sabrigade

White Metal Helmet Plate worn by Native Constables only. This very rare badge was worn from 1913 to 1926.

CEUX de la Somme Association Commerorative Medal and Medallion in cases of issue. Medallion is much larger as can be seen in the photograph.

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CEUX de la SOMME ASSOCIATION MEDALLION IN CASE OF ISSUE

I have not been able to find any reference to this item and I purchased it seperately a few years ago.

SOMME COMMEMORATIVE ASSOCIATION MEDAL CERTIFICATE AWARDED TO PTE STOPFORTH

ASSOCIATION LETTER THAT ACCOMPANIED PTE STOPFORTH'S MEDAL

PTE STOPFORTH'S SOMME COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL

Obviously, Pte Stopforth was very proud of his medal and had his initials privately engraved.

SOMME COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL IN CASE OF ISSUE

SOMME COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL APPLICATION FORM

As far as I have been able to ascertain, the Ceux de la Somme Association was based in Peronne in France and was established to commemorate and celebrate the participation of veterans in the battles for both World Wars. Applications were requested and advertised in 1965 for the commemorative medal?

STOPFORTH MEDAL GROUP :

1. BRITISH WAR MEDAL 1914-20

2. VICTORY MEDAL (South African Pattern)

3. UNOFFICIAL SOMME VETERANS MEDAL

SILVER WAR BADGE IN CASE OF ISSUE?

King's Certificate awarded to Pte Stopforth.

MEDALS, CERTIFICATES AND DOCUMENTS

No 12226 Pte Peter Anthony Stopforth; 3 SAI

I purchased this group of medals on auction in the U.K. a few months ago.

At the age of 24, Pte Stopforth attested in the First South African Infantry Brigade. He claimed previous service in both the Transvaal Cycle and Motor Corps and the Transvaal Scottish. He was employed as a stoker on the Railways in the former Rhodesia.

Stopforth arrived in France in July 1917 and was deployed with his regiment. In December 1917 he displayed symptoms of TRENCH FEET which became a serious health issue and problem for him. The Regiment was based in Gouzeacourt in France at the time. Although there is no official supporting documentation, he was also slighly gassed at Veinport in November 1917.

Trench feet/foot has been described a medical condition characterised by a tingling or itching sensation of the foot accompanied by swelling, pain and numbness. The symptoms develope after the feet become wet and stay wet for an extended period of time. Cold water aggravated the problem and trench feet became a specifically recognised problem in the trenches of World War 1. Trench feet also made the feet more prone to infection. If left untreated, it could turn into gangrene and lead to amputations.

As a result of his medical condition, Stopforth was discharged as being medically unfit on 6 April 1919 after spending very long periods in hospital. He was awarded a Silver War Badge and King's Certificate for his services. His conduct was described as "VERY GOOD".

I really wish that you would restore credibilty as you refer to it by answering and replying in the spirit of a GENTLEMAN'S forum!

COLLAR BADGE

This is the Cap badge worn by this force.

Very little information on the formation, history and organization of the Borough Police is available.

Any knowledgable members who have information to share?

Hi Brett,

I believe that Major McBride was executed by the British after the 1916 Uprising.

I was once told that 5 medals were issued to former members of the Irish Brigade but I cannot remember the source.

Regards,

Will

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ANGLO-BOERE OORLOG (WAR) MEDAL AND WOUND RIBBON AWARDED TO BURGER WILLIAM WALLACE

Burger William Wallace was my great-grandfather on my mother's side of the family. Born in Scotland, he emigrated to the the South African Repuclic and was a resident of Pretoria. On 13 September 1899. Major John McBride and four other prominent Irishmen offered to raise a Commando to fight against the British in the Anglo-Boer War. Im mid-September 1899, after approval had been received from the Executive of the ZAR Parliament or Volksraad, an advertisement was placed in the "Volkstem" Newspaper calling for Irish Volunteers to fight for the Boers.

" A call to Irishmen to remember England's manifold infamies against their own country, and on this account to volunteer more readily to fight against a common enemy for the defences of Boer freedom. "

On his medal application form, Burger Wallace claimed service from September 1899 which indicates that he possibly joined the Brigade on the strength of the advertisement. The Brigade was commanded by Colonel John Blake, an Irish-American, who had fought in the Indian Wars before travelling to the then Rhodesia and the ZAR. One of his deputies was Major John McBride who became Burger Wallace's Field Commander.

The Brigade preferred to be known as the 'Avenger Corps" and received no financial or material rewards for their participation in the Boer War. Burger Wallace took part and fought at the Siege of Ladysmith, Colenso, Spioenkop and Pieters Heights. In March 1900, he was wounded during a skirmish near the Biggarsberg. While recovering from this wound, he was captured in Johannesburg on the 8th of June.

He was sent to the island of Ceylon as a Prisoner of War with the POW Number of 3116. He was 45 years old at the time. He later applied for and was granted the Anglo Boer War medal and the Wound Ribbon. These awards are very scarce to member of the Irish Brigade.

Hi Brett,

The King's Certificate is a seperate entity or item. This is an example of one of them.

Regards,

Will

Any chance of following this excellent thread up with the Irish Brigade in the Boer War and their history as a seperate post?

Hi Brett,

Thanks for the info, please it is very interesting and enlightening. I have requested his file from the Military Archives as well.

Regards,

Will

After a quick google search I see he was in East Africa and a member of 8SAI.

Hi Brett,

An excellent observation, now the quest begins!

Thanks,

Will

Very similar, obviously used the British form as the baseline. Are the British Certificates rare?

Anytime, thanks for your constructive comments and participation, the strong point on this Forum is the Learning Curve created by its members!