The Queen's South Africa Medal

Overview

Queen Victoria instituted the Queen's South Africa Medal to recognise service in the Boer War in South Africa between 1899 and 1902. On her death in 1901, a new medal called the King's South Africa Medal was struck bearing the effigy of King Edward VII. These medals were the first awarded to New Zealand servicemen for military service outside New Zealand. 

Description

There were two strikings of this medal. The initial striking bore the dates 1899-1900. These medals were issued to Lord Strathcona's Horse, which returned to Canada before the end of the war. When the war continued after 1900, the dates were removed from the remaining medals and a new medal was struck without the dates. New Zealand units received the newly struck medal without the dates.

The Queen's South Africa Medal is silver and circular in shape. The medal features the crowned and veiled head of Queen Victoria on the obverse. On the reverse, is Britannia with a flag in her left hand holding out a laurel wreath to a party of advancing soldiers. In the background are two warships. Around the top are the words ‘SOUTH AFRICA’.  

A bronze striking of the Queen's South Africa medal was issued to some African, Indian, and West Indian units.

The ribbon has a broad orange central stripe flanked by two dark blue stripes with red edges.

Medals were usually issued with at least one clasp, however, most nurses never received the clasps they were entitled to. Twenty-six clasps were awarded for the Queen's South Africa Medal, twelve of which were awarded to New Zealand military personnel. Two clasps were also awarded for the King's South Africa Medal but were worn with the Queen's South Africa Medal when the recipient was ineligible for the King's Medal.

Listed below are the clasps for the Queen's South Africa Medal. Clasps awarded to New Zealand personnel are marked with an asterisk:

• Cape Colony* 
• Rhodesia* 
• Relief of Mafeking
• Defence of Kimberly
• Talana
• Elandslaagte
• Defence of Ladysmith
• Belmont
• Modder River
• Tugela Heights
• Natal
• Relief of Kimberly* 
• Paardeberg* 
• Orange Free State* 
• Relief of Ladysmith
• Driefontein* 
• Wepener
• Defence of Mafeking
• Transvaal* 
• Johannesburg* 
• Laing's Nek
• Diamond Hill* 
• Wittebergen* 
• Belfast
• South Africa 1901*
• South Africa 1902*

Clasps awarded for the King's South Africa Medal that are eligible for wear on the Queen's South Africa Medal are South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902, both of which were awarded to New Zealand personnel.

Eligibility

The medal was awarded to all who served in South Africa between 11 October 1899 and 31 May 1902.

Important note: This medal is no longer issued by NZDF Personnel Archives and Medals. 

Recipients

Ten contingents of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles, totalling 6,128 officers and men, and a contingent of 31 New Zealand nurses served in South Africa. Almost all these persons received the Queen's South Africa Medal.