Here you go Di. Some photos of Robert Scott and his medals. I'd just like to say a big thank you to Garry Cook, the curator of the Manchester Regiment Museum for his assistance. Robert Scott VC The Victoria Cross
And the full medal set... I thought the Clasps on the QSA and KSA medals should be explained: The QSA Medal Clasps of Robert Scott VC Belfast A clasp inscribed "Belfast" will be granted to all troops who, on August 26th or 27th 1900, were east of a north and south line drawn through Wonderfontein (the garrison and troops quartered at Wonderfontein on those dates will not receive this clasp) and West of a north and south line through Dalmanutha Station, and north of an east and west line through Dalmanutha Station. This description was subsequently changed to read: A clasp inscribed "Belfast" will be granted to all troops, who, on August, 26th or 27th, 1900, were east of a north and south line drawn through Wonderfontein (the garrison and troops quartered at Wonderfontein on those dates will not receive this clasp), and west of a north and south line through Dalmanutha Station, and north of an east and west line through Carolina, the word Carolina being substituted for Dalmanutha Station in the original text. Defence of Ladysmith A clasp inscribed "Defence of Ladysmith" will be granted to all troops in Ladysmith between November 3rd, 1899, and February 28th, 1900, both dates inclusive. Elandslaagte A clasp inscribed "Elandslaagte" will be granted to all troops at Elandslaagte on October 21st, 1899, who were on the right bank of the Sunday River and north of an east and west line through Buys Farm. The KSA Medal Clasps South Africa 1901 - Awarded for service during 1901 towards the required service of 18 months. South Africa 1902 - Awarded to those who served during 1902. For anyone interested the full list of QSA clasps can be found at the following excellent Boer War Website and Forum: Queen's South Africa Medal
Jonathan I can't thank you enough, uncle will be chuffed to bits. Never seen that photo of him. I'm really touched by your kindness. Rep on its way, but not nearly enough Please pass on my thanks to the curator also, if you get a chance.
You got your wish as well, brilliant. Hope you find those personal accounts, etc. So do I Di - That is a rather nice collection ! JB - Did you get to hold the VC?
I get to do that next week. Because of the security and permissions required in removing the medals from the display Garry keeps photos of each VC 'rear side' for requests such as the one I made. He let me have the VC photo in advance so I could post it with the others here but ended his email with "you can take your own photos of it next week" Oh, and the 1940 archive contains personal diaries and letters. Apparently 'lots for me to see'. The Camera will be busy! JB
I've just had a quick skim through the regimental history. Keep an eye out for any sketch maps or maps with positions marked on them
Just a quick note to remember the 50,000 people, including 28,000 women and children, who died of desease and starvation in British concentration camps during the Boer wars.
Our Little Army in the Field: The Canadians in the Boer War: Amazon.co.uk: Brian Reid: Books This book might be of interest to Boer War students. The Boer War saw the first official overseas service of Canadian troops. WarMuseum.ca - Canada and the South African War (Boer War) - 1899-1902 Brian Reid is the author of No Holding Back, an excellent history of Operation Totalize.
I have noticed it is always one sided in this war business. People forget that the enemy is also human and believe that they are doing the right thing. They too have families that love them and fret over the safety of their loved ones. Why I say this, is because all I hear is about the British and they Allies who fought against the Boers. I have found very little information about the Boers, but quiet a bit about the consintration camps and the suffering the Boer woman and children had to indure. Now I understand why my Oupa (grandfather) was so bitter towards the English. He saw his people put into those consintration camps and saw their suffring. His father was a Veldkornet in the Boksburg Commando.
I've only just discovered this thread, I've bookmarked it so I can have a proper read later on. Thanks for posting it, very interesting! I know nothing about the Boer Wars but am keen to find out more as last year I discovered (by complete chance) that my great Grandad's medals are in a museum down in Wiltshire. No idea how they got there, but keen to go and see them when I get the chance. He was 2nd Bn, Wiltshire Regt. The medals are Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902 with Cape Colony, Transvaal, Witterbergen clasps, and King's South Africa Medal 1901-1902 with South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 clasps. They also have his LSGC. I have a lot to learn!
I've always thought I should research all my family members who served in conflicts further back than WW1. We have candidates in the Crimea, Chinese and Boer Wars, so there is plenty to get stuck in to. Africandove, you are quite right, there are always two sides to war.
The boers were fight for their country. The only reason the British government did not want to let go of South Africa was because of the minerial wealth. Anyway here is a book written by a Boer and his adventures as he put it during the boer war. View attachment 15160.txt
