German South West Africa Campaign Medal

German South West Africa Campaign Medal with the bars 'WATERBERG', 'GROSS-NABAS', 'HEREROLAND', 'NOSSOB', 'KARAS-BERGE' AND 'KALAHARI 1908'. Unnamed as issued. Obverse: A female head of Germania, facing left, wearing a winged helmet and the words 'SUEDWEST AFRIKA' to the left and the dates 1904-06 on the right. Reverse shows an Imperial crown with ribbons surmounting the cypher W.II, above crossed swords, the whole being encircled by the inscription 'DEN SIEGREICHEN STREITERN' (To the victorious warriors). The medal is fitted with a loose ring suspender stitched to the ribbon. The doubled 35 mm ribbon of white with black edges and red horizontal stripes down the centre has the six bars pinned through it and a gilt brooch pin stitched to the reverse.

Awarded to German troops serving in South West Africa quelling the native insurrections between 1904 and 1906. It was authorised by Kaiser Wilhelm II on 19 March 1907 in two classes. A bronze issue to combatants and to persons who were engaged in tending the sick and wounded, and a steel issue, with a different reverse, to those who had assisted in the movement of troops and supplies to and from the war zone. (This included members of ships' crews of German shipping lines which had been chartered to ferry troops and material to and from South West Africa). The bar for 'KALAHARI 1908' indicates that the medal was also awarded for minor mopping up actions after 1906. Sixteen bars were authorised for wear with the bronze medal. The medal was unnamed but was accompanied by a certificate on which the recipient's name was written. The certificate reads as follows:-- "Auf Befehl seiner Majestat des Kaisers und Konigs ist die van Allerhochstdemselben gestiftete Denkmunze aus bronze dem . . . in anerkennung seiner pflichttreuen theilnahme am Kampfe gegen die aufstandischen eingeborenen in Sudwestafrika Verliehen worden." (By order of His Majesty the King and Emperor, this commemorative medal in bronze given by the same all highest - is awarded to . . . in recognition of his faithful participation in the campaign against the rebellious natives in South West Africa). This medal is part of a collection assembled by the late Hon. Sir Thomas Hughes, Member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales. It was presented to the Memorial in memory of his son, Captain Roger Forrest Hughes, Australian Army Medical Corps, who died of wounds in France on 11 December 1916 and his grandson, Flying Officer Peter Roger Forrest Hughes, 12 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, who was killed on active service while flying in the Northern Territory on 3 October 1942.