What is the meaning of this counterstamp?

[brandm24]

I found this interesting old cartwheel penny counterstamped by or for a military man named Corporal (Mark?) Chadwick.

I assume his first name was Mark. Although it appears below "Corporal Chadwick", I don't know what else it could mean. The figure next to "Mark" appears to be a cross. The date 18 June, 1901 is struck below the name and above the word "Safe".

My guess is that it was either used as military ID or a later remembrance of his military service. I suspect it dates back to the Boer War. I wasn't able to find any history on this man and hoping someone could help me with that. Military records other than those of the US are hard to come by over here.

I appreciate any help you could give me.

Bruce

[FosseWay]

I'll have a dig on Ancestry etc. later, but in my experience, there's much less material available for the "minor wars" compared to WW1.

A guess as to its purpose: I wonder if it is a way of telling Cpl Chadwick's family that he's safe if captured in battle. The idea being that the Boers (in this case) would take the tag and forward it to a neutral go-between, who would then pass it on to the British and ultimately to his parents, wife or whoever.

During the World Wars, the Red Cross fulfilled this function, and the whole routine of what you could be obliged to say when captured was governed by the Geneva Conventions. I don't know how much of that was already in place in South Africa, or to what extent either side in that conflict regarded it as a war between two (or more) independent powers. If there weren't official ways of getting news of captures, and deaths in captivity, across the lines, presumably both sides invented ways of doing it that worked.

Of course, the South Africa connection may be a red herring. Like you, my first reaction to the date was that it must be the Boer War, but of course there were British Army soldiers stationed over half the globe back then. Technically he doesn't even need to be British, but given the host coin (which AFAIK never circulated in Canada, Australia etc.) it's highly likely he is.

[FosseWay]

As I feared, I've drawn a blank on military records for South Africa.

Surprisingly perhaps, "Mark Chadwick" is not that common a name back then. There are four hits for the 1911 census on Mark Chadwick born 1865-1885 (so of an age to be serving in the military in 1901). But none of them are soldiers or give any clue that they might have been in South Africa (or anywhere) on service 10 years earlier.

[andyg]

What's the "+" after Mark for?

I read it at first as "Mark Born 18/6/1901" - probably I shouldn't have

[FosseWay]

I'd wondered about the cross as well, but if anything it tends to mean "died", with "born" being a star.

[brandm24]

Thanks for your input guys. The things that puzzled me the most was the word "Safe" and the fact that the coin wasn't holed.

 A battlefield ID would likely be pierced so it could be worn on a string or chain. If carried in a pocket or pack it would show at least some wear...this one doesn't. There's also no unit designation. These omissions lead me to believe it wasn't intended to be an ID.

It's hard to be sure but the stamp appears to be struck with a prepared punch. Why would the time and expense be wasted for a one-time-use stamp.

Interestingly, there were also Americans who fought in the Boer War, estimated to number about 300. I don't see this as being American though.

Bruce

[JohnI]

Corporal Chadwick was from Mark Cross. He served with Paget's Horse as a Corporal in the Boer War (Kent & Sussex Courier - 21 June 1901 Page 12);



It looks like he got the QSA (Queen's South Africa Medal) but as he was home in 1901, he would not have got the KSA (King's South Africa Medal). His QSA would probably be the same as the one listed here;
https://bid.candtauctions.co.uk/lot-details/index/catalog/130/lot/44080/Queens-South-Africa-Medal-to-19th-Battalion-Imperial-Yeomanry-Paget-s-Horse?url=%2Fauctions%2Fcatalog%2Fid%2F130%3Fcat%3D32


It looks like the coin could be for a reception held in Coporal Chadwick's honour.

Regards;



John

[JohnI]

Chadwick's entry in the medal roll is below;



Lance Corporal Alfred William Chadwick, 57th Company Imperial Yeomanry, Regimental number 13014. Entitled to the Cape Colony and Transvaal clasps. These are district clasps - he was not entitled to any of the battles clasps.

His first and middle name are given on AngloBoerWar.com.

Regards;



john

[Figleaf]

    

[brandm24]

I applaud you as well, John. Your wonderful research is much appreciated.  

Bruce

[JohnI]

I had a dig about for Alfred William Chadwick to see if there was any more information. Fortunately it is not a common name and the only one I could find was in South Africa in 1903.Ths person got married there and had at least one duaghter and one son. The records, which aren't a lot, suggest that this person settled in South Africa (i.e. the son and daughter got married in South Africa).

Although not as difinitive as a clearly attributable newspaper article, there is a strong possibility that this is the same person.

Regards;


John