TOPIC:

Frank

Your DMB Slouch hat badge is the first such example I have ever seen, to be honest if I had seen one in a scratch box.... I too would not have associated it with the De Beer Maxims Battery!

Live and learn.

Brian

The late Bruce Cazel also had a De Beers Maxim Battery QSA if memory serves - I wonder how many are extant.

Weren't there something like 32 on the roll?

Regards

Rory

Hello Brian,
I was refering to the brass "Maxims" there were a number of units that did wear those.
I've always known De Beers Maxim Battery, wore DMB, the one I have came from Alic Milne who was a well known collector in Kimberley back in the 1960's and 70's, I believe he had at least two examples and he got them from there original owners.
He also had the Town Guard and Municipal Town Guard in his collection of all things Kimberley.
Kind regards Frank

Brianc wrote: Frank

Your DMB Slouch hat badge is the first such example I have ever seen, to be honest if I had seen one in a scratch box.... I too would not have associated it with the De Beer Maxims Battery!

Live and learn.

Brian

Hello again Brian,
I had meant to reply to this when I first saw it, when I originally collected campaign medals all QSA's were really quite cheap, you could just go out and buy half a dozen Kimberey Town Guard medals on the same day for under £100 each, they very soon went to £250 arround the centenary and now go for about the £350 mark, when they turn up that is, which is certainly not as often.
All the more so since David's book was published, Kimberley has nver been something I could get into though, I never held the Town Guard as being anything special, but, now of course, I do wish I had bought more when they were cheap.
I was always far more interested in the fighting in Natal, it always seemed far more intense and interesting, I often think that if Kimberley had not had CJ or De Beers, the enemy would not have been remotely interested in it!
But, the fact is, that the Loyals, Kimberley LH and Regt etc, are all much better value for money when you start number crunching.
Regards again Frank

Brianc wrote: Have I woken up in the future?

When did these become so valuable, especially to the TG or is there something about this man we don't know?

Brian

Spink are offering a couple of single clasp DoK in the next auction.

The first to Pte. D. Suttie. Kimberley Town Gd. He served in No IV Company at the reservoir. His medal sold in 1976 for £75 and is estimated at £180-£220.

The second is to C. Qr: Mr: Sjt: C. Duggan. Kimberley Town Gd: He served at Kamfersdam. This has a lower estimate of £140-£180. The condition is GVF while Suttie's medal is NEF so there is not much to separate them?

Interestingly, Duggan's Kimberley Star is held by the South African Museum of Military History.

Hello David,
I don't feel there is too much between the them really, £75 was quite good money in 1976 though, I would expect them both to do rather better than their conservative estimates in the saleroom on the day, their retail value is certainly more these days.
Regards Frank