force.  Actions were fought at Gamasep Kloof, Riet Kloof and finally at Langberg on the 30 Jul - 1 Aug 1897 before peace was restored.

Source:http://angloboerwar.com/medals-and-awards/non-boer-war/292-cgh-gsm