I've included one of my 4 RPR QSAs below. He's a bit of a mystery but with the uncommon surname I think I've probably been able to attach the QSA to the movements of a man by the same name and age.
No. 2271 Pte. George Pendlington, 4th Bn. Railway Pioneer Regiment
George Pendlington enrolled in the 4th Battalion of the Railway Pioneer Regiment on 11 December 1900 in Pietermaritzburg in the then Natal Colony. His attestation form shows he was in A Company.
George’s age on his attestation form gives his age as 48 so he was well into middle age. This would mean George was born sometime around 1852. He gives his nationality as British but no further details are provided. There are no records for George Pendlington listed in the online index of the South African Archives.
There is a record for a Mr. G Pendlington in the Natal Witness in the Durban National Library arriving at Port Natal on 12 November 1889 on board the ship Pretoria from a Rotterdam. Likely, this is when George arrived in Natal.
A George Pendlington, born in 1852 to Ralph and Ann Pendlington (nee Cole) is listed in the 1861 Census as being born in Billey Row, Durham. This man appears to be the most likely candidate for the man who served in the RPR. The 1871 census lists him as being born in Grahamsley, Durham. The 1881 census says Crook, Durham. George seems to disappear after this and can’t be found in the 1891, 1901 & 1911 censuses and there seems to be no record of death for this man during that period so this tends to indicate that the G. Pendlington who arrived in Natal in 1889 was the same man.
The attestation paper lists George’s next of kin as his wife; Mrs. Pendlington of 8 Walls Ave, Greyville, Durban. Also noted is that 3/- per diem must be stopped out of his pay and sent monthly to her [On George’s reenlistment in the 4th RPR his wife’s name is given as Sarah Ann Pendlington]. George’s trade is given as ‘Painter.’ Religion is given as Church of England.
On 25 February 1901 it notes George Pendlington “to be hospital orderly.” George was discharged as ‘Time Expired’ on the 21 June 1901 in Pietermaritzburg. His character is noted as ‘very good’.
On the 27 July 1901 George reenlisted in A Company, 4th Battalion of the Railway Pioneer Regiment at Durban. His new number being 2778 and his age is given as ‘40?’ He was discharged as ‘Time Expired’ on 14 April 1902 in Vereeniging. Again his character is noted as ‘very good’. His address after discharge is given as Modderfontein.
George received the Queen’s South Africa Medal for his service. The medal has Transvaal and South Africa 1901 & South Africa 1902 clasps on it. The supplementary role of the 4th RPR shows that George was also entitled to the Orange Free State clasp. It is unclear if this clasp was ever issued to him. Regardless, it isn’t on his QSA.
QSA Roll WO 100/265 page 324 [Reference AG2/M/1323] for 4th Bn RPR under Army Order [94] 1 April 1901 lists No. 2271 [No. 2778 written below in a different hand and bracketed together with 2271] Pte. George Pendlington as QSA with Transvaal clasp and is dated 16 September 1901 at Kaalfontein and is signed by Adjutant and Captain JP Wood for OC 4th Bn RPR. Listed in discharge book WO 100/127 as Hospital Orderly George Pendlington.
QSA Roll WO 100/265 page 344 of the Supplementary Roll of the 4th Bn RPR under Army Order [94] 1 April 1901 lists No. 2778 Pte. George Pendlington as QSA with Transvaal and Orange Free State clasps [Note states Transvaal clasp issued on AG2/M/1323] and is dated 28 January 1903 at Cape Town and is signed by Major Edward Lovegrove, OC Discharge Depot, SA Mounted Irregular Forces.
QSA Roll WO 100/265 page 366 [Reference AG2/M/13798] 4th Bn RPR under Army Order 233 1 October 1902 [Entitled to South Africa Medal and Clasps or to additional Clasps] lists Nos. 2271 & 2778 [bracketed together] Pte. George Pendlington as QSA with South Africa 1901 & South Africa 1902 clasps and is dated 11 May1904 at Cape Town and is signed by Major Edward Lovegrove, OC Discharge Depot, SA Mounted Irregular Forces.
George seems to disappear after this time. There is no record of him or his wife that I can find in South African archives. However, there is a record of a Mr. G.Pendlington, English, age 67 (born about 1851) sailing to Melbourne, Australia from Cape Town on board Cluny Castle (Arrived MBN 1 October 1918). Then a death record for a George Pendlington in 1921 at Granville, New South Wales, Australia. Parents names are given as Ralph and Ann. Considering the above mentioned records it would seem probable that the George Pendlington born in 1852 to Ralph and Ann Pendlington is the same man who died in NSW, Australia and that he spent time in South Africa and that the Pendlington who served in the 4th RPR was the same man.
