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| Obverse |
Obverse |
Clasps |
Reverse of
KSA & QSA |
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| Army Order 232 |
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The obverse of the King's South
Africa Medal (KSA) bears the head of King Edward VII and the inscription 'EDWARDVS
VII REX IMPERATOR'. The reverse is the same as the Queen's South Africa Medal
third type. The suspender is straight with a claw mount. The ribbon is
1.25" wide with three equal stripes of green, white and orange.
Two clasps
were awarded and the medal is usually seen with 'SOUTH AFRICA 1901' and 'SOUTH
AFRICA 1902' although either can appear singularly and medals issued to nurses
have no clasps. The KSA could not be awarded without the QSA.
The award of the medal was
controlled under Army Order 232 of October 1902. The following text,
which appeared in the Army Order, also appeared in The
Times on 30th September 1902.
1.
His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve that a second
medal, bearing his effigy, shall be granted in recognition of the services
rendered by the troops in the later phases of the campaign in South Africa, and
to reward those soldiers who, by their long service in the field, have brought
the war to a successful termination. This medal will be known as the "King's
South Africa Medal."
2.
The ribbon will be orange, white, and green in three stripes of equal
width, and so worn that the green stripe of the ribbon shall be on the right.
3.
Provided the claims are approved by the Commander-in-Chief, the medal, in
silver, will be issued to all officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned
officers, and men of the British, Indian, and Colonial forces; to civilian
medical practitioners and others employed with military hospitals in South
Africa; and to all nursing sisters, as defined in Army Order 195 of 1901;
provided that (a) they were actually serving in South Africa on or after January
1st, 1902 and (b) that on that date they had completed 18 months' war
service; or subsequently completed such service before June 1st,
1902.
4.
Interpreting this rule, the actual period of absence from duty either at
home or in South Africa on account of wounds or sickness directly attributable
to service in the field will be allowed to count to make up the period of 18
months.
5.
The medal will also be granted to officers, warrant officers,
noncommissioned officers, and men who have been invalided by reason of wounds
received in action prior to January 1st, 1902, thereby being unable
to complete an aggregate service of 18 months in South Africa, provided they
returned there for any period between January 1st, 1902, and May 31st,
1902, both dates inclusive.
6.
Two clasps will also be granted - (a) a clasp, "South Africa 1901" to all
who served in. South Africa between January 1st 1901, and December 31st,
1901, both dates inclusive; (b) a clasp "South Africa 1902" to all who served in
South Africa between January 1st, 1902 and May 31st, 1902,
both days inclusive.
7.
The above clasps will be worn with the medal granted by Army Order 94 of
1901 by those qualified to receive them, if they are not entitled to receive the
medal granted by this Order. If they are entitled to receive the medal granted
by this Order, the above clasps will be worn with it.
Click here for information on
KSAs to the Navy.
