Great Britain: Boer War: Wiping Something off a Slate
|
|
|
Form:
|
Upright oval shield with attached loop for a ring
|
By:
|
? |
Date:
|
1900 |
Ref:
|
Hern: 566; Laidlaw: 0334;
|
Variations:
|
Size | Metal | Mass | Value |
---|
18.1 x 22.7 mm | Silver | 2.6gm | $55 |
|
Edge:
|
Plain.
|
Obverse:
|
Helmeted British soldier, right, climbing on rocky ground bayoneted rifle at the ready. Above in an arc: “WIPING SOMETHING” and across on the right: “OFF A / SLATE”.
|
Reverse:
|
Across: “DUNDEE / ELANDSLAAGTE / KIMBERLEY / PAARDEBERG / LADYSMITH”.
|
Notes:
|
The reverse names five successful British battles.
The phrase, "Wiping something off a slate" comes from Kipling's jingoistic poem written to raise funds in aid of the families of British soldiers who volunteered to serve in South African. It refers to a past dishonour when the British were defeated by the Boers during the First Anglo-Boer War at the battle of Majuba Hill in 1881.
|