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Item Ref# MS7439

 

The Absent Minded Beggar - Boer War

Brief description:  There are many different variations of this medallion. Known as the Boer War National Commemorative or Absent Minded Beggar (related to a poem) medallion. Many of these have an attached suspeension ring and privately engraved with the name of a British soldier.

The sentiment in Britain at the outset of the South African War was strongly in favour of the military action. Thousands of young men volunteered for service to “Queen and Empire”. Charities were set up to assist them and their families. The proceeds from the sale of this medal went to Daily Mail for the Kipling Poem War Fund which is reported to have received 70,000 pounds sterling in fourteen weeks.

The image of the British soldier on the obverse is from the illustration by Richard Caton Woodville, Jr. (1856-1927) known as the “Gentleman in Kharki” and can be seen on a multitude of memorabilia from the period.

Material:   Bronze
Manufacturer:   Spink & Son, London
Artist:   F. Bowcher
Circa:   1900
Dimensions:   45.2mm
Weight:   45.4g
Inscription: 

 

Obverse:   Full figure of a British soldier with rifle at the ready standing on rocky ground, head bandaged and helmet at his feet. To the right: “1899- / 1900”.
Legend: “THE NATIONAL COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL”.

Reverse:   To the left, a flag pole with the Union flag wrapped around an ear of wheat entwined with the national flowers of England (rose), Scotland (thistle) and Ireland (shamrock).
To the right across: “THIS / MEDAL COM- / MEMORATES THE / MAGNIFICENT / RESPONSE OF / BRITAIN’S SONS / TO THE EMPIRE’S / CALL TO ARMS! / TRANSVAAL / WAR / 1899-1900”. Legend above and to the left: “THE QUEEN GOD BLESS HER”, and below: “DAILY MAIL KIPLING POEM”. The maker’s name: “SPINK / & SON” in small letters close to the rim on the left. 

 

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Boer Masters at Guerrilla Warfare 


Owing to the activities of Generals J.H. de la Rey and J.C.G. Kemp, the western Transvaal became one of the most active areas for guerrilla (and counterguerrilla) operations. On 25 February 1902, at Yzerspruit, the Boers surprised, stormed and captured a convoy across the open veld, including two field guns and a pom-pom.

The British lost at least 53 killed, 129 wounded (mostly taken prisoner) and about 240 unwounded prisoners, while the Boer losses amounted to some 12 killed and 31 wounded.

On 7 March 1902, one of the British columns sent out to destroy De la Rey’s commando was defeated in a running battle that took place between Tweebosch and De Klipdrift.

The British lost at least 68 killed, 121 wounded, more than 800 prisoners (including most of the wounded; amongst them Lord Methuen), four field-guns, two pom-poms and more than 100 wagons and carts. The Boers lost at least eight killed and 26 wounded.

Source: Boer Guerrilla and British Counterguerrilla Operations

Scripture

“He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”

Matthew 10:39

 

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