Forces (Figure 8). The medal is suspended by a 41ram whom to award the badge. The design is very similar, if patterned suspension bar, which is cast with the star. not identical, to the central design on the Order of Sheikh The 38ram ribbon consists of a central 2mm silver stripe Issa - also Spink manufacture. flanked with 5.5ram blue, 7.5mm white, 3mm red and 2mm silver. A 39mm x 8mm loose clasp bearing the Arabic inscription "Decoration of the Time of Issa" is worn on to the ribbon.

Figure 10: Obverse of the Security Forces Medal

Figure 8: Reverse of the Sheikh Issa Memorial Medal Finally there is a Security Forces Medal this is identi- cal in design to the Bravery Medal however the Arabic inscription on the reverse reads "Public Security Medal" (Figure 9 and 10). The 39ram red ribbon has a central 6mm white stripe and a 2mm additional white strip inset 7mm from either edge.

Figure 9: Sheikh Issa Memorial Badge.

In addition to this medal there is also an eight sided, 41 mm diameter, gilded base metal pin-back badge (Figure 9). The central design is in the form of a white enamelled scallop shell in the centre of which is a bust of the late ruler. Immediately surrounding the bust is a red circle punctuated with eight white circles. At the base of the badge is the inscription AL BAHRAIN with a leaf device either side. The upper portion of the scallop design is bor- Figure 10: Reverse of the Security Forces Medal der by a raised semicircle bearing the Arabic inscription, AL SHEIKH ISSA BIN SALMANAL KHALIFA. At either Bibliography end a small white circle. The reverse is blank. Originally Act No 37 of 1983. this was to be worn on the right breast pocket, but the Constitution of the State of Bahrain 1973. formal institution of the award was delayed as the mat- Correspondence with Major Mohammed A1 Ma’awda, Public Relations Office, Ministry of Interior, 1995. ter was with the King pending a decision of how and to

3 2 JOMSA PRIVATE / TROOPER GEORGE EDKINS: TWICE TO SOUTH AFRICA

DAVID EDKINS

Many years ago at a London medal convention, I site of Carter’s farm, southwest of the town. It was the discovered a group of medals attributed to my family site of one of the Boer gun emplacements. As early as name. The medals were named to G. Edkins for his South November 1 lth actions had taken place to try to harass Africa service during the Boer War. Little information the Boers. A large surprise attack by mounted troops came with the group, other than his units, the Loyal North occurred on November 24th resulting in thirty prisoners Lancashire Regiment and the South African Constabulary, being taken. Ho~vever, with such a small defense force along with a notation that he was wounded during the available the ridge could not be occupied and the Boers defense of Kimberley. I did not even know what his first quickly repossessed it. Although lacking the possibility name was. After pursuing the normal research avenues of surprise, a repeat attack of the ridge was attempted in England, I still had little more to go on, except I now on November 28th . Accompanied by nearly eighty knew his first name was George. However, in 2001 mounted men, the ridge was attacked in the face of heavy with the benefit of the Internet, I was able to contact fire resulting in a failure to retake it after three attempts. a researcher in South Africa with access to the South As night fell, the attack ended with casualties of 24 African Constabulary records who filled in most of the dead and 32 wounded. Private Edkins was one of the blanks. seriously wounded. The purpose of these attacks had been to divert the Boer’s attention away from the approaching George was born in 1875 in Birmingham. Genealogical relief column, which did not arrive until months later on research shows that he was the youngest of four sons Februat2¢ 15, 1900, thus ending the siege. born to George and Mary Edkins. His father was a brick- maker by trade and young George worked as a Private Edkins was evacuated to England on May 1, brick- molder prior to entering the army. He enlisted in 1900 to recuperate and was transferred to the reserves at the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment on June 20, 1893 at Somerset Barracks, Shorncliffe. It was there, on February the age of eighteen, joining the 1st Provisional Battalion 21, 1901, that he applied to join the new South African as a private, assigned regimental number 4046. Constabulary being formed by Baden-Powell. His age given at this time was 25 years and 7 months. His credited His regiment was part of the pre-war garrison at Cape time with the Royal North Lancashire Regiment was 7 Town. When the important diamond-mining town of years and 8 months. Although a photograph of him could Kimberley was threatened by the Boers (Dutch farmers), not be found, he was described on his recruitment medical half of the 1 st battalion was sent to defend the town. certificate. Private Edkins stood 5 feet 5.5 inches tall, The contingent, numbering nine officers and 413 men, weighed 141 pounds and had a pale (sallow) complexion departed for Kimberley on August 11, 1899 under the with brown hair and hazel eyes. After demonstrating his command of Lieutenant Colonel Robert G. Kekewich riding and shooting abilities he was accepted as a trooper and arrived September 20th. The 23rd Company of the and assigned to the 9th Troop, "C" Division, South Western Division Royal Artillery arrived the same day African Constabulary with personnel number 746. to join the few local and volunteer units hastily pulled together to defend the town. The total force was estimated Edkins sailed for South Africa again on the S.S. Canada, at more than 5600, although some sources state a smaller arriving at Cape Town on March 31, 1901.The "C" number. Division served in Eastern Transvaal, southeast of Johannesburg, with its headquarters at Heidelberg. Now The siege of the town, which was to last 124 days, began that the war had entered the guenilla phase, with bands on October 14th. The Boers, numbering over 7000 of Boers roaming the countryside, extensive lines of men, occupied heights around the town where they had blockhouses were under construction across the open positioned artillery batteries to shell the mines and town. plains. Their division’s defense line extended some When an ultimatum to surrender expired on November 90 miles cutting the Transvaal into two sections. The 6th the bombardment began, although sporadic and blockhouses were connected with barbwire fences, thus causing little damage with few casualties. Up until this dividing the area into large corrals to fence off the Boer time only minor skirmishes has occuned during probing raiders and restrict their movement. Troop sweeps patrols. The major actions took place at Carter Ridge, were then conducted to force the Boer guerillas into

