TOPIC:

I am doomed to be interested in medals to strange small units that seemingly served little military purpose. I havent bought any medals for quite a while now, but when a no bar QSA to Pte A E Oates of the Pretoria Volunteer Guard was offered to me , I couldn't resist.
It seems that this fine unit was awarded 16 medals. Pte Oates' service number was 72, which seems to indicate that there had been more than 16 men in the unit, but only 16 qualified for the medal. The medal was initially going to be issued with a Transvaal bar, but the issuing authority thought better of that . Has anybody heard of this unit ?

Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

QSA (0) (67 Tpr: M. S. Parkes. Pretoria V.G.), with old length of ribbon, attempted erasure to number name and rank.

M&E say 'M. S. Parkes of the Mounted Section, Pretoria Volunteer Guard, is confirmed on the medal roll.'

I was able to view the rim of this medal on Sunday and the damage to the surname is not too bad.

The medal sold for a hammer price of GBP 550. Totals (VAT UK only): GBP 682. R14,900. Au$1,330. Can$1,210. US$860.