Kimberley Star facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kimberley Star |
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| Country |  Cape of Good Hope |
| Type | Campaign medal |
| Eligibility | Defenders of Kimberley |
| Awarded for | the Siege of Kimberley |
| Campaign(s) | Second Boer War |
| Status | Unofficial |
| Statistics | |
| Established | 1900 |
| Related |  Queen's South Africa Medal |
 Ribbon bar |
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The Kimberley Star is a special medal from the past. It was created by the Mayor of Kimberley in 1900. This medal was given to everyone who helped defend the town of Kimberley. This happened during the Second Boer War, when Kimberley was under attack for four months.
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The Siege of Kimberley
The Second Boer War started on 11 October 1899. It was a big fight between the United Kingdom and two Boer Republics in South Africa. In the beginning, the Boer forces attacked British areas. They surrounded important towns like Ladysmith, Mafeking, and Kimberley.
The attack on Kimberley is called the siege of Kimberley. It began on 14 October 1899. A "siege" means the town was completely surrounded. No one could get in or out easily. The siege lasted for four months. It finally ended on 15 February 1900, when British forces arrived to help the town.
Soldiers who defended Kimberley officially received special bars, called "clasps," for their Queen's South Africa Medal. These clasps showed they had been part of the "DEFENCE OF KIMBERLEY" or the "RELIEF OF KIMBERLEY."
Why the Medal Was Created
The Mayor of Kimberley, H.A. Oliver, wanted to honor everyone who helped defend the town. This included not just soldiers, but also regular people living in Kimberley. So, in 1900, he created the Kimberley Star.
This medal was given to all the men who helped protect Kimberley. This included groups like the Kimberley Town Guard and the Cape Police. Even though soldiers received it, the Kimberley Star was not an "official" military medal. This meant soldiers were not allowed to wear it on their uniforms.
What the Medal Looks Like
The Kimberley Star is shaped like a six-pointed star. It is made of silver and is about 46 millimetres wide.
- Front (Obverse): The front of the medal shows the shield of the town of Kimberley. Around the shield, it says "KIMBERLEY" at the top and "1899-1900" at the bottom. These dates show when the siege happened.
- Back (Reverse): The back of the medal is plain. It says "MAYOR'S SIEGE MEDAL 1900." Most medals were given without a name. But some people had their names engraved on them later.
- Ribbon: The ribbon for the medal is 25 millimetres wide. It has several colored stripes: a wide black stripe, a red stripe, a white stripe, a dark blue stripe, and a wide yellow stripe.
Who Received the Medal
About 5,000 Kimberley Stars were given out. However, there isn't a full list of everyone who received one.
Its Place in History
The Kimberley Star is considered an "unofficial" medal. This means it wasn't formally approved by the King or Queen at the time. Because of this, it couldn't be worn with military uniforms.
However, some unofficial medals have become very well-known in South Africa's military history. The Kimberley Star is one of four such important medals. It helps us remember the bravery of those who defended Kimberley during the Second Boer War.
