TOPIC:

This section of the forum is all about single clasp QSAs.

26 clasps were issued for wear and of these 25 are possible as single clasps. Only Tugela Heights is not available as a single clasp.

19 of the clasps were for actual engagements or battles. Five were named for the States in which many smaller engagements occurred. Two date clasps were issued.

State clasps

Cape Colony - 11th October 1899 - 31st May 1902
Natal - 11th October 1899 - 17th May 1900
Orange Free State - 28th February 1900 - 31st May 1902
Rhodesia - 11th October 1899 - 17th May 1900
Transvaal - 24th May 1900 - 31st May 1902

Battle clasps

Belfast - 26th - 27th Aug 1900
Belmont - 23rd Nov 1899
Defence of Kimberley - 15th Oct 1899 - 15th Feb 1900
Defence of Ladysmith - 3rd Nov 1899 - 28th Feb 1900
Defence of Mafeking - 13th Oct 1899 - 17th May 1900
Diamond Hill - 11th - 12th Jun 1900
Driefontein - 10th Mar 1900
Elandslaagte - 21st Oct 1899
Johannesburg - 31st May 1900
Laings Nek - 12th Jun 1900
Modder River - 28th Nov 1899
Paardeberg - 17th - 26th Feb 1900
Relief of Kimberley - 15th Feb 1900
Relief of Ladysmith - 15th Dec 1899 - 28th Feb 1900
Relief of Mafelting - 17th May 1900
Talana - 20th Oct 1899
Tugela Heights - 14th - 27th Feb 1900
Wepener - 9th - 25th Apr 1900
Wittebergen - 1st - 29th Jul 1900

Data clasps

South Africa 1901
South Africa 1902

Hibberd provided a rating of the relative scarcity of single clasp medals to Imperial and Colonial troops:

Hello David,
I have always felt that QSA's do look very pleasing to the eye with a single clasp, I suppose it was because when I collected the MGS, many that I bought had only one clasp and I soon formed the same opinion with regards to those, but then, whilst Egypt and Java just look so good as a single clasp, Chrystlers Farm, Chateauguay and Fort Detroit just look so right somehow.
Kind regards Frank

I have written elsewhere on this forum about single clasp 'Tugela Heights' QSA's being issued in error (Re: A previously unknown Imperial Light Horse memorial 6 months 3 weeks ago). I know of only the instance of the Imperial Light Horse casualties who were issued with this single clasp medal, but perhaps there are others. Whatever the case they must be exceedingly rare.

Brett

I don't know when Hibberd arrived at his findings but assume that it was a number of years ago?

When looking at his list I am at variance with him when it comes to the rarity (or paucity) of e.g the Relief of Ladysmith clasp. This extends to the SA 1901 and 1902 as well as the clasp to the OFS, all of which I find to be reasonably common.

Is this the experience of other collectors on the Forum as well?

Regards

Rory

With regards to the single SA 1901 clasp being rare to the Colonials, I must agree with Hibberd.

I use my QSA to the Natal Police with a single SA 1901 clasp as reference. I have checked the rolls a few times as has Brett and it seems that I might just have the only one to the NP.

Regards
Adrian

Rory,

I think Hibberd's work was undertaken about half a century ago. His famous table and accounts for the single clasp QSAs were published over a number of issues in the Spink monthly Coin and Medal magazine. I think these were from 1961 but I need to check that date.

As such, the research much have been a best guess at the time.

We are much more able these days to generate better estimates given the information now available.

I will check this weekend on the definitions he gave for each of his terms.

Kind regards
David