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Good Evening Everyone:

I thought we had a thread about the Interesting and or Odd, Trades and Occupations from the Enlistment, Discharge or 1901 Census of the Men and Women that we have in our collections..... But after looking for a long time I could not find it so therefor I guess I will start and hope that everyone will follow on.....

A medal that I just rec'd today:
3188 PRIVATE ERNEST CHARLES HENRY WILLIAMS, 4th (QUEEN'S OWN) HUSSARS, CAPE COLONY.
Occupation on Discharge: ATTENDANT FOR THE INSANE

I also had a medal to the Imperial Yeomanry where his trade on enlistment: REGIMENTAL BARBER, NORTH WEST MOUNTED POLICE

Mike

I don't have any medals, but from contemporary newspaper reports here are some occupations: -

James Pitts V.C. was a weaver prior to enlisting (his father was an umbrella maker).

Alexander Kelly, a reservist of the 1st Scots Guards, was a plain-clothes policeman at Liverpool.

Allen Edmondson, Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry, was a hay and straw dealer.

James E. Culeen, also of the Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry, was "a capable horseman, to which his former circus life has contributed."

I have been working on a Wepener biography this morning for George Murphy, Royal Scots:

Just continuing George Murphy's biography, he served for 18 years (before enlisting in 1915 for the Great War) and had a single entry in the Defaulter's Book in that time but it was a notable exception



Drunk in the Sergeants' Mess after 10 pints or is that 10pm?

"Private Williams, Gloucestershire Company, Imperial Yeomanry, whose death from enteric at Howick, South Africa, is notified, was......by profession a jockey, having ridden with more or less success at various South Wales and West Midland meetings."

Dai St John was a boxer.

Berenice,

Here is a list of over 500 of the occupations of men who were present at Wepener.

Accountant. 3
Amalgamator. 10
Attorney. 1
Attorney at law. 1
Attorney's clerk. 1
Author. 1
Baker. 6
Bank clerk. 2
Bar boy. 1
Barber. 1
Barman. 3
Battery (?) Manager. 1
Battery amalgamator. 1
Biscuit baker. 1
Blacksmith. 9
Blacksmith's striker. 1
Boarding House Keeper. 1
Bookkeeper. 8
Brewer. 1
Brick moulder. 1
Bricklayer. 7
Brickmaker. 1
Broker. 3
Bushman. 1
Butcher. 8
Carpenter. 24
Carpenter / amalgamator. 1
Carriage painter. 1
Carriage painter and trimmer. 1
Carrier. 1
Civil engineer. 1
Cleaner. 2
Cleaner, Queenstown Railway. 1
Clerk. 45
Clerk and bookkeeper. 1
Coachman. 1
Coachman dealer. 1
Commercial engraver. 1