Souvenir token commemorating the unity of Great Britain and the Commonwealth of Australia during the Boer War, 1901 (c)

Bronze, A Fenwick, Birmingham, 1901 (c).

More than 16,000 Australians were engaged in the fighting in South Africa, proving themselves to be adept at coping with the South African environment and the fighting style of the Boers.

The token is inscribed on the obverse 'Transvaal Souvenir 1899-1900', 'The Queen God Bless Her' above a scene divided by the Union Jack. To the left, a sailor stands in front of a naval gun on a field carriage with a battleship beyond; to the right, a soldier in service dress stands at the ready in front of a field gun and a tent.

On the reverse 'United in the Cause of Freedom', 'We Defend Our Empire', and 'We Serve Under One Crown' is inscribed around the edge. There are two shields bearing the arms of, to the left, the Commonwealth of Australia and to the right, overlapped, Great Britain, the whole surmounted by a crown; connecting the two shields are two hands clasped in friendship.