Transport Medal

 

The Second Boer War 1899-1902 & The China War 1900.

 

Further relevant historical context can be found at the foot of this entry.

 

 

The Transport Medal was a British Empire campaign medal presented for service during the Second Boer War or the China War 1900 or both. The medal was instituted in 1903 and was awarded to Mercantile Marine officers including ship masters, first, second and third Officers, first, second and third Engineers as well as Pursers and Surgeons of merchant ships that were used to move men and equipment in support of either conflict.

 

In total 1719 medals were issued to the officers of 181 vessels - including 11 hospital ships. 

 

 

The medal is circular, 36mm in diameter and was struck in silver. The obverse of this medal bears the head of King Edward VII facing left with the inscription; 'EDWARD VII REX ET IMPERATOR'.

 

The reverse depicts a map of the world with a transport vessel at sea below and the Latin inscription; 'OB PATRIAM MILITIBUS PER MARE TRANSVECTIS ADJUTAM' - which translates as 'for services rendered in transporting troops by sea'.

 

The ribbon suspender is of the plain straight and swivelling style riveted to the medal.

 

The recipient's details can be found on the medal's rim usually found with impressed square capital letters. Rank is not normally given but those awarded to ships masters often have; 'IN COMMAND' impressed after the name.

 

 

 

The ribbon is 32mm wide and red in colour with a blue stripe towards either edge.

 

 

This medal was issued with the following clasps:-

 

 

Further relevant historical context can be found at the foot of this entry.

 

 

 

* It should be noted that the values quoted above reflect the average price that a medal dealer may expect to sell this medal for - please see the ‘things you should know’ web page for more details about valuing medals.

 

 

This section contains information on:-

 

- The Second Boer War.

- The Boxer Rebellion.

 

The Second Boer War - The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic (Transvaal Republic) and the Orange Free State.

 

It ended with a British victory and the annexation of both republics by the British Empire; both would eventually be incorporated into the Union of South Africa, a dominion of the British Empire, in 1910.

 

The conflict is commonly referred to as The Boer War but is also known as the South African War outside South Africa, the Anglo-Boer War among most South Africans, and in Afrikaans as the Anglo-Boereoorlog or Tweede Vryheidsoorlog (Second War of Liberation or Second Freedom War) or the Engelse oorlog (English War).

 

The Second Boer War and the earlier, much less well known, First Boer War (December 1880 to March 1881) are collectively known as the Boer Wars.

 

This information was taken from ‘Wikipedia’. The original article and details of the authors can be found here. It is reproduced on this web-site under the ‘creative commons’ licence which can be found here.

 

The Boxer Rebellion - The Boxer Rebellion, Boxer Uprising or Yihetuan Movement was a violent anti-foreign and anti-Christian movement which took place in China towards the end of the Qing dynasty between 1899 and 1901. It was initiated by the Righteous Harmony Society (Yihetuan),known in English as 'Boxers', and was motivated by proto-nationalist sentiments and opposition to foreign imperialism and Christianity. The Great Powers intervened and defeated Chinese forces.

 

The uprising took place against a background of severe drought and the disruption caused by the growth of foreign spheres of influence. After several months of growing violence against foreign and Christian presence in Shandong and the North China plain, in June 1900 Boxer fighters, convinced they were invulnerable to foreign weapons, converged on Beijing with the slogan 'Support the Qing, exterminate the foreigners'.

 

Foreigners and Chinese Christians sought refuge in the Legation Quarter. In response to reports of an armed invasion to lift the siege, the initially hesitant Empress Dowager Cixi supported the Boxers and on June 21 authorized war on foreign powers. Diplomats, foreign civilians and soldiers, and Chinese Christians in the Legation Quarter were under siege by the Imperial Army of China and the Boxers for 55 days.

 

Chinese officialdom was split between those supporting the Boxers and those favouring conciliation, led by Prince Qing. The supreme commander of the Chinese forces, Ronglu, later claimed that he acted to protect the besieged foreigners. The Eight-Nation Alliance, after being initially turned back, brought 20,000 armed troops to China, defeated the Imperial Army, and captured Beijing on August 14 (Siege of the International Legations), lifting the siege of the Legations.

 

Uncontrolled plunder of the capital and the surrounding countryside ensued, along with the summary execution of those suspected of being Boxers.

 

The Boxer Protocol of September 7, 1901 provided for the execution of government officials who had supported the Boxers, provisions for foreign troops to be stationed in Beijing, and an indemnity of 67 million pounds (450 million taels of silver) - more than the government's annual tax revenue, to be paid as indemnity over a course of thirty-nine years to the eight nations involved.

 

This information was taken from ‘Wikipedia’. The original article and details of the authors can be found here. It is reproduced on this web-site under the ‘creative commons’ licence which can be found here.