TOPIC:

...because I would be very interested to see what clasps are attached to the medal ribbon.

According to the November 1901 Medal Roll they all received all three state clasps, except each page has the following annotation (sometimes at 90 degrees down the right hand column making the useful comments difficult to decipher). The other odd thing is that the medal roll is dated November 1901 when they did not return home until August 1902.



A transcription of the important part: “With Col Crabbs Column in Cape Colony. Travelled through Orange River Colony on their way to Elandsfontein but saw no service in Transvaal or Orange Free State”

Here is another page where the annoatation is in the rh column.

F.Y.I. I have two:......

081 THOMPSON, T. (Thomas)
REG. NO.: 2019
RANK: PRIVATE
REGT: 11th CO., YORKSHIRE, 3rd BATTALION, IMPERIAL YEOMANRY
BARS: CAPE COLONY, ORANGE FREE STATE, TRANSVAAL

and

112 HAIGH, G. (GILBERT)
REG. NO.: 1969
RANK: PRIVATE
REGT: 11th CO., YORKSHIRE, 3rd BATTALION, IMPERIAL YEOMANRY
BARS: CAPE COLONY, ORANGE FREE STATE, TRANSVAAL, SOUTH AFRICA 1901

REMARKS / HISTORY:
1. SERVICE DOCUMENTS ON MAIN FILE.
2. EX - MEMBER, NORTH WEST MOUNTED POLICE, REGIMENTAL BARBER

Mike

Thank you Mike but the 11th Coy were a related but different Company to the 111th. They were both known as the Yorks Dragoons because they were sponsored by the Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons.

It might be my fault as immediately after I had posted I realised I had typed 11th in the title but I did edit the title more or less straightaway.

David.

I have

32261 T Burke C O T SA01 SA02
32428 H Greenwood C O T SA01 SA02
30398 A J Stevens C O T SA01
32480 A C Watson C O T SA01 SA02
32356 R Humphrey C O T SA01 SA02

According to Birkin the 111th left Crabbe's column on the 31st December 1901 and joined Colonel Capper's column.

Steve - many thanks for your valued and informative response. I had already come to the conclusion that from 24 Jan 1902 to 4 February 1902 the 111th were part of Capper's Column. I have now found newspaper evidence, from the men themselves, to support Birkin. This also shows that 3 days before the end of the war the 111th were still operating in Cape Colony. Thus I now have a timeline on them from their arrival in SA in mid-April 1901 to 3 days from the end of the war which indicates they did not qualify for the Transvaal Clasp. I suppose the annotation on the medal roll does leave room for them qualifying for the OFS clasp.

I would imagine the 111th had a double celebration on New Year's eve 1901 as, in my opinion, Crabbe seems to have rather blundered his way round the Cape, whereas Capper was of a better calibre and later to be Sir and lose his life in the Great War.

Anyway I am spending the next two days travelling to and from a family funeral but I will respond in much more detail on my return.

Regards, David.

According to Birkin the 111th were formed from excess members of the 9th at the beginning of May 1901 at Elandsfontein, so were transiently in the Transvaal before entraining for De Aar on 4th May.