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The illustrated pair surfaced on Philip Burman's site some eight or nine years ago and the KSA's unusual unit title - as well as it's single clasp - attracted my attention:



QSA impressed to "9224 Cpl.J.W.Campbell. 20th Coy., 6th Imp.Yeo". Clasps CC/OFS/Tv rivetted as a group but not attached to the suspension, plus a loose SA1901 added to the top of the stack.
KSA impressed to "Lt. J.W.Campbell, Scot; Horse IY" and bears SA1902 clasp only.


The QSA and clasps were verified on WO 100/122 pages 293 and 300 and the KSA verified on WO 100/364 page 264; the latter roll having the notation that the SA1901 clasp had been issued nearly eighteen months earlier on the QSA roll.

John William Campbell, 28 years of age, from Annan, occupation law clerk, attested for the 20th Company, Imperial Yeomanry (Fife and Forfar Light Horse) at Cupar on 19011900 in the aftermath of Black Week. He disclosed previous service with the Edinburgh Volunteer Artillery. Home service was just thirty-eight days; with however, much emphasis on scouting and outpost work.
John William Campbell's ABW service was reckoned from 01031900 and the Fifes saw extensive field service: a documented 2,573 miles on trek between mid May, 1900 and nearly the end of May a year later, with no less than eighty-five engagements of varying size recorded. Photo evidence shows that our man was elevated to "one stripe" whilst his unit was at Krugersdorp and he was promoted to full Corporal on 12121900. He was to earn his stripes the very next day.






John William Campbell managed to survive, unscathed, the "near disaster" inflicted upon General Clements at Nooitgedacht on 13121900; he appears to have been either held in the main camp or else was on outpost duty to the NE of the site. The Fifes had been reduced to fifty "effectives" on 12121900 (they had landed with 125 all ranks) and after Nooitgedacht they could muster just twenty five. Sickness, casualties and transfers took a heavy toll.

After re-equipping, the little band of Fifes came under the command of a certain Colonel Benson in February 1901; Benson was highly regarded by the Fifes - "A regular terror to the enemy" - and he used their talents as scouts and rearguards in the Losberg. In April 1900, Gallant Benson bid farewell to the "round dozen" Fifes still on parade and gave them warm thanks. Then it was off to the Free State for some more trekking before being shipped home on the HARWARDEN CASTLE in May of 1901.

To continue
Along with many other veterans, Lance/Sjt. John William Campbell received his QSA medal from the hand of King Edward VII at Horse Guards Parade on 27071901 and I sometimes wonder if the medal was presented bereft of clasps, or with them loose, or if indeed, the clasps were sent later. It hardly matters.

Our man's service in SA was, however, not over yet. In December, 1901 the Government decided to recruit a Third Contingent of IY; this time to avoid the mistakes made with the Second Contingent. Rather than rushing untrained men out in drafts, the Third IY were to be sent as Battalions. The men were to be thoroughly medically examined, were given at least eight weeks training (including completing the riding school and firing the full musketry course). Providing Officers for the Third IY was seen to be a problem - and it appears that at least some were derived from experienced rank-and-file.

John William Campbell's ABW service continued as a lieutenant in the Scottish Horse; serving from 22121901 to 31051902. The Asplin roll shows his unit as "2SH" and djb confirmed that in the 7/02 Army List. The Third Contingent IY got into the field very late in the war and Stirling comments they made "smart captures about Carolina". Of rather more interest is found a good write up of the activities of the Scottish Horse at Rooiwal on 11041902. Contained in "The Military History of Perthshire", in March of 1902 the 2SH were divided into two wings, the Right Wing of which was composed of Scotsmen (for reasons of espirit de corps) and that wing withstood the heavy Boer attack at Rooiwal on 11041902 and greatly distinguished themselves.

That appears to conclude John William Campbell's service in the ABW. He certainly did more than his "bit" and without researching his pair of medals and reading extensively, I would never have been able to put a face to them. Of course, a stickler for accuracy might worry about which clasp was on what medal. One hundred years ago, it seems that JWC was not all that bothered!

A number of works helped considerably in prepping these two posts. I was able to access the only copy of "The Fifes in South Africa" held by the National Library of Australia; only to find that when I examined it in the State Library of NSW, the pages were uncut! That led to my finding my own copy and reading the day-to-day doings of the Fifes and the group pic.
The Military History of Perthshire gave good background on the 2SH; and so did Will Bennett's "Absent-Minded Beggars".
Regards to all those who have read this far
IL.