Delmer Brown Peterkin

Originally posted: March 30, 2005. 7:43pm

Back in January I wrote a bit about Delmer Brown Peterkin, one of my relatives who fought in the Boer War long ago. At the time I had just heard from his niece (my great aunt) that Delmer might have been been recommended for a Victoria Cross for his heroics in battle. Things have been busy since then, so I have not been able to properly follow up on this interesting man’s history until only recently.

Last month my Grandmother gave me one of Delmer’s war medals – the Queen’s South Africa Medal.

Front

Back

The Queen’s South Africa Medal was awarded to all men who fought in the Boer war, and contains one bar for each location the individual soldier fought at. Delmer’s medal has three bars:

Transvaal: Awarded to those troops serving the Transvaal at any time between 24 May 1900 and 31 May 1902, who received no other clasp for action in the Transvaal.

Orange Free State: Awarded to troops serving in Orange River Colony any time from 28 February 1900 to 21 May 1902.

Cape Colony: Awarded to troops serving in Cape Colony between 11 October 1899 and 31 May 1902.

Engraved across the bottom is Delmer’s name and identification number: 578 Tpr. D. Peterkin. Canadian Scouts.

My cousins Heather Moser and Sharon Kenney have graciously allowed me to reprint the following clips from their genealogy file on Delmer Peterkin.

From a dispatch:

Menne’s Scouts. – Tpr. Peterkin, Tpr. Glasborow (killed), at Platrand on September 13, Tpr. Glasborow went back to assist a dismounted comrade and was mortally wounded. Peterkin then returned under heavy fire and attended to him.”

Trooper Glasborow’s entry in the Roll of Honor is here.

From a (presumably) Montreal newspaper detailing the above incident:

DELMER PETERKIN MAY RECEIVE THE VICTORIA CROSS

Gallant South African Fighter From Point St. Charles Returns to His Home Shortly.

Word has just been received from South Africa that Delmer Peterkin of Point St. Charles, will leave for home in a short time. He has been attached for some time to Mennes Scouts and has seen some of the warmest action of the campaign.

Young Peterkin has distinguished himself on the field of battle on more than one occasion and South African papers just to hand tell of his rescue of a comrade in a most heroic manner and some of them declare that he will be named for the Victoria Cross. Once he and his chum were cut off from their friends and were entirely surrounded by the enemy. Peterkin’s comrade fell mortally wounded, but the plucky Montrealer succeeded in carrying the unconscious form through the storm of bullets and when the ambulance corps finally found them he had tied up the wounds of the dying youth who soon afterwards passed away. Peterkin escaped injury of any kind though his escapes were many and marvelous.

The youthful soldier is known all over Point St. Charles and St. Henry, and a big reception is being prepared for him.

Although he did not receive the Victoria Cross, Delmer’s heroics were noticed at home, and are remembered by the family. It is a shame that he was murdered just a few short years after returning home from Africa – who knows what life would have had in store for him.