TOPIC:

This shield commemorates the 48 members of the 4th Volunteer Battalion Devonshire Regiment who volunteered for active service in South Africa. The men hailed from Barnstaple, Bideford, Exbourne, Hatherleigh, Okehampton, South Molton, and Torrington.

Nearly all received welcome-home gifts, in the form of tribute medals, silver watches or "framed cheques".





Volunteer Active Service Company, Devonshire Regiment –
Captain W.H. SPEKE, "A" & "B" (Barnstaple) Companies, Mauser Pistol and Silver Flask
Captain W.B. DART, "E" & "H" (Bideford) Companies, Mauser Pistol & Tribute Medal
5515 Sergeant J.C. SOUTHCOMBE, "A" & "B" (Barnstaple) Companies, Framed Cheque
5592 Sergeant William WHITTLE , "G" (South Molton) Company, Tribute Medal
6193 Sergeant Frederic B. MITCHELL, "G" (South Molton) Company, Tribute Medal
5516 Lance-Sergeant W.H. MOGRIDGE, "A" & "B" (Barnstaple) Companies
5517 Bugler [Drummer] F.S. FISHER, "A" & "B" (Barnstaple) Companies, Framed Cheque
5572 Private William BALE, "G" (South Molton) Company, Tribute Medal
5573 Private J. BENDLE, "A" & "B" (Barnstaple) Companies, Framed Cheque
5575 Private Salathiel [J.S.] BRAUND, "E" & "H" (Bideford) Companies, Tribute Medal & Silver Watch
5574 Private Jonathan BULLEY, "G" (South Molton) Company, Tribute Medal
5577 Private John Robert CLARKE, "F" (Torrington) Company, Silver Watch
5816 Private Alfred George CROCKER, "C" (Hatherleigh) Company
5578 Private William Henry EASTMOND, "F" (Torrington) Company, Silver Watch
5579 Private S. FULFORD, "E" & "H" (Bideford) Companies, Tribute Medal
5580 Private Richard FURSE, "D" (Okehampton) Company, Silver Watch
5581 Private W. GREENWOOD, "A" & "B" (Barnstaple) Companies, Framed Cheque
5582 Private John [Walter] HAWKINS, "D" (Okehampton) Company, Silver Watch
5518 Private F.J. JANES, "A" & "B" (Barnstaple) Companies, Framed Cheque
5583 Private E.J. LEE, "E" & "H" (Bideford) Companies, Tribute Medal
5584 Private Samuel LONG, "D" (Okehampton) Company, Died at Standerton, 29/09/1900
5585 Private G. PIPER, "C" Company (Exbourne/Hatherleigh), Died at Elandslaagte Camp, Natal, 08/04/1900
5815 Private L. RATHBONE, "G" (South Molton) Company, Tribute Medal
5589 Private C. SHAXON, "E" & "H" (Bideford) Companies, Tribute Medal
5588 Private S. SHORTRIDGE, "E" & "H" (Bideford) Companies, Tribute Medal
5587 Private W. SMALE, "C" Company (Exbourne/Hatherleigh), Died at Elandslaagte Camp, Natal, 29/03/1900
5539 Private F.W. TUCKER, "E" & "H" (Bideford) Companies, Tribute Medal
5817 Private Robert TURNER, "C" (Hatherleigh) Company
5624 Private W.H. TURNER, "E" & "H" (Bideford) Companies, Tribute Medal
5590 Private Charles VENNER, "G" (South Molton) Company, Tribute Medal
5626 Private S. WARD, "A" & "B" (Barnstaple) Companies, Framed Cheque
5591 Private James WARNER, "G" (South Molton) Company, Tribute Medal
5593 Private J.T. WESTLAKE, "F" (Torrington) Company, Silver Watch

Volunteer Active Service Company, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) –
2nd Lieutenant J.R. MANDERSON

Rifle Brigade (5th Battalion) –
Lieutenant T. TRAD

South African Light Horse –
Captain T.S. WICKHAM

Imperial Yeomanry –
6539 Corporal [Bugler] Sydney H. BRAUND, "A" & "B" (Barnstaple) Companies, Died at Pretoria, 29/06/1900
22376 Corporal Francis W. GOUGH, "G" (South Molton) Company, Tribute Medal
21164 Private James ANDREW, "F" (Torrington) Company, Silver Watch
6538 Private George Bruce BLATCHFORD, "F" (Torrington) Company, Silver Watch
25492, Private Arthur Cecil BROOME, "G" (South Molton) Company, Tribute Medal
25493 Private W.A. BROOME, "G" (South Molton) Company, Tribute Medal
???? Private J. MANNING, "G" (South Molton) Company, Tribute Medal
6573 Private William MUGFORD [Mogford], "G" (South Molton) Company, Tribute Medal
6578 Private James SMYTH [Smith], "G" (South Molton) Company, Tribute Medal
21169 Private William Burgess VICKERY [Vicary], "G" (South Molton) Company, Tribute Medal
6580 Private Samuel WARE, "F" (Torrington) Company, Silver Watch

Volunteer Post Office Corps –
725 Private H. Walter HUTCHINGS, "F" (Torrington) Company, Silver Watch


Here is an example of one of the framed cheques, originally posted by JustinLDavies here




And the inside of the case of one of the Great Torrington watches .....




The BIDEFORD medal ....




And finally the SOUTH MOLTON medals (given both on departure and return) ....






..

Neville,

This is a fantastic item. Many thanks for such a detailed and interesting item.