Transport Medal
Obverse and reverse of medal
TypeCampaign medal
Awarded forCampaign service
DescriptionSilver disk 36 mm wide
Presented byUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
EligibilityMercantile Marine officers
Clasps
  • S.AFRICA 1899-1902
  • CHINA 1900
Established1903
Total1,719
Ribbon: red with two blue stripes

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[a] 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]

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] However for those who were ship masters the notation "IN COMMAND" was added after their names.[7]
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, 13 September 1899 – 31 October 1902.[2]
CHINA 1900
For services related to the Boxer Rebellion, 1 June 1900 – 31 December 1901.[2]

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.[b]

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ Specifically, Masters, First, Second and Third Officers, First, Second and Third Engineers, Pursers and Surgeons.[2]
  2. ^ Precise award figures vary slightly. For example, Edward Joslin states 1,270 S. Africa, 323 China and 188 two clasp medals,[8] while Robert J. Paterson notes a total of 1,810 medals and 180 ships.[2]
  1. ^ a b c d e Joslin, Litherland and Simpkin. British Battles and Medals. p. 210. Published Spink, London. 1988.
  2. ^ a b c d Paterson, Robert J. (September 2022). "Transport Medal: memorandum of rules of award". Orders & Medals Research Society Journal. 61 (3): 223. ISSN 1474-3353.
  3. ^ a b "The Transport Medal 1899-1902". North East Medals. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  4. ^ Spencer, William (31 May 2006). Medals: The Researcher's Guide. The National Archives, Richmond, Surrey, England. p. 38. ISBN 1-903365-63-5.
  5. ^ "Medal for Transport Service". Official Appointments and Notices. The Times. No. 39621. London. 10 November 1902. col D, p. 8.
  6. ^ Dorling, H. Taprell (1956). Ribbons and Medals. London: A.H.Baldwin & Sons. pp. 74–75. OCLC 930416375.
  7. ^ Transport Medal
  8. ^ Joslin, Edward (1974). Observer's Book of British Awards and Medals. Frederick Warne & Co. p. 137.
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