Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

King's South Africa Medal (KSA)

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1902

Subcollections

Overview

The King's South Africa Medal is a silver disk, 38 millimetres in diameter and 3 millimetres thick. The obverse shows King Edward VII, in Field Marshal's uniform and facing left, with the legend "EDWARDVS VII REX IMPERATOR" around the upper perimeter. The reverse shows Britannia holding the Union Flag in her left hand and a laurel wreath in her right hand. In the right background are troops marching inland from the coast. In the left background are two men-of-war, with Neptune's Trident and Britannia's shield on the ground in the foreground. Around the top perimeter are the words "SOUTH AFRICA". The reverse is identical to the third version reverse of the Queen's South Africa Medal.
The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide, with an 11 millimetres wide green band, a 10 millimetres wide white band and an 11 millimetres wide orange band. As was often done with subsequent campaign medals, the colours of the ribbon represent those of the countries in which the campaign took place, green and white for the South African Republic and orange and white for the Orange Free State.

Historical information

The King's South Africa Medal is a British campaign medal awarded to all British and Colonial military personnel who served in the Second Boer War in South Africa, and who were in the theatre on or after 1 January 1902 and who had completed 18 months service in the conflict prior to 1 June 1902. The King's South Africa Medal was instituted in 1902 and was the first British campaign medal to be instituted by King Edward VII. Recipients had to have served in the theatre of war between 1 January 1902 and 31 May 1902 and completed 18 months service in the conflict, not necessarily continuous, prior to 1 June 1902. The medal was never awarded singly, but was always paired with the Queen's South Africa Medal

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-99-161

Inscriptions and markings

The recipient's name and details were impressed on the rim of the medal, with some officer's medals engraved. The clasps were attached to the suspender and to each other in roller chain fashion with rivets. Only two clasps were available - South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902.

Contextual Information

The Army Museum has [tba] examples of the King's South Africa Medal in its collection either paired with the Queen's South Africa Medal or within other medal groups.
Multiple examples of this medal are retained as an ongoing memorial to the service and sacrifice of Western Australians. Medals are displayed in context throughout the Museum. All medals are identified, archivally stored and those not on display are accessible and viewable with prior notice.

Year

1902

Links to additional resources

Eligibility for Award

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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