The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria

The City of London Imperial Volunteers tribute medallion awarded to Sir Alfred Newton Bt., Lord Mayor of the City of London in 1900, and Founder of the City of London Imperial Volunteers

City of London Imperial Volunteers for South Africa 1899-1900 Medallion, 76mm, bronze, the obverse featuring a seated female figure with sword, presenting the freedom of the city to a uniformed man in the City Imperial Volunteers, the reverse featuring the radiant sun of the British Empire shining behind a hill which is surmounted by a tall staff flying the Union Flag and C.I.V. Flag, guarded by two guns, the edge inscribed in large capitals ‘Sir Alfred Newton Bart. Lord Mayor 1900, founder of the C.I.V.’, extremely fine £300-£400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria.

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Sir Alfred James Newton, 1st Baronet was a British businessman born 18 November 1845. He was involved with the stock market flotation of several large privately owned retail stores, including Harrods in 1889 and D H Evans in 1894. He became Lord Mayor of London in November 1899 and helped establish the City of London Imperial Volunteers who fought in the Second Boer War in South Africa. In December 1899 a proposal was put forward that the City of London should sponsor a volunteer troop of soldiers to take part in the conflict. Lord Mayor Newton was approached by Colonel Boxall on the subject and within days he had reached agreement with various City livery companies, bankers, merchants and the Court of Common Council to support and fund the venture. The troop was called the City of London Imperial Volunteers - C.I.V. for short.

In May 1900 Queen Victoria visited the City of London and afterwards conferred a Baronetcy on Newton. He became 1st Baronet Newton, of The Wood, Sydenham Hill, Lewisham, Kent and Kottingham House, Burton-on-Trent, co. Stafford. Newton was also a magistrate by virtue of being an Alderman of the City of London. He sat on the bench of the courts in the Guildhall and Mansion House. Mystery surrounds his death in 1921 from strychnine poisoning.