Orders, Decorations and Medals

British South Africa Company Medal 1890-97, reverse undated, 1 clasp, Mashonaland 1890 (Chaplain Surridge, F. H. - Pioneers) together with related miniature medal; Licence from the Bishop of Bloemfontein authorising Reverend Surridge to Officiate in Bechuanaland and Mashonaland, and also as Chaplain to the British South Africa Company, dated 16th April 1890; two similar parchment letters of appointment from the Viceroy and Governor-General of India as Chaplain to the Volunteer Force in India, dated May 1898 and December 1901; a silver presentation cigarette box, hallmarked London 1918, the outer lid inscribed ‘Presented to The Revd. F. H. Surridge, upon his leaving Dovercourt. In recognition of his services to the Church and Parish during his Ministry. October 1922’; and four small snap-shots, extremely fine and rare, one of only two Chaplains for the 1890 expedition (3) £1500-1800

See Colour Plate VI

Frank Howard Surridge was born in Essex, England, on 10 May 1862, and studied at Sarum Theological College, 1883-85. He was ordained Deacon in 1885 and was Curate at Milbourne Andrew in Dorset until 1888. In that year he sailed for South Africa, and met Cecil Rhodes during the voyage, with whom he became friendly. He was Curate at Claremont, Cape Colony, from 1888 to 1890, when he was ordained Priest in Bloemfontein. In May 1890 he was appointed as Church of England Chaplain to the Pioneer Corps, and was engaged in the expedition which marched into and occupied Mashonaland in September 1890 (Mashonaland 1890 Medal with Clasp).

Reverend Surridge travelled to Hartley Hills after the disbandment of the Pioneer Corps, leaving Mashonaland in 1891, to return to England, where he became Curate of Holy Trinity, Ely, 1891-93, and Little Ouse, Suffolk, 1893-98. He went to India in 1898 where he was Chaplain to the Volunteer Force in India, at Tundla, 1898-1900 and 1905-06, and at Dehra and Landour, 1900-05. Returning to England, he became Curate of Lynton, Devonshire, 1905-08; Rector of Stoke Maries, 1908-13; Curate of St Andrew’s, Haverstock Hill, London, 1913-14; Rector of New Norfolk, Tasmania, 1914-18, and Stanley, 1918-20; Curate of Dovercourt, Essex, 1921-22; St Botolph, Colchester, Essex, 1922-26; and Vicar of Elsenham, Essex, 1926-32. He retired to Dovercourt, Essex, and died there on 4 May 1947.