TOPIC:

The above information is taken from this site, reference Trooper P N Smith.


Dave.....

An extract from a SALH Supplementary Medal Roll

Thank you so much for your time and effort in getting correct info to me. I can now re-write Percy's story and circulate to his remaining Queensland relative, plus my 98yr - old aunt in Melbourne. "Now, how do I say this?" Fortunately, like my mother, my aunt never knew him, and like my mother, she was given away by Percy and his then-wife in the 1920s.
Although there was a thought that Percy a) may have used his mother's surname (Robinson) and b) the photo of him might not have actually been him, that photo, later with others, came to me through his Queensland family. Your investigations confirm he "served" in the SALH as a trooper, using his own name.
Once again, my sincere thanks
Trish

Hello Trish.

I double checked the SALH and Scottish Horse for Percy N Robinson just in case we had the wrong man. Unfortunately there were no matches. It's a tricky one when you have to relate historical information to your relatives. Sometimes, like with many families the information which is uncovered may come as a surprise sometimes not. It seems your Grandfather as David (Smethwick) has already stated, found his own way to South Africa. What he did when he got there remains an enigma reference his time in the SALH . The South African Light Horse were a fine and respected regiment and were engaged from the beginning of the conflict. Percy joined them during the latter part of the war and for some reason it looks like he had serious issues whilst serving. I cannot find any details on why he was court martialed and sent to prison. However, to forefiet his medals and to serve hard labour would suggest he didn't conform to the discipline required by the regiment. I noticed from the notes that he was tried by F.G.C.M this was a Field General court martial which was often used during wartime. This would have required 3 commissioned officers to pass judgment on Percy. There were various crimes which contributed to hard labour. Refusal of orders, violence towards fellow soldiers, drunkenness, theft, forgery, swearing at officers, absent without leave and gross misconduct. Sometimes a mix of 3 or 4 of the above was possible.

You stated in your opening post that your ancestry included 3 convicts.
If we have discovered this to be your Grandfather? It would seem that this trait had carried further on down the line. If you research crimes committed by convicts sent to Australia (1788/1868). There were a variety of crimes which correlate with the above military criteria pertaining to a court martial.

Dave......

Hi Dave
Thank you so much for the added info, which I will add to Percy's story. My 3 convicts - of which we are very proud, without them surviving the harsh conditions I would not have existed and Australia would not be the country it is today - came from Ireland and Hertfordshire. I have investigated them extensively, and they present a fascinating history. Percy emigrated to Australia in 1910 and paid for several of his siblings to join him. Most convicts tattooed their bodies on the long journey out from England, and I have two, one on each side of my ankles, based on their recorded "markings" to acknowledge them.
Two of my oldest convicts were father and son - many were convicted by deliberately stealing small things, and get transported to escape the ghastly conditions in the UK of the time.
Thank you again from 41 degree Adelaide - heat wave to endure this week.
Trish

Hi Daves
One last throw of the dice, if I may....A relative of Percy's first family advised me in 2012 that Percy "served in the Boer War in Strathconas Lighthorse as a despatch rider" however his name doesn't come up on your website. I searched at the time without success. Is it worth looking at in relation to dates: the Strathcona group landed 10 April 1900 and returned 14 Feb 1901 after which they received Colours from King Edward. Percy enlisted at Woolwich 23rd Feb 1901. Could Percy have travelled with the Strathconas and on their return enlisted with the 107th?
With thanks, Trish