TOPIC:

The description of the South African service of 6961 Pte R Perry (QSA with CC, OFS & SA1902 clasps) given towards the top of the previous page cannot be correct or else he would have qualified for the KSA with both date clasps and his QSA would lack the SA1902 clasp.

I have found his Militia paperwork on FMP but they do not give his actual SA service dates. Studying them shows he attested for service with the Manchester Regiment on 29 November 1899 and was assigned to the 4th Battalion. The 4th were embodied on 4 May 1900 but he did not go to SA with them. He was transferred to the 6th Battalion who were not embodied until 6th January 1902. Newspapers of the day show It was intended for them to go to SA more or less straight away but they lacked the required complement of officers. They eventually left Southampton aboard the Dilwara on 13 February 1902.

He was a Collier by occupation when he attested aged 19 years 10 months, and only 5 ft 2 and a half inches tall.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Defence of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (4226 Pte. T. Johnson, Manchester Regt.);
[ KSA (2) ]

Thomas Johnson was born in Salford, Lancashire, in 1875 and attested foe the Manchester Regiment in Manchester on 26 May 1894, having previously served in the 4th (Militia) Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. He served with the Regiment in India from 18 December 1895 to 30 November 1897, and then with the 1st Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War from 23 August 1899 to 5 September 1902, and was slightly wounded at Badfontein on 2 September 1900, during the Battalion’s advanced to Komati Poort en route to Lydenberg. He transferred to the Army Reserve on 2 November 1902, and was discharged on 25 May 1906, after 12 years’ service.

QSA listed on WO100/198p24.