TOPIC:

IL,

Congratulations! You pipped me at the post on this one!
My consolation was to pick up one to LS from another auction , there were 3 QSAs to the unit on various platforms that week. I think SIM was the pick of the bunch!

Many thanks for sharing.

Cheers Steve

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Wittebergen, South Africa 1901 (Lieut. E. G. Fraser-Tytler, Lovat’s Scouts)

Together with related mounted miniature.

MID London Gazette 17 June 1902 (Field-Marshal Roberts’ despatch of 1 March 1902): ‘Lovat’s Scouts. Second Lieutenant E. G. Fraser-Tytler, Lieutenant 1st Volunteer Battalion the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders.’

Edward Grant Fraser-Tytler was born in 1856, son of Charles Edward Fraser-Tytler of Aldourie (1817-81) by his second wife, Harriet daughter of Canon John Pretyman.

He succeded to the Aldourie estate upon his father’s death in 1881 and was later instrumental, with the Lord Lovat, in the raising of the Lovat Scouts for service in the South African War.

He served with the Lovat Scouts at home during the Great War in the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.

The QSA to Lt Fraser-Tytler hammered at £1,000 at Noonan's this afternoon.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Cape Colony, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, unofficial rivets between state and date clasps (37307 Pte. J. Grant. Lovat’s Scouts.);
Victory Medal 1914-19 (8/3597 L/Cpl. J. Grant. N.Z.E.F.)

James Grant. 24 years old at attestation in November 1901. A 'farm servant' from Inverness.

CC listed on WO100/130p112. Date clasps on WO100/130p119.

8914 PRIVATE WILLIAM EDWARD HOPKINS: LOVAT'S SCOUTS (1ST CONTINGENT)

William Edward Hopkins was born in Mochrum, Port William, Wigtownshire, Scotland on 9th June 1869 to parents Martin and Margaret (nee Cummings) Hopkins, who were both born in Ireland.
The Census of 1871 finds the family living at Monteith Cottage, Mochrum. William and his parents were joined by the other children of the family;
Martin (11), Margaret (8), James (6), and Emily (4).
Martin jr was born in India and Margaret jr, James and Emily were born in England, which suggests that Martin sr may have been involved with the military in some capacity.

In 1881, William was an 11 year old scholar residing at the same address as in the previous census. His father was not at home on the day and Amelia Hopkins (14) was an apparent addition to the household. His mother was now recorded as 'charge of pottery '.

In 1887, William was by now a grown man and involved with a Jessie Dorward, a 22 year old domestic servant, as evidenced by the birth of daughter Amelia out of wedlock. They were living at Woodmill Cottage, Inverarity, Forfarshire, in the west of Scotland.

William (21) and Jessie (24) did the honourable thing and tied the knot on 5th November 1890 (bonfire night!).

The Hopkins' were still living at Woodmill Cottage in 1891. William was now occupied as a gamekeeper, which would give him the experience and skillset that would serve him well when he enlisted into the Special Highland Scouting Corps, better known as Lovat's Scouts.

Following the outbreak of war in South Africa between the British Empire and the Boer Republics of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal, William attested to Lovat's Scouts at Beaufort Castle, Beauly, Inverness (the family seat if the Lords Lovat) on 6th February 1900. He was assigned regimental number 8914 and so became a member of the first contingent.
His personal information was recorded as follows:

Age: 31
Occupation: Gamekeeper
Previous service: Cameron Highlanders Militia
Height: 5' 8"
Weight: 11 stones 7 pounds
Chest range: 37"-39"
Complexion: rubicund
Eyes: blue
Hair: brown
Religious denomination: Presbyterian
Distinctive marks: none.

Military service:
Home---06/02/1900 to 10/03/1900.
South Africa ---12/03/1900 to 13/08/1901.
Home---14/08/1901 to 20/08/1901.

Next of kin: Mrs. Hopkins, Malleiston House, Inverness.

On his final discharge from LS at the Regimental Depot of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders in 20th August 1901 his character was described as 'very good 'and his intended residence following discharge was to be Malleiston, Inverness where he would continue his occupation as a Gamekeeper.

Queen's South Africa medal awarded to 8914 Pte. W. E. Hopkins bearing the single clasp for Cape Colony.
Medal Roll for LS (WO100/130) clearly states that he was entitled to the further clasps of Wittebergen, Diamond Hill and South Africa 1901 and so saw more action than the single clasp suggests. I surmise that these clasps arrived at a later date and were never affixed to the original issue. Indeed, the clasps may never have been delivered as William may have relocated shortly after returning to civvies.


Number, rank and naming to the rim of the medal.


Regimental naming.

Following military service in the Anglo Boer War, William did relocate as evidence by the census of 1911. The Hopkins family with William still keepering now had relocated to The Moats, Cross Michael, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland.
As we can see from the census records William ranged far and wide across Scotland in his employment, a skillset in high demand on the grouse moors and deerstalking estates of Scotland.

Tragedy struck the family on 12th August 1914 when Jessie passed away at the age of just 48 following a long marriage of 23 years.

By a strange source, the emigration document of daughter Amelia raised when she emigrated to Canada, gives an address for her father William as Bavaria, Germany! Perhaps he had also taken on wild boar onto his resume!
Perhaps we shouldn't be too surprised at this as his talents in keepering would have been highly desirable on the Bavarian landed estates. I would have thought that a Scottish Gamekeeper would have been amongst the elite of their cadre.
How William got on at the outbreak of The Great War between Germany and the allies, I have no idea!

Whilst seeking and collecting QSAs to Lovat's Scouts, I have strived to acquire a QSA which captures the true ethos of the unit, ideally a gamekeeper, deerstalker or ghillie from the Highlands of Scotland.
Private Hopkins has certainly fulfilled this ambition.
But, I wouldn't mind finding another one!

References:
Findmypast census records.
Ancestry medal rolls.
Ancestry family trees.
Family search.

Moranthorse1
Well done in identifying a Lovat's Scouts Ghillie! There must be more awaiting discovery; the Regimental History tells us that of the first contingent of 230 souls, no less then eighty were chosen with stalking ability as a first qualification.
It is quite possible to narrow down your man's ABW service to being a member of the Second (Foot) Company of Lovat's Scouts first contingent. His full clasp entitlement indicates that - the Companies travelled to SA seperately (see my earlier post on Cpl/Sgt. Sim) and No.2 arrived first. It was designated as M.I., hastily provided with local horseflesh and set off in the wake of Lord Roberts' march North to Pretoria. Hence your man's "Diamond Hill" clasp.
No.1 (Mounted) Company arrived weeks the No.2 Company, suffered from illness and eventually caught up with those still serving with No.2 Company. Along with them your man qualified for the "Wittebergen" clasp.
Regarding the address in Barvaria at about the time of WW1, I would say William Edward Hopkins (possibly regarded as still being of military age) would have been interned. I understand that records of internees in Germany at that time are available - but I have no idea of how to access them.
A very nice QSA.
Regards
Il.