Medal - Welcome Home Australian Troops, Australia, 1900

Search the collections

or return to home page

Where is it from?

A Mint Melbourne, Australia

Similar items over time

1899
1899
1899
1899
1900
1901
1901
1901
1901

Medal - Welcome Home Australian Troops,1900 AD

Summary:: Australia
British Transvaal War, 1899-1900 1900 (AD)
Mint: not recorded
Other Details: Medal issued to commemorate the welcome home of Australian troops from the Boer War. In 1899 the Boers, descendants of Dutch settlers, declared war on the British forces. They were disgruntled with interference in local affairs by the British, who had maintained a presence in the region for over a century. Enthusiastic civilians throughout the Australian colonies volunteered for service, supported by their respective colonial governments. Over 15,000 served in colonial contingents during the Boer War. The first joint colonial regiment, the Australian Regiment, was formed from companies from Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania. The British gradually wore down Boer resistance, and peace was declared on 31 May 1902. The Peace of Vereeniging replaced the British military administration with a civil administration, eventually leading to self-government. Australian casualties in the war totalled about 1400, with 518 killed. Six Australians were awarded the Victoria Cross for their bravery. The new Federal Government granted money to assist incapacitated Boer War veterans and their dependents.
Acquisition Information:: Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 1976

Discipline:	Numismatics
Dimensions:	23 mm (Diameter)
Weight:	5.16 g (Weight)

More information

Tagged with:	boer war 1899-1902, british transvaal war 1899-1900, wars conflicts
Themes this item is part of:	Public Life & Institutions Collection, Wannenmacher Collection, HRH Queen Victoria (1819-1901), Stokes & Son, Medal Makers, Melbourne, Victoria & Sydney, New South Wales, Boer War, South Africa, 1899-1902
Primary Classification:	MEDALS
Secondary Classification:	Military Campaigns
Tertiary Classification:	army campaigns
Series:	Australian Commemorative Medals
DateEra:	1900 AD
Obverse Description:	At centre within line circle veiled head of Queen Victoria facing left, at top of circle, crown, at sides Australian and Royal flags; below, BRITISH / TRANSVAAL WAR /; 1899 - 1900
Reverse Description:	At centre clasped hands, above, WELCOME / HOME; below, AUSTRALIANS; around, RETURN OF TROOPS FROM S. AFRICA . DEC 1900 .
Edge Description:	Plain
Inscriptions:	(edge) (obverse) (reverse)
Shape:	round
Material:	Gilt
Issued By:	Australia
Mint:	Stokes & Sons, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1900
Person Depicted:	HM Queen Victoria
References:	Car. 1900/13

Comments

Ian Garthwaite Posted on 31 Mar 2010 12:26 AM

I have a medal similar to your MU 20894. The obverse is the same, Queen Victoria in a ringed circle with the Australian flag and royal standard either side. However, the obverse side does not show shaking hands; it shows a man with a rifle on a half rearing horse and the words "success to australian imperial bushmen" around the edge and "1900" on the bottom. Can you identify it please??

Thank you

Ian Garthwaite

Discovery Centre Posted on 31 Mar 2010 2:27 PM

Hi Ian. Like our medal, yours was one of a number minted by Stokes & Sons to commemorate Australian contingents' participation in the war. The Imperial Bushmen were units paid for, unlike other contingents, by the British Government. Futher information about these contingents can be found on the Australian War Memorial Site. We have a number of other medals and artefacts in our collection related to the war. Simply click on the tags above left and you can see a number of results.