SERGEANT J. HALPIN, CAPE MOUNTED RIFLES. South Africa Medal 1877-79, no clasp, officially

SERGEANT J. HALPIN, CAPE MOUNTED RIFLES. South Africa Medal 1877-79, no clasp, officially renamed in one of the styles seen on medals awarded to the Cape Mounted Rifles, engraved in upper and lower case sloping letters (No.672 Lce. Sergt J. HALPIN. Cape Mtd Rifles). Good Very Fine.

Recipient not recorded on the published medal roll. However, naming appears perfectly correct and may be an official late issue or replacement medal (it is well known that there are genuine medals that are not recorded on the published medal roll)

There is a marriage certificate in the South African Archives for a James Halpin, who was born in Ireland in 1868. This man, presumably the son of the recipient of this medal, saw service initially as Private J. Halpin, Cape Police, being recorded as having received a Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal 1880-97 with a Bechuanaland clasp (campaign of 1896-97), later serving as 744 Corporal J. Halpin, Cape Police during the Boer War and finally as Sergeant J. Halpin, Cape Mounted Police, applying for a transfer to the Durban Police in 1905.