Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Boer War Tribute Medal and associated sporting medals awarded to Trooper H. V. Callender, Victoria Mounted Rifles

Five gold medals, (all 15ct, weighing collectively 38.45g), comprising a Boer War Tribute Medal, engraved ‘Tpr. H. Callender. 5th. V.M.R. in Empire’s Cause. Sth. African War 1901-02. Presented by Rangers and Public of Rupanyup’; three Lancefield Football Club prize medals, the reverses engraved ‘Presented to H. Callander by the L.F.C. Season 1905; L.D.F.A. Presented by A. F. Thomson Esq. Won by H. Callender, Lancefield F.C. 1909; and Presented by L.F.C. for Best Placed Man, Won by H. V. Callander, Season 1910’; and a Boxing Prize Medal, the reverse engraved ‘Presented by G. R. Milbank to H. V. Callender, inner 11 stone Boxing Tournament, Beria, Oct. 7th. 1911’, the last two with Western Australian swan suspension, note various differences in the the spelling of the recipient’s surname, generally very fine (5) £700-£900

Herbert Victor Callender, a native of Rupanyup, Victoria, Australia, served with the 5th Victoria Mounted Rifles in South Africa during the Boer War.

Note: Lancefield Football Club was the team from the Lancefield Gold Mine, which was located at the now-abandoned town of Beria, Western Australia, and opened in 1904. One of the mine’s original directors was the mining engineer and businessman Herbert Hoover, who subsequently served as President of the United States of America.