TOPIC:

The Presentation of War Medals by Her Majesty the Queen, in the gardens of Devonshire House, on the 11th of August this year, (1902) to as many of the staff as could be present. Obviously, it was impossible for every member to be there on this auspicious occasion. Some had already received their medals at the hands of the King - some had returned to South Africa - some were in parts too distant to allow of their coming. But the happy recipients of these medals one and all expressed their deep gratitude for Her Majesty's gracious kindness in thus recognising their work. The high honour conferred upon them made it indeed a memorable day for the Committee and members of the staff alike, and their expressions were warmly significant of how deeply they appreciated the fact that the first public act performed by the Queen. after the Coronation, should have been the Presentation of Medals to those who had so nobly earned them daring the war in South Africa. 

An introduction to the Imperial Yeomanry Hospital Fund



An image from the Navy and Army Illustrated dated 23rd August 1902, titled 'A Pretty Medal Presentation Scene'. I'll apologise now about the poor image quality, but the caption at the bottom reads -


Among the successes of the war in South Africa was the Imperial Yeomanry Hospitals Fund, which was managed by an influential Ladies' Committee, and in the hospitals resulting from which more than 20,000 patients were treated. Her Majesty took from the first great interest in the Fund, and her gracious promise to present medals to the officers, nurses and others who had served with the Imperial Yeomanry Hospitals in South Africa drew a very numerous and brilliant assemblage the other afternoon to the spacious gardens of Devonshire House. In all 30 officers, 250 orderlies and dressers, 25 nurses, and 10 ward-maids received their medals on this interesting occasion.

Below is a close-up of the above lower half of the image from Navy and Army Illustrated.











Has anyone ever seen lists of names of the recipients who attended this event as I have tried to conduct my own research to no avail.

Trev