Orders, Decorations and Medals

The unique Mashonaland 1897 D.S.O. group of three awarded to Major G. A. L. Carew, 7th Hussars

Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamels British South Africa Company Medal 1890-97, reverse Rhodesia 1896, clasp, Mashonaland 1897 (Captn., 7th Huss.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Rhodesia, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Maj., D.S.O., 7/Hrs.) mounted court style as worn, nearly extremely fine (3) £3500-4000

See Colour Plate II

D.S.O. London Gazette 20 May 1898: ‘In recognition of services during the operations in Mashonaland in 1897.’ The only D.S.O. awarded for this campaign.

George Albert Lade Carew was born on 10 March 1862. He was commissioned into the Hampshire Militia in 1879, and gazetted to the 7th Hussars as Lieutenant, 31 October 1883, becoming Captain in December 1889, and Major in April 1898.

He took part in the operations in South Africa 1896-97, and was mentioned in despatches London Gazette 9 March 1897. He commanded a column in the Mashonaland campaign of 1897, was again mentioned in despatches London Gazette 18 February 1898, received the medal with clasp and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order.

‘I wish especially to convey my appreciation of the manner in which Major H. M. Ridley, Captains G. A. L. Carew and R. M. Poore and the officers and men of the 7th Hussars, carried out my wishes in every particular, and greatly assisted in the suppression of the rebellion. After Major Ridley was wounded, Captains Carew and Poore commanded separate columns, and in the attack on Mashingombi these officers timed their marches, and brought their forces into the field in such a manner as to render my plan of attack by three columns simultaneously entirely successful.’ (Despatch of Richard E. R. Martin, Deputy Commissioner, Bulawayo, November 15th, 1897).

Mashingombi‘s kraal was attacked and captured on 26 July, 1897, by the police under Colonel de Moleyns, and the 7th Hussars under Captains Carew and Poore. On our side one white was killed and five wounded; one died of wounds; two natives killed and three wounded. The Chief Mashingombi and many other rebels were killed.

Major Carew served in the Boer War with the Rhodesian Field Force in 1900, as a Special Service Officer, and with the 7th Hussars in 1901-02 (Queen’s Medal with 6 clasps). He retired in 1902.