TOPIC:

Thanks David,
I was wondering if H C Shepstone (SIC) was Henrique Charles Shepstone. Your listing with his 'CMG' confirms it! I was sceptical at first, since he was born in 1840, but it seems there was life left in the old dog......
There's a good precis of his bio in The Dictionary of South African Biography Vol 1-5
I'm thinking there might be a family connection with 'B' Troop's Sgt Stirton, too. A W I Stirton married one of Sir Theo's grand-daughters. Also 'D' Troop leader, Isaac Dicks - a Dicks girl married one of Henrique's brothers...... That would fit, given the word-of-mouth nature of the Unit's formation.
Paul B

For the information of anyone who is interested in keeping a tally of the extant medals to Murray's Horse here is another one to add to the list:

Tpr. J. Parker, Murray's Horse with Natal clasp (as it should be)

James Clarke Parker farmed at Tetworth in the Midlands of Natal, was born in 1847 and died in 1925. He was known as the founding father of the Trout industry in Natal.

Regards

Rory

From Spink last week:

Murray’s Horse was raised in Natal before the outbreak of hostilities by the Hon. T. K. Murray. With
a strength of approximately 150 men, the unit patrolled wide areas of lower Natal and scouted the
country in front of the advancing Boer Commandos. It was disbanded in November 1899, following
the arrival of British troops.

x720 Pair: Lieutenant H. A. Carbutt, late Murray’s Horse

QSA (1) Natal (Tpr; A. Carbutt. Murray’s Horse);
BWM (Lieut. H. A. Carbutt.)

Hugh Arnold Carbutt, who was born on 30 January 1882, served with Murray’s Horse during the
Boer War and with the Reserves during the Natal Native Rebellion in 1906. Appointed 2nd
Lieutenant in the 14th (Reserve) Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers, on 29 November 1915, he
transferred to the Machine Gun Corps and served in France from 5 August 1916. On 1 June 1917
he was posted to the 360th Reserve Employment Company, Labour Corps, based at Lairn,
Plymouth, and was later awarded a Silver War Badge on the grounds of ill-health; sold with copied
roll entry, officer’s service record and MIC.

A great pity, it would have been a most handsome trio, had his AVM not been absent, a glance at WO329 clearly shows entitlement and you would certainly want his War badge too.

djb wrote: From Spink last week:

Murray’s Horse was raised in Natal before the outbreak of hostilities by the Hon. T. K. Murray. With
a strength of approximately 150 men, the unit patrolled wide areas of lower Natal and scouted the
country in front of the advancing Boer Commandos. It was disbanded in November 1899, following
the arrival of British troops.

x720 Pair: Lieutenant H. A. Carbutt, late Murray’s Horse

QSA (1) Natal (Tpr; A. Carbutt. Murray’s Horse);
BWM (Lieut. H. A. Carbutt.)

Hugh Arnold Carbutt, who was born on 30 January 1882, served with Murray’s Horse during the
Boer War and with the Reserves during the Natal Native Rebellion in 1906. Appointed 2nd
Lieutenant in the 14th (Reserve) Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers, on 29 November 1915, he
transferred to the Machine Gun Corps and served in France from 5 August 1916. On 1 June 1917
he was posted to the 360th Reserve Employment Company, Labour Corps, based at Lairn,
Plymouth, and was later awarded a Silver War Badge on the grounds of ill-health; sold with copied
roll entry, officer’s service record and MIC.

Another example of QSA naming to this unit.

Picture courtesy of Noble Numismatics

QSA (1) Natal (Tpr: J.Hooper. Murray's Horse:)