ABO (Burg. P.S. Botha).;
1914-15 Star;
BWM and AVM (Bil.) (Burg. P.S. Botha 1ste ZAR.
City Coins June 2012.
Three Burgers named P.S. Botha on roll, two being: Paul Stephanus Botha – Gen Beyers Commando and Paul Stephanus Botha – Lydenburgh Commando.
Paul Stephanus Botha Reg No. 479, rank Private served in the 1st Regiment, 1st Mounted Brigade.
His next-of-kin was his wife: Elizabeth Susannah Botha of 698 Kemp Street, Potchefstroom.
He embarked for EA on 24 Dec 1915. On 8 Jan 1917 he is admitted to the SAGH at Dar es Salaam with Malaria. He was discharged at Durban on 19 April 1917 as “temp. Med. Unfit”.
The record card notes the award of the Trio.
ZAR SA Horse (or Ruiters) were formed from the disbanded Mounted Brigades of the German SWA campaign for service in EA. The end of Dec 1915 saw two brigades of South Africans embarked for Mombasa. These were 2nd SA Inf Brigade and 1st Mounted Brigade under Brigadier-Gen J.L. van Deventer. The mounted brigade was made up of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Regiment SA Horse and qualified for the 1914-15 Star.
The 1914-15 Star thus rare to SA Forces for this campaign. Trios to 1ste ZAR very rarely appear on the market.
