QUEEN'S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL
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TERMS
The medal was awarded to all who served in South Africa between 11 October
1899 and 31 May 1902 (during the Boer War).
BARS
There are twenty-six bars to the medal;
State Clasps:
Cape Colony: Awarded to troops serving in Cape Colony between
11 October 1899 and 31 May 1902;
Natal: Awarded to all troops serving in Natal between 11 October
1899 and 11 June 1900;
Rhodesia
Orange Free State: Awarded to troops serving in Orange River
Colony any time from 28 February 1900 to 21 May 1902;
Transvaal: Awarded to those troops serving the Transvaal at any
time between 24 May 1900 and 31 May 1902, who received no other clasp for
action in the Transvaal;
Battle Clasps:
Defence of Mafeking
Defence of Kimberly
Talana
Elandslaagte
Defence of Ladysmith
Belmone
Modder River
Tugela Heights
Relief of Kimberley
Paardeburg
Relief of Ladysmith
Driefontein: Awarded to troops serving with Army Headquarters
and LGen French's column which advanced from Popular Grove on 10 March
1900;
Wepener
Relief of Mafeking
Johannesburg: Awarded to those troops who, on 29 May 1900, were
north of an east and west line through Klip River Station and east of a
north and south line through Krugersdorp Station;
Laing's Nek
Diamond Hill
Wittebergen
Belfast: Awarded to troops who, on 26 or 27 August 1900, were
east of a north and south line drawn through Wonderfonein, and west of
a north and south line through Dalmanutha Station, and north of an east
and west line drawn through Carolina:
Date Clasps:
South Africa 1901: Awarded to those not eligible for the King's
Medal although they had served at the front between 01 January and 31 December
1901;
South Africa 1902: Awarded to those not eligible for the King's
Medal although they had served at the front between 01 January and 31 May
1902.
DESCRIPTION
A circular, silver medal, 1.52 inches in diameter.
OBVERSE
The obverse shows a crowned and veiled effigy of the Queen Victoria, facing
left, with the legend VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX.
REVERSE
Britannia is depicted holding the Union Flag in her left hand and a laurel
wreath in her right hand. In the right background are troops marching to
the coast and in the left background are two men-of-war. Around the top
are the words SOUTH AFRICA. The first medals, awarded to the Lord Strathcona's
Horse, bore the dates 1899 - 1900. The dates were removed from subsequent
medals because the war continued beyond 1900. Some medals still show the
'ghost' of 1899 - 1900.
MOUNTING
A plain, straight suspender is attached to the medal with a double-toe
claw.
RIBBON
The ribbon is 1.25 inches (32 mm) wide, and consists of five stripes: red
(5 mm), dark blue (5 mm), orange centre, dark blue (5 mm), and red (5 mm).
DATES
The medal was authorized in 1900 and awarded to all who served in South
Africa between 11 October 1899 and 31 May 1902.
NAMING
Naming is in indented block or sloping capitals
(eg 4 RSM J. HYNES LD. STRATHCONA'S H:)
ISSUED
In all about 178,000 medals were issued. There were 3,860 medals awarded
to Canadians. Fifty of the 418 presented to the Lord Strathcona's Horse
on 15 February 1901 are known to have the dates 1899 - 1900 on the reverse.
As many as 300 may have had the dates.