Summary

Victorian Military Forces Best Shot Medal 1893-94, awarded to Sergeant Zabina Lane, B Company, Victorian Rangers.

Zebina Lane (1829-1906) was a mining engineer working in St Arnaud in the late 1880s and 1890s, actively involved in community affairs, rifle shooting and brass bands. There is a small chance that the medal was won by his son, Zebina B. Lane, who was the first President of the Broken Hill Rifle Club in 1889 but he does not seem to have been living in Victoria at the time the medal was won. It is considered most likely, in spite of his age (he would have been 65) that Zebina senior won the prize.

Physical Description

Round silver medal (38 mm. diameter) with ornate mount and blue ribbon.

Obverse Description

Crowned garter around simple Southern Cross on cross; on garter, PRO DEO . ET PATRIA . VICTORIA (translation - for God and the Fatherland . Victoria); around, LOCAL FORCES VICTORIA.

Reverse Description

Legend: BEST SHOT / OF / VICT. MILITARY / FORCES / 1893 - 4. (the date is engraved).

Edge Description

Impressed: ZABINA LANE, SERGT. "B" COY. VICT. RANGERS.

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