In the last year of her long life, Queen Victoria crocheted eight scarves for presentation to members of her forces fighting in South Africa.
Four were earmarked for members of colonial units, with one each going to the most distinguished private soldier serving in the forces of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
The other four went to members of the British regular army.
The Canadian scarf was awarded to Private R.R. Thompson for his action in going to the aid of wounded comrades at Paardeberg on February 18 and 27, 1900.
With the passage of time, awareness of the scarf faded from Canadian memory.
In 1964 Bombardier Kenneth Richardson of the Royal Canadian Artillery, located the scarf with Thompson’s family in Ireland. It was returned to Canada by Thompson’s nephew in 1965 and has been on display at the Canadian War Museum ever since.
In honour of the Queen’s Scarf of Honour, Kirsten Deane of the Quesnel Knitters created a replica of the scarf and it was presented to Doug Carey, vice president in charge of memorabilia at the Quesnel Legion June 25 during Legion Week celebrations.