United Kingdom · instituted 1880-08-01
Silver disk medal, 36mm diameter, swivelling suspender. Obverse: Queen Victoria's diademed head facing left. Reverse: crouching lion before a protea bush, "SOUTH AFRICA", Zulu shield and crossed assegais in the exergue.
Qualifying criteria: British Army, Royal Naval Brigade, and Colonial Volunteers who served in South African campaigns (including the Anglo-Zulu War) between September 1877 and December 1879. Fourteen medals without clasp were awarded to nurses -- the earliest British campaign medal given to women.
Clasps issued with this medal:
1877
1877-8
1877-8-9
1877-9
1878
1878-9
1879