§ MR. H. J. WILSON (Yorkshire, W.R., Holmfirth)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can say how many South African War medals were struck with the date 1899–1900 before February, 1901, how many have since been struck with the date 1899–1900, how many have been struck since February, 1901, without any date, and whether there is any precedent for striking war medals without a date.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir M. HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.It rests with the Secretary for War, not with me, to advise as to the design and issue of war medals; but I may say that the number of medals struck with the date "1899–1900" before 1st February, 1901, was 177,000. The number of medals struck with the date after 1st of February was 50,000, but none of these were issued. They were re-struck at the Mint without a date, and are included in the number struck since the 1st of February without a date, which amount in all to 179,830. 830 There are many precedents for striking war medals without a date.