TOPIC:

For general interest I am here appending illustrations of a hitherto unpublished 'Tribute' medal that was not described or illustrated in Hibbard's standard reference on 'Boer War Tribute Medals' - albeit there is a reference in his work to an unsighted medal believed to have been issued by Dumfries.

The medal below described / illustrated was part of a lot of three medals awarded to the recipient, and which included;

- QSA. 'Cape Colony' 'OFS' 'Johannesburg' (6973 Cpl. A. Keene. Vol: Coy K.O.Sco:Bord:)
- Dumfries, Scotland: South African Campaign 1900 Medal' to 3rd VB K.O.S.B. (Lc. Corpl. A. Keen)
- Third Volunteer Battalion K.O.S.B.. Large h/m silver regimental prize medal

The 'Dumfries' or, 3rd Volunteer Battalion K.O.S.B. South African War Tribute Medal Medal' was struck in 9 carat gold and bears hallmarks. Obverse; A fine die struck high relef Imperial Lion on top of a Victorian Crown, and below the numerals III, within laurel wreaths and the legend 'The Kings Own Scottish Borderers'. Reverse; Laurel wreaths either side and within the die struck raised letters legend 'The South African Campaign 1900', and within the recipients details which are engraved 'Lc Corpl A. Keen'

Basis the distinctive regimental insignia on the gold medal almost certainly this 'Tribute' medal was only awarded to members of the 3rd Volunteer Battalion K.O.S.B. that served overseas in South Africa, and was not per-se issued to all Volunteers from the town of Dumfries that may have served overseas in other units, i.e., Yeomanry.

Interestingly the lot also came with a cylindrical presentation tube that had once contained the recipients 'Freeman' parchment, and which was named in gilt tooled letters 'on the tube 'Freedom of the Royal Burgh of Dumfries - Presented to Private Adam Keen'.

I know of one Scottish medal collector who has an estimated 15-20 un-published 'Boer War Tribute Medals' all issued by Scottish Towns, Cities or Communities - several of them being lavish affairs of the highest quality and in gold!

As information.

Yours aye,
Mark

PS: David feel free to lift / copy the attached illustrations for use elsewhere in the website and in your records

Mark,

I have sometimes seen use of the phrase 'not listed by Hibbard' when tribute medals are listed but not realised quite how many were issued. Being local affairs with no central control, I guess there could be quite a few unpublished ones out there.

Thank you for adding this one to the forum.
David

Potential list of recipients here: Dumfries Tribute Medal

The roll is based on the published list of Dumfries volunteers who left for the Cape in January 1900.
The original contingent was 28 strong, but the report in the Scotsman states that only 18 received Dumfries medals.
To reach a number in line with this, I have ignored men from Moffat, Annan & Ecclefechen, as these towns issued their own medals.

The report from the Dumfries & Galloway Standard details name and town of the Volunteers who got or would get this Tribute medal.

I counted 32 names

Note that this includes Moffat, Ecclefechan, and Annan Volunteers.

It will include those Volunteers who were in the re-inforcement draft who went out in March 1900


DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY SATURDAY STANDARD

JULY 6, 1901. page 6 column 7

HONOURING ACTIVE SERVICE VOLUNTEERS

PRESENTATION OF MEDALS TO THE DUMFRIESSHIRE MEN

An interesting function took place in the Royal Restaurant, Dumfries, on Thursday evening, when the members of the active service company from the Dumfriesshire Volunteers were presented with gold medals, these having been purchased with the balance of the fund raised about eighteen months ago to send out comforts when they were at the front. The medals or pendants (of which we give an illustration) are of a very neat appearance. On the obverse is the badge of the battalion-the lion surmounting the crown, surrounded by the thistle, and with the inscription, “The King’s Own Scottish Borderers:” while on the reverse, within a border formed by crossed flags and laurel branches, are the words, “South African Campaign, 1900,” followed by the name of the recipient.
The function took the form of a cake and wine banquet to which a few invitations had been issued. …………………
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The active service Volunteers present, most of whom were in their khaki uniform, the majority wearing the South African ribbon, were Corporal T. McVinnie, Corporal R. Rae, Dumfries; Lance-Corporal R. G. Adamson, Lockerbie; Lance-Corporal A. Keen, Canonbie; Lance-Corporal J. Williamson, Thornhill; Private J. Turnbull, Langholm; Private W. Watson, Private A. Kempsall, Dumfries; Private J McKimmie, Annan; Private A. Murray, Ecclefechan; Private J. Adamson, Thornhill; Private P. Jeffrey, Dumfries; Private W. McLeary, Langholm; Private J. Cunningham, Private J. S. Waugh, Sanquhar; and Private T. Maxwell, Annan. The absent members of the section who are at home were Sergeant A. Cuthbertson, Lance-Corporal T. Burgess, and Privates W. Davidson, A. C. Anderson, and G. Pagan, Moffat; Private T. Miskelly, Dumfries; Private T M’Guffog, Annan; Privates R.Irving and J. Graham, Langholm. Of the others, four have returned to the front, Private J. Jardine, Dumfries, and Private R. G. Beattie, being with the third active service contingent: and Private W. Gardiner, Lockerbie, and Private D. Smith Dumfries, having joine Major-General Baden-Powells’ South African Police. Private H. Munro, Dumfries, remained behind on obtaining employment in the public works; and two-Private A. Louden, Annan, and Private T. L. Robertson, Moffat-unhappily did not survive the campaign, the former succumbing to enteric fever and the latter being accidentally killed on board train.
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The medals were then handed over to the Volunteers present by the Provost, and on his call their healths were heartily pledged.
Corporal McVinnie, who replied on behalf of his comrades ……………..
……………………………………..
The arrangements were carried out by the sub-committee which was appointed to administer the original fund, viz, Provost Glover, Major Robson, Lieutenant Mackechnie, and Mr Primrose.

Pete

Thank you Volunteer,
This is really useful information and the database listing has been amended accordingly. The British Library has only digitised the Dumfries & Galloway Standard from WWI onwards, so I wouldn't have found this article without your input.
It is interesting that none of the six Moffat men attended. There is still an outside chance that those who had already received medals from their respective districts were excluded from the Dumfries distribution. This was common practise. There are several instances of men being invited to welcome home banquets but being excluded from the presentation because they had already been given tribute medals.
N

N
Some thoughts and analysis on a number of points arising

I can find no record indicating that Private Pringle served in S. Africa
The D&G Standard version of this event has the name D. Smith, Dumfries where the Glasgow Herald has D. Pringle, Dumfries.
David Smith served as 6981 and agrees with medal roll. There is no D Pringle.

The Scotsman, 05/07/1901 states 18 Volunteers received medals. I count 16 ORs named as present. Lt Cunningham was present, but did he get a Dumfries Tribute medal ? (His medal group QSA, 1902 Coronation, T.D, and ANNAN Tribute medal were sold as lot 249 in Christies’ sale of 30th April 1991)
The next lot in this sale, 250, was a group of 3 medals to 6969 Pte. T. McGuffog Vol. Coy. K.O.Sco. Bord., comprising QSA, Dumfries Tribute medal, and Annan Tribute medal. This man was absent on the presentation night but has a Dumfries tribute medal named to him.
Neither the Cunningham or McGuffog group was illustrated, but I have a similar group to the latter awarded to 6967 Pte. J. McKimmie who was present on the night. This suggests that receipt of the Annan medal was not a bar to award of Dumfries medal.
.

The DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY SATURDAY STANDARD JULY 6, 1901 report names 32 Volunteers = 33 including Lt R J Cunningham.
This comprises the 28 from the Glasgow Herald, 19/01/1900 (list of volunteers due to sail for the Cape) (Smith in place of Pringle) plus 4 men –
7281 J.Williamson, Thornhill,
7287 T.Maxwell, Annan,
7283 J.Cunningham, Sanquhar,
and 7289 J.S.Waugh, Sanquhar of the re-inforcing draft under the command of Lieut.R.J.Cunningham.
(Note that Williamson and Waugh also received Sanquhar Tribute medals – again not a bar to getting a Dumfries medal.)
These last 4 were counted in with the 16 present on the night of Dumfries Tribute medal presentation.
Note that the D&G Standard report I quoted earlier includes
“The medals were then handed over to the Volunteers present by the Provost, ……………………”

It seems clear that all the men present got a Dumfries Tribute medal whether in receipt of another town Tribute medal or not, whether or not present on the night, and irrespective of whether a member of the original company or of the reinforcing draft.

Keep up the good work.





Pete