King's South Africa Medal : Private J Gorton, Lancashire Fusiliers Accession Number: RELAWM14702

Description

King's South Africa Medal with the bars 'SOUTH AFRICA 1901' and 'SOUTH AFRICA 1902'. The recipient's number, rank, name and regiment are impressed on the edge. Obverse: The bust of King Edward VII and the legend 'EDWARDVS VII REX IMPERATOR'. Reverse: Britannia with a flag in her left hand holding out a laurel wreath towards an advancing party of soldiers. In the background are two warships. The wreath in Britannia's hand points to the letter 'F' in the word 'AFRICA'. Around the top are the words 'SOUTH AFRICA'. The medal is fitted with a straight suspender and two rectangular date bars. A piece of 32 mm ribbon of green, white and yellow in equal widths is attached to the suspender.

Contextual Description

Awarded to 4663 Private J Gorton, Lancashire Fusiliers for service in South Africa. The medal was given to all who were serving in South Africa on or after 1 January, 1902 and who would complete eighteen months' service before 1 June, 1902. It was not issued alone, but always in conjunction with the Queen's South Africa Medal; nor was it issued without a bar, except to nursing sisters. This medal is part of a collection assembled by the late Hon. Sir Thomas Hughes, Member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales. It was presented to the Memorial in memory of his son, Captain Roger Forrest Hughes, Australian Army Medical Corps, who died of wounds in France on 11 December 1916, and of his grandson, Flying Officer Peter Roger Forrest Hughes, 12 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, who was killed on active service while flying in the Northern Territory on 3 October 1942.