TOPIC:

David,

Here are the two Army Orders that deal with the wearing of medal ribbons in South Africa, as issued at Headquarters, Pretoria, on 8 July 1901 and 2 October 1901.
Note that the orders did not stipulate that men had to wear them. No further orders were published regarding this subject.





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In early 1901 a booklet was prepared and issued as guidance for Officers Commanding Columns and Posts in the O.R.C. This included a circular, dated 24 December 1900, regarding the establishment and construction of blockhouses.







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This is a copy of the original Circular Memorandum that was later reproduced in "Extracts from Orders and Memoranda" (see above).



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From the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News of 8th November 1902 one can deduce that the 6th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers were heavily involved in manning blockhouses.

What an extraordinary centrepiece. Bricks and mortar hardly conjure up an image of heroic deeds; but then, if blockhouse duty was the 6th Battalion's lot, I guess the silversmith had to make the best of what he had to work with.

Here is something considerably less refined. A ZAR florin engraved with a naïve representation of a blockhouse, probably executed during long hours of sitting around waiting for De Wet to attempt a crossing.

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Neville - the simplicity and naivety of your florin make it extremely appealing.

I am pleased to see that the creator included Private O’Hara.

Private O’Hara as described by Mr Bennett Burleigh, War Correspondent for the Daily Telegraph:

His make up is wonderous and various, He poses, bears arms, smokes a dudeen, and is khaki clad from caubeen to brogues. At a little distance he looks the bold soldier. Standing or negligently reclining against the wire fencing in front of the work, he boldly challenges the attentions of the foe. And he gets it too, potted at by night-prowling Boers, as can be seen from the bullet holes drilled through his manly, straw-stuffed chest. Nearly every blockhouse boats a Private O’Hara or two, and trim medal-bedecked Turks they look to a man – or model. And there is to be read this legend limned upon a square of cardboard upon the figure’s back of breast: “I am blind and deaf, but will be thankful for any old newspapers thrown at this blockhouse”.

The South Africa correspondent for the Malta Chronicle reported similarly but gave more variations for the content of the cardboard notice: “Let ‘em all come”, “Totally blind and deaf”, “Please don’t throw coal at me”.

Notes: dudeen = clay pipe, caubeen = an Irish beret.