Q. COULD HE HAVE TRANSITIONED AUTOMATICALLY INTO THE VOLUNTEER BATTALION FROM THE LAD’S BRIGADE?
No connection between Lad’s Brigade and the Volunteers. Any male, upwards of 17 years could apply to join the Volunteers. Suggested Google “The Volunteer Force”
Q. IF HE WAS A SAPPER WOULD HE BE CLASSIFIED AS AN NCO?
No. Sapper is RE version of Private.
Q. We don’t know when he joined the R.Es,
Either April or July 1901. I tend to April.
The medal roll entry for Transvaal and SA1902 clasps to QSA is the sole record that I can find for 8900 Clempson. No service papers.
BUT based on extant service papers on Findmypast, RE soldiers numbered 8892-8899 signed up in July 1901 for 3 years active + 9 years Reserve, with none of them serving in SA,
AND
RE soldiers numbered 8901 to 8908 signed up for 7 years active + 5 years Reserve in late April 1901, 2 of whom served in SA., with 1 of these 8905 Gault of 47th Co returning to UK in February 1904
Q. WAS B-1 AN R.E. COMPANY OR STATION?
A training centre most likely. Possibly Aldershot.
Q. (where, in 5.6.1903 he applied for QSA MEDAL 1902 TRANSVAAL-
No. The date (and place) is the day and (where) the medal roll was written up by the responsible officer. No application was necessary for the award of the medal.
Q. He is recorded in the 1911 census living in Abergavenny.
At 67 Frogmore Street
Q. He may have been discharged in South Africa and returned home as a civilian or in UK as he re-enlisted for WW I -No. 72284.
? returned to UK February 1904.Would be posted to the Reserve in 1908 and free to follow civilian employment. Discharged from army, service complete, 1913.
WW1 service papers for Frederick Clempston 67837 Royal Engineers of 67 Frogmore Street, Abergavenny, are available on Ancestry (rather than your note of 72284)
UK, British Army World War I Service Records, 1914-1920 - Ancestry.co.uk
They note prior service with RE but without any detail of it
Pete
