TOPIC:

Hello Mike.....

THE SOUTH AFRICAN CONSTABULARY GALLANTRY BADGE

The one you see here is the metal version..... Brass Plate covered with Olive Green Cloth and Metal Wreath, Gallantry and Crown.....

There was a cloth version again Green with Embroidery, without the brass frame....

The badge was worn above the rank stripes......

In January 1902 at the suggestion of Colonel Edwards, Major General Baden-Powell approved a badge of merit to be awarded to Officers (Note none issued to Officers) NCO's and men of the South African Constabulary who distinguished themselves for gallantry.... Although they were eligible for military awards such as the DCM, Baden-Powell believed that acts of gallantry went unrecognized..... Baden-Powell personally approved all awards on the recommendation of a board of officers...... He asked the High Commissioner to present the first awards but rec'd a note from the Military Secretary saying his Excellency was "doubtful about the advisability of presenting the badges".... Baden-Powell postponed the ceremony and later presented the badges himself..... According to available records there were only 83 awards.....

Sorry Mike it has nothing to do with Mafeking.....

Each man was given at least One Metal Badge for his dress uniform and One Cloth to go on his workdress uniform....

Mike

Hello Mike,

A fortunate find: a letter that reads as follows

Lieut Matthews
S.A.C.

Herewith the 'Gallantry Badge' which the Insp'r. Gen'l has awarded you.

The acts performed by you, for which this badge has been awarded, were read out by the Inspector Gen'l on parade, when he presented the others.

please acknowledge.

B.O (?)
(signed) F. Wolseley Bow***(?) Major
Staff Officer E Division S.A.C.

A second letter on a letter head:

Calgarth Park,
Windemere (Tel. No 10}
11 Jan 1905.

Mr E. Matthews served under me originally as a member of the Cape Police throughout the seige of Mafeking, 1899 - 1900 and afterwards in the South African Constabulary where he won for himself a Commission as an Officer (1901 to 1903).

He showed himself at all times a loyal, capable, conscientious worker, endowed with special zeal and gallantry.

He is a man on whom I could always rely to carry out instructions conscientiously and with intelligence.

He accomplished several special tasks (such as the escape of Lady Sarah Wilson from Mafeking, the out scouting of Boer scouts in the OR Colony etc.) with discretion and success.

R**(?)Baden Powell **.***(?)

The letter is over stamped with a date stamp just below the letter head:
CHIEF STAFF OFFICER S.A.C.
**(?) JUN. 1906
JOHANNESBURG

Hello Mike,
That was just so typical of this man, the more I read about him, the more I dislike him, the way he treated the local natives during the siege and the way he then tried to airbrush out of history units like the "Black Watch" who had taken the same risk as he had, if not rather more, during the defence of Mafeking!
Thought about him as I walked past Baden Powell House, earlier this year, not impressed!
Regards Frank.

QSAMIKE wrote: He asked the High Commissioner to present the first awards but rec'd a note from the Military Secretary saying his Excellency was "doubtful about the advisability of presenting the badges".... Baden-Powell postponed the ceremony and later presented the badges himself.....

Mike[/size]

Mike
Not sure if this will down load at your end

Mike

Hello Mike.....

Yes that is the S.A.C. Gallantry Badge with the yellow background ("E" Divison - Orange River Colony) .....

There were metal and cloth ones..... I have several of the metal ones with the different backgrounds but not a cloth one....

There were a total of 84 Badges awarded....

Mike