Belgium: Boer War: General J.H. de la Rey / Tweebosch
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Form:
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Circular with attached loop through which passes a ring
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By:
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Godefroid Devreese |
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Date:
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1902 |
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Ref:
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AM: 96; Hern: 218; Laidlaw: 0695a;
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Variations:
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| Size | Metal | Mass | Value |
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| 28 mm | Silver | | $300 |
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Edge:
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Plain.
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Obverse:
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Bust of de la Rey extending downwards to the rim, front and turned slightly to the left, bearded with hat. To the right across in incused letters: “G (looks like C) DEVREESE / 1902”. Legend on left incused: “DELAREY”.
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Reverse:
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Laurel branch. Across: “TWEEBOSCH / 7E. MAART / 1902”
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Notes:
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General de la Rey was part of a delegation which visited Europe at the end of the Boer War to seek funding for reconstruction. This medal dates from that time. A series of medals was made by Devreese for the principal delegates: Generals Botha, de la Rey and de Wet.
In the Battle of Tweebosch or De Klipdrift on 7 March 1902, a Boer commando led by Koos de la Rey defeated a British column under the command of Lieutenant General Lord Methuen. The British lost 200 killed and wounded, plus 600 men and all four guns captured. General Methuen was wounded and captured. He was the only British general taken prisoner by the Boers during the war. Despite demands by the troops in his commando for the general’s execution, de la Rey sent him under a flag of truce back a British hospital.
Godefroid Devreese (1861-1941) was a prolific Belgian medallist.
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