Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A battle of Ginnis 1886 D.S.O. awarded to Major Elmhirst Rhodes, Royal Berkshire Regiment

Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt, gold and enamels, with integral top riband bar; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 2 clasps, Suakin 1885, Tofrek (Lieut. E. Rhodes. 1/Berks. R.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Belmont, Modder River, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal (Major E. Rhodes. D.S.O. 2/Rl. Berks. Rgt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Maj. E. Rhodes. D.S.O. Rl. Berks. Rgt.); Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, Egypt medal with light pitting from star, nearly very fine, otherwise good very fine (5) £3,000-£4,000

D.S.O. London Gazette 26 November 1886: ‘For action at Ginnis.’ The insignia above is probably a later replacement as the awards for Ginnis should be in gold, not silver gilt.

Elmhirst Rhodes was born on 28 April 1858, son of the Rev. F. W. Rhodes, Rector of Bishop’s Stortford, and was the youngest brother of Cecil J. Rhodes, who established Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe and Zambia). He was gazetted to the Royal Berkshire Regiment on 25 May 1878, and served in the Egyptian War of 1882, being present at the surrender of Kafr Dowar (Medal and Bronze Star). He again saw active service in the Sudan Expedition of 1885 at Suakin, and was employed in the Signalling Department. He was present at the reconnaissance to Hasheen; actions at Hasheen and Tofrek; operations at and destruction of Tamai (Despatches London Gazette 25 August 1885; two clasps to Egypt medal). He served in the Sudan 1885-86 with the Frontier Field Force, and was employed in the Signalling Department at Kosheh, and in the action at Ginniss (Mentioned in Despatches, and created a Companion of the D.S.O. London Gazette 26 November 1886). The Insignia of the Order were presented to Captain Rhodes by Queen Victoria. He became Major on 30 August 1893. Major Rhodes served from 1899 to 1900 as Director of Signalling to the South African Field Force and afterwards as Station Commandant. He was present in the advance on Kimberley, including: the actions at Belmont, Enslin, Modder River and Magersfontein; operations in the Orange Free State between February and May 1900, including operations at Paardeberg (17-26 February) and actions at Poplar Grove and Driefontein; operations in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, from July to November 1900; operations in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria, in July and August 1900, including actions at Zilikat's Nek (slightly wounded); operations in Orange River Colony from May to July 1900; operations in the Transvaal between November 1900 and July 1901; operations in Cape Colony from July 1901 to 31 May 1902. He was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 26 January 1900, and 7 May and 10 September 1901) and received the Queen's Medal with five clasps, and the King's Medal with two clasps. He was present at the bedside of his elder brother, Cecil John Rhodes, when he died at Muizenburg on 26 March 1902. Major Elmhirst Rhodes retired on 3 October 1903, and died at Brighton on 27 April 1931, aged 73.

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