Hi Ted, Thanks for that. This is turning into quite an interesting mystery. It seems that much fuss was made about Tom Morris being recommended for a VC, both in England and in Australia - apparently there were civic receptions and interviews after his arrival home, so I should be able to check the local papers and find out more. Then there's the mystery of why he never actually received it. I finally read "The Featherbed Soldiers" at the library today - it suggested that the whole episode started with a joking remark to his brother and that the rumour of his recommendation then took on a life of its own! Cheers Jan >When talking of the VC in the period of the Boer War, it is well to keep in >mind that it was the only award available to junior officers and "other >ranks" for bravery. It had not yet assumed the degree of importance or >status that it now commands. Now, of course, there is the DCM, MC, MSM, MM, >MID and a dozen other methods of recognising gallantry and or superior >service. > >That was not so in 1899/1902. > >details available at >http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-medals/00-medals-cat-index.htm > > >Ted