Cape Copper Company Medal for the Defence of O'okiep facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cape Copper Company Medal for the Defence of O'okiep |
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| Country |  Cape of Good Hope |
| Type | Campaign medal |
| Eligibility | O'okiep Garrison members |
| Awarded for | Defence of the town during the siege of O'okiep in 1902 |
| Campaign(s) | Second Boer War |
| Status | Unofficial |
| Statistics | |
| Established | 1902 |
| Related | .svg){kind=small} Queen's South Africa Medal King's South Africa Medal |
 Ribbon bar |
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Imagine getting a special medal for being brave! The Cape Copper Company Medal for the Defence of O'okiep is a unique medal from 1902. It was given out by a mining company, not the government. This medal honoured people who bravely defended the town of O'okiep in South Africa.
This happened during the Second Boer War, a big conflict in South Africa. From April 4 to May 4, 1902, O'okiep was under attack. This medal was a special thank you to everyone who helped protect the town.
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The Cape Copper Company's Story
The Cape Copper Company was a very important mining business. It started way back in the 1860s. At first, it was called the Cape of Good Hope Copper Mining Company. This company mined copper around the town of O'okiep in a place called Namaqualand.
Later, in 1888, the company changed its name to the Cape Copper Company. They played a huge role in the area. They even had many employees who helped defend O'okiep during the war.
The Siege of O'okiep
Towards the end of the Second Boer War, Boer commandos (groups of soldiers) entered the Cape of Good Hope. On April 4, 1902, a town called Concordia, close to O'okiep, gave up to the Boer forces.
Right after that, the town of O'okiep came under attack. This attack lasted for a whole month, from April 4 to May 4. The Boer forces were led by General Jan Smuts. Their plan was to take control of the rich copper mines. They hoped this would force the British to send soldiers from Cape Town. If that happened, Cape Town would be left open for attack.
The people defending O'okiep were called the garrison. There were about 900 men. Their leader was Lieutenant Colonel W.A.D. Shelton. Many of the defenders were local miners. Most of these civilian defenders worked for the Cape Copper Company. About three-quarters of them were Coloured people.
The town had built strong defences, like blockhouses and barbed wire fences. Early in the attack, the defenders managed to push back several strong attacks. Later, General Smuts left to attend peace talks. After that, the attack on O'okiep became less serious. It was more like a friendly blockade.
On May 1, 1902, the Boer commandos tried a clever trick. They used a train engine called "Pioneer" to push a wagon full of dynamite towards O'okiep. It was like a mobile bomb! The defenders had set up a barbed wire fence across the railway line. This fence was connected to the train tracks.
When the dynamite wagon hit the fence, it went off the tracks. The dynamite spilled out onto the ground. Luckily, it just burned harmlessly without exploding. It gave everyone a big fright, but no one was hurt. General Smuts later said that they made sure the dynamite wouldn't explode. This was because there were women and children in O'okiep.
Why the O'okiep Defence Medal Was Special
After the war, the British government gave out medals to their soldiers. These were the Queen's South Africa Medal and the King's South Africa Medal. However, the Coloured members of the O'okiep defence force were not allowed to receive these medals.
This wasn't fair, as they had fought just as bravely. So, the Cape Copper Company decided to create its own medal. They wanted to give it to all the defenders of O'okiep, no matter their race. This was a very important decision.
There were two types of the Cape Copper Company Medal. Most of them were made of bronze. These were given to the regular soldiers and the civilian defenders. Many of these were mine workers who had helped protect the town.
A special silver medal was given to officers and higher-ranking mine officials. At least one non-commissioned officer also received a silver medal. This showed that the company valued everyone's bravery.
What the Medal Looks Like
The Cape Copper Company Medal is a round medal, about 3.65 centimetres wide. It has a raised edge all around it.
- Front Side (Obverse): This side shows the company's symbol. It's a miner standing next to a mining cart, holding a spade. Below the picture, it says "1888". Around the edge, it says "THE CAPE COPPER COMPANY LIMITED".
- Back Side (Reverse): This side is smooth with a raised edge. It has a message written on it. The message says the medal is "PRESENTED TO THE OFFICERS NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE GARRISON OF OOKIEP IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR GALLANT DEFENCE OF THE TOWN UNDER LT. COL. SHELTON. D.S.O. AGAINST A GREATLY SUPERIOR FORCE OF BOERS APRIL 4TH TO MAY 4TH 1902". This explains why they got the medal.
- How it Hangs (Suspender): The medal hangs from a fancy, flower-like piece of metal. This piece is attached to the top of the medal. It lets the medal swing a little.
- Ribbon: The ribbon is about 3.2 centimetres wide. It is dark brown with a green stripe in the middle. The green stripe is about 0.6 centimetres wide.
Important Medals in South African History
Even though the Cape Copper Company Medal was not an "official" military medal, it is very well-known. It's one of a few private medals that are important in South Africa's military history. These medals were not allowed to be worn with official military uniforms. However, they are still remembered for their special meaning.
Here are some other important private medals:
- The Sir Harry Smith's Medal for Gallantry from 1851.
- The Johannesburg Vrijwilliger Corps Medal from 1899.
- The Kimberley Star from 1900.
- And of course, the Cape Copper Company Medal for the Defence of O'okiep from 1902.
