Lord Roberts' Bodyguard Detail badge : Private C Cooke, Queensland Mounted Infantry

Places
Accession Number REL/11955
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Badge
Physical description Silver-plated brass
Maker Unknown
Place made United Kingdom: England
Date made c 1900
Conflict South Africa, 1899-1902 (Boer War)
Description

The badge is a cross shape, surmounted by the Queen Victoria crown. The body of the badge is square with a circle inside the square. The centre of the circle is voided, but a large letter 'R' has been mounted over this. The 'R' is for Lord Roberts. The bottom of the badge has a scroll work running around the lower cross arm. The left cross arm bears the letters 'S F' running vertically in raised lettering. The right cross arm bears the letters 'A F' running vertically in raised lettering. The lower cross arm has '1900' written horizontally in raised lettering. The scroll below this has the words 'SPES BONA' [Good Hope], written in raised lettering. The corners of the square each has a small flower marked in raised detail. The circle has the words 'COMMANDER IN CHIEF'S BODYGUARD D.T.L' in raised lettering. The back of the badge has a horizontally set brooch pin soldered to it.

History / Summary

Silver-plated brass hat badge issued to 149 Private Charles Cooke for his service in Lord Roberts' bodyguard detachment. Lord Roberts chose his bodyguard in a way that each British Colony was represented by one man, Charles Cooke represented the colony of Queensland. Each man was issued this badge. Charles Cooke joined the Second Queensland Mounted Infantry Contingent when it was raised for service in South Africa on 29 December, 1899. He was allocated the service number 149 and the rank of private. After two weeks of training, the contingent numbering 10 officers, 144 other ranks and 178 horses, embarked in the transport Maori King from Brisbane on 13 January 1900. The contingent disembarked in Cape Town on 24 February and went into Maitland Camp for four days. On 28 February, Cooke travelled with the contingent to Modder River, arriving there on 3 March. On arrival, the contingent joined Lord Robert's field force. Cooke saw action at Osfontein, Poplar Grove and Driefontein. He also saw action in the series of skirmishes leading up to the occupation of Bloemfontein. Cooke was then chosen to spend time in Lord Robert's Bodyguard Detachment which accompanied Lord Roberts wherever he travelled. Cooke returned to the Queensland contingent later in the year and saw further action at Belfast with Chauvel's Mounted Infantry. Cooke embarked at Cape Town with the Second Contingent in the transport ship Tongariro on 30 March 1901 and after a brief stop in Fremantle on 20 April, disembarked in Sydney on 29 April. The contingent travelled by train to Brisbane on 1 May, arriving two days later. Cooke was discharged on 10 May and the Second Contingent was disbanded.