Four More WWI Victory Medals

Going through my British Victory Medals, I’ve found four more that I have not posted, and I think they are interesting

The first is actually South African, which looks like the British Victory, except the back is in both English and Dutch. It is impressed to Burgher J. K. Smits, Uys Scouts. A burgher was a private soldier in the South African Commando, or Militia. Uys Scouts were what we might call a Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol. They collected intelligence behind the lines in German Southwest Africa. Only about 50 people served in Uys Scouts during WWI. I’ve been a little suspicious of this medal because the lettering is so crooked, but the unit so obscure I can’t imagine who would forge it. Also the medal shows no sign of having a previous name.

The second one is impressed to Bugler Fazal Khan of the 51st Sikhs. , I wanted a Sikh to be represented in my collection of Victory medals. The valor of Sikh regiments in the British and Indian Armies is impressive. The bugler rank is hard to find. His job was an anachronism left over from 19th century army, when bugles were used to sound charges, retreats, etc. The 51st Sikh Frontier Force distinguished itself in the bloody relief of Kut al Amara in Mesopotamia, and participated in the capture of Baghdad. Later it fought in the battle of Megiddo in Palestine, which led to the collapse of the Turkish Army in the region.

The third one is impressed to Halvildar Man Singh of the 37th Dogras. I wanted a Dogra to round out my collection of Indian Army regiments. A halvildar is a sergeant in the Indian Army. The Dogras are a distinct cultural group within India and Pakistan. The 37th served on the Western Front before being shipped to Mesopotamia, where they also participated in the relief of Kut.

Lastly, we have a Victory Medal impressed to Private D. McCorquodale of the Scots Rifles. I mainly got this one because I wanted a strong Scottish surname to represent the Scottish regiments in my collection. I have researched this fine lad and learned he’s Donald McCorquodale of the 10th Scottish Rifles (Cameronians). He disembarked in France 11 July 1915, fell ill and was discharged 15 April 1916. He was also entitled to the British War medal, the 1914-15 Star and the Silver War Badge.