Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal 1880-97, with clasp: Transkei, Lance Corporal S Withiel,...

Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal 1880-97, with clasp: Transkei, awarded to Lance Corporal S Withiel, Cape Town Volunteer Engineers. The Cape Volunteer Engineers was first raised as the Cape Sappers and Miners in 1859, the title being changed to Engineers in 1861. Having been stood down in 1869, the unit was re-raised in 1879, and in 1891 the Corps was merged with the Cape Garrison Artillery. The award of this medal was authorised in December 1900, and Withiel was the only member of the Cape Town Volunteer Engineers to receive it for the Transkei campaign. The Transkei clasp was awarded for operations between September 1880 and May 1881 against the inhabitants of Tembuland and Griqualand East who had risen in revolt when ordered to hand in their firearms. Troops were employed to restore order in the districts of Tsolo, Maclear, Matatiele and Qumbu, where hostility towards settlers was particularly marked.