(From a newspaper article from, “THE GEORGE AND KNYSNA HERALD, GEORGETOWN, dated Friday, January 24, 1964.”)
This was the unique and world famous collection of medals that has been assiduously assembled by Mr Bertram L. Cairncross of Glendearg (on the Victoria Bay Road), as a special feature of his very fine collection of nearly 700 war medals that date from Trafalgar and Waterloo, the Indian Mutiny and the several “kaffir wars” to the last flair-up in Korea.
UNIQUE FEATURE
The family group of 64 medals has this unique feature, that every one has been awarded to a member of the Cairncross family and is inscribed with the Cairncross name. As he was unable to attend the convention, personally, Mr Cairncross was represented by his most able emissary – his wife Grace, who read a specially prepared paper on the family group. In this, she had the special honour of being the first woman to read a paper to the Numismatic Society in Cape Town.
There were about 250 present when Dr. Donges opened the convention, and the chairman Mr Roux (Director of the Mint) presented to Dr. Donges a gold medal in recognition of the honour accorded, and to Dr. F. Mitchell (the President) a silver medal for his great service.
SOUVENIR
A treasured souvenir brought home by Mr Cairncross is a copy of the bulky program autographed by all the committee members, as also Dr. Donges, not forgetting his private secretary and his typists.
In all, about 2000 people passed through the exhibition, and an aside that really attracted and charmed Mrs Cairncross were the three magnificent Venetian glass chandeliers in the hall. These historic originals of bygone days had been modernised by the introduction of electric light. Another feature which attracted her attention was the beautiful old yellow-wood floor and ceiling carried on massive beams.
The courtyard is now being laid out with round stones in most effective pattern.
Mrs Cairncross has nothing but praise and admiration for all the courtesy and general helpfulness accorded her, from the President himself to the watchman, all working so keenly and harmoniously in a most happy atmosphere, despite strenuous hours of preparation, some nights right into the early hours of the next morning.
THE GROUP
The paper on the family group was well received and evoked much interest. This group which constitutes a world record of medals, to one family assembled together, represents 24 individuals all named Cairncross, and its origin was almost a matter of chance – and late.
Thought he had in mind to concentrate on forming such a family group, Mr Cairncross thought the chances very remote indeed. And then…the seemingly impossible happened.
One morning a relation, Mrs. Elaine Marais, and her husband passed through George from Paarl, and called on at Glendearg. As they left, Mrs Marais opened her handbag and produced a small box, which she handed over to Mrs Cairncross with the remark, “As you are interested in the Cairncrosses (Mr Cairncross had factually constituted himself the family historian and had compiled a mammoth volume telling the Cairncrosses story from way back in the 13th century to the present day), I thought you might like to have this!”
To his delight and amazement, the box contained a Queen’s South African medal inscribed J. C. Cairncross.
UNDER WAY
So the fates played into his hand…and the family group was under way, to grow sometimes by leaps and bounds, other times painstakingly slow. But grow it did, surpassing even the collector’s most sanguine expectations. For where he had placed the possibility at no more than half a dozen, within a year the group had swelled to 36 medals from 11 Cairncrosses.
Today it comprises 64 from 24 individuals.
When in 1957 the African museum’s acquisition of the first Victoria Cross to be earned in South Africa – that of Major Moore at Draaibosch in 1877 – by special request the Cairncross group was sent and put on display, though it was then much smaller than today.
Yet, even then it drew world-wide comment, and was classed as a most unique collection, none ever having equalled or surpassed it in size.
FIVE WARS
The medals cover five wars; the Metabele rising of 1896, the Anglo-Boer war of 1899-1902, the Great War of 1914-18, the World war of 1939-45, and the Korean war of 1952. p> During the Boer war, 14 Cairncrosses participated, seven with the British forces and seven with the Boer forces; and history has shown that at times father and son were in opposite camps and even met in opposition on the field of battle.
Rare as is the group as a group, there are some individual medals that enjoy in themselves much rarity.
There is a group of three issued by the Government of South Africa for the Korean War of 1952, and the recipient in this case Michael Cairncross (he subsequently lost his life in an air crash in East Africa) also received the American Air Medal.
HIGHLY PRIZED
Another highly prized medal is the Colonial Officers’ Auxiliary Forces Decoration which King Edward VII conferred on Major T. W. Cairncross of the Cape Town Highlanders in 1908.
The Major had served from 1886 to 1911, and was the first officer of the regiment to earn a decoration for continuous service.
Subsidiary groups also occur within the main group. Thus “Uncle Herbert” served in the Boer War, one of his sons in the Great War, and three sons and a daughter in the World War.
There are five cases of father and son serving, one of husband and wife and several brothers and sisters.
It took little more than ten years to get the group together, and in one case it took eight years before the holder could be induced to hand over a medal for inclusion in the collection. Several were obtained direct from the Adjutant – General in cases where the recipients were deceased or too indifferent to apply themselves.
HALF CENTURY LATER
As an example of persistence – the Anglo-Boere Oolog medal (1899-1902) of Charles Cairncross, who died in 1928, was issued only in 1955 – 53 years after the event. And the British War medal (1914-18) of Thomas Cairncross, who died in 1918 was issued in 1956.
Obtaining them was the reward of patience, enthusiasm and dogged determination.
What makes this remarkable family collection all the more remarkable, is that each individual group is backed up by a photograph of the recipient.
As far as can be ascertained, the family group still lacks four medals, one being the Royal Red Cross, conferred on Mary Cairncross for nursing service during the Anglo-Boer War. The other three are 1914-18 medals, and although at present the prospects of obtaining them are not bright, hope still burns eternal in this ardent collector’s breast.
Surveying his family group of medals is the collector, Mr B. (Bertram) Cairncross. This photo, by courtesy of “Commando” was taken before the group had attained its present strength of 64.
Click here to see the photo.
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