TOPIC:

A Norfolk Volunteers medal for the Boer War sold on e-bay tonight for £422.50.
The reverse of the medal was engraved to 5393 Private A. Nockles.
I hope that one of out forum members picked that one up.
Cheers Steve

No my bids were a lot lower...... Maybe it was Neville...... If it was I hope he publishes some good pictures.....

Mike

No, not me ...

It is interesting to note that all the named examples that have surfaced have been to members of the 1st Volunteer Active Service Company, suggesting that only the 15th June 1901 presentation medals were named. This translates into roughly 80 of the 330 medals being engraved (24 percent).

Tribute Medal database updated: NORWICH

Neville

If 76% are unnamed (which I agree seems possible) why are there not more unnamed examples? Is it simply that unnamed medals are not preserved as often or as well?

F.E. Crick's 1 VSC medal is in the Royal Norfolk Regiment Museum. The catalog makes no mention of any engraving.

Rob.

Hi Rob,

I guess the DNW auction archive is a pretty good indicator of the proportion that were named.
Between 1994 and 2021 DNW have sold eight examples. Of these only two were engraved. This gives a 25 to 75 percent ratio, which tallies remarkably well with the theory that only the 1st V.A.S.C. medals were named. Very reassuring..!
I hadn't thought of doing this until I read your post. Thank you.

If the Crick medal is named, this would indicate that the badges presented on 18th Aug 1901 were also engraved (Crick was one of 22 men of the 1st V.A.S.C. who returned after the first ceremony). This would up the ratio to 103/330 (31 percent).

Neville

..

Pte Alfred Nockles, (Nockels in the 1 VSC photo legend), I Coy, 3 VB and 5393, 1 VSC, Norfolk Regt
Taken late January 1900 Mousehold Heath, Norwich (Norfolk Museums Collections)