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Queen's Mediterranean Medal: CM.1414-2009

An image of Queen's Mediterranean Medal

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Mint: London
Ruler: Victoria (1837-1901)
Artist: Saulles, George W. de
Ruler: Victoria regina et imperatrix (With the title of)

Entities

Categories

Description

During the 1830s and 1840s several Dutch republics had been established outside the British Cape Colony in South Africa, among which were Transvaal and the Orange Free State, all now in modern South Africa. Transvaal was annexed briefly by the British but its independence re-established in the First Boer War.
In the 1880s however the discovery of vast gold reserves in Transvaal brought large numbers of foreign settlers, largely British, across the border, and an attempted coup at the instigation of Cecil Rhodes in 1895. Military escalation followed, negotiations failed and the two Boer republics, convinced that the British intended annexation, declared war in the Cape Colony in October 1899.
The war required regular army forces to be supplied from wherever possible, but this left the garrisons whence they came dangerously short. The slack was taken up by men of the Militia who volunteered for service abroad, and who in some cases were sent to supply these garrisons with manpower while their regular troops fought in South Africa.
In 1902 this medal was awarded to such volunteers who had served in the garrisons at Gibraltar, Malta and Egypt during the Boer campaigns, where they were often put to guarding Boer prisoners. Queen Victoria had died during the fighting, but her portrait was retained on this medal, which is likewise known as the Queen's Mediterranean Medal although it was authorised by King Edward VII.
This example was awarded to Corporal S. Froggatt of the West Yorkshire Regiment. Lester Watson acquired the medal at some point before 1928.

Notes

History note: Gift of L. Hoyt Watson; ex Lester Watson Collection, acquired before 1928

Legal notes

Given by Lester Watson through Cambridge in America, 2009

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 36.5 mm
Weight: 34.45 g

Place(s) associated

  • London

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (2009) by Watson, Lester

Dating

Production date: AD 1902

Materials used in production

Silver

Techniques used in production

Struck

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: Bust of Victoria facing left with veil

  • Text: VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX
  • Location: Obverse
  • Type: Design

Inscription present: Britannia in foreground facing right holding standard and waving wreath over army marching along shore, with ships offshore in background

  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.1414-2009
Primary reference Number: 141508
Watson Catalogue: 326
Ordering: M-0297
Previous object number: LW.0297
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 15 January 2024 Last processed: Monday 15 January 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Coins and Medals

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Queen's Mediterranean Medal" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/141508 Accessed: 2024-11-08 13:34:54

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/141508 |title=Queen's Mediterranean Medal |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-08 13:34:54|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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