PRE WW1 BRITISH ARMY BOER WAR QUEENS MEDITERRANEAN MEDAL NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIER

Boer War Queen’s Mediterranean Medal to Corporal R Collins, who served with the 5th (Militia) Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers.

Queen’s Mediterranean Medal measures 36mm wide and is a circular silver medal with claw swivel ribbon bar suspension, the face with the veiled crowned head and shoulders portrait of Queen Victoria facing left, circumscribed ‘VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX’ (Victoria Queen and Empress), signed ‘G. W. de Saulles’ (for George William de Saulles, 1862-1903, Chief Engraver to the Royal Mint), small black tarnish spot to ‘E’ in script which should polish out; the reverse with the full-length helmeted figure of Britannia, a standard in her left hand, her right arm extended with a laurel wreath, her shield and trident on the ground behind her, soldiers marching in a landscape beyond, warships near the coast beyond, signed ‘G. W. de Saulles’, with the word MEDITERRANEAN scrolled to the right hand inside rim; attributed on the edge to 3573 CORPL: R. COLLINS. NORTH’D FUS: on correct ribbon. 574 medals were awarded to the battalion for service.

The Mediterranean Medal was authorised by King Edward VII and awarded to volunteer and militia troops who had replaced the regular troops in garrisons across the Mediterranean and who guarded Boer prisoners.