Trooper Coutts and The Queen’s Scarf

How many people can say they have received something hand-made by a King or Queen? Trooper Coutts can!

Queen Victoria reigned from 1837 to 1901. Her goodwill and compassion for her troops began early in her reign with the institution of the Victoria Cross in 1856. This compassion continued throughout her long reign and just prior to her death in 1901, the Queen crocheted eight scarves, which would be presented as a gallantry award to soldiers serving in South Africa. Four were awarded to imperial troops and four to colonial troops, one each to a Canadian, Australian, South African, and New Zealander. Each scarf was awarded for an act of bravery and, although they were not formally gazetted (due to Queen Victoria dying before they could be awarded), it was traditionally accepted that the scarves were on par with the Victoria Cross. The Queen’s initials, VRI, (Victoria Regina Imperatrix) are embroidered in cotton in the lower left hand corner of each scarf.

The scarf on display at the Museum is commonly referred to as The Queen’s Scarf and was presented to Trooper Henry Donald Coutts (1st NZ Contingent) of Ngaere, Taranaki. Coutts earned his distinction in action at Koornspruit (Sanna’s Post) on 31 March 1900 when he accompanied a British column from Bloemfontein to help capture the town’s water supply still held by Boers.

When the column was surprised at Koornspruit, Coutts rescued Sergeant Edgar of the Burmese Mounted Infantry, who had been shot through the body. Under heavy fire, Coutts managed to get Edgar on his horse and rode him from danger to an ambulance station. The man later died of his wounds.

After completion of service in South Africa, Coutts returned to New Zealand and re-enlisted with the staff of the 7th Contingent as Captain and Quartermaster.

After the war, Coutts continued his military involvement as a Captain in the New Zealand Militia until 1910. In 1916, Coutts, then aged 50 years old, lied about his age and enlisted as a Corporal in the Auckland Infantry Battalion. He served in England until his discharge on medical grounds in April 1918. After spending many years farming near Kawhia, and in Taranaki with a side interest in sawmilling, Coutts died in hospital in Wellington on 30 April 1944.

Coutts presented his scarf to the New Zealand Government in 1913. It was displayed in the General Assembly Library before being presented to the National Army Museum.

Pictured: 1980.6274 – Woollen scarf crocheted by Queen Victoria and awarded to Trooper Coutts, and a close-up of Queen Victoria’s embroidered initials, VRI (Victoria Regina Imperatrix). National Army Museum Te Mata Toa.