As a testimony to colonial Australians’ loyalty to the British motherland, the Royal Australian Mint presents this tribute to those who served in the Boer War, defending the lives and honour of British subjects in South Africa.
As a symbol of history, commitment, traditional and pride, this coin is a welcome addition to the Australia at War Series.
In 1899, South Africa had been a site of growing tensions between the British colonies and the independent republics of Dutch-Afrikaner settlers (Boers). British subjects in the region were engaged, and the British response became known as the Boer War.
Early Australian contingents were sourced from the colonial militia, but later ‘bushmen’ delegates were recruited from many more diverse settings, funded by the imperial government in London. Later ‘draft contingents’ were subsidised by Australian state governments after Federation.
Australia supported the British counter-offensive from 1900-1902, seizing major Boer towns, and forcing the Boers into small pockets of resistance. Overwhelmingly, Boer guerrillas were outnumbered and conquered by Australian troops.
Of the more thank16,000 Australians who fought in the Boer War, 282 died in battle or of wounds, and 286 succumbed to disease. Six Australian joined the elite rank of Victoria Cross recipients.
Whilst forcing the Emden to be grounded on the North Keeling Island Reef, 134 German crewman were killed in the battle. However, it was much more.
As a testimony to colonial Australians’ loyalty to the British motherland, the Royal Australian Mint presents this tribute to those who served in the Boer War, defending the lives and honour of British subjects in South Africa.
As a symbol of history, commitment, traditional and pride, this coin is a welcome addition to the Australia at War Series.
In 1899, South Africa had been a site of growing tensions between the British colonies and the independent republics of Dutch-Afrikaner settlers (Boers). British subjects in the region were engaged, and the British response became known as the Boer War.
Early Australian contingents were sourced from the colonial militia, but later ‘bushmen’ delegates were recruited from many more diverse settings, funded by the imperial government in London. Later ‘draft contingents’ were subsidised by Australian state governments after Federation.
Australia supported the British counter-offensive from 1900-1902, seizing major Boer towns, and forcing the Boers into small pockets of resistance. Overwhelmingly, Boer guerrillas were outnumbered and conquered by Australian troops.
Of the more thank16,000 Australians who fought in the Boer War, 282 died in battle or of wounds, and 286 succumbed to disease. Six Australian joined the elite rank of Victoria Cross recipients.
Whilst forcing the Emden to be grounded on the North Keeling Island Reef, 134 German crewman were killed in the battle. However, it was much more.