TOPIC:

Reading the recent posts about Serjt J Streeter I noticed Frank's reference to him as a 'founder member', in that the regiment was formed on 8 November 1899 and he enlisted on 10 November.

This prompted me to look again at the papers for the holder of my one and only SALH QSA, a seven clasp example-see not very good photo below. It turns out that he too, was one of the 'founder members'

John Armstrong enlisted in C Squadron on 'Nov 11 99' at Rosebank, according to the Record of Service completed on enlistment.He was 28, English, and his occupation was given as labourer. His father's address as next of kin is in Queensland.

He obviously had a busy war, judging by his clasps, but his service was curtailed when he was discharged medically unfit on 25 March 1901 following an incident when his horse fell on him and broke his thigh whilst scouting near Lydenburg on 2nd September 1900 . Interestingly, both his Medical History and his Discharge record have him enlisting on 10 November 1899. Intriguingly, his Medical History gives his former trade or occupation as 'Banker', quite a big step away from 'labourer'. I wonder which was true?

Patrick

A typical medal to one of the original founder members of this fine regiment, any seven clasp medal to member of the SAMIF is a fairly scarce one, a pity he was discharged at that time, otherwise, it would certainly have been the usual eight clasps on both medals, yes, indeed, raised in Capetown on the 8th of November 1899 and subsequently disbanded at Elandsfontein on the 7th of July 1902, when the Transvaal Volunteers were formed, a new regiment took both the same name and their famous badge, the traditions lived on a little longer.
Again, a lovely medal, I should be very pleased with that if I were you!

Thanks Frank

Yes, I did think that if he'd remained unscathed he'd have got eight and the pair.Still, I quite like seven clasps on one medal!

Patrick

Very nice medal Patrick - my chap and yours probably knew each other at some point.

Regards

Rory

That's an excellent post, Patrick. Many thanks.

I like the idea that these two men could have once known each other too.

Fantastic Medal......

It's in a good home......

Wish it was in mine LOL......

Mike