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Auction: 26001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 86

Cape Copper Company Medal for the Defence of Ookiep, bronze issue (J. Fortein:), suspension neatly refitted, nearly very fine

Just 547 bronze Medals were struck for the Defenders of Ookiep, who bravely held firm during the Siege at that place from 4 April-4 May 1902 and the survival rate to the present day makes this a rare award. Just under 1,000 local irregulars and a few of the 5th Battalion, Warwickshire Militia under the command of Colonel Shelton took the fight to a far superior force of Boer Commandos. It took a month for a relief force to be landed and make their way to raise the siege, for which Shelton took himself a richly-deserved D.S.O., whilst the Cape Copper Company saw fit to mark the efforts with silver (18) and bronze awards. No official ceremony is known and it is assumed the bronze Medals were distributed together with pay of the men to whom they were awarded.

Fortein appears on the published roll of the Namaqualand Town Guard (with the initial 'L') and was certainly a Hottentot, for his name was struck through on the roll, being denied a silver Queen's South Africa Medal on account of his race. Thus this bronze Medal represents his sole entitlement; sold together with a copy of Forsyth's Medal Roll.

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Estimate
£1,000 to £1,400

Starting price
£900