Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (Tpr: E. W. Tyres. Doyles Aust. Scts.) additional naming details scratched prior to rank, suspension claw re-affixed, fine and rare £50-70

Egbert William Tyres, of Ararat, Victoria, Australia, ‘sailed for the Boer War with the 2nd Australian Contingent (Doyle’s Scouts) in 1899 on the Medic, he being then about 20 years of age. He was invalided home from the war after about twelve months as a result of enteric fever. Although very young at the time I remember the night he returned home as I think the whole of Ararat must have been at our place to welcome him. He then re-enlisted and returned very soon afterwards to South Africa. In a letter home, dated 15 September 1901, he wrote: “I have been endeavouring to work my way up to Johannesburg, but could not make it as no one is allowed up without a permit. I therefore joined the Cape Colony Cycle Corps, in which you only have to sign on for three months at a time. I have had a very nasty experience while in the Corps. I don’t know whether you saw an account of a train being held up and burned at Ganna siding. I had the pleasure of being on that train, but only got a splash on the hand with an explosive bullet. It was the worst place I have ever been in, and I don’t want another like it. There were 30 casualties out of 90. Since that little excitement I have been attached to General French’s staff. Hear you never hear a shot fired.
I received the gold medal from the citizens of Ararat; it is a handsome trophy and something which I will always remember the town of Ararat by. I will be quite flash with medals if I go on this way. I hope to get a medal for Cape Colony troops, which is very much talked about now, but I am not certain of it being given yet.”
Bert saw the South Africa War out and remained there, joining the Cape Mounted Police. This force was raised, I believe, to patrol the outback parts of South Africa to guard against further activity by the Boers. He was stationed at Upington near the Orange River and adjacent to the borders of South West Africa and Bechuanaland. After being with this force for about ten years he was on a farm at a place named Zwantnodder, about 50 miles north of Upington. He was there when the Great War commenced, and the rising by the Germans in South-West Africa over-ran his farm and he was forced to leave and go south and join the British force (4th Mounted Rifles) proceeding to meet the German force. He served in the unit for some months until the Germans were defeated. Since then he has lived at a place called Keimoes, near the border.’ (account from the recipient’s brother, published in Boer War Tribute Medals, by M. G. Hibbard, refers).

Note: Tyres’ Boer War Tribute Medal is illustrated in Hibbard.