TROOPER G. DODGE, KIMBERLEY LIGHT HORSE. South Africa Medal 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1877-8 (offi

TROOPER G. DODGE, KIMBERLEY LIGHT HORSE. South Africa Medal 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1877-8 (officially named, engraved in sloping serifed capitals: TROOPER. G. DODGE. K.L. HORSE.). Attractive old dark tone, Good Very Fine to Almost Extremely Fine.

The Kimberley Light Horse Regiment is not recorded in British Battles and Medals as having seen service in South Africa during the campaigns of 1877-8. The only similarly named unit that did take part in those campaigns was the Kimberley Horse (i.e. no “Light” designation in the regimental title). Although this unit saw service during the campaigns of 1877-9 it was only awarded the 1878 (2), 1878-9 (17) and 1879 (30) clasps and was not awarded any of the clasps relating to the campaign of 1877.

However, there was a Kimberly Light Horse regiment, that was raised in 1876, and which amalgamated with the Du Toitspan Hussars in 1877 to form the Diamond Fields Horse. That amalgamated regiment, the Diamond Fields Horse, did see service during the campaigns of 1877-8, being awarded medals with the clasps 1877-8 (95), 1877-8-9 (3), 1878 (87), 1878-9 (6) and 1879 (1).

Although Dodge is not recorded in Forster’s published roll for the South Africa 1877-79 Medal as having seen service with the Diamond Fields Horse, this medal is correctly named and is entirely as issued.

The recipient may therefore perhaps have seen service with the Kimberley Light Horse Regiment that was raised in 1876, and continued to serve after the amalgamation of the Kimberley Light Horse with the Du Toitspan Hussars in 1877 to form the Diamond Fields Horse. Trooper Dodge perhaps made a late claim for a medal, which was named up to the unit that he first served with during the period 1877-8, The Kimberley Light Horse, rather than the Diamond Fields Horse, and awarded a medal with the 1877-8 clasp.

Medal accompanied by brief biographical details of a George Dodge, born England 1857, died Johannesburg 3rd November 1895, who is recorded in his death notice as having been an engine driver. Possibly the recipient, and perhaps worthy of further research in this regard.