TOPIC:

Hi All

I need some help. I purchased a group of medals from a family recently and they told me the whole grouping is to one man.

SAGS medal bar 1877-8 - Pte C Ellis No 7 Troop C M Rifles
COHG medal bar Basutoland - Pte C W Ellis C M Rifles
QSA - bars Laings Nek Belfast - Serjt C W Ellis Natal Guides
BWM - A/Sjt CW Ellis SASE
Victory medal (Bil) - A/Sjt CW Ellis SASE

I could not find his WW1 cards in the Pretoria archives but found some pay sheets. Unfortunately no date of birth or next of kin shown.

what is the chances this is one man, two men or even 3?

help needed

Munroe

A really superb and very fine group, yet another Natal Imperial Guide to be shown on here in the space of under a week, I would be quite surprised if they were to more than one man.
Having said that, I did look at WO100/48 page 188 and this does show Charles Ellis as being discharged, so I guess it all comes down to dates, this page is undated, however another page, 186, for Number 7 Troop is dated, Basutoland July 1881, you go from the initial C to the initials C W at the same point in time, so I think it is the same man!

Dear Frank

Yes I think you are correct 1878/1881 the extra initial sounds correct. This would make the SAGS, COGH and QSA all tie together. He would have been an old man in WW1. If only the paperwork for ww1 was more complete.

Thank you for your help

Kind regards

Munroe

Munroe,

One possible way to nail this is to go to the Death Registers which are comprehensive for Cape, Natal and Transvaal. Normally they give a date of birth.

Best,

Justin

Gentlemen,
The registers of deaths are the way to go here, but, I stand by my thoughts and feel this group is indeed to the same man, I would not have sleepless nights about it, yes, he would be an old man in the Great War, but then, so was Frederick Courteney Selous, it is most important to remember that we are not talking about the British Army here.
Moreover, it is a really super group, superb medals, a good rare QSA.
Kind regards Frank

Dear Justin

A quick look shows one in 1885 and one in 1920. Now it will need to pull some files and see what can be found

Thanks of the advice

Munroe