TOPIC:

Morning Iain,
In the particular case of the Rhodesia Regiment, you have partly answered your own question, they did have a "tougher time of it" as WO126/115-116 shows, whilst some men were casualties, many others were simply unfit to march and indeed were unfit for further duty and had to be discharged.
Kind regards Frank

LinneyI wrote: Meurig
While RofM is one of my favourite clasps, I must admit that I have not looked at certain qualification aspects I always had more regard for those in Plumer's Northern Force as they had a tougher time of it. However, it is still a nice clasp to see. This afternoon, I had a trawl through Stan Kaplan's published roll of the "Relief Of Mafeking" clasp - looking for single clasp entitlement where there was no marginal comment about other clasps or service in other units. I made it 49 entitlements. A few from BSAP, more from the Rhod.Regt and others scattered throughout. Mea Culpa if I missed some.
Of course, some of the 49 may have served in other units without marginal comment. Doubtless, an updated roll would show more detail.
Less than fifty apparent roll entitlements (at this point) makes a single clasp RofM as quite scarce.
Any comment on this entitlement would be very welcome.
IL.

Frank
Yes, looking at the Kaplan roll I was struck by the single clasp chaps being Discharged early on in the campaign. I have a copy of "Rhodesia Served the Queen" and must dig it out to see what it says (if anything) about the numbers who "dropped out" on the line of march.
Best regards
IL.

Such things are really rather scarce, sons of Empire!

Frank

You tease us! Who is this Son of the Empire?

I've got a list of those members of the BSAP who were awarded a clasp for the Defence of Mafeking,
but I don't have the names of those who received the Relief of Mafeking clasp. Some would have been
members of the BSAP No.1 and No. 2 Divisions and there may have even been some from the No. 3
Division.
Quite a few of the BSAP were part of Plumer's Relief Column.
If some kind person could let me have the BSAP Relief of Mafeking Clasp list it would be greatly
appreciated.
Geoff

Hi Geoff.....

Cannot help you with a list but here is one you can strike off as soon as you get it......

Mike

SHARE, G. G.

REG. NO.: 1140
RANK: TROOPER
REGT: BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA POLICE
BARS: RHODESIA, RELIEF OF MAFEKING

REMARKS / HISTORY:
1. ALSO ENTITLED TO TRANSVAAL BAR.
2. 1015 RHODESIA BARS ISSUED TO BSAP.
3. 273 RELIEF OF MAFEKING BARS ISSUED TO BSAP.