British and Colonial

The obverse of the King's South Africa Medal (KSA) bears the head of King Edward VII and the inscription 'EDWARDVS VII REX IMPERATOR'.  The reverse is the same as the Queen's South Africa Medal third type.  The suspender is straight with a claw mount.  The ribbon is 1.25" wide with three equal stripes of green, white and orange.

Two clasps were awarded and the medal is usually seen with 'SOUTH AFRICA 1901' and 'SOUTH AFRICA 1902' although either can appear singularly and medals issued to nurses have no clasps.  The KSA could not be awarded without the QSA.

The award of the medal was controlled under Army Order 232 of October 1902.  The following text, which appeared in the Army Order, also appeared in The Times on 30th September 1902.

1.      His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve that a second medal, bearing his effigy, shall be granted in recognition of the services rendered by the troops in the later phases of the campaign in South Africa, and to reward those soldiers who, by their long service in the field, have brought the war to a successful termination.  This medal will be known as the "King's South Africa Medal."

2.      The ribbon will be orange, white, and green in three stripes of equal width, and so worn that the green stripe of the ribbon shall be on the right.

3.      Provided the claims are approved by the Commander-in-Chief, the medal, in silver, will be issued to all officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the British, Indian, and Colonial forces; to civilian medical practitioners and others employed with military hospitals in South Africa; and to all nursing sisters, as defined in Army Order 195 of 1901; provided that (a) they were actually serving in South Africa on or after January 1^st, 1902 and (b) that on that date they had completed 18 months' war service; or subsequently completed such service before June 1^st, 1902.

4.      Interpreting this rule, the actual period of absence from duty either at home or in South Africa on account of wounds or sickness directly attributable to service in the field will be allowed to count to make up the period of 18 months.

5.      The medal will also be granted to officers, warrant officers, non­commissioned officers, and men who have been invalided by reason of wounds received in action prior to January 1^st, 1902, thereby being unable to complete an aggregate service of 18 months in South Africa, provided they returned there for any period between January 1^st, 1902, and May 31^st, 1902, both dates inclusive.

6.      Two clasps will also be granted - (a) a clasp, "South Africa 1901" to all who served in. South Africa between January 1^st 1901, and December 31^st, 1901, both dates inclusive; (b) a clasp "South Africa 1902" to all who served in South Africa between January 1^st, 1902 and May 31^st, 1902, both days inclusive.

7.      The above clasps will be worn with the medal granted by Army Order 94 of 1901 by those qualified to receive them, if they are not entitled to receive the medal granted by this Order.  If they are entitled to receive the medal granted by this Order, the above clasps will be worn with it.

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