TOPIC:

Good afternoon to all on ABW forum. This is my first contribution but not my last I hope!
I have been lucky enough to find a QSA to Conductor Mervyn F. W. Harley of the Natal Transport unit. Please see the attached images showing the inscription around the rim (assuming I can upload them successfully at the first time of trying!).
I have had a preliminary search of W100/216 p. 156 which confirms no clasps to the QSA and details his address as Middle Valley PO, Kokstad.
I am guessing the PO stands for Post Office.
Is it possible that Conductor Harley's duties involved delivering mail and other posted articles? Would other members of the unit have the same role or would it vary on their locations within Natal?
Any further insight would be greatly appreciated.
Steve Davies

Hi Steve

I do not believe that Harley is connected to the postal service, but that his address is simply the Post Office in Kokstad, a small town ,and a common way of addressing post in remote areas at the time.
Mervyn Frederick Walter Harley married Emma Phyllis Strachan (born in Flagstaff, died 1967) in Kokstad in 1913, and he died on 20 April 1920.

The Conductor rank was that of a special class of NCO in a Commissariat and Transport Department.

Regards

Adrian

Hi Adrian,
Many thanks for your reply.
It all makes sense to me now that I have the bigger picture.
Also nice to gain some of Conductor Harley's more personal details.
Regards Steve

Hello Adrian,
Please find below images of the QSA to Conductor MFW Harley ( I have found out how to compress images to fit the forum at last!).
Cheers Steve.

Hello Adrian,
Please find below images of the QSA to Conductor MFW Harley (I have found out how to compress images to fit the forum at last!).

Have read the post with interest as I have an example to Condr.J LISTER NATAL TRANSPORT.
It has been in my collection for decades from a time when I didn't keep records so have no recollection where I got it.
Gordon B.