Queen's South Africa Medal

Sister Janet Wyse Mackie Williamson (1862–1936, New Zealand) was awarded this Queen's South Africa Medal for her service as a nurse during the South African War (1899-1902).

The South African War was the first overseas conflict to involve New Zealand troops. New Zealand sent more than 6500 men, and up to 29 nurses served. Seventy-one New Zealanders were killed in action or died of wounds, with another 159 dying in accidents or from disease. Nursing in South Africa was extremely hard work.

However, at the time of the South African War there was no New Zealand army nursing service. Some nurses went to South Africa with official approval but none were paid by the New Zealand government. Local patriotic committees raised funds to send small groups of nurses; others joined the recently formed Princess Christian’s Army Nursing Service Reserve (PCANSR) in Britain, or travelled to South Africa at their own expense. All New Zealand nurses in South Africa were attached to the PCANSR.

Sister Janet Wyse Mackie Williamson led the second group of nurses to go to South Africa (her title was Lady Superintendent). The group consisted of seven nurses selected and paid for by the Organising Committee of the Otago and Southland Nursing Contingent. They sailed from New Zealand in March 1900 (the first group of six nurses had left in January 1900).

Williamson was the most experienced of the group. She was in charge of thousands of soldiers and nursed through a terrible epidemic. She was ‘Mentioned in Despatches’ by Lord Roberts on 4 September 1901 as having "Rendered special and meritorious service". On 27 September, she was awarded the decoration of the Royal Red Cross (RRC). Her decoration was personally presented to her by King Edward VII on 17 December 1901.

Williamson became the first New Zealand-born and trained nurse to be honoured with this award, and was only one of two New Zealand nurses to be decorated for service in the South African War.

The Queen's South Africa Medal was awarded to all British service people who served in South Africa from 11 October 1899 to the end of the war on 31 May 1902, including New Zealanders and nurses. About 178,000 medals were awarded. The medal, without clasps, was awarded to nurses.

The obverse shows a crowned and veiled profile portrait of Queen Victoria with the legend ‘VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX’. The reverse, designed by G. W. de Saulles, shows Britannia holding the Union Flag in her left hand and a laurel wreath in her right hand. In the background are troops marching inland from the coast and two men-of-war ships. Neptune's trident and Britannia's shield lie in the foreground.