Australians in the Boer War
Medals and Awards



Acknowledgements Codes Dedication Main Medals Memorials Progress Minor SEARCH Site Sources Submissions Units


Second Anglo-Boer War Decorations, Awards and Campaign Medals

In the Oz-Boer Database the medals and awards abbreviations used are:

    CB means Commander of the Order of the Bath
    CMG means Commander of the Order of St. Michael & St. George
    DCM means Distinguished Conduct Medal
    DSO means Distinguished Service Order
    KCMG means Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George
    KSA+2 means the King's (Edward VII) South Africa Campaign Medal with the clasps South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902
    MID means Mentioned in Despatches
    QM means the Queen's (Victoria) Meditteranean Medal
    QSA+[number] means the Queen's (Victoria) South Africa Campaign Medal with that number of clasps, ie
    • CC, Cape Colony (1899-1902)
    • Nat., Natal (11.10.99-17.5.00)
    • Rhod., Rhodesia (11.10.99-17.5.00)
    • RoM, Relief of Mafeking (17.5.00)
    • DoK, Defence of Kimberley (15.10.99-15.2.00)
    • Tal., Talana (20.10.99)
    • Elands., Elandslaagte (21.10.99)
    • DoL, Defence of Ladysmith (3.11.99-28.2.00)
    • Belm., Belmont (23.11.99)
    • Mod.R., Modder River (28.11.99)
    • Tug.Hts., Tugela Heights (14.2.00-27.2.00)
    • RoK, Relief of Kimberley (15.2.00)
    • Paard., Paardeberg (17.2.00-26.2.00)
    • OFS, Orange Free State (28.2.00-1902)
    • RoL, Relief of Ladysmith (15.12.99-28.2.00)
    • Drief., Driefontein (10.3.00)
    • Wep., Wepener (9.4.00-25.4.00)
    • DoM, Defence of Mafeking (13.10.99-17.5.00)
    • Tvl., Transvaal (24.5.00-1902)
    • Jbg., Johannesburg (31.5.00)
    • L.Nek., Laing's Nek (12.6.00)
    • DH, Diamond Hill (11.6.00-12.6.00)
    • Witte., Wittebergen (1.7.00-29.7.00)
    • Belf., Belfast (26.8.00-27.8.00)
    • SA01, South Africa 1901 (1.1.01-31.12.01)
    • SA02, South Africa 1902 (1.1.02-31.5.02)
    RRC means the Royal Red Cross
    Tpt.M means the Transport Medal with the clasp S. Africa 1899-1902
    VC means the Victoria Cross

Try this site for some more information on Boer War medals and decorations to Australians.

Family historians may be interested to known that the terms for the award of most of the clasps to the QSA medal are set out in Army Order 94 of April 1901 (as amended). The balance are in the Special Army Order concerning the KSA medal printed in the Times, London on 30 September 1902. The terms usually involve precise date, place and command requirements that can help to locate recipients at different times during the war.


Colin Roe
Last changed 5 February 2002


Acknowledgements Codes Dedication Main Medals Memorials Progress Minor SEARCH Site Sources Submissions Units