Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902, with three clasps: 'Cape Colony', 'Orange Free State' and 'Transvaal', awarded to Lieutenant Henry Denne Hirst, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)

Circular, silver campaign medal with, on the obverse, a profile head of Queen Victoria with inscription. On the reverse, the figure of Britannia holding a Union Flag and laurel wreath, the words 'South Africa', marching troops and warships in the background. The ghost dates, '1899' and '1900', from the first version of the medal are visible. They were removed from the medal dies as the Boer War's duration lengthened. The recipient's name and unit is impressed on the rim. The medal is suspended on a red, yellow and dark blue ribbon with three clasps: 'Cape Colony', 'Orange Free State' and 'Transvaal'.

Henry Denne Hirst was born about 1865 and enlisted with The Buffs in 1899. He served in South Africa during the Boer War (1899-1902), achieving the rank of Captain by 1903. Hirst subsequently served in France during the First World War as a battalion commander. Unusually for the time, Hirst was known to have rejected recruits he discovered were under age despite the increasing shortage of manpower. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel but died at the Western Heights Military Hospital in Dover in 1918, following an operation and short illness.

The Queen's South Africa Medal was awarded to soldiers who served during the Boer War (1899-1902) in South Africa between 11 October 1899 and 31 May 1902. Twenty-six clasps were awarded with this medal, indicating each action and state campaign of the conflict.

From a medal group awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Denne Hirst, Commanding Officer, 3rd Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment), 1912-1918.

From the collection of the former Buffs Regimental Museum.