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Great Britain: Boer War: Buxton Tribute Medal

Great Britain: Boer War: Buxton Tribute MedalGreat Britain: Boer War: Buxton Tribute Medal
Form: Circular with thick bezel rim holding engraved flan
By: ?
Date: 1901
Ref:  Laidlaw: 1090;
Variations:
SizeMetalMassValue
65 mmSilver$2,250

Edge: Plain.

Obverse: Ornate bezel rim. On flan engraved design within circular border, stag, right, at edge of gorge. Stamped below with sterling silver hallmarks and maker's mark. Legend outside above: “BUXTONA QUAE CALIDAE CELEBRABERE NOMINE LYMPHAE” and below between three stops: “1580”.

Reverse: Ornate bezel rim. On flan engraved across with ornaments: "BUXTON / 21st. June. 1901. / PRESENTED AT A PUBLIC RECEPTION / by his Fellow Townsmen / TO / Lieut. R. Turner D.S.O. / S. AFRICAN L. H. / IN / APPRECIATION OF HIS SERVICES / To the Empire as a Volunteer / IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN WAR / 1900-01".

Notes: Buxton is a spa town in Derbyshire, England

The legend on the obverse originates from Mary Queen of Scots. She visited Buxton whilst a prisoner under the care of the Earl of Shrewsbury on several occasions between 1573 and 1582. She stayed in 'The Hall' a building constructed the Earl having thermal baths within its premises. On her last visit she inscribed on pane of glass in her apartment: "Buxtona quae calidae celebrabere nomine lymphae /Forte mihi posthac non adeunda, vale. (Buxton, whose fame your thermal waters tell / Whom I perhaps shall see no more - farewell."

Lieutenant Reginald Turner was born in 1870, son of Frederick Turner, a Surgeon in Buxton. He was educated at St John's College, Cambridge, and served in the Boer War with the South African Light Horse. He was mentioned three times in Despatches. He was awarded the Queen’s South Africa with six clasps (Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal and Laings Nek). In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa he was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (London Gazette, 19 April 1901) and the insignia were presented by the King on 3 June 1901.

This tribute medal was Lot 174 at the Lockdales auction of 16 May 2015 and sold for £1,500.