Medals worn by Next-of-Kin

[Brett Hendey]

I have acquired a group of medals awarded to British soldier who served with the King's Royal Rifle Corps in India in the 1890's and in the Boer War in 1899-1902. He later settled in South Africa and served in the Rand Rifles in the 1914 Rebellion and in the German South West African campaign of World War I. His medals, which are shown below, are:

India Medal (Relief of Chitral clasp). Private, 1st KRRC.

Queen's South Africa Medal (Talana, Transvaal; late issue Cape Colony, Orange Free State missing)

King's South Africa Medal (South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902)

The above two medals were awarded for service as a Private in the 1st KRRC Mounted Infantry and, later, in the 25th (KRRC) Mounted Infantry Battalion. He was taken prisoner at Talana, the first setpiece battle of the Boer War, and released after Pretoria was captured by the British.

1914/15 Star, War Medal, Victory Medal. Sergeant, Rand Rifles.

The curious thing about these medals is that they have been mounted for wear in reverse order, except that the QSA and KSA are transposed. My immediate assumption was that the medals were worn by a next-of-kin on the right chest, hence the reverse order. However, several well-informed people have informed me that they have never seen another example of a deliberate reversing of order to accommodate the custom of nok's wearing medals on the right chest. Medals mounted in conventional order are simply worn on the right, rather than the left chest.

I would be very grateful for any opinions on this curious mounting.

Brett

[David B 1812]

An interesting question, to which I do not know the answer. It would be nice if we could get a definitive answer...........

David B 1812

[Mervyn Mitton]

Hi Brett - a lovely group - as you well know it is hard to get medals for Indian campaigns on a South African group.

I would say that this group is correctly mounted for the last three - and then this strange reverse order. You don't

mention - but, I assume that he wasn't KIA ? The only other reason I can think of - perhaps he was showing some grudge

against the Govt.? Very unlikely, although there have been case like this. I do agree with you that relatives don't re-order

to wear at ceremonies. I hope one of the members will have better ideas. Mervyn

[Chris Boonzaier]

Probably just an old guy who was not in regular service, the medals arrived in 1920 and lay in a drawer... then he mounted them as he thought they should be mounted...

Lots of old servicemen have/had little contact to rules and regulations after having left tghe service for so long.

Could also have been mounted by the family years after te event.

We can guess, and one guess is as good as another... but I think we will never know...

Best

Chris