Australia: Boer War: Tribute Medal from Walcha, New South Wales
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Form:
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Shield shaped with attached loop.
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By:
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? |
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Date:
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1901 |
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Ref:
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Laidlaw: 1034;
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Variations:
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| Size | Metal | Mass | Value |
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| 38.8 mm (inc loop) x 24.7 mm | Gold (15ct) | 8.8 gm | $1,700 |
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Edge:
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Plain.
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Obverse:
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Border of shield formed by wreath. Within and surrounded by floral ornaments, raised circular medallion engraved with monogram: "WEMcM"
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Reverse:
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Stamped at the top: "RD.247220". Engraved across with ornaments: "PRESENTED / TO / TROOPER / McMILLAN / on his return from / SOUTH AFRICA / WALCHA (in an arc) / 1901". Stamped at the foot with the (indistinct) Birmingham hallmarks for 15ct gold and 'a' for 1900-01.
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Notes:
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William Edward McMillan was born in 1870 in the village of Blandford, NSW. He served during the Boer War with the New South Wales Imperial Bushmen (6th Imperial Bushmen). This regiment of mounted riflemen, under the command of Colonel J A Kennett Mackay, had strength of about 750 men divided into six squadrons. McMillan was in ‘C’ Squadron. The NSWIB served in Rhodesia and Western Transvaal between April 1900 and June 1901. He was awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal with five clasps (Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Rhodesia and South Africa 1901). He was a resident of Wlacha and this medal was presented to him by the citizens of the town on his return home. He re-enlisted at Sydney with the Australian Commonwealth Horse in January 1902 and after a short second period of service in South Africa returned home in about July 1902.
Walcha is a small town about 400 km north of Sydney.
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