TOPIC:

The QSAs awarded to the South African Constabulary often contain only state clasps. But sometimes, the prior service of these men make for some very interesting combinations.

Here are two recent examples:

QSA (4) CC Wepener Tr Witt (Tpr. J. Kohler SAC). Wepener clasp whilst serving with 2/Brabants Horse


Picture courtesy of British Medals

The pair to Lt Cadiz comprising

QSA (4) Rhod RoM OFS Tr (Lieut: C.J.R.G. Cadiz. S.A.C.), KSA (2) (Lieut: C.J.R.G. Cadiz. S.A.C.)


Picture courtesy of Spink

Hello David,
The SAC is considered "poor" mans collecting in this country, I know many general collectors and dealers that would not buy them for that reason, I think this is a rather sad and complete lack of knowledge as to just why they had been raised and what their particular duties actually were during the war, moreover, a complete and total lack of understanding what was actually going on in the Transvaal from the middle 1900!
Regards Frank

Hi David & Frank,

I have a few in my collection, mainly to the different ranks eg 3rd Cl Tpr & 2Cl Tpr etc and if they had prior / subsequent service it makes the medal even more interesting.

Cheers,

Jim

Frank,

I totally agree with you. I am sure it is down to the view people have of the role of the SAC, a fact not helped by the large numbers of medals earned by them.

As Jim says, with their prior service they earned some great clasp combinations.

Best wishes
David

Hello David,
I would not be at all bothered about a mans prior service, for me it is what a man was actually doing whilst in the constabulary, people see a Transvaal clasp, but, fail to understand what was happening, in particular, up on the high veldt, a very dangerous place and no less dangerous in the second half of 1902.
Kind regards Frank

I have long held a candle to the SAC and the men who filled its ranks.

Over the course of the years I have managed to build up quite a sizeable collection of their medals and, with the availability of service records to hand, each one has a different story to tell.

This, after all ,is what it's all about for me - the man behind the medal.

Regards

Rory