TOPIC:

A very interesting thread-it sort of reminds me of the discussions on Boer War DCM'S whether Trophy of Arms or Edward the seventh. I have sighted several Australian Officer QSA's and they have been engraved and I own at present two Officer QSA'S both Imperial-both engraved.

What always impresses me is the standard of the engraving-I doubt anybody anywhere could replicate the level of craftsmanship. One of my QSA's has some very faint parallel lines on it that has been placed to guide the engraver and even that is skillfully done.

Captain F J Choles, Natal Volunteer Forces

Rory wrote: At last count I only have 22 Officers QSA's - they are a mixed bag of Imperial and Colonial; of Fighting Units and Town Guards and many of them have been posted on this forum.

I'll do a bit of analysis to see whether or not I can see a trend but, sadly, I don't have enough examples to prove anything conclusive.

Regards

Rory

If everyone posts issue date (not date roll completed) - from the medal roll, along with the example then you will get a bigger, and hopefully useful,. sample.

Good Evening Everyone.......

I checked the officers medals that I have in my collection.......

2 Imperial Engraved
4 Imperial Impressed
8 Colonial (including Canadian) all Impressed

Mike

This is by no means an attempt to develop a "trend" with what is essentially a small sample group.

I took 20 of my Officers QSA's (excluding Doctors/Reverends/Surveyor Generals and other oddities) and here are the findings below:

- Engraved - 10
- Impressed - 10

So 50/50 at the moment but lets delve a bit deeper...

- Of the 10 ENGRAVED examples 5 are Imperial (Lincoln's; Royal Engineers; Army Service Corps; Royal Lancaster's and R.A.M.C.)
- The remaining 5 ENGRAVED medals are to Colonials (Bethune's M.I.; Prince Alfred Volunteer Guard M.I.; Southern Rhodesia Vols.; Natal Carbineers and Kaffrarian Rifles)

Of the 10 IMPRESSED medals all of them are to Colonials (Natal Police x3; Umvoti M.R.; Albany D.M.T.; Eastern Province Horse; Adelaide D.M.T.; East Griqualand Mounted Rifles; Cradock T.G.; Natal Medical Corps)

What can be concluded from the above? Not a lot.... if anything it serves to confirm that most, in my opinion, Colonial officers were issued with impressed medals especially the T.G's etc. whilst the medals to some Colonial Officers who were in "fighting" units had their medals engraved.

I'll be donning my suit of armour as protection from the barbs which are sure to head my way after such a sweeping assumption....

Regards

Rory

Interested members
Now that the mission is defined ................... out came the records:
(1) Capt. A.Cosgrove, Cape MR (engraved)
(2) Lt. A.J.Forbes, Rhod. Regt (impressed)
(3) Capt. D.Maxwell, DSO, Imp. LH (impressed)
(4) Lt. J.A.Picken, Tembuland MRC (impressed)
(5) Maj. F.W.Panzera, BSAP (engraved)
(6) Lt. H.G.Supple, Damant's H (engraved)

For contrast:
(a) Asst.Paymaster A.C.Bere, RN (engraved)
(b) Lt. W.B.Hodgson, AS.C (DofM) (engraved)
(c) Lt. W.Haire-Forster, Royal Irish Fus (impressed)
(d) Maj. W.H.Robinson, RGA (RofM) (engraved).

(Note: there is another - Tpr/Capt. Laing, DSO (impressed QSA to Natal Carbs and engraved KSA to Johannesburg MR. I have not looked to see which of the medals was issued first, or together).
Regards
IL.