TOPIC:

Hello all.
My great grandfather served in South Africa with the First Active Service Bn. (He was a Volunteer from 'A' Co. Third South Wales Borderers, Pontypool.)
The First Active Service Battalion was attached to 2nd South Wales Borderers. It left Brecon for SA - 14 Feb 1900 and returned to South Wales - May 1901.
His regimental number was 7552 and I have the medal rolls which show - Queen's South Africa medal with clasps - Belmont, Johannesburg, Cape Colony, Orange Free State.
The roll also indicates AGVC/18404 KM (Kings Medal?). I have been unable to discover if he was awarded the Kings Medal. A search on your website shows that in fact he was awarded the Kings Medal. How can I verify if this is so? I wonder if he returned to South Africa and AGVC represents Anti Guerilla Volunteer Company?
He remained in the Territorials and was awarded the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal in 1909.
He re-enlisted to the SWB in 1915 and disguised his real age. On his discharge papers from WW1 (which he served with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers on the Gibraltar Garrison) he noted his former regiment as 'I Company', South Wales Borderers, Regimental Number 9847.
I would be so grateful if someone could throw some light onto the South Africa matter for me? I'd love to know if he had a King's Medal and what does AGVC/18404 KM signify?
Many thanks in advance - GeogBobby

A check of the medal rolls tells me that 7552 Pte T. J. Robotham was not eligible for the King's South Africa Medal. He received a Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps Johannesburg, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, and South Africa 1901. Your reference to the Belmont clasp is because of a clerk using that column as a tick box rather than an indication of another clasp. There is no indication is his service record that he served in South Africa at any date later than 20 May 1901, hence only receiving the SA01 clasp.

Thank you so much.
Could I ask - what do you think the AGVC/18404 KM might refer to.
Also thank you for clearing up the Belmont clasp.

Can I add two further images for consideration?
First shows 1903 Bloemfontein Medal Roll with highlights. Second shows AI response to the query regarding 'AVGC 18404 KM'.

George (?) - you need to go back to your post and hit the "edit" and then hit the "insert" under your attachments.

Here is the AI generated one:



Firstly the refernece number you are worrying about is "AGV/C/18404 KM". The extra slash rules out the "Anti Guerilla Voluntary Company". The 18404 is not a regimental number. The KM are the initials of the person who made the addition to the medal roll (you can see them alongside another addition). I would suggest it is a reference number generated by the army bureaucracy and not worth pursuing.

I know a lot about thee 2nd Voluntary (Active) Service Company of the SWB but your GGF served in the 1st VSC, not that they were called that at the time. My research into the 1st VSC is 90% complete and I should be able to post it this evening - currently lunch calls then some gardening in the sunshine.

Regards, David.

Thank you David - your response does 'settle me down' at last!
I have been trying to get to the bottom of this'18404 KM' anomaly for ages. I've even asked a researcher at the Brecon Museum to assist but even that was inconclusive.
Enjoy your lunch and your gardening in this exceptional weather.
Look forward to seeing your reserach on the 1st VSB.
Bob