The flag used in the battle was recently unveiled at its new home at St Marys District Historical Society headquarters, where it's now mounted on a wall.

The flag was the first hoisted over Bloemfontein in South Africa.

It was sent to St Marys on the request of Mechanics Institute secretary and the area's sole participant in the Boer War, Trooper Edwin (Ted) Horace Ransley.

``I do feel lonely to think I am the only St Marys boy that has faced the music, but I will try to uphold the credit to that little town,'' he wrote in a letter home to friend Montage James Bennett before his death from enteric fever in April 1900, aged 30.

The flag was returned to Australia and presented at the Mechanic Institute opening in St Marys in 1901 by Sergeant Arthur Gates. The institute was demolished in 1971.

What happened to the flag for almost 30 years until it was given to the St Marys District Historical Society 18 months ago remains a mystery.

``Anything that represents St Marys from 100 years ago is important to us and something you can't put a price on,'' historical society secretary Norma Thorburn said.

The Veteran Affairs Department contributed $3000 towards restoration costs, St Marys Rotary club added $1000 and $150 in public donations collected.