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A scarce unit, with only 22 medals in total issued to the department (2 issued on CMR roll). I bought this one mostly due to the similarity between the recipient's surname and mine, Moloney instead of Moroney.

Assistant Storekeeper J. Moroney - Cape Colonial Ordnance Department - Anglo-Boer War

James Moroney was born in Ireland in about 1845, in the early stages of An Gorta Mor (The Great Famine). His early years would have been extremely tough, the failure of the potato crop as a result of the blight, and the majority of sustainable crops such as salmon, beans, seeds, and rabbits being shipped out of Ireland to sell in foreign markets, resulting in mass starvation and suffering.

His mid-teenage years, when he was around 16, saw James leave Ireland behind for a better life, embarking on the ‘Coldstream’ at Southampton on the 12th July 1861, arriving at Algoa Bay on the Eastern Cape coast on the 6th September, bound for Michael Moroney, a house-servant of Port Elizabeth, presumably his brother or cousin of some sort. Michael arrived at Algoa Bay on the 8th July 1859, aboard the Schah Jehan, aged 22 years.

IMMIGRATION - ARRIVAL OF THE "COLDSTREAM" The Coldstream, 758 tons, Capt. W.Q. KENNEDY, which it will be remembered was at this port two years ago, arrived on Saturday morning last with immigrants for the Eastern Province, after a passage of 75 days. The previous voyage to this port she made in 57 days, being the shortest of any of the emigrant ships for this Province since the commencement of the scheme.

The Coldstream embarked emigrants at Southampton on July 12 and sailed on the 15th of that month, but, owing to heavy south-west gales, did not reach Finisterre until the 17th day; experienced little or no north-east trades, and had a long passage to the equator, which was crossed only on the 41st day from leaving port. The south-east trades proved equally unfavourable, which caused several days beating on the Brazilian coast. Indeed, until arriving in Lat. 24 S, she can scarcely be said to have had really a day's fair wind.

James was married by 1874, to an Lydia Elizabeth Catherine, in which year their first of two sons were born. John William Moroney was born in King William’s Town on the 5th September and baptised on the 20th. James gives his occupation as a Labourer, late Private of the 32nd Light Infantry. This is interesting, however I have found no other reference linking James to the 32nd. His other son, William Morris Moroney, would be born in KWT on the 20th March 1891. James gave his occupation and an Ordnance Storekeeper at this time.

James is listed in the 1878 voter register as residing there. It was also during this time he joined the Ordnance Department.

The Ordnance Department was a branch of the Defence Department of the Cape Colony, having been founded in 1878 following the 9th Frontier War. It was headed by a Commissary of Ordnance, who reported to the Commandant-General of the Cape Colonial Forces (Whom was the Defence Department’s head). The Defence Department was based in King William’s Town, now Qonce, in the Eastern Cape.

The role of the Ordnance Department was performed by armourers, clerks, and storekeepers, for the purpose of supplying the Cape Defence Forces, whom upon the early stages of the conflict would be involved in guarding railway points and other lines of communication, with the Imperial Army utilised to relieve the besieged towns.

In addition to the Cape, there was an Ordnance Department in Natal under the Natal Colonial Forces. If that wasn’t enough, the early stage of the war saw the Indian Ordnance Department - These several sources of ordnance would cause logistical problems and it became complicated to manage all of them effectively.

The badge of the CCOD at the time was the crowned shield of the Colony coat of arms, with the words 'Colonial Ordnance’ on a ribbon below the shield.

The medal rolls indicate that the Defence Department were initially supposed to be issued Bronze Medals, but this was subsequently rescinded, as all received silver medals and their respective clasps. James was entitled to the colony and both date clasps, but they may not have been issued to all due to the conflicting opinions on whether they as civilians should be entitled. But a more likely explanation is that they have since been lost since their first issue.
Not too much is known about James post-war, but the NAAIRS database at the National Archives show a set of pension records for a Storeman J.Moroney of the Ordnance Department, dated between 1907-08.

James Moroney passed away on the 10th October 1915 at Frere Hospital in East London, about 60km east of KWT. His address is given as Durban Street, KWT and his Occupation as Storeman. His age is given as 68 years, however it could be one or two years off, as is common to see with Irish-born at the time. The cause of death was given as Cardiac Degeneration of 5 months, and Syncope. He was still married by the time he passed, but more research is required so as to figure out Lydia’s later life, as well as that of their two sons.

Information courtesy of Ancestry, eggsa and NAAIRS.