Medal commemorating the capture of Bloemfontein and Pretoria, 1900

This medal depicts Field Marshal Lord Roberts, the commander-in-chief in South Africa during the Boer War (1899-1902). From December 1899, together with his chief of staff Major-General Lord Kitchener, Roberts revitalised the flagging British military effort.

Bloemfontein, the principle town of the Orange Free State fell to his troops, amidst much rejoicing by the mainly British inhabitants, on 13 March 1900. Three months later, on 5 June 1900, Lord Roberts' force captured Pretoria, capital of the South African Republic.