TOPIC:

Hi folks , i hope you can help me . My wifes great grandfather george linton was with the 3rd county of london imp yeo.
I have a photo and he has the black ss badge on his slouch cap.
However , when signing up for ww1 the doc asks for any experience , George wrote Dunraven sharp shooters which has confused me. Can someone shed any light on these 2 conflicting pieces of info. Many thanks in advance , Woz

Hello and welcome,
The Earl of Dunraven raised and equipped a number of Imperial Yeomanry companies, I would think that your wifes great grandfather had actually served in one of them!
Regards Frank

Woz,

Your wife's ggf was referring to his IY service by using the name of the person responsible for his company, the Earl of Dunraven.

The 67th, 70th, 71st and 75th companies were raised and equipped by the Earl and collectively known as Dunraven’s Sharpshooters.

Regards
David

There is a short article in the NY Times explaining why they were called the sharpshooters.

Regards
David

In his autobiography, he talks about raising the companies:

On October 10, 1899, an ultimatum was received
from the Transvaal Government demanding the recall
of British troops stationed near their frontiers, and,
as this was not complied with, a state of war began the
following day, and we slithered into a long, arduous,
and costly campaign, totally unprepared as usual
in spite of the warnings of General Sir William Butler
and many others.

In December 1899- January 1900 some of us * formed
ourselves into a committee, of which I was elected
Chairman, for the purpose of raising a body of men,
good horsemen and men skilled with the rifle. Our
standard was very high, but we stuck close to it and
raised, I may safely say, a very efficient corps, though
through the fortunes, or misfortunes, of war it was
denied the full opportunity it deserved. We raised
from first to last about 1700 of all ranks. The powers-
that-be were good enough to offer me the Second-in-
command of the 18th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry
(the first battalion we raised). But I declined, as I
thought my regimental experience had by that time
become too rusty for so responsible a post, and I
accepted a captain's commission. We were inspected
by the late King Edward then Prince of Wales at
Chelsea Barracks, and sailed under the command of
Col. R. K. Parke from Southampton on the s.s.
Galeka on April 6, 1900.

* Sir James Fergusson, Bart., M.P. ; Rt. Hon. Col. E. Saunderson, M.P. ;
Mr. Lionel Phillips ; Major the Hon. T. F. Fremantle, V.D. ; Captain A. C.
Christopher, late recruiting officer, N.W.D. ; The Rt. Hon. Horace (now Sir
Horace) Plunkett, M.P. ; Sir John Dickson-Poynder, M.P. (now Lord Islington) ;
Mr. Bruce Vernon Wentworth, M.P. ; Mr. (subsequently Sir) Henry Seton-
Karr, M.P.

Thanks fellas , very informative . Warren.
thats that solved !!