Boer War: The Queen‘s Scarf of Honour

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Private Richard Thompson, the only Canadian recipient of the Queen‘s Scarf of Honour (circa 1900).

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The Queen‘s Scarf of Honour.

Queen Victoria, who reigned from 1837 to 1901, had crocheted 8 scarves in the last year of her life with the intention of presenting each as one of the highest military awards for bravery. They were made of khaki coloured Berlin wool with the Royal Cipher “VR1” embroidered in silk on one of the little knots of wool above the fringed end.


Read more about the Queen's Scarf of Honour and Private Richard Thompson:

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Award of The Queen's Scarf To
Private R.R. Thompson

This is to certify that Private R.R. Thompson, late, D Company 2 Royal Canadian Regiment was awarded the Queen's Scarf for bravery during the recent South African Campaign under the following circumstances: In July 1900, official notification was received by Colonel W.D. Otter, CB. ADC, Commanding the 2 Royal Canadian Regiment that Her Majesty the late Queen proposed awarding to a non-commissioned officer or man in each of the Colonial Contingents who might be nominated as having performed the bravest of act during the War a scarf worked or made by herself. The regiment was then stationed on the line of communications at Springs and Colonel Otter at once had the Staff and Officers Commanding Companies brought together for the selection of the non-commissioned officer or man to represent The Royal Canadian Regiment. After considerable discussion, the decision was made in favour of Private R.R. Thompson, late D Company, 2 Royal Canadian Regiment and his name was forwarded accordingly. The scarf was in due time received and given to Private Thompson.

The Particular acts upon which Private Thompson was selected were as follows:

First: Having on the night of Eighteenth-Nineteenth February 1900 kept Private Bradshaw who was left dangerously wounded at Paardeberg alive by the care and attendance bestowed upon him until he could be properly attended to.

Second: Having twice left the trenches on the morning of the capture of the Boer Laager at Paardeberg, the Twenty-seventh February 1900 at the imminent risk of his own life for the purpose of assisting wounded comrades lying some distance in front of the trenches.

Adjutant General
December 24th 1908
Ottawa

From the old war museum:

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What would a Queen's scarf be worth nowadays? Perhaps Lord Ashcroft should consider collecting these as well...

Hi Wouter

I would say that the likely value would be................priceless.

Rare almost to the point of unique. There were 8 but only one was Canadian so..........

It should be noted that it is an award or gift rather than decoration and has no status as such. It was actually awarded to "the most distinguished private soldier" and not sole limited to bravery. The Canadians chose to award to a brave man but that was not neccessarily the sole intent. Plus only the Cdns seem to use the "...of Honour" description.

"Private Richard Rowland Thompson... was presented with one of these scarves as a result of his devotion to duty and his continued distinguished and gallant service while in South Africa...

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There has been much speculation as to the exact degree of honour that the award of the scarf carried. It was at one time believed to be equivalent to the Victoria Cross but this is not the case. During 1902 the New Zealand Government requested that the title 'Queen's Scarf' be used in the Army List and other offficial documents but, in a reply dated 4 June 1902, the Secretary of State refused to grant permission. The question of precedence has continued over the years and, even as late as 1956, it was raised again, when a descendent of one of the holders reqested permission to attend the VC Centenary Celebrations. The official reply stated '...while the Queen's Scarf is regarded as a unique and most distinguished award, relatives of those who received it are not being included in the present ceremony as it does not carry equal status with the Victoria Cross....'.

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A number of misconceptions and legends surround the scarf. For example, some believed it to be the equal of, or even rank above, the Victoria Cross as a decoration. Research has established that the scarf has no relationship to the Victoria Cross and, in fact, has no status as a decoration. Nevertheless, to have received a scarf was a great honour.

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Not trying to run down Thompson or his deeds and subsequent gift, just keeping it real. 8)

regards
Darrell