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QSA with Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg. Driefontein to: 2344 Pte. W. Speck, Glouc Regt
taken PoW 23 December 1900 at Dewetsdorp. Entitled to the SA1901 clasp.

Walter Speck was born in Gloucester in 1869/70. He was the son of John (1833) and Eliza (1834) Speck of 4 Jacques Passage, Mitre Street, Gloster. His father, originally from Playmouth, was a Canal Pilot. He had two siblings, John born in Hempsted (1865) and Frank born in Gloucester (1868). In the 1881 census, they were both errand boys, while their 11-year-old brother Walter was at school. He was an 18-year-old laborer from Gloucester, when he joined the Gloucester Regiment at Bristol on 09/08/1888, having previously served in the 1st Gloucester Royal Engineer Volunteers. He served at home from 7/8/1888 to 7 January 1891; East Indies from 3 January 1891 to 27 November 1894; Home from 29 November 1894 to 31 December 1899; South Africa 1 January 1900 to 15 August 1901 and again at home from 16 August 1901 to 19 August 1901. He was granted Good Conduct Badges on 7 Aug. 1890 and 7 August 1894, but forfeited one on 28 Dec 1899. He was issued 2 Sterling (War Gratuity AO 5 of 1901) at demobilization on 19 August 1901 when discharged as a Private for “Time Expired”. He was 18 years and 1 month old when he enlisted as was 5’5” tall, 127 lbs with Brown hair and eyes and was COE.

He served in South Africa from January 1900 and was taken POW at Dewetsdorp on the 23 November 1900 and released on 5 December 1900. He left South Africa in June 1901 and was discharged from the army in August 1901 after 12 years’ service. He was only entitled to this QSA with four clasps.

Speck W 2344 Private Prisoner. Dewetsdorp, 23 November 1900
2nd Battalion. Released 5 December
Source: South African Field Force Casualty Roll

QSA (2) Natal, OFS
Trio

Awarded to Lieutenant N W F Baynes, 1st Gloucesters who DoW in 1915. From Britannia yesterday.

Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

QSA (3) Natal, Orange Free State Transvaal (4756 Pte W. Canning. 1st Gloucester Regt);

W Canning, of the 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, was captured by the Boers at Farquhar’s Farm, 30 October 1899 and was later released.

Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

QSA (3) Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein (2433 [sic], Pte. J. E. Humphries, Glouc: Regt.), engraved.

Number 2423 on the rolls. These three clasps listed on WO100/183p398. SA01 on WO100/183p464.

J E Humphries, of the 2nd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, was captured by the Boers at Dewetsdorp 22 November 1900, he was released on the 5 December 1900.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

CBE, 1st type, Military;
QSA (3) Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Lieut. W. S. Mackenzie. Glouc. Rgt.) engraved naming;
1914-15 Star (Capt. W. S. Mackenzie. A.P.D.);
British War and Victory Medals, with MID (Major W. S. Mackenzie.);
Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued

CBE London Gazette 4 June 1934.
MID London Gazettes 13 July 1916 and 25 September 1916 (both Egypt)

William Shand Mackenzie was born in Comrie, Perthshire, on 5 September 1876, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders on 29 July 1896. He transferred to the Regular Army as a Second Lieutenant in the Gloucestershire Regiment on 3 June 1899, and served with them in South Africa during the Boer War, being captured and taken Prisoner of War at Farquhar’s Farm on 30 October 1899. Released on the capture of Pretoria on 5 June 1900, he was promoted Lieutenant, before being attached to the Army Pay Department in Ceylon on 18 June 1902. He transferred to the Army Pay Department with the rank of Captain and Paymaster on 16 March 1904. Seconded to the Army Accounts Department as Assistant Account, Second Class, from 1 May 1905 to 1 January 1910, he served during the Great War in Egypt from 1 April 1915, and was promoted temporary Major and Staff Paymaster on the same date. Twice Mentioned in Despatches for his services in Egypt, he was promoted Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel on 3 June 1919, and was confirmed in that rank on 1 April 1920. Promoted Colonel and Chief Paymaster on 10 April 1925, he was was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1934 Birthday Honours’ List, prior to his retirement on 5 September 1936.

He died in Fleet, Hampshire, on 19 December 1944.