TOPIC:

dunnboer wrote:
It would be intereresting to compare other 1904 issues side by side.

Here is the Myers medal next to another 1904 example. As noted, the differences are minimal: other 1904 medals that I have seen have simple little crosses on either side of the words "TO" and "OF" and do not have the embellishments at each end of the recipient's name.

Another possibility is that there weren't enough medals available for all 84 men at the 19/11/1902 ceremony, and that some had to wait until 1904, when a new batch was ordered.
Newspaper articles covering the November 1902 event state that yeomen received an "illuminated scrip, conveying the honorary freedom of the borough and a gold medal" (Western Daily Press, 20/11/1902).





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Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 28010,Serjt. W Shaw 66th Coy Imp Yeo.
Yorkshire Tribute Medal (type 2) with 3rd Battalion reverse for South Africa 1901-1902

William Shaw was born in Barrow in Furness in 1875. At the time of his attestation at Doncaster in February 1901, he was living in Manchester and working as a painter. His attestation records his wish to join the 66th Company and he did so, serving in South Africa from 21st February until his death from dysentery at Springfontein on 19th May 1901. His name is recorded on the Yorkshire Boer War Memorial, Duncombe Place. York.

Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 25281 Pte R Brooks 66th Coy Imp Yeo.
Yorkshire Tribute Medal (type 2) with 3rd Battalion reverse for South Africa 1901-1902

Robert Brooks was born in Rotherham in 1880 and joined the 66th Company Yorkshire Yeomanry at Doncaster on the 8th February 1901. His desire to join the 66th IY is recorded on his attestation. At that time he was a volunteer with the York and Lancaster Regiment. He lived in Rotherham, working as a cabinet maker and returned there after his discharge in August 1902. His name was recorded on the Boer War Memorial Tablet at Clifton Park Museum, Rotherham (present whereabouts unknown).

This sold within minutes of being listed by a large London dealer and is an important South Africa Boer War and Great War Sheffield Pals First Day of the Battle of the Somme Commanding Officer casualty group awarded to Major A. Plackett, 12th Service Battalion (The Sheffield City Pals), York and Lancaster Regiment, formerly a Corporal with the 9th Yorkshire Hussars Company, 3rd Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry. Plackett from Harrowgate, Yorkshire was a banker in civil life, but saw service during the Boer War with the Yorkshire Hussars, being present on operations in the Cape Colony, Orange Free State and the Transvaal during 1901 and 1902. Plackett obtained a commission during the Great War as a Major with the Sheffield City Battalion, and after a brief period of service in Egypt at the beginning of 1916, in April of that year was then posted to the Western Front where his battalion brigaded in the 94th Brigade alongside the 1st and 2nd Barnsley Pals of the York and Lancaster Regiment, and also the Accrington Pals of the East Lancashire Regiment, went into the line opposite the fortified town of Serre. Plackett was serving as the commandant of the 31st Division School, when owing to the battalion commander being taken ill, he then found himself appointed to command of the battalion and on course for his place in the history books, in holding command of a famous Pals battalion for the opening of the Somme Offensive on 1st July 1916, in what became known as the infamous first day of the Battle of the Somme. The Sheffield City Battalion would have the dubious honour of being on the extreme left of the 15-mile British front opposite Serre. At 7.30 am the bombardment stopped and the four waves of the battalion rose and advanced into a devastating hail of machine gun bullets and artillery fire. They were caught in machine gun fire from their exposed left and their front. The third and fourth waves were cut in half before they even reached No-Mans land. Practically the whole battalion had been wiped out, and amongst the casualties was Plackett, who was badly wounded, being eventually invalided from service in July 1917.

Pair to Private H. Eyre, Imperial Yeomanry

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, unofficial rivets and glue between state and date clasps (27953 Pte. H. Eyre. 9th. Coy. Imp: Yeo:); Yorkshire Imperial Yeomanry Medal 1900-1902, 3rd Battalion, South Africa 1901-1902 (27953 Pte. H. Eyre.) surname corrected, edge bruise to second, good very fine (2)

Harold Eyre was born in the Parish of St. Coates, Hull, in 1881. A clerk, he attested at Doncaster for the Imperial Yeomanry on 18 February 1901, serving in South Africa with the 9th (Yorkshire Hussars) Company, 3rd Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry, from 14 March 1901 to 28 August 1902. He was later discharged at Aldershot on 30 August 1902.


Photo courtesy of Noonans.

Pair to Private P. Carter, Imperial Yeomanry

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen, South Africa 1901, unofficial rivets between third and fourth clasps (12206 Pte. P. Carter. 66th. Coy. Impl: Yeo:); Yorkshire Imperial Yeomanry Medal 1900-1902, 66th Company, South Africa 1900-1901 (12206 P. Carter) good very fine and better (2)

Percy Carter was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire, around 1876. A plumber, he attested at Wakefield for the Imperial Yeomanry on 2 January 1900, serving in South Africa with the 66th (Yorkshire) Company, 16th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry, from 13 March 1900 to 5 May 1901. Recorded upon his Army Service Record as present at Prinsloo’s Surrender and at Warm Baths, Carter was discharged at his own request on 13 June 1901.


Photo courtesy of Noonans.