Cathy Worthington of Australia has located a South African version of the First World War Victory Medal in her family heirlooms. The problem is, the war service medal does not relate to her ancestry. And this kind hearted person is determined to have the missing medal returned to its rightful family in time for them to commemorate his service during the Centenary of the First World War.
IMAGE RIGHT : First World War Victory Medal, similar to that awarded to Corporal John Frederick JEFFERYS of the South African M.T.C. (Miscellaneous Trades Company).
The 1914-1918 Victory Medal is impressed Cpl J.F. Jefferys M.T.C. around the rim. The initials ‘M.T.C.’ are believed to stand for ‘Miscellaneous Trades Company’. What clearly identifies this man as a member of the South African Expeditionary Force is the inscription on the reverse of the medal which depicts the English version and the Dutch translation of “De Grote Oorlog Voor De Beschaving 1914-1918”.
Cathy states that her grandfather J.J.H. Volsteedt, was a young South African who served with the Royal Navy during the Great War. All of his medals are accounted for and in the safe custody of her brother. However, she hopes that somebody is looking for this medal in honour of their grandfather? Cathy states “It makes me so sad when I see medals being sold on auction sites, valued so cheaply in most cases. These were real people who went through awful things, often not at all by their own choosing… their medals are worth so much more than a few dollars or pounds”. And we here at Medals Gone Missing agree with you 100% Cathy and we applaud you for your ethic. She reports that the Victory Medal is in poor condition and has no ribbon, however to the descendants of John Frederick JEFFERYS it would be priceless regardless of its appearance.
IMAGE LEFT : The reverse side of the Bi-lingual First World War South African Victory Medal for service during 1914-1918. It is not widely known that the South Africans paid this recognition to their soldiers with the inscription translated into Africaans.
Should this not perhaps be Cpl JF (John Frederick) Jefferys MTC, whom I suspect to be the right individual?
His wife is indicated as his next of kin on his service cards. She was Winifred Elizabeth Jefferys and she lived at 13 McKenna Lane, Kimberley, Cape Province, South Africa round about WWI.
Hope this helps.
Hello Denel ……. thank you for your response and information. This is a great help.