TOPIC:

Christmas appears to have arrived rather earlier than is the norm, even for those aloof in Kloof.
(Clearly, Mr H is not in the naughty book)

Indeed, Frank! I have felt very deprived of good research projects in recent months. Now thanks to City Coins, Dixons, you. Izabel and others, my luck has changed just as Spring has sprung.

Regards
Brett

It is a very pleasing medal, Brett, I asked you in Rory's thread if it was expensive, not having looked at the prices realised, having now done so, I see even after adding the bits, it was not, in fact, I'd say it is actually worth rather more than you paid for it, although, of course, I have absolutely no idea whatsoever Mr D's asking price for that clasp, notwithstanding, monies well spent I think.
There is a slight irony for me, my RFC/RNAS/RAF interests often take me down to the Harrow area and I think Pinner Road is actually the top end of the A road I use through Bushey whilst on the way there, I will have actually driven past his family home a few days ago.
There will be a story there anyway, for example, so many of his type used the Bechuanaland Police as an entry point, you applied at the Colonial Office in London, you then got on the boat, a pleasant trip down to the Cape and then up to Vryburg and from memory about six shillings a day for as long as you could hack it!
I'll be most interested to know the rest in due course, but, for now, I really am very pleased for you, it is a very good and significant medal.
Kind regards Frank

Frank

I am also very pleased with the medal, more so now than when I put in my bid for it. Using the current exchange rate of our abysmal currency, I paid about 200 gbp for it. The clasp cost exactly 200gbp. The 2014 Medal Yearbook gives the value of the medal + clasp as 450-500gbp, so I am happy about that. Of course, its actual value will only be revealed when it is sold again, but, since I will no longer be here then, it does not concern me. (Mrs H may well feel differently!)

I suspect that the off-topic content of this thread, and the one from which it is derived, must be straining the patience of the Moderators, so I will keep you informed of progress with the project by e-mail

Regards
Brett

Morning Brett,
I'm not so sure it is "off topic" it is important to remember what that medal was issued for, why those events actually came about, why the BSA Co existed and what it was doing, CJR did have a mining industry in "his" country, but, the reality was, there could not be a second Rand in Rhodesia and he knew it, he was in the wrong place, again!
The Rand was, in his eyes, occupied by just one corrupt and zenophobic old man, so if you can't do yourself, you seek help from your friends, in his case, Joseph Chamberlain and Alfred Milner, that mix was explosive and the game was on, there is a very simple mathematic equation for this;

CJR=ABO.

Regards Frank

I agree, Frank. I also think that the 1st ABW (aka the Transvaal Rebellion) and the 1906 Natal Rebellion are also relevant, but I do understand that this forum, and site as a whole, could get out of hand if the flood gates are opened.
Regards
Brett