The rare ‘Defence of Mafeking’ Queen’s South Africa Medal awarded to Private R. Wright, Mafeking Cadet Corps, a 14-year old serving with the ‘original Boy Scouts’

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Defence of Mafeking (Pte. R. Wright. Mafeking C.C.) officially re-impressed naming as usual to unit, edge bruise, good very fine, rare £1,200-£1,600

Christie’s, October 1991.

The Mafeking Cadet Corps comprised of young lads in their early teens and they were in effect the original Boy Scouts whose work during the siege had a great impression on Baden Powell. Just 39 Medals, all with the single clasp for Defence of Mafeking, were issued to the Cadet Corps, with the medal roll dated 14 January 1905. Given the small number of awards, and the fact that they were in effect ‘late issues’, the naming on the medals to the Mafeking Cadet Corps is invariably re-impressed, with the medals taken from the supply of returned and unclaimed awards.

Reuben Wright joined the Mafeking Cadet Corps on 1 March 1899, and was aged 14 at the Defence of Mafeking.