TOPIC:

Served: Rouxville. Awarded the DTD (Dekoratie voor Trouwe Dienst).

City Coins. August 2015

DTD (Luit. D. J. Jonker)
ABO (Burger D. J. Jonker)


Group to father and son courtesy of City Coins.

Dirk Jacobus Jonker, Junior, was taken prisoner with his father at Slaapkrans with the Prinsloo surrender on 30 July 1900.The PoW Register listed him as No. 9771 and noted his rank as Adjutant.

He submitted an application for an ABO medal (File Reference 411/11/8723) in mid-December 1922, giving his rank as Burger in the Rouxville Commando. He indicated that he was in action at Stormberg, Dordrecht, Boesmanskop, Sprinkaansnek, Slabbertsnek and Witsieshoek and a medal was duly approved and issued.

Over the next months he must have noticed the DTD/ABO pair issued to his friend A/Vkt J.A. Grobbelaar (Smithfield Commando) who, in the early 1920’s, was Commandant of the local Rifle Association in which Jonker was serving as a Captain, and he had also signed Jonker’s Vorm “B”. On a photo of the Rifle Association Officers, Commandant Grobbelaar is sitting in the centre of the front row with Captain Jonker on his right. Grobbelaar wears the ribbons of the DTD and ABO, while Jonker only has an ABO ribbon.

He consequently submitted new Vorms “A” and “B” in October 1923 (File Reference 509/11/8723), both signed by Comdt Grobbelaar. His Rank was now given as Kwartier Meester with the following service recommendation on Vorm ‘A
“Mr D Jonker was chosen as Quartermaster of the Rouxville Commando. He faithfully did his duty and also operated the field heliograph for some time”.

The application was approved with one amendment: the Board decided the Rank on the DTD should be Luitenant. It was, obviously, also decided not to issue him with a new ABO.

Out of a total of 663 DTD/ABO pairs issued, this is one of only 8 where the rank on the medal differs from that on the decoration.

Sold with 3 original photos (Jonker in the early 1900’s; Jonker and wife in the late 1930’s; a faded view of the family farm Bekkerskraal shortly after the war); a copy of the Officer’s photo mentioned above; copies of the PoW Register; Vorms “A” & “B”; an extract from a Defence Register, indicating Rebellion service of Lieut. Jonker with the Rouxville Commando between 3 November and 18 December 1914.

This lot sold for R36,510, approx £1,780.

This pair is for sale on BidorBuy starting at for R40,000 or £2,300. No bids so far.

So tempted in view of the fact I have his fathers pair!!! Hmmm.....

The pair appears in the next Kaplan sale, B107, 18 November 2020. Estimate R30,000.