Another mistake by the mint. No clasp. Only 2 men went out to SA from 4th Brigade
"PERTH MAN WAITS 41 YEARS FOR MEDAL. After waiting for 41 years, Mr William Chalmers, 19 Mill Street, Perth, is to be presented, at a meeting of the Perth Branch of the Black Watch Association to-day, with the Zulu War medal which he earned in 1879. The Association took the matter up with the War Office some time ago, and, on inquiry, the medal was found to have been lying in the Mint since 1879. Mr Chalmers, who is now 74 years of age, has had a long and varied military career. Enlisting in the Royal Field Artillery at Aberdeen in 1874, he was for two years stationed at Woolwich, after which he was sent out with his battery for service in India. In 1879 he went out as a sergeant to Africa, serving in a battery which replaced a portion of the men who lost their lives or were wounded at the battle of Rorke's Drift. When his twelve years' term of service expired, Sergeant Chalmers returned to his civil occupation as fishing fly maker. In December, 1914, although then 88 years of age, be offered himself for military service, and, as he possessed qualifications as a gunsmith, he was accepted as such, and served for four years with the 3rd Black Watch in this country and in Ireland."
Perthshire Advertiser - Wednesday 08 December 1920
A Scottish veteran who fought in the Zulu War 41 years ago has just got his medal. To save this sort of scandal in the future would it not be well to strike the medals for the next war some years before its declaration?
Dundee Evening Telegraph - Thursday 16 December 1920
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