Hello Ian,
Yes indeed, WO100/112 does certainly read not unlike Tatler, Penman's clasps are rather scarcer than the norm, but, he did not arrive in South Africa until the 9th of February, I have never really considered this, notwithstanding, the Household Cavalry Composite Regiment was already in the field by then, I think, from memory, at least, most had arrived on the 29th of November 1899.
All the Cape Clasp means is that Penman and those like him were not present at those early battles, just glancing at WO400, I note that 2117 Trooper Freddy Stanley, who also has a Cape Colony clasp, also only arrived in South Africa on the 9th of February.
Now there was a certain amount of competition for Foreign Service in the Composite Regiment once formed, as had been the case during the last affair in Egypt and that particular date is really before the relatively few casualties started to accrue, but, I will certainly look further at this in due course.
As far as I am aware, these men did serve in their particular Squadron of the Regiment and other than odd gentlemen attached to the General Staff and so forth, I would very much doubt if their rank and file were additionally employed as body guards, no matter, you have a very nice medal, I would certainly be pleased with it if I were you.
Regards Frank
LinneyI wrote: Gentlemen
Thanks for the explanations about the metal "prong". Makes sense. The medal itself is rather loose on the suspension; not tragically -but clearly has had a bit of wear. As the medal roll is dated during 1901, I like to think that Tpr. Penman wore it on duty until his discharge in 1906.
I have to ask Frank about the wide variety of clasp combinations seen on the 2LG medal roll. Obviously, the officers were from the upper strata of society (judging from the titles). However, it appears that 2LG did not operate as a cohesive unit in one theatre. Some were clearly in the Relief of Kimberley, etc., some, like Robert Penman, on the road to Pretoria and then the Witttebergen, others in Cape Colony only. Once, a local told me that the Life Guards were employed as bodyguards/escorts to senior officers. Is that correct? What else would account for such a crack unit as 2LG being split like that?
Nevertheless, it is a nice medal.
Regards to all re the information.
IL.
