The 'Cape-to-Cairo' flag of Cecil Rhodes CECIL RHODES The 'Cape-to-Cairo' flag of Cecil Rhodes

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Beaconsfield Silver Medal
Silver version

Beaconsfield white metal Medal
White metal version

Beaconsfield white metal Medal
White metal version in box

Beaconsfield medal both version with ribbon
Both versions of the medal with their ribbons

Conflict

The Second Boer War 1899-1902.

History

Single - Beaconsfield medal. Silver unnamed (as issued to Councillors) and White Metal unnamed as issued to school children.

Beaconsfield (formerly known as Du Toit’s Pan) is nowadays a suburb of Kimberley. At the time of the Boer War however, Beaconsfield was a separate borough from Kimberley and was only amalgamated with the latter as the City of Kimberley in 1912.

Much to the indignation of its inhabitants, Kekewich originally excluded Beaconsfield from his plans for the defence but faced by a very strong and indignant protest, he was forced to provide for the defence of that place, though independently of the main defensive enclosure.

The Beaconsfield Siege Medal was commissioned in 1900 by the Mayor of Beaconsfield, Capt. Charles Alexander Blackbeard2 or Mr J.M. Pratley3, probably at the same time that the Mayor of Kimberley, Mr. H.A. Olivier, commissioned the Kimberley Medal. Some 1500 medals were struck in white metal but it would seem that the silver issue was limited to 9 pieces.

The white metal medals, presented to school children of all races on 23 October 1901, were pierced at 12 o’clock and suspended via two thin metal rings from a narrow red, white and blue ribbon. Parents were required to fill in an application form to obtain the medal for children.

The Sterling silver medal was struck from the same dies but was fitted with a claw and ring suspension (identical to that of the Imperial Yeomanry Medal) with a 65mm wide, red, white and blue ribbon. The names of the 9 Councilors (including the Mayor and Town Clerk), who received silver Beaconsfield medals, are recorded in the Beaconsfield Town Council Minutes of 27 November, 1900. Some townspeople expressed a belated desire to also have an example of the silver medal. The Town Clerk was therefore instructed to collect names and prepayments with the object of placing a second order if sufficient numbers were requested. The subsequent Minutes however, make no further mention of the issue and it might be assumed that no further silver examples were ordered. Although most examples of the white metal medal issued to school children encountered are not in perfect condition they are relatively common and an example may be found with little difficulty. The silver issue is rare, however the number of examples encountered suggests that the striking was not limited to just 9 medals.


Interesting Tid-Bits

It is interesting to note that the book Kimberley Under Siege, makes no mention of this medal at all. Mind you it is difficult to find much info on the siege of Beaconsfield specifically.

Description

The medal is circular, 38.7 mm in diameter and was struck in silver or white metal.

Obverse: The full-figure of the Roman Goddess Pax extending an olive branch in her right hand, cradling a cornucopia in her left and standing on a small plinth. Beneath in an arc: “PEACE”. Legend above: “CHILDREN’S MEDAL PRESENTED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL” and below between stops: “1900”.

Reverse: Coat of Arms of Beaconsfield with motto: “FORTI NIHIL DIFFICILE (nothing difficult for the strong)” on a ribbon below. Legend above: “SIEGE OF BEACONSFIELD” and below: “♦ 14 OCTOBER 1899 ♦ 15 FEBRUARY 1900 ♦”




References:
1) Kimberley Under Siege, by A.J. Beet and C.B. Harris, 2nd Ed. 1950.
2) AngloBoerWar.com
3) South African Medals - Cape Colony: Boer War: Siege of Beaconsfield Children’s Medal