Vol. 59, No. 4 33 engagements. The Boer farms were destroyed and the three clasps: TRANSVAAL, , displaced occupants were placed in compounds to provide DEFENSE OF KIMBERLEY is impressed with the shelter and proper care. following information: 4046 PTE G. EDKINS, 1ST L. N. LANCS: REGT (Figure 3). The naming on the King’s Although George Edkins did not participate in any large South Africa Medal with two clasps: SOUTH AFRICA battles during his time with South African Constabulary, 1901 and SOUTH AFRICA 1902, reads: 746 TPR: G. he did distinguish himself. On October 1,1901 he was EDKINS. S.A.C. promoted to Trooper 2nd Class and advanced to rank of corporal on March 1,1902. He was also one of eighty known recipients of General Baden-Powell’s Gallantry Badge, awarded to him by General Order 81 on August 9, 1902. The first presentations of the badge were made on August 27, 1902. The metal badge consisted of a circular wreath, formed by two laurel branches surmounted by the royal crown Figure 1. At the base of the wreath was a horizontal ribbon with the word GALLANTRY. The badge was mounted on a green, ornately shaped cloth background edged in gold.

Figure 2: Queen’s South Africa Medal, Kimberley Star and King’s South Africa Medal to 4046 Private G. Edkins.

The Kimberley Star is sterling silver and bears four marks on the reverse: the Birmingham anchor hallmark, the lion standard silver mark and the lower case "a" date letter. Below these marks appears the maker’s mark. The unknown mark appears to be the letters AHD in a rectangular punch mark.

Figure 1: Baden-Powell’s Gallantry Badge. Photo courtesy ofAudrey Portman.

Two months after his arrival, the war ended with the Treaty of Vereeniging, signed on May 31,1902. Corporal Edkins remained on duty until December 1902, when he applied for discharge. The reason given for his request Figure 3: Naming on the King’s and Queen’s South Africa Medals. to return to England was to help support his aging father. References: His application was approved and he sailed for home on December 15th after completing one year and 260 days Bowman, Ernest H., "The ", The Medal Collector, of service. His home address in Birmingham was given September, 1977. as Poplar Grove, Ridge Street, Hockley. ! was unable to Evans Martin Marx, The Boer War- South Africa 1899-1902, London: research his life following his separation from the service, Osprey Publishing Ltd. 1999. Phelan, T., The Siege ofKimberley, its Human and Social Side, Dublin: nor could I determine a family connection. M. H. Gill & Son, Ltd., 1913. www.airborneadventuresafrica.

COrn, His medal group is illustrated, unofficially mounted, South African Constabulary Records researched by Audrey Portman in Figure 2. The Queen’s South Africa Medal with at Rhino.Research.

34 JOMSA