TOPIC:

QUEEN’S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL:

Sergeant Thomas Stanley Treanor
1st Brabant’s Horse ex Utrecht Mounted Police
QSA: Cape Colony, Transvaal, South Africa 1901





Trooper Thomas Stanley Treanor
Natal Police
Natal 1906 Complete With Clasp





Born: Westport, County Mayo, Ireland, July 11 1876. (The 6th child of a family of 8.)

He was the son of Reverend Thomas Stanley-Treanor the author of the book “Heroes of the Goodwin Sands” and his mother Anne Maria nee Sillitoe .

Educated at Marlborough where he was captain of Cricket and Rugby.

Passed out of Sandhurst with Distiction.

Commissioned to the 3rd Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment 4th Feb 1896, (L.G. 649) advanced to Lieutenant 31st May 1898,(L.G. 3201) resigned commission 1st September 1900 (L.G. 31st August, 1900, 5398).

On reverse of the discharge document from Utricht Mounted Police, written in pencil which is very faint: Previous Service: 3 Years 3/R.W. Kent - Lieutenant and 2 1/2 Years 1/R.W. Kent - 2nd Lieutenant.

This was obviously too frustrating for Treanor and hence he resigned his commission and reappeared in Durban in 1901.

Attested in Durban 9th Feb 1901 for the Utrecht Mounted Police as Regimental a Trooper with Number 27. The UMP was raised by Lt Miers, SLI, in Jan 1901 so he would have been one of the first recruits. It is easy to imagine that an ex officer of the Imperial army would be easily able to find a place in one of the many colonial units in existence at the time

He transferred to Brabant’s Horse 1st Battalion 29th May 1901 and received his QSA to that unit, discharged 6th December 1901

It is unknown what Treanor did between December 1901 and November 1903, but it is presumed he stayed on in South Africa and tried to find some form of employment.

He attested for the Natal Police on 2nd November 1903 at Pietermaritzburg.

He was highly commended for rendering assistance in the floods in the Coast area June 1905

Married Mary Ann Mccullough 1st January 1914 at Mid lllovo.

From the Familia 1991, Ulster Genealogical review Number 7

“Life in the (South African) police force often meant living for days on end in the saddle, coming under fire, breaking up African faction fights and being ordered about by arrogant soldiers contemptuous of colonial police. Danger interspersed with long periods of boring routine led many Irish Policemen into trouble and the turnover of Irish recruits was high, few surviving more than three years. Some like Robert Austin of Enniskerry, deserted with Horse and revolver. Troopers were constantly being fined or demoted for drunkenness or improper behaviour. Victor Morris of Dublin got 14 days confined to barracks for creating a disturbance in a brothel; William Thom of St Peters Roscommon was discharged in 1904 for having a colonial woman in his barrack room and Thomas Treanor of Mayo was admonished for making a rude and insolent remark to the [Natal] Governor Sir Matthew Nathan, Irelands Lord Lieutenant in 1916 .“

This is confirmed on his service sheet “Was brought back from Umdhlumbe (??)- being reported by HE & ADC to HE for using insolent language on 8/12/17 while en route to Greytown.”

Following the transferal of the Natal Police into the SAPs Treanor continued service in the South African Police Force until his discharge on 18th May 1924. A total of 20 years 199 days, conduct Very Good.

It is not clear why he did not receive his LSGC medal, perhaps his insolence was too bad a blot on his copy book

Died 26th August 1939 in Durban aged 63

Mike,

A nice pair, one of your new 1906s?

Those original ribbons are impressive too.

Many thanks
David

Good Evening David....

Yes it is one of the three groups....

Will do the others later.....

Mike