Queen's Scarf

Colour Sergeant Ferret's wife wearing the Queen's Scarf	Colour Sergeant F F Ferret

Queen Victoria wished to honour the bravery of soldiers in the Boer War with a personal token of her appreciation and regard.   To this end, she hand made eight scarves in khaki-coloured Berlin wool, with the initials 'VRI' on one of the knots of wool.

The criteria for receiving a scarf was that the recipient was to be "the best all-round men taking part in the South African campaign". They were to be allotted to men as voted by their comrades as the most brave.  Four scarves were presented to British units and one to each commonwealth country who had sent troops.

Lord Roberts mentioned in his despatch of 1st March 1902 that the scarves were gifts from the queen to the most distinguished private soldiers then serving.  "In conclusion his Lordship desires to place on record that in April 1900, her late Majesty Queen Victoria was graciously pleased to send him four woollen scarves worked by herself, for distribution to the four most distinguished private soldiers in the Colonial Forces of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, then serving under his command.  The selection for these gifts of honour was made by the officers commanding the contingents concerned, it being understood that gallant conduct in the field was to be considered the Primary qualification".  The four colonial awards were then listed. (LG 16 June 1902).

The awards were to:

Imperial:

Colour Sergeant F F Ferret DCM, Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment
Colour Sergeant F Kingsley DCM, 2nd West Yorkshire Regiment
Colour Sergeant H Clay DCM, 2nd East Surrey Regiment
Sergeant W Colclough, 2nd Devonshire Regiment

Colonial:

Australia - Private Dufrayer, New South Wales Mounted Infantry
Canada - Private R Thompson, Royal Canadian Regiment
New Zealand -  Trooper H D Courts, New Zealand Mounted Infantry
South Africa - Trooper L Chadwick, Roberts' Horse