TOPIC:

Dave F
Given the similarities in the forming of the first letter in the family name and the title of Staff Sgt Wilson, my money would be on "Slater"; a person who cuts slate to size or else des roofing with slate tiles.
Regards
IL.

Help needed with this one please - medals to JR Mead who served on HMS Forte in the Anglo Boer War.

Quick stab:

Sub above a) He is an unmistakable (?) man, who, though over 60, has the energy & xx of a much younger man. He has (was) XX … and his outstanding qualities are loyalty xxx
In view of his fine service dated back to 1897 XX it would seem fitting were he xx to xx position xx to. xxx commander on the veld dist

I go along with much of the previous suggestion except for "unmistakeable" I think it reads "remarkable", "record" rather than "service" and its ends "Commander on the ret'd list". The start looks like "Sab. ab. av." and I wonder whether "ab. av." is an abbreviation for "above average".

As I 'read' it: "satisfactory. above average" ; "remarkable"; "he was probably XXX" and "energy and alertness".

Line 1 : ... a remarkable man ...
Line 2 : ... energy & alertness ...
Line 3 : He has personality & character ...
Line 5 : ... fine record ...
Lines 6-7 : ... promoted to Commander on the retd list.