| Place | Africa: South Africa |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | RELAWM16898.004 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Medal |
| Physical description | Silver |
| Maker |
de Saulles, George William |
| Place made | United Kingdom |
| Date made | c 1902-1903 |
| Conflict |
South Africa, 1899-1902 (Boer War) |
King's South Africa Medal : Lance Sergeant W H Clarke: Diamond Fields Horse
Description
King's South Africa Medal with the bars 'SOUTH AFRICA 1901' and 'SOUTH AFRICA 1902'. The recipient's number, rank, name and regiment are impressed on the edge. Obverse: The bust of King Edward VII and the legend 'EDWARDVS VII REX IMPERATOR'. Reverse: Britannia with a flag in her left hand holding out a laurel wreath towards an advancing party of soldiers. In the background are two warships. The wreath in Britannia's hand points to the letter 'F' in the word 'AFRICA'. Around the top are the words 'SOUTH AFRICA'. The medal is fitted with a straight suspender and two rectangular date bars. A piece of 32 mm ribbon of green, white and yellow in equal widths is attached to the suspender. Four medals are attached to a silver slotted brooch bar engraved with a crude foliage design that has the reverse pin missing.
History / Summary
Named to Sergeant William Henry Clarke, who served in the British Army as a trooper with the 15th Hussars, in the Second Afghan War (1878-1880). He later served in the Boer War in the Diamonds Fields Horse, a British irregular unit based at Kimberley, before migrating to Australia. The medal is not original issue to Sergeant Clarke. The edge has been privately ground down and the medal renamed to him.