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Picture courtesy of City Coins

Lord Roberts V.C. and Colonel Baden-Powell
Ref: Hern 714; Carl F/2; Laidlaw 0158a.
Gilt. Holed as issued. 22.79 mm diam., 5.14 grams.

Picture courtesy of City Coins

One People One Destiny – For Britain and the Empire.
Ref: Carl O/2; Laidlaw 0361.
Gilt. Holed. 24.73 mm diam., 6.58 grams.

The reverse depicts a mounted horseman holding a rifle which suggests that this medal relates to the War in South Africa.

I bought this large uniface vulcanite medallion in Camden Passage in the 1980s, long before the coffee bars and restaurants moved in and forced the antiques trade out.

Made by Wilcox & Son, Birmingham, it is an impressive 152 mm in diameter. The imagery is based on a drawing by Hal Hurst, titled "Inspired", which appeared in the Illustrated London News on 16 Dec 1899.

A British soldier stands over a fallen comrade, an angel holding a sword and olive branch above. Surrounded by an olive wreath, emblazoned with the names of the colonies: NATAL, CAPE COLONY, INDIA, CANADA, AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND. Legend: "UNITED WE STAND + FOR QUEEN AND EMPIRE + DEFENCE NOT DEFIANCE / SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1900".

"COPYRIGHT WILCOX & SON, BIRMINGHAM".

Matthew Wilcox & Son were silversmiths. Could this, therefore, have been a trial piece for a large silver medallion that was never produced.

This is the only example I have seen.








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Neville, an absolutely stunning piece. I think the reason why this was probably never produced in silver and larger quantities can be found in the image itself. On first glance one gets the impression from the smoking gun that the soldier standing killed the man at his feet.

The expression on the face of the standing man is remarkable. When people nowadays consider the British empire they tend to overlook the idealistic or spiritual aspect which motivated men, at least until the shooting started…