War Medals and Their HistorySteward, William Augustus
History
War Medals and Their History
Steward, William Augustus
Great Britain. Army -- Medals, badges, decorations, etc.; Great Britain. Royal Navy -- Medals, badges, decorations, etc.
=The King's Medal.=--In October 1902 His Majesty King Edward VII
authorised the issue of a medal bearing his effigy, with the legend
EDWARDVS VII REX IMPERATOR, to all those who had served for eighteen
months at the front, and were still serving on January 1st, 1902, or
had completed such term before June 1st, 1902--that is, just one month
after the terms of surrender were signed. The reverse of this medal is
the same as the Queen's, but on the obverse is the bust of King Edward
in Field-Marshal's uniform. Two bars were given; SOUTH AFRICA 1901 and
SOUTH AFRICA 1902. The ribbon is composed of three equal stripes of
green, white, and orange, and the names are mostly indented or engraved
in the same manner as the Queen's medal.
=The Mediterranean Medal.=--A medal bearing the legend MEDITERRANEAN
to the right of Britannia, but otherwise exactly the same as the
Queen's South African medal, was awarded to those who garrisoned the
Mediterranean forts during the South African War; no bars were issued
with this. It is worn with the Queen's ribbon, and the names, etc.,
are generally indented. Those engaged in this work were mostly Militia
units, who volunteered for service abroad during the war.
=Kimberley Star.=--The Mayor of Kimberley presented to all those who
took part in its defence a silver six-pointed star, but it should be
particularly noticed that only those bearing the hall-mark, including
the date-mark =a=, are genuine. The ribbon is red, white, and blue in
the centre, edged with black on one side and yellow on the other. The
stars were issued unnamed, and generally depended from an ornamental
suspender, but the one illustrated facing page 192 was issued as
depicted.
The following troops were engaged during the campaign:
_Cavalry._--One squadron each of the 1st and 2nd Life Guards and Horse
Guards; 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Dragoon Guards; 1st
Dragoons; Scots Greys; 3rd and 4th Hussars; 5th Lancers; 6th Dragoons;
7th and 8th Hussars; 9th Lancers; 10th and 11th Hussars; 12th Lancers;
13th, 14th, and 15th Hussars; 16th and 17th Lancers; 18th, 19th, and
20th Hussars; and the 21st Lancers.
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