Historical information

These medals were struck to commemorate the feat of Colonel Baden Powell who, with his troops, defended the town of Mafeking in South Africa during the Boer War for 217 days. Robert Baden Powell (1857-1941) was a British Army officer who served in India and Africa from 1876 to 1910. In 1907 he founded the Boy Scout movement, now an international organization for boys and with his sister Agnes, founded the Girl Guide movement, also now internationally established.

Significance

These medals are of local interest as they commemorate Colonel Baden Powell’s heroics in defending in 1899-1900 the town of Mafeking in South Africa during the Boer War. The Relief of Mafeking was celebrated in Warrnambool in May 1900.

Physical description

.1 A bronze-coloured medal with an image of Colonel Baden Powell on one side and some descriptive text on the other. The medal has a metal ring at the top to attach the medal to a cord.
.2 as .1 above except that the top metal ring is missing

Inscriptions & markings

.1 Colonel Baden Powell Defender of Mafeking
Relief of Mafeking May 1900 and Baden Powell The Hero Who Kept the Flag Flying For Over 215 Days
.2 as .1 above