TOPIC:

Recently acquired from everyone's favourite online auction site, I recently picked up the medallion as shown in the following images for very small change.


Medallion disc of white metal suspended below a pin for hanging for wear of a crown soldered to a crown.
In the centre of the medallion a bust of General Sir Reverse Buller VC. Around the edge inscribed this: " GENERAL SIR REDVERS BULLER V.C. 1900"


To the reverse: " RELIEF OF LADYSMITH MARCH 1ST 1900.
BESIEGED 119 DAYS BIRM"

BIRM obviously tells us that the manufacturer was from Birmingham.

I have seen this medallion many times before without the crown suspender pin. I wonder if the crown and pin are original? Or if , Indeed, the issue of this medallion was of the period, or for collectors at a later date?

Perhaps it was distributed to schoolchildren at the declaration of peace in 1900?

Any input would certainly help to answer any of the above questions.

Cheers Steve

Similar idea, but commemorating the Relief of Mafeking. Also made by Sale of Birmingham.

White metal medal by "SALE BIRM".
Obverse: bust of "COL'NL BADEN-POWELL / THE HERO OF MAFEKING".
Reverse: "RELIEF OF MAFEKING / MAY 18TH 1900 / BESIEGED 218 DAYS".

Suspended from brass Q.V. crown.

See Hern 2008, p.150, No 650 (gilt version).




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Thank you Neville. It was pleasing to see the crown of Victoria suspension, at least I know my Buller/Relief of Ladysmith example is correct.
It also begs the question whether there was one of the same design issued for Relief of Kimberley?
Cheers Steve

Steve,

I cannot find any record of a Sale & Co commemorative medal for the Relief of Kimberley.
Kimberley, as usual, appears to have been left off the list of events worth commemorating. I suspect this might have been due to Kekewich's lower ranking on the military celebrity table. Indeed, off the top of my head, I cannot think of a single medallion sporting Kekewich's likeness.

Neville

Neville,

I'm pretty sure I've not seen anything with Colonel Kekewich's head on either.
I suspect that the force of nature that was Cecil Rhodes would probably have insisted upon his head appearing on the obverse of any medallion celebrating The Relief of Kimberley!!

Steve

A little memento of the Relief of Ladysmith -now just over a 125 years ago- in the form of a silvered Union Jack with text commemorating the relief on the reverse. The flagpole is planted on a Kruger two shilling coin in a fitting metaphor for the situation on the battlefield.

Perhaps a bit unusual is the mention of Lord Dundonald beside Buller. Dundonald apparently sailed off to South Africa with a gaggle of servants and a few of his race-horses without informing his legally betrothed.