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Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

QSA (1) Cape Colony (8293 Pte. H. Jones, Welsh Regiment),

Described as: Offered with copied research confirming the recipient as Corporal Harry Jones, including several mentions in the regimental defaulters book. He was also entitled to a 2-clasp K.S.A., which appears to have been returned according to the medal roll ‘remarks’ column.

Served in the 3rd Battalion. QSA listed on WO100/190p160.

KSA roll entry, WO100/334p113:

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (5) Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Belfast, South Africa 1901 (8121 Pte. W. German. Welsh Regt.);

M&E say Private W. German of the 1st Battalion Welsh Regiment is confirmed on the medal roll.

4991 PRIVATE DENIS DONOVAN: WELSH REGIMENT.

Denis Donovan was born in Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire, Wales in 1874 to parents Michael (42 Labourer) and Bridget (35). Both parents hailed from Cork, Ireland, not surprising with the Donovan surname!

The Census of 1881 finds Denis living at Cae Harris, 5 Pond Street, Merthyr Tydfil. The large household comprised: Michael 49), Bridget (42), Mary (23), John (18), Margaret (16), Patrick (13), Michael (10), Dennis (7), Jeremiah (4), Cornelius (1) and lodgers Thomas Bryant (25 Labourer) and Daniel Shawn (25 Labourer).

Denis attested to the Welsh Regiment at Merthyr Tydfil on 14 th January 1891 at the age of 17 years and 10 months claiming to be a labourer by occupation.
He was 5' 7 1/2" in height, weighed 130 lbs, chest range 33 1/2 "to 35 1/2", of fresh complexion, blue eyes, dark brown hair and Roman Catholic. He had a cut mark above his right??.

Called back from the reserve in December 1899, he sailed for South Africa to participate in the Anglo Boer War.
Having survived the costly bayonet charge at Paardeberg and the action at Driefontein on the way to relieve the besieged town of Kimberley, Denis succumbed to the deadly effects of enteric fever at Kroonstad on 25th May 1900.

Queen's South Africa medal awarded posthumously to 4991 Private Denis Donovan.


Officially impressed naming to the rim.

Regimental naming to the rim.

Denis is commemorated on the Merthyr Tydfil Boer War memorial at Thomas town Park, Merthyr Tydfil, memorial tablet at Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff and the National South Africa War Memorial, CathaysPark, Cardiff.

References:
Findmypast : attestation document (surprisingly extant!)
Ancestry : medal rolls

Very surprising that his papers were retained, Steve.

I am not sure of the criteria in place to decide on destruction/retention of papers unless perhaps those for diseased soldiers were kept in a separate place and succumbed to the flames in the Second World War?

5655 PRIVATE WILLIAM JONES : WELSH REGIMENT

William Jones first attested to the Welsh Regiment at Cardiff on 14th April 1897 declaring himself to be 18 years and 7 months of age.
He was a collier who hailed from Llanidloes, Montgomeryshire, right in the heart of mid Wales. He was allocated the regimental number 5210.

William's first experience of soldiering was not to last long as he was discharged by purchase soon after attestation. The reason why remains a mystery.

Undeterred, he re-enlisted to the Welsh Regiment at Cardiff on 19 th July 1898 receiving the service number 5655..
Still a collier by profession, he was 5' 3 7/8" in height, weighed 127 lbs and of fresh complexion, blue eyed and fair haired. His religious denomination was 'other protestant'.
Distinguishing marks, of which there were a few included, tattoos of a figure of a woman, bracelet, rose and bird on right forearm. He also had an injury to the top of the third finger on his right hand.

His military history as follows:

Home---19/07/1898 to 03/11/1899.
South Africa ---04/11/1899 to 24/09/1902.
Home---25/09/1902 to 18/07/1910.
A total of 12 years with the colours.

Next of kin was given as his mother E. Jones of Llanidloes.



QSA awarded to 5655 Private William Jones with the classic 6 clasps.


Number, rank and naming officially impressed to the rim.


Regimental naming.

As for William's life outside of soldiery, it has been a little bit difficult to find a satisfactory fit. You can well imagine how stymied one can become when trying to find a William Jones in this neck of the woods!

Nevertheless, QSAs to men from the mid Wales area are not common. The subject of the opposition to the war in South Africa in mid-Wales has been touched upon in other threads on this forum.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (5) South Africa 1901, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Diamond Hill, Belfast, clasps mounted in this order, the date clasp a tailor’s copy (7360 Sejt. E. J. Benallick, Vl: Co: Welsh Regt.);
1914 Star (205 R.Q.M. Sjt. E. J. Benallick. 1/6 Welsh R.);
British War and Victory Medals, with MID (205 W.O. Cl. 2. E. J. Benallick. Welsh R.);
Army MSM GV,, 1st issue (265023 R.Q.M. Sjt: E. J. Benallick. 6/Welsh R.);
Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, Ed VII, with Additional Award Bar (205 C.Sjt: E. J. Bennalick [sic]. 6/Welsh Regt.)

MSM London Gazette 17 June 1918.
MID London Gazette 25 May 1917.

Enoch J. Benallick attested for the Welsh Regiment and served with the Volunteer Company in South Africa during the Boer War, and then as Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant of the 1/6th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 29 October 1914. For his services during the Great War he was both Mentioned in Despatches and awarded an Immediate Meritorious Service Medal, and was awarded the Additional Award Bar to his Territorial Force Efficiency Medal per Army Order 66 of 1925.