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Hi all,

First time posting here. I'm having a bit of a mystery I'm trying to research – the curious case of Carl Sundberg, a rather adventurous Swede. This all started when I was offered to purchase a Distinguished Conduct Medal, Edward VII issue, named to a Sergeant Major Carl Sundberg of the Cape Mounted Rifles. The medal in itself has been deemed to be an original, but the provenance is somewhat more uncertain. While the engraving looks to be rather standard, if I compare with the ww1 issues (which is my main collecting area) I have not been able to find him in any of the lists of recipients of the DCM during the Boer War. However, as I am a Swede myself, the existence of a potential Swedish DCM recipient is of course of great interest to me.

Carl Sundberg existed and lived a rather interesting life. In short, he had joined the French Foreign Legion in the late 1800:s. From there, he deserted and arrived in Cape Town in 1893 where he was enrolled into the Bechuanaland Border Police. The year after, he instead joined the Cape Mounted Rifles in Kingwilliamstown – apparently, he served in an artillery unit connected to the CMR.

At first, I naturally assumed that he must have gotten his hands on the DCM and awarded it to himself. It would not be the first time a rather adventurous man would award himself medals to make himself seem more interesting, was my take on it.

However, I then found his Certificate of Discharge and now I’m not so certain anymore. According to the document he was discharged in September 1902 due to “Time expired”. What I noticed was that his listed name is “Carl Sundberg D.S.M”. Under his awards and decorations, the plot thickens; his QSA with clasps, as well as his KSA with clasps, and some other medals are correctly listed together with his French awards. But then there is also a notice of a "D.S Medal."

Had it been a ww1 group it would have been case closed – however, as the DSM was not introduced until 1914 I’m not so certain. Could it be that he received the DCM but it was wrongfully written as DSM in his papers? Is the DSM anything else that I have missed completely?

Any theories, speculations or clarities you may offer would be much appreciated.

Thank you for a great forum!

LTL
I have checked "Recipents of the Distinguished Conduct Medal, 18655-1909" by P.E. Abbott and there is no entry for any SUNDBERG; CMR or otherwise.
However, in the book "Wepener Account and Medal Roll" there is an entry for one "2628 Pte. Carl Sundberg" who served with the CMR during the siege. QSA and KSA and address Walringebo (?), Sweden. Marginal note for his KSA reads "drunkard". No mention of any distinction.
I have seen a couple of times references to men in the ABW being awarded "a medal for Distinguished Service" - and checking the records found no trace of a DCM. If the "award" was for the ABW, it must have been the DCM. And in those cases, perhaps the deed(s) somehow or other never came to attention and he "only" got a Mention - or nothing.
Your man may have had that happen and amended his discharge certificate and gave himself a "gong". Or just did it anyway. Such things did happen.
Perhaps you would be good enough to post pictures of his medal group and the associated paperwork.
Regards
IL.

Thank you kindly for your reply! Very interesting!

Could you please explain what you mean with ABW? Sorry for my newbie questions, but the Anglo-Boer war is rather new to me.

Enclosed is the discharge certificate. I will look for a picture of "his" DCM but as I am in the process of moving I'm unfortunately unable to take a new picture of it at the moment; the collection is safely stored away for a couple of weeks. I only have his DCM; the whereabouts of the rest of the awards is unknown to me.

Sorry... Just not realized: ABW - Anglo-Boer War, right?