Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare and impressive Union of South Africa M.S.M. group of nine awarded to Squadron Sergeant-Major F. D. McKinley, South African Mounted Rifles, late Cape Police

Cape of Good Hope General Service 1880-97, 1 clasp, Bechuanaland (169 Pte. F. D. McKinley, C. Pol.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Defence of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Transvaal (169 Cpl. F. D. McKinley, Cape Police); King’s South Africa, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (169 Serjt. F. D. McKinley, C. P. Dist. 2); 1914-15 Star (S.S.M. F. D. McKinley, 5th S. A. M. R.); British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (S./S.M. F. D. McKinley, 5th S.A.M.R.); Permanent Forces of the Empire L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (No. 1803 Sqn. Sgt. Maj. F. D. McKinley, 5th S.A.M.R.); Union of South Africa Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (No. 1803 S.S.M. F. D. McKinley, S.A.M.R.); Kimberley Star 1899-1900, hallmark letter ‘a’, generally good very fine (9) £1800-2200

One of just 46 such awards of the Union of South Africa M.S.M.

M.S.M. Union of South Africa Government Gazette 25 August 1922.

Frederick David McKinley was born in Pretoria in November 1864 and joined the Cape Police in December 1894. Having then served as a Private in the Bechuanaland operations of 1896-97 (Medal & clasp), he witnessed further action in the Boer War, when he was present as a Corporal - afterwards Sergeant - at the defence of Kimberley and Paardeberg, and in operations in the Transvaal (Queen’s Medal & 3 clasps; King’s Medal & 2 clasps); he married Anna Isabella Silver at St. George’s, Hanover Square, in London in March 1902, aged 37 years.

During the Great War he served in German South-West Africa in the 5th South African Mounted Rifles, gaining advancement to Squadron Sergeant-Major prior to taking his discharge in December 1918; his award of the L.S. & G.C. is verified on his official Statement of Service; sold with copied research.