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Picture courtesy of C&T Auctions

QSA (6) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast, South Africa 1901 (5846 SAPR. T. G. DALTON R.E., engraved;
Volunteer Long Service medal Ed VII (2059 SAPR T.G. DALTON. 1/NEWCASTLE R.E.V.)

The description says 'Top clasp on QSA fitted by unofficial rivets. All 6 clasps confirmed on relevant rolls and on service record. Thompson Gowland Dalton, born in 1870 in Westgate, Newcastle, was a Bricklayer by trade and was a serving volunteer in the 1st Newcastle Royal Engineers Volunteers. He enlisted on a Short Service enlistment into the Royal Engineers on 18th January 1900 giving his address as 14 Moor Street, Newcastle. He served in South Africa between 10th March 1900 and 17th May 1901. His Volunteer Long Service medal is confirmed in Army Order January 1909. During the Great War he was embodied for military service and served at home between 5th August 1914 and 27th April 1917, not entitled to any medals for his Great War service.'

Hammer price £280.

Picture courtesy of Spink

DSO GV;
QSA (5) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Capt: G. M. L. Lamotte. R.E. Mil.);
1914-15 Star (Major G. M. L. Lamotte. R. E.);
British War and Victory Medals, with MID (Major G. M. L. Lamotte.)

DSO London Gazette 1 January 1918.

George Moorsom Largier Lamotte was born in April 1890, the son of Reverend F. L. Lamotte and Amelia, a descendant of Lieutenant-Colonel Edmund Peel. He was educated at Fort Augustus and was commissioned into the Royal Monmouthshire Engineers (Militia) in 1891. Promoted Captain on 28 March 1898, he served during the Second Boer War in the Transvaal in October 1901 and the Cape Colony from February 1901.

Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

QSA (2) Belmont, Modder River (23955. Serjt: F. Gilbert. R.E.), engraved in sloping capitals;
1914-15 Star (52840. C. S. Mjr. F. Gillbert, R.E.);
British War and Victory Medals (52840 W.O.CL.II. F. Gillbert. R.E.);
Defence Medal, 1939-45, unnamed as issued;
Army LS&GC Ed VII (23955 C.S.Mjr: F. Gillbert. R.E.);
Special Constabulary Long Service, GV (Frank Gillbert);
Army MSM GVI (23955 W.O.CL.2 F. Gilbert. R.E.);

MID: London Gazette: 4 September 1901 (Lord Roberts’ Despatch)
LS&GC: 1906
MSM: 7 November 1952

Company Sergeant Major Frank Gilbert (1868-1952), sometimes spelled ‘Gillbert’ was born in Bridford, Devon, the son of William and Mary Jane Gilbert. He enlisted for service with the Royal Engineers in July 1889, having worked previously as a Plumber. He served at home for a short time, then spending 6 years in Gibraltar and 2 years in Ceylon before the Boer War. Serving in South Africa, he remained there for 8 months as part of the 31st Fortress Company under Captain Frank Fuller, which was principally involved with protecting the railways and bridges from Boer attack. Returning home in June 1900, for this service he was promoted to Corporal and received an MID on 4 September 1901.

He returned to South Africa in 1904, remaining there for a further 3 years and being promoted to C.S.M during this time. He was awarded his LS&GC in 1908 and in 1909 became part of the Balloon School prior to his discharge on 29 July 1910, after serving 21 years with the colours.
He was recalled for service during the Great War and was appointed CSM of the 95th Field Company, serving with the 7th Division in France and Flanders. During this time he appears to have taken part in the battles at Loos, Albert, Bazentin, Delville Wood, Guillemont, Polygon Wood and Passchendaele, before moving on to Italy for action at the Asiago River and Piave.

He died on 7 November 1952, and received his MSM (without annuity) in 1953.

A QSA to an unusual rank, Telegraph Lineman.


Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (0) (Tel: Lnsmn: F. M. Hall. R.E.)

Listed on WO100/155p84



There is a range of ranks on this page

Telegraphist
Telegraph Messenger
Lineman
Telephone Clerk
Mechanic
Clerk

On the next page there is a Wireman.

I wonder what differentiates a Lineman from a Wireman?

David
I always thought that a wireman was responsible for running the electricity conduits inside a building while a linesman was responsible for the telegraph lines outside.
Could be wrong.
Regards
IL.

IL,

That is very interesting. I has not thought about a distinction in their role.

From the Account of the REs:

The Telegraph Battalion of the Royal Engineers has two divisions, of which the first is now in South Africa. Ordinarily it is stationed at Aldershot, employed in purely military work, and constantly being exercised, while the other division is attached to the Postal Telegraph Service, and has charge of a large district in the South of England. The first section comprises 16 staff sergeants and sergeants, 3 trumpeters, 18 corporals and second corporals, 4 artificers, 77 sappers, and 5$ drivers, with 65 horses, but the staff has been expanded for work in the field. Each section of a telegraph division is supplied with twenty miles of line, part of it being air-line and part insulated cable. A two-horse cart carries the latter, and there are three six-horse waggons for the air-line, besides other vehicles for supplies, technical equipment, and baggage.

Source: www.angloboerwar.com/unit-information/im.../586-royal-engineers

I came across this account of the Telegraph Battalion:

The movements of the Telegraph Battalions are not well documented but what is known is that at the turn of the century there were two divisions, of which the first was sent to South Africa. Ordinarily it was stationed at Aldershot, employed in purely military work, and constantly being exercised, while the other division was attached to the Postal Telegraph Service, and had charge of a large district in the South of England.

Each section of a Telegraph Battalion was supplied with twenty miles of line, part of it being air-line and part insulated cable. A two-horse cart carried the latter, and there were three six-horse wagons for the air-line, besides other vehicles for supplies, technical equipment, and baggage. During the Boer War the Telegraph Battalion laid 18,000 miles of telegraph and telephone cable. A total of 13,500,000 messages were handled in 4 years and the Battalion grew in strength from 600 to 2,500 men.

The Telegraph Battalion was mobilised for the South African War and it was during this war that the Wheatstone Automatic Telegraph was successfully introduced. In the years 1895 – 1898, Marconi’s experiments in the field of wireless communications were closely watched and in 1899 a wireless system complete with operators was hired by the War Office for use in the Boer War. The equipment was heavy and clumsy; the engineers could not get it to work satisfactorily in the dry conditions of South Africa and so it was not taken into active service during the Boer War.

Source: www.reubique.com/Bydawell.htm