TOPIC:

I have been lucky in n 2022, and so there are four contenders for my top medal purchase. But I think I have to go with the QSA and tribute medal to 324 Sergeant H.W.Burden of the New South Wales Army Medical Corps (please note that of the group in the image, he was not entitled to the KSA , and that the Transvaal clasp appears to be a later addition!)
Please see the biographical detail on the forum for an account of his service.






"Presented to SERGT. BURDEN for rescuing a soldier under heavy fire in South Africa by his fellow employees of H&R Department Mar 1901."

When I did the usual searches on the internet and oz-trove the information just kept coming and I had a great response from fellow forummers (many thanks again) which provided photographs and details of his brave deeds in attending to wounded men on the field of battle.
Sadly, no official mention in despatches as far as I can see.

An added bonus was being able to add to Neville's amazing list of tribute medals, an amazing resource constantly growing.

I wish everyone a fruitful 2023.

There are some vice nice acquisitions on display in this thread.

Mine is a simple favourite, a QSA (4) to Lt Thomas of the Herschel Native Police.

Not a unit that is very often seen.



Probably not the easiest man to research though!

Best wishes
David

Frank Kingsley was born in London (Stamford Hill) in 1865.

He first enlisted on 26th August 1887; at the time his occupation was listed as groom. His first year with the colours was spent at home after which he was posted to India and served there between 1888 to 1896. He rose relatively through the ranks and in 1890 was promoted to corporal, Lance Sergeant in September ’92 and Sergeant November ‘1892. Kingsley was to extend his service to 12 years and as a result he was promoted to colour Sergeant a couple of months later in 1894. He returned home in 1896 and re engaged in August 1899 for the Boer War.

Arriving in October 1899 with the 2nd Bn West Yorkshire Regiment he was first engaged at Willow Grange and continued to take part in the actions around Ladysmith until he was to make his name during the Battle of Spion Kop.

On the eastern slope of Tabanyama, on the 21st of January 1900, Kingsley’s company had become isolated and had to survive until nightfall. Earlier on in the day, Captain Charles Ryall was mortally wounded, and it was Kingsley who was to carry him to cover at great personal risk.

Kingsley was to stay in South Africa for the duration of the war and apart from the actions pertaining to the Relief of Ladysmith, he also campaigned in the Transvaal and the Orange Free State, he also participated in the battle leading to the awarding of the clasps for Tugela Heights, Laing’s Nek

For his Service, Kingsley received the following medals
Distinguished Conduct Medal VR. (LG 19th April 1901)
(Col Sgt. F Kingsley, 2nd W. York Regt.)
Queens South Africa Medal 1899 – 1902
- Tugela Heights
- Orange Free State
- Relief of Kimberley
- Transvaal
- Lang’s Nek
- (1957 Col Sergt. F Kingsley, 2nd W. York Regt.)


King’s South Africa Medal
-SA 1901
-SA 1902
(1957 Serjt – Major F. Kingsley. W. York: Regi)


He stayed in the Army until 1906 at which time he resigned at his own request. He was to be an In Pensioner at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, dying there in 1952.


The Queens Scarf

The history and story of the Scarfe’s is a most interesting one. During the last year of her reign, Queen Victoria decided to work by hand a total of 8 scarfs to be tokens of the love and affection that she held for “her soldiers” during the 2nd Anglo Boer War 1899-1902.

They were to be made available to the men who displayed the qualities of being the “Best all-round man in the Army” – during the 2nd Anglo Boer War. 4 of the 8 scarfs (mufflers) were to be distributed among those troops 1 for each of the Colonies of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa..

The conjecture over who was eligible can be seen through the 2 different manners of determination, namely those sent to Lord Roberts for distribution in which Roberts states as “mentioned in his dispatch of March 1, 1902, that the scarves were gifts from the queen to the most distinguished private soldiers then serving. "In conclusion his Lordship desires to place on record that in April 1900, her late Majesty Queen Victoria was graciously pleased to send him four woollen [sic] scarves worked by herself, for distribution to the four most distinguished private soldiers in the Colonial Forces of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, then serving under his command. The selection for these gifts of honour was made by the officers commanding the contingents concerned, it being understood that gallant conduct in the field was to be considered the Primary qualification"

This contrasts with the criteria and methodology employed to distribute the 4 scarfs to the British troops, namely that all for went to NCO’s and not private soldiers. This may have been as a result of a miscommunication by Prince Christian with carrying out the Queens wishes, and these 4 scarfs were only distributed to men of his own 2nd brigade.
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There was amongst some at the time, a misconception that the awarding of the scarf was ranked alongside that of the Victoria Cross, however there is no historical evidence to support this proposition. This did not Dissuade however, the Australian recipient in writing to King George V, petitioning a pension for this unique award, nor from wearing his scarf in the same manner that a colour Sergeant would wear his sash over the right shoulder and affixed at the left hip under his waistbelt. This practice was also undertaken by several other recipients.

