TOPIC:

Can anyone shed light on a KSA medal awarded to my grandfather, J. D. Morrison? He was a marine engineer and more than likely served in that capacity during the Boer War. The inscription on the medal beneath an image of a merchant ship and a map of the world with Africa in its centre reads: "OB PATRIAM MILITIBUS PER MARE TRANSVECTIS AD JUTAM".

Greetings and Welcome to the Forum.....

What you have is called "The Transport Medal"

Take a look here:

angloboerwar.com/medals-and-awards/british/52-transport-medal

Mike

Thanks for the lead, Mike.
Any idea how I can find out more about his ship, the 'Kent', how long he served for etc? (I know that in 1903 he was chief engineer on the 'Morning', a former Norwegian whaler, which was the relief ship in Antarctica to Capt Scott's 'Discovey'. It would be interesting to fill in the gap in his career before that year.)

Don

ps enclosed is one bad scan of the two medals

Hello Don,
I like that little silver miniature, just superb and very rare too!
Morrison was a second engineer in the Federal Steam Navigation Company and served on board the Kent in this capacity.
The Kent was brand new in 1899 and was sold off in 1915.
Regards Frank

Morrison's entry in ADM171

That's fantastically helpful! Many thanks. I found a pic of the ship online and even a newspaper clipping from the Sydney Morning Herald of 28 Dec 1899 describing in great detail the arrival of the SS Kent in Port Elizabeth and Cape Town where it disembarked Australian troops and their horses. The reporter filed a fascinating account of the reception the Aussies were given when they arrived. J D Morrison was then 2nd Engineer on the SS Kent from Feb to Aug 1900 but I dont yet have details of the voyage UK/South Africa and Australia.