TOPIC:

Hello Marcus,
I would think it belonged to an officer and he would have bought it, I am confident that it would not have been issued to him, as such, you could have what ever you wanted on the blade, sounds really nice!
Regards Frank

I have a couple of 4RPR QSAs in my collection. 4RPR having close links with Pietermartizburg, Natal. It's interesting to note that the Wits Rifles, who claim their origin in the RPR & Rand Rifles, list the official disbandment of the RPR as 1903 not June 1902.

1903 - Official disbandment of the Railway Pioneer Regiment and the formation of the Witwatersrand Rifles (on the 1st of May 1903). The third infantry regiment formed in the Transvaal, that is, after 1 Transvaal Scottish and the Transvaal Light Infantry. The latter regiment was later disbanded and absorbed into Witwatersrand Rifles.
witwatersrandrifles.webs.com/history.htm

RPR Roll of Honour on the Wits Rifles website:
witwatersrandrifles.webs.com/rollofhonour.htm

Hello Mark,
As I understand the SAMIF was disbanded in 1902 with one execption, this was Steinaeker's Horse, who had to be disbanded the following year because of their geographical location, they were in effect, relieved by the South African Constabulary.

So for the Wits Rifles to claim that in the link you provided made wonder.
A very brief look in WO127/18 confirms that the final discharges from the 4th RPR took place between the 27th and 30th of June 1902, on "Disbandment" with a couple of odd men being "Demobilized" the following month.
Another look at the SAMIF returns in WO108, confirms, for this regt, a date of the 30th of June 1902.

So the claim of 1903 does bring up a couple of questions in my mind, who were these men, moreover, just who was paying their wages?
Regards Frank

Frank, the same questions came to mind for me. One of my RPR Mounted Infantry Section QSA's is noted as "Discharged on Demobilization [yes, with a 'Z'] 15-7-02." I've always taken for granted that the WR had strong ties with the old RPR and RR. As the WR was a volunteer force I presume after disbandment of the RPR/RR many men returned to work on the mines and when the WR was raised in 1903 many former RPR/RR men "joined" to form the new unit. I wonder if perhaps a small corps of officers carried over or something like that?

Frank Kelley wrote: Hello Mark,
As I understand the SAMIF was disbanded in 1902 with one execption, this was Steinaeker's Horse, who had to be disbanded the following year because of their geographical location, they were in effect, relieved by the South African Constabulary.

So for the Wits Rifles to claim that in the link you provided made wonder.
A very brief look in WO127/18 confirms that the final discharges from the 4th RPR took place between the 27th and 30th of June 1902, on "Disbandment" with a couple of odd men being "Demobilized" the following month.
Another look at the SAMIF returns in WO108, confirms, for this regt, a date of the 30th of June 1902.

So the claim of 1903 does bring up a couple of questions in my mind, who were these men, moreover, just who was paying their wages?
Regards Frank

Gents,
Clearly I have a lot more to learn, I was curious if you know of any other websites based in Australia that relate to the war and its subsequent medal collecting? Also I scour through ebay and all the local stores at every opportunity, can you recommend any other respectable websites or stores in Sydney/Australia that I can get in contact with?

Thanks,
Marcus.

Good Morning Marcus.....

You are on the best site on the subject on the web right now.....

There are others that are about a specific battle or war and of course medals in general but this is the best BW site around......

Mike