There is no evidence to suggest that the intention from Queen Victoria was that this award was in fact expected to be worn in uniform and it is more likely that her intent was for the item to provide comfort to her troops during the cold and damp nights in South Africa as had been conveyed to her by her Grandson Prince Christian in his letters home from the front.

Over the years, recipients and family members had attempted to seek special recognition for the scarf, this took many forms some of which include
- Post nominals of “QS” after the name
- Recognition that the award was not dissimilar to the VC
- Financial renumeration by way of special pension
- Attendants at VC & GC events being held
-


The Colonial Recipients

Australia – Pte. A. Du Frayer, NSW mounted Rifles rescued a dismounted comrade under heavy fire on April 11, 1900. Karee Siding
New Zealand – Trooper Henry Coutts, (1st New Zealand Contingent) - rescued a wounded mate caught in an ambush at Sanna's Post on 31 March 1900
Canada – Pte. Richard Rowland Thompson, 2nd Bn Royal Canadian Regiment. went to the aid of wounded comrades at Paardeburg on 18 and 27 February 1900
South Africa – Trooper L Chadwick, Roberts' Horse – Sanna’s Post (also a recipient of the congressional Medal of honour- Spanish American War)

Recipients of the 2nd Brigade
Quartermaster Sergeant Henry George Clay, DCM, 2nd Bn The East Surrey Regiment. - Wounded at Colenso and at Vaal Krantz
Colour Sergeant William Colclough, 2ndBn, The Devonshire Regiment. Elected by Officers and men of the Regiment no apparent singular act of gallantry recorded.
Colour Sergeant Thomas Ferrett, DCM, 2ndBn The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) - Battle of Colenso
Colour Sergeant Frank Kingsley, DCM, 2nd Bn The West Yorkshire Regiment. – Spion Kop
It is interesting to note that the colonial awards all went to those holding the rank of Private (or equivalent as per the above dispatch of Roberts) and that those to the British troops went to non commissioned officers holding at least the rank of sergeant, and that 3 of the 4 British recipients were also in receipt of the DCM whereas none of the colonial troops were. Other discrepancies appear in the manner in which the award was bestowed, in some cases the recipient was selected by the commanding officer ( at least in the case of Kingsley) and that with some of the colonial troops, it would appear that a ballot was held exclusively for the rank and file, officer participation as also with the award to Colclough after the ballot was reduced to a final total of 8 candidates from which the brigade officers then voted.





As for the acts of Gallantry which were used in the overall determination,
2 were for Koornspruit (Sanna’s Post)
2 for Colenso
1 for Paardeburg
1 for Spion Kop
1 karee Siding
1 no specific act recorded.
Of the Current location of scarfs, 5 are in regimental/National museums, 1 in private collection and 2 whereabouts unknown (if they in fact survive. The Scarf that accompanies the group to Kingsley is a reproduction or the original. The only original scarf to be sold was that to Colclough and that together with his group sold a number of years ago for GBP 13K.

Many thanks for sharing your superb group to Kingsley, and also for the history of the Queen's Scarves.
Cheers Steve

Here is the Colclough Queen's Scarf, offered for sale through Heritage Auctions, Dallas, Texas, on 11 Dec 2016.
I followed the auction on the day, and seem to remember the scarf did not sell on that occasion. The estimate was $80,000 to $120,000 USD.



Courtesy of Heritage Auctions

SEE: Presentation Scarf Knitted by Queen Victoria


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And, as for my "top" acquisition of 2022, I think the double tribute medal group to 6746 Private David HARTLAND, Volunteer Active Service Company, 2nd Bn. Worcestershire Regiment, has to be up there.

Perhaps made more rewarding by the fact that the three medals were purchased separately.



SEE: Dudley Tribute Medal
AND Worcester Tribute Medal

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