Transport Medal

The Transport Medal was a British campaign medal sanctioned on 8 November 1903[1] and awarded by the Lord Commissioners of the Admiralty. It was awarded to masters and officers[2] of merchant ships employed by the Transport Service to move troops to either South Africa during the South African War or to China during the Boxer Rebellion.[3][4] The officers of hospital ships also qualified.[1]

Transport Medal
Obverse and reverse of medal
Awarded by United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
TypeCampaign medal
EligibilityMercantile Marine.
Awarded forCampaign service.
DescriptionSilver disk 36 mm wide
Clasps
  • S.AFRICA 1899-1902
  • CHINA 1900
Statistics
Established1903
Total awarded1,719

Ribbon: red with two blue stripes

It was intended that the medal would be awarded for any future campaign where a medal was issued to the troops taking part, but it was not awarded again after the South Africa and China wars.[5][6]

The medal, 1.4 inches (36 mm) in diameter, is silver and has a plain straight swivel suspender. The obverse bears the head of King Edward VII in Royal Navy uniform, with the inscription EDWARDVS VII REX IMPERATOR.[1]
The reverse depicts HMS Ophir beneath a map of the world with, below, the words in Latin OB PATRIAM MILITIBUS PER MARE TRANSVECTIS ADJUTAM which translates as for services rendered in transporting troops by sea.[3]
The recipient's name, although not his rank or ship, is impressed in block capitals on the rim of the medal.[1]
The 1.25 inches (32 mm) wide ribbon is red, with a blue stripe towards each edge.[1]

Clasps
S.AFRICA 1899–1902
For services related to the South African War.[4]
CHINA 1900
For services related to the Boxer Rebellion.[4]

The officers of 117 transports and eleven hospital ships qualified, with a total of 1,719 medals awarded: 1,219 with the 'S. Africa 1899-1902' clasp, 322 with the 'China 1900' clasp and 178 with both clasps.[7][1]

See also

Notes and references
  1. Joslin, Litherland and Simpkin. British Battles and Medals. p. 210. Published Spink, London. 1988.
  2. Specifically, Masters, First, Second and Third Officers, First, Second and Third Engineers, Pursers and Surgeons
  3. "The Transport Medal 1899-1902". North East Medals. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  4. William Spencer. Medals: The Researcher's Guide. p. 38. Published The National Archives, Richmond, Surrey, England. ISBN 1-903365-63-5.
  5. "Medal for Transport Service". Official Appointments and Notices. The Times (39621). London. 10 November 1902. col D, p. 8.
  6. Captain H. Taprell Dorling, Ribbons and Medals, pp 74-75. Published A.H.Baldwin & Sons, London. 1956.
  7. Precise award figures vary slightly. For example, Edward Joslin Observer's Book of British Awards and Medals (Fred'k Warne & Co, 1974) page 137 states 1,270 S. Africa, 323 China and 188 two clasp medals.
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