By Neil Shafer
The note shown here is an example of the famous and very rare “shirt money” issued by the Border Scouts based at Upington, South Africa, during the Boer War of 1900-03. Upington is 300 miles southwest of Mafeking, on the Orange River.
A Major John Birbeck of the 4th Scottish Rifles organized the Scouts, reaching a force of 786 by early 1901