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Scotland: Boer War: Oldmeldrum Tribute Medal

Scotland: Boer War: Oldmeldrum Tribute MedalScotland: Boer War: Oldmeldrum Tribute Medal
Form: Circular with attached loop for a ring. Medal made of four parts bonded together: a flan, a surrounding bezel frame and two ornamental borders front and back
By: J.C (?), Aberdeen
Date: 1901
Ref:  Laidlaw: 0841;
Variations:
SizeMetalMassValue
44.3 mmSilver20.9 gm$1,500

Edge: Plain.

Obverse: Within an ornamental border (missing on this example), engraved in large letters across on the flan with ornaments: "F.COY. / 2ND. V.B.G.H." Stamped with the maker's mark "J.C" and: "ABDN." at the foot.

Reverse: Within an ornamental border, engraved across on the flan: "PRESENTED / by the inhabitants of / OLDMELDRUM / TO / Pt. James McCallum / ON HIS RETURN FROM / ACTIVE SERVICE IN / SOUTH AFRICA / MAY 1901".

Notes: James McCallum was one of 22 men with the 2nd Volunteer Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders. Together with other men from Aberdeenshire they formed the 1st Service Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders. They departed from Aberdeen for South Africa on 16 February 1900. The volunteers were attached to the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders (a much larger force of professional soldiers). He was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal with Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Belfast and 1901 clasps.

Oldmeldrum is a town in the north east of Scotland in Aberdeenshire. 'The History of the Aberdeen Volunteers' gives the names of those 22 men from that region of Scotland who comprised the 2nd Volunteer Battalion. Eight of these were from Oldmeldrum. Another similar Oldmeldrum tribute medal to Pt. Thomas Webster is extant. This together with his QSA sold on auction at Dix Noonan Webb in December 2013 for £1,750.