Queens South Africa Medal

[lawrence_n]

Good day all. I'm trying to get an idea of value on a medal that's up for auction. It's a Queens South African Medal named to a Tpr. R. Walker, SAC, so I'm assuming trooper Walker, South African Constabulary. It has 3 theatre bars; Transvaal, Orange Free State, and Cape Colony. Overall, it shows some signs of wear but it's in pretty good shape. There's no ribbon, but that's an inexpensive replacement. Since it's here in Canada, I'm assuming the soldier was part of the Canadian contingent. So gentlemen, thoughts or observations?

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[Gil Boyd]

Hi Lawrence,
An area I spend a great deal of time in, concerning Military Medals and Gallantry Awards for my Regimental Museum of The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces.
Having served in 2 PARA and latterly, in the Royal Military Police and as a civilian Police Officer, this is of interest to me to try and give you an honest valuation.

Of course with medlas they have their own intrinsic value, but provenance of the named recipient often boosts prices, especially if they served in small unique uniques in a particular conflict. A for instance is the Falklands War. Many medlas see a genuine price levelled, but if a soldier/Airman or Sailor was part of a ships company , aircraft task on a simple grunt on the ground, if a story circulates around them, the medal prcie can get quite inflated.

The Queens South African Constabulary Medal has the same ribbon as the Queens South African Medal and are fairly easy to source in used condition(Ribbon) so I would always advise getting hold of a commensurate length of the ribbon to finish it off.

We, as British Police Officers were seconded to Rhodesian at the time of the elections, and then were awarded with a medal struck solely for that cause in 1988 as they moved from Rhodesia into Zimbabwe and new leadership.
Because it was a former British Colony and part of the Commonwealth as is Canada, these countries looked to countries for impartial Police Officers to assist in their quest for Independance.

Back to the medal. I would value your medal at between £250-£300 if you hold the provenance of Trooper Walker or some of his family history, which would not be difficult to acquire, and with a ribbon attached. That is my impartial figure but you could get more on a good day at auction, but I strongly advise, getting any photos of him and /or his service record and if he was awarded any further clasps for varying areas during the Boaer War which was commonplace.
I saw a medal recently of a Police Office during the campaign who had 8 clasps on his QSACM.

[lawrence_n]

Gil, what a pleasure to hear from you! I didn't know you were an MP (as was I, way back when). I only did a 5 yr. hitch and decided not to re-up, for various reasons. My last deployment was with the Canadian peacekeeping contingent in the Golan Heights (UNDOF). Too bad you're way in the UK, I'd love to stand you to a wet. As to the decoration, I can get a ribbon no problem. I don't know if Trooper Walker was a canuck or a brit, so that'll take some digging on my part. Provenance adds to value, as we well know, but prices seem to fluctuate wildly in what I've seen thus far so though I don't want to diddle a prospective buyer, I'd like not to screw myself either. When I get back from hunting (mid Nov. some time), I'll knuckle down and get into some research. Be well, and we'll chat at some point.

[Roy W]

I wouldn't automatically presume he was Canadian, he could well have moved to Canada later in life, or the medal been bought by a Canadian collector and shipped to Canada.
There is a book titled "No Colours, No Drums" re Canadians in the South African Constabulary by Jim Wallace it is still available online. Your man isn't recorded among the names of the Canadian Scouts of the time in other resources.

No Colours, No Drums: Canadians in the South African Constabulary

It was printed in 2008. It has all the Canadian names and lots of detail.

An identical 3 clasp SAC QSA accompanied by the recipient's WW1 pair sold at DNW this August for £220 hammer, so final price with fees around £286 for the three medals.

Lot 15, 20 August 2020 | Dix Noonan Webb

Hope that helps

[lawrence_n]

Thank you Roy. I hadn't automatically assumed he was Canadian. Given the to-ing and fro-ing between Canada and the UK during that era, he may well have been a brit. I'm away hunting until the 15th. so my wife is picking up the medal for me. The serial number wasn't too clear so I'll have better pics when I get return.

[Gil Boyd]

Lawrence if you have his service number I am sure I can dig him out for you if he's a Brit.

[lawrence_n]

Gil, this is the picture from the site. I believe the service number is 1825 and I can see the 3 but it's a bad pic so I can't make out the subsequent script. As I'd mentioned earlier, it's a Tpr. R. Walker, SAC. What are the odds that you'd be able to get some info on the bloke?

[Gil Boyd]

Lawrence,
I have found him but sadly I can't access the QSA Medal records unless you sign up. If you want to do that in your search here is the link that describes the whole formation under Baden-Powell.
Anglo Boer War - South African Constabulary

[bigduke6]

Bit over valued Gil, Another 3 clasps maybe or a collector trying to fill the last bit of the jigsaw, but Roy's figure from the auction he mentioned is probably more to go by, by it now prices on ebay are well over the top, a QSA with identical clasps to a trooper is on ebay now with 1 day to go @ £77.00 with 18 bids, I'm watching it just out of interest regarding prices.

Victorian stuff always seems to change with the weather regarding prices.....

[Gil Boyd]

Agreed Geoff,
its a variance on all auctions of Militaria as you know, its what people are willing to pay for them.
Sadly that medal was as common as the UK NI GSM issued at the time so there are lots of the QSAM medals about.

As I said to Laurence what makes them more keenly fought over and valuable, is the provenance if there was any.