Description
Anglo Boer War Oorlog Medal, for Boers who fought against the British Forces, Burger H.J. Swanepoel, a Prisoner of War.
Officially impressed: “Burger H.J. Swanepoel”
Whilst there were 2 claimants of the medal named “Burger H.J. Swanepoel”, thanks to the close record keeping of Dr Biggins at Angloboerwar.com he has recorded that the other medal definitely appeared for sale in Spink during Oct 1999 and then City Coins in August 2011, being sold with the recipients SA Prisons Service Medal.
These men were:
1.) Hendrick Jacobus Swanepoel, of the Potchefstroom Commando who was captured at Lichtenburg and sent to Madras, to one of the British POW Camps in India.
2.) Hendrik Jozias Swanepoel, of the Wakkerstroom Commando, who saw fighting at Gatsrand and other actions who was also captured and taken as a Prisoner of War.
It would not be difficult to determine which one became a member of the Prisons services to figure out who is who.
A scarce medal awarded to the “Boer Burghers” who fought against the British and Imperial Forces in the Anglo Boer War of 1899-1902.
The South African counterpart to the British issued Queen and King’s South Africa Medals.
Officially called in Afrikaans the “Medalje voor de Anglo-Boere Oorlog”, or Medal for the Anglo Boer War, or simply “Oorlog Medal” meaning “War Medal”, it was awarded circa 1920 onwards, following the Independence of South Africa, to honour those who chose to take up arms in the resistance against the British.
Whilst about 100,000 Burghers fought in the war, only about 13,800 medals would be issued, due to the time between the war and the issue of the medal as well as the extensive application process.
