TOPIC:

Dear David,

I know this is a long shot, but might be worth it!
I am researching my great grandfather who although born and raised in Australia joined the South African Light Horse. His service number was (I think) 1842 and his name was George Charles Behrens. I attach a photo. Any help you might be able to give would be really amazing. Thank you in advance.
Sarah

Iwasb
There is no record of a G. Behrens of the SALH in the OZ-Boer database; which is pretty comprehensive but does have understandable gaps. However, the medal roll for the 1st SALH (WO100/274) shows us that " 1842 Pte. G. Behrens" earned the clasps Orange Free State, Laing's Nek and Belfast on his QSA medal - which was issued 22/5/04. There are no marginal notes for him on the roll. Moreover, the nominal roll images on this site he was shown as Discharged 16/3/1901 and noted as "Supernumary" which probably means excess to requirements. There is probably a South Africa 1901 clasp due to him in the supplementary rolls.
SALH were a very highly regarded regiment and you can read this in the Unit Information heading in the panel at left.
You might family sources for more personal information.
Regards
IL.

Hello Sarah,

Perhaps this will be of some help to you.



Regards

Sarah,

Here is his front page, I have posted them in the wrong order.



Regards

Sarah,

As IL says, his 3 claps are on the roll WO100/274p23



His SA01 clasp entitlement is listed on WO100/275p62.

It looks like the clasp was never issues as he could not be traced.

Thank you so much for replying - very much appreciated!

I first thought that he was in the Australian Light Horse, but when I contacted them, they said that his uniform was that of the South African Light Horse. The hand writing on the back of the photo states "taken before embarking on the Boer War", but rather confusingly, the photographer is listed on the back of the photo as being by "Rupert Kay, The Strand, Sydney". George Charles Behrens was born in Australia in 1875 and moved at some point to South Africa where he married a South African, and had two children.

I have also recently come across this medal ribbon - which I think is the The Queen's South Africa Medal? (I attach a photo).