Queen's South Africa Medal

The Queen’s South Africa Medal was instituted in 1900 and awarded to all British Empire troops, including Canadians, for service in South Africa from 11 October 1899 to 31 May 1902. 3,860 of these medals were awarded to Canadians serving in units from or recruited in Canada. There were twenty-six bars authorised for wear with this medal and common examples awarded to Canadians were:

Cape Colony: This bar was awarded to troops serving in the British territory of Cape Colony between 11 October 1899 and 31 May 1902.

Orange Free State: This bar was awarded to troops who served in the Boer republic of Orange Free State (renamed Orange River Colony after occupied by British Empire troops in 1900) between 28 February 1900 to 21 May 1902.

Transvaal: Awarded to troops who served in the Boer South African Republic known as the Transvaal between 24 May 1900 and 31 May 1902 and received no other bars for actions in this area.

Paardeburg: Awarded to all troops within 7,000 yards of General Cronje’s final position in the Orange Free State, between midnight of the 17th and midnight of the 26th February 1900, and to all troops within 7,000 yards of Koodoe’s Rand Drift between the same dates.

Johannesburg: Awarded to those troops who, on 29 May 1900, were north of an east and west line through Klip River Station and east of a north and south line through Krugersdorp Station in the Transvaal.

Driefontain: Awarded to troops serving with Army Headquarters and Lieutenant-General French's column which advanced from Popular Grove, Orange Free State, on 10 March 1900.

South Africa 1901: Awarded to those not eligible for the King's Medal although they had served at the front between 1 January and 31 December 1901.

South Africa 1902: Awarded to those not eligible for the King's Medal although they had served at the front between 1 January and 31 May 1902.