Country: UK
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: abt. 09/08/1902 [Coronation Day]
Number issued: 8
IT SEEMS THIS PRESENTATION NEVER TOOK PLACE
Gold stars & clasps, to be worn in lieu of the Queen's Scarf, to:
Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment –
Colour-Sergeant F.F. FERRET, D.C.M. [Thomas Ferret]
2nd Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment –
Colour-Sergeant Frank KINGSLEY, D.C.M.
2nd Bn. East Surrey Regiment –
Colour-Sergeant Henry CLAY, D.C.M.
2nd Bn. Devonshire Regiment –
Sergeant William COLCLOUGH
1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles –
103 Private Alfred Henry Du FRAYER
Royal Canadian Regiment –
7552 Private Richard Rowland THOMPSON
New Zealand Mounted Infantry –
Trooper Henry David COUTTS [Donald Coutts]
Roberts' Horse –
2479 Trooper Leonard CHADWICK
"The star and attesting document will probably be conferred personally by his Majesty on the occasion of his coronation in next May".
"All troops in the British Empire present arms to the Queen's scarf or its equivalent [i.e. the gold star]"
Above is a list of the eight men who received Queen's Scarves.
"Captain Du Frayer learned from the Governor General that the four soldiers who had been honored by the gift of the scarves were to be also granted gold decorations that might be worn publicly, together with documents certifying to their actions signed by the King" (Adelaide Chronicle, 04/01/1902).
Were these medals ever presented?
bicolboy59 bleieves the answer to this is no, they weren't:
I have found no supporting documentation to confirm the proposition that gold stars were presented or even commissioned. It is a theme that on the surface, appears to have been anecdotally relayed by Du Freyer whilst speaking to reporters covering the events or overheard or the story was syndicated amongst the various newspapers in which it appears.
From all accounts (and not wishing to speak ill of the dead) the best I could say is that on the surface, the Australian recipient does not appear to have been a humble man, and played on his award.
I have yet to find newspaper articles from the UK that would ad to the voracity of the Australian news reports.
Of course it may well be that the Duke did make the remark (but was speaking out of turn) with the idea quashed when put forward at the palace.
SEE: Research into the Award of the Queens Scarf
Australasian, 08/06/1901
________________________________________
Australasian, 22nd June 1901, p. 31
THE SCARF, KNITTED BY QUEEN VICTORIA.
His Highness the Duke of Cornwall and York also conferred on Lieutenant Dufrayer a gold star and clasp, to be worn in lieu of the scarf, which takes equal rank with the Victoria Cross. A document is also to be drawn up and signed by His Majesty the King indicating that he is the wearer of the scarf for Australia. This is to be kept as a record by Lieutenant Dufrayer. All troops in the British empire present arms to the Queen's scarf or its equivalent. Lieutenant Dufrayer was some years ago dux of the Brighton Grammar School.
Australasian, 22nd June 1901, p. 45
At the distribution of medals the Duke of Cornwall said to Lieutenant Du Frayer, who was wearing the Queen's Scarf, that when he arrived home he would send out a gold star to be worn beside it. The star will be similar to the Victoria Cross, only made of gold. Turning to Sir Arthur Bigge, His Royal Highness added, "Make a note of that".
McIvor Times, 11th July 1901
The Queen's Scarf.
"All Australians are now familiar", says the Sydney Mail, "with the acts of gallantry for which Trooper A.H. Dufrayer, of Narrandera, was allotted, by acclamation of his comrades and officers, one of the four scarfs of honour knitted by her late Majesty Queen Victoria, and to be so distributed among different sections of the army in South Africa. As only four such scarfs have been awarded, or ever can be – now that the Queen is no more – the distinction is great, and one of which Australians may be proud. The Australian recipient, since his return from the war, has been granted a lieutenancy, and was decorated with the scarf by the Duke of Cornwall and York at the Royal review. As the lieutenant was again in town lately on his way to Narrandera we had an opportunity of inspecting the trophy. It is a knitted woollen scarf, with V.R.I. embroidered in the corner, the whole the personal world of her late Majesty, who had an old fashioned skill in various forms of fancy needlework. As to wear the scarf repeatedly would be to wear out an unreplaceable and uniquely valuable decoration, the King has decided, Lieutenant Dufrayer was informed by the Duke, to award to the four scarf winners a gold star and clasp, which will rank equal with the Victoria Cross, and carry with it the same distinction. All troops will be required to 'present arms' and salute the 'Queen's Scarf or equivalent', the star. Further, each of the four holders will receive from the King an autographed record to be handed down as an heirloom with the scarf. The star and attesting document will probably be conferred personally by his Majesty on the occasion of his coronation in next May. Lieutenant Dufrayer is a native of Melbourne, but has been engaged in pastoral work in New South Wales during most of his life, and enlisted from Narrandera, where he had spent the previous seven years, and whither he returns. By order of the King, the holders of the four scarfs are to be distinguished by the affix 'Q.S' ".
Adelaide Chronicle, 4th January 1902
Captain Dufrayer, the recipient of one of the four scarves knitted by the late Queen for the colonial soldiers who performed the most distinguished services at the war, will shortly leave for London to witness the coronation ceremony, to which he has been commanded. The first intimation he received with respect to his attendance at the coronation wan during the visit of the Prince of Wales to Sydney. At that time Captain Dufrayer was acting as special aide-de-camp, and was on duty on the wharf when the Royal party left. Noticing his presence, the Prince spoke to Captain Dufrayer, expressing a hope to see him at the coronation ceremony, and intimating that on his reaching London he would make him one of his own aides-de-camp. Subsequent to this incident Captain Dufrayer learned from the Governor General that the four soldiers who had been honoured by the gift of the scarves were to be also granted gold decorations that might be worn public, together with documents certifying to their actions signed by the King. Further, Captain Dufrayer ascertained that it was intended that these decorations were to be handed over to the recipients by the King himself.
Queen's Scarf won by Sergeant William Colclough, 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment (offered for sale in December 2016)
