Boer War "Welcome Home" Medal.

 

Winnipeg bids farewell to Manitoba Transvaal Contingent, 1899 Toronto Tribute Medal, 1900

 

Gold and diamonds do not make for easy borders - nor did it in South Africa where the British pushed and the Afrikaaner Dutch pushed back until it came to war, the Boer (Afrikaaner) Republics of Transvaal and Orange Free State invading the British colonies of Natal and Cape Colony on October 12, 1899 .

 

Immediately a call went out to the Commonwealth for troops and Canada 's majority British-element responded much more strongly than the government itself. Entirely as volunteers, men joined up, towns, cities and provinces vying with each other for the largest response. The contingent shown above is typical.

 

On October 30, 1899 the first Canadian contingent sailed from Quebec City on the S.S. Sardinian - over 1,000 fully-equipped men with four female nurses and seven horses. Officially known as the 2 nd (Special Services) Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, it was commanded by Lt.-Col. W.D. Otter, a veteran of the North West Rebellion.

 

By the time the war was over (officially, May 31, 1902 ) Canada had sent 8,300 men - infantry, cavalry and artillery - of whom 252 were wounded and another 135 died. Four were awarded the Victoria Cross and one, Pte. R.R. Thompson, Royal Canadian Regiment, won the coveted Queen's Scarf (only the fourth time it had been won).

 

In addition to the normal South Africa medals awarded to all participants, some Canadian cities, counties, &c had special issues made as appreciation to their native sons upon their return home. That shown above is one such. Issued in silver, the 1900 date is probably when the contingent went overseas. Of no high degree of artistry, it shows a mother welcoming home her warrior son and, above, behind crossed rifles and a maple leaf, TORONTO WELCOMES HER SONS.

 

On the edge, it is named to "Pte. H. Cozzens" who, records show, was "No. 7326, ex 31 st Gray Battalion" and served in "C" Company ( Toronto ) of the First Canadian Contingent.

 

Canadian troops assault a "kopje" (hill) in South Africa (1900)

The Boers, outnumbered 12-to-1, gave a good account of themselves and their guerilla tactics and marksmanship took a heavy toll of British forces. Although the peace treaty put them under British sovereignty, it was with the provision that they would have self-government at the earliest possible moment (which was achieved in 1910 as the Union of South Africa). Further, the British paid the Boers £3-million as compensation for ruined farms. Described by British papers as "acts of generosity", it was more likely the Empire's desperate need to end the war.

But the Boer War was the first time that Dominion of Canada troops served outside the country. Twelve years later, they would learn that they had merely been engaged in child's play.

Wayne Jacobs is a numismatic expert. Currently secretary and editor of the "Mid-Island Coin Club Numismatic Journal"of Nanaimo, Vancouver Island , British Columbia, he is the award winning author of numerous articles. The MICC journal are hosted here: MICC webpages Copyright 2006 Wayne Jacobs. This article may be reprinted freely for non commercial purpose only if the resource box is left intact, linking back to us.