Original British Second Boer War West Yorkshire Regiment Named Version Two Queen's South Africa Medal, King's South Africa Medal, and Long Service Good Conduct Medal - Color Sergeant John Arthur Smith

Original Items. One-of-a-Kind. The Queen's South Africa Medal is a British campaign medal awarded to British and Colonial military personnel, and to civilians employed in an official capacity, who served in the Second Boer War in South Africa. Altogether twenty-six clasps were awarded, to indicate participation in particular actions and campaigns. This is a tremendous set including the Queen’s & King’s South Africa Medals as well as the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal identified to Color Sergeant John Arthur Smith, West Yorkshire Regiment. Smith first attested on March 8th, 1887, and would spend nearly 2 years in Gibralter, 1 year in Hong Kong, 1 year in Singapore, and 2 years in South Africa during his service.

Poor logistics and disease, combined with having to fight against a disciplined and capable enemy of excellent horsemen and marksmen who perfected guerrilla warfare, made this a hard-won medal. In addition to men often having to go without basics such as food and water, enteric fever killed several thousand and was a constant drain on manpower. The published casualty rolls run to over 50,000 names, while studies of contemporary publications and reports put the actual figure for all casualties, including caused by disease, at 97,000.

The Queen's South Africa Medal is a silver disc, 38 millimeters (1.5 inches) in diameter. The bronze medal was awarded to non-combatant Indian troops and other non-combatant men of whatever nationality who drew military pay, although some silver medals were awarded to native troops. The suspender is attached to the medal with a claw mount and a pin through the upper edge of the medal.

The first medals were awarded to Lord Strathcona's Horse and bore the years "1899" and "1900" below Britannia's wreath, with the wreath almost touching the "R" of "AFRICA". Approximately fifty of these medals were awarded. This example is the second version with the 1899 and 1900 removed, with the shadow still visible. 

The rim is engraved 1695 SEJT. J. A. SMITH. WT. YORK. REGT. It has a single clasp for Cape Colony. 

The King's South Africa Medal is a British campaign medal awarded to all British and Colonial military personnel who served in the Second Boer War in South Africa, and who were in the theatre on or after 1 January 1902 and who had completed 18 months service in the conflict prior to 1 June 1902.

This example is rim-engraved 1695 CLR. SERJT. J. A. SMITH. W. YORK. REGT. The clasps include SOUTH AFRICA 1902 and SOUTH AFRICA 1901.

The Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal was instituted by King William IV in 1830. The medal remained in use for 100 years, until it was replaced by the Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct (Military) in 1930. During that time the reverse of the medal remained virtually unchanged, while the design of the obverse was altered during the reigns of Queen Victoria, King Edward VII and King George V.

This example has Edward VII on the obverse, and is rim-engraved 1695 CR. SERJT. J. H. SMITH. W. YORK. REGT.. This example incorrectly lists his middle initial as H.

This is a fantastic set of identified Boer War medals. Comes ready for further research and display!