TOPIC:

I recently posted an account of Major J R Greer of the Border Mounted Rifles ( angloboerwar.com/forum/5-medals-and-awar...order-mounted-rifles ). In it I mentioned and showed photos of his shooting prizes. Yesterday I acquired the shooting prizes of another member of the BMR, Tpr/Cpl L Haajem, one of the Port Shepstone Norwegians. He had relatives who served with the BMR during the Boer War, while he was in the Port Shepstone Troop during the 1906 Natal Rebellion. Unfortunately, his Rebelllion medal was not with the shooting prizes.
The prizes are as follows:
BMR Marksman's Badge, with the clasps 1905 and two for 1906. I do not know why there are two 1906 clasps.
Bimetal (silver & gold) cross with BMR coat of arms, inscribed "'Tpr L Haajem "B" Troop 1905 Best Shot'
Gold cross with BMR coat of arms, inscribed 'Cpl J Haajem Best Shot "B" Troop Score 212 1906'






The box that contains the Marksman Badge is labelled 'G P Franllin & Co Licensed Gunsmiths West Street Durban'

Brett

I have received a comment from Mr N E C Molyneux, Honorary Curator, NRA Museum at Bisley, concerning the BMR shooting prizes:
"The Border Mounted Rifles items are unique to the B.M.R., having had their own medal dies made to specification. This was not uncommon in the shooting world of the period and lesser units could purchase from a large selection of patterns manufactured by jewellers. They were very prestigious!"

I wonder if the families who inherited such relics regarded them with respect? In my very limited experience they seem to be rare, so, perhaps like similar items awarded by Masons, they were valued more for their metal content, and often ended up in the melting pot.

Brett