Original British Boer War Queen’s South Africa Medal Named to Royal Field Artillery Doctor Original Items

Original Item: One of a Kind. The Queen’s South Africa Medal is a British campaign medal which was awarded to British and Colonial military personnel, civilians employed in official capacity and war correspondents who served in the Second Boer War in South Africa. Altogether twenty-six clasps were awarded to recipients of the Queen’s South Africa Medal, to indicate particular actions and campaigns of the Second Boer War.

The name of the recipient is engraved around the edge of the medal:

31349 DR. W. COLLINS, 38TH BTY. R.F.A.

This indicates service in the 38th Battery of the Royal Field Artillery during the Boer War.  The DR could me doctor which would be very interesting in that a regimental doctor serving in action during the Boer War in South Africa would be rare. Or the DR could also mean driver. Regardless, the solid sterling silver medal shows with “Britannia hailing the Troops” on the front, under SOUTH AFRICA. The reverse bears the “Old Head” of Queen Victoria, surrounded by VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX. The Medal has been mounted in a circular frame that allows it to be flipped, and it is is backed by a mounting pin to rear. This way, either side can be displayed while being worn.

In addition there are a pair of small silver Cannons attached to the exterior of the the frame, and chained to the top is a Silver Horse as an additional pin on accessory. Currently in a small glazed box with the original Correct colored Medal ribbon that would have been used with the Medal for suspension purposes.

Really nice, worthy of research as field Doctors in the Boer and First World wars were certainly a special breed of serving Officer.