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Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (0) (7184 Pte. G. Watts. Vol: Coy. S. Staff: Regt.)

George Watts was born in Birmingham in 1882 and attested at Handsworth for the South Staffordshire Regiment on 29 January 1902. A fitter by trade, he transferred from the depot to the 1st Battalion on 15 March 1902, the date of transfer coinciding with his arrival in South Africa.

QSA listed on WO100/188p320.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Cape Colony, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, unofficial rivets between state and date clasps (5873 Pte. T. Clarke, S. Staff: Regt.)

Thomas Clarke was born in Walsall in 1881 and attested for the South Staffordshire Regiment on 25 June 1900. A puddler (iron worker) by trade, he served in South Africa from 17 June 1901 to 18 July 1902.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

DCM GV (13004 Sjt: F. Hogarth. 2/S.A. Inf:);
QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (5569 Pte. F. Hogarth. S. Stafford: Regt.);
1914-15 Star (Cpl. F. Hogarth 1st Infantry.);
British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (L/Sjt. F. Hogarth. 2nd S.A.I.)

DCM London Gazette 3 September 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on the 22nd March 1918 in the sunken road East of Heudecourt a party of men fell back. One of this party shouted ‘retire’ and a general movement to the rear took place. Sgt. Hogarth, realising the dangerous situation thus created seized a revolver and facing the retiring men sent them back. His timely action and initiative saved what might have been a very serious disaster. Throughout the 3 days retirement he showed an utter disregard for danger and by his fine example inspired confidence in the men.’

Frederick Hogarth was born in London in 1883, the son of Mrs. Helen Hogarth of Rose Cottage, Dundee, Natal. He originally served during the Boer War with the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the South Staffordshire Regiment and then took employment as a guard on the South African Railways (Natal Division). This was followed by 15 months in German South West Africa with the 2nd Durban Light Infantry, before he enlisted for the 1st South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 13 March 1917. Posted to France with the 2nd Regiment on 13 October 1917, Hogarth was wounded in action by gas on 25 March 1918 and taken Prisoner of War. His debrief notes upon release add: ‘burst ear drum through concussion of shell 22/3/18. Had no treatment in Germany’. Repatriated 6 January 1919, he returned home to his wife suffering from deafness in both ears and entitlement to a 20% disability award.

Have been spending too much time in Worcestershire & the Black Country, forgetting my original focus on Smethwick!! Thus, missed this post by DJB seven months ago!!


Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (0) (7184 Pte. G. Watts. Vol: Coy. S. Staff: Regt.)

George Watts was born in Birmingham in 1882 and attested at Handsworth for the South Staffordshire Regiment on 29 January 1902. A fitter by trade, he transferred from the depot to the 1st Battalion on 15 March 1902, the date of transfer coinciding with his arrival in South Africa.

QSA listed on WO100/188p320.

Just wondering if a Forum member purchased this alleged clasp-less QSA?.

Firstly the service of 7184 George Watts is commemorated in Smethwick:



Ignore the regimental numbers on the Memorial as they refer to their service before they went to South Africa.

Secondly the QSA was not originally clasp-less but rather over time has lost its clasps. Noonan's stopped looking through the medal roll too soon and did not find this page on which 7184 Pte G Watts is third down:



Some of the highlights of George's life (full write-up to follow in due course):

Born George Willoughby Watts on 16th March 1881 in Birmingham.

Joined the Smethwick Volunteers rather than the Handsworth Volunteers because it was a shorter walk to their Drill Hall & Rifle Range.

In 1903 after short service in South Africa he married the sister of one his comrades in arms in South Africa who appears four above him on the memorial and one above him on the medal roll - they attested on the same day.

He went to war for the second time in September 1914 the father of six children. Served in the South Staffs Rgt and Labour Corps. Wounded twice in France, the second resulting in him having his left leg amputated beneath the knee.

In 1919 his father-in-law died when the ladder he was standing on in Smethwick High Street collapsed whilst he was putting up bunting to celebrate Peace Day.

By 1921 George had become the father of eight children and was on a Government sponsored course to retrain as a motor mechanic - previously he had been a brass bedstead fitter.

In 1925 he had a bit too much to drink and assaulted a policeman with his crutch. He got off lightly because he had just been discharged from hospital.

By the start of WW2 he was living in Smethwick and working as a paint sprayer. The 1911 Census also showed him living in Smethwick - otherwise he was to be found just over the border in the Winson Green area of Birmingham.

His wife died in 1948 in Smethwick but his death was registered in 1969 (by when he was 88) in Wantage (then in Berkshire now in Oxfordshire).
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