South Africa medal, clasp 1877 (Civil Practr.), British War Medal (Lt.-Col. Sir.)
Sir E. S. Stevenson SAMC
The rare clasp “1877” is one of approx. 112 awarded only. He is noted in Battles and Medals as a recipient of the clasp and the medal is correct on the SA roll.
He served, by his own account, with the 88th Connaught Rangers in the 1877 operations, their medical officer being invalided at this time. Believed to be one of only TWO of the 1877 clasps awarded to medical officers.
Sold together with
Heavy, large vellum document of appointment as Knight bearing the Great Seal of Great Britain, with Edward VII enthroned; this in its original black lacquer tin and both in their official red box with royal coat of arms.
Copy of Stevenson’s autobiography, Adventures of a Medical Man
Original 1915 letter from Sir Alfred Milner, recommending Stevenson for war service
Original warrant appointing Stevenson as JP in Wynburg.
Letter to Stevenson from the Rhodes Trust, awarding him £200 from Rhodes’ estate, for services rendered.
Original commission from Lord Buxton, Gov. Genl. of S.A., dated 1917, appointing Stevenson as officer in the Union Defence Force as of November 1914.
Original large carte-de-visite photograph showing Stevenson in old(er) age, wearing the 1877 miniature.
Photocopy of Stevenson’s notes on the autopsy on Cecil Rhodes.
Various old notes and jottings on Stevenson’s career, including a typescript of letter from his daughter in 1975 about his career.
Various Photocopies of other docs., rolls etc related to Dr. Stevenson.
Edmond Sinclair Stevenson (1850-1927)
M.D., F.R.C.S.Ed., President of The Medical Council of Cape Colony, Honorary Vice-President, British Medical Association etc.
Born in Geneva in 1850; studied medicine and surgery extensively – e.g. in Berlin, Paris (Sorbonne), Brussels, London and Edinburgh – MRCS, LRCP, FRCS. M.D (Brussels).
Served as a volunteer medic with French Ambulance during the Franco-Prussian War 1870-71
To S. A. in 1873 and served in the Tambuki campaign as Med. Officer. with the 24th and 88th Regts. Settled permanently in SA in 1880.
In that year, he married the great-granddaughter of Sir Benjamin Durban.
He quickly built up an impressive medical practice in Cape Colony at a time when professional medics were in short supply in the colony. He became associated with a number of prominent and important medical societies or associations e.g. was the founder and President of the Cape Branch of the BMA; President of the Colonial Medical Council and presided over the SA Medical Congress in 1894 and 1900. Numerous published articles.
J.P. for Rondebosch and Wynburg.
Noted in some sources as having served in Natal during the Boer War – but not found on any medal roll
In 1915 travelled to UK to volunteer for war service in spite of impaired health on a recommendation letter from Sir Alfred Milner, then Minister for the Colonies, forwarded by the Foreign Secretary, Sir Edward Grey but returned to SA and appointed to a hospital in South Africa; rank as Lieut. Col. from 1916 in the SA Medical Corps and served in Alexandra Hospital in Cape Town. (BWM only awarded)
He was for many years the close friend, confidante and physician to Cecil Rhodes and carried out his post-mortem. He was also a friend and physician to amongst others, the High Commissioner, Sir Alfred Milner and to Dr. Leander Starr Jameson, famous for the Jameson Raid..
In 1905, he was knighted for his services by Edward VII – the first medical professional in SA to be so honoured. Stevenson died at his home in Wynburg on 16th April 1927 aged 77 and was buried in Maitland Cemetery, Cape Town.
A rarity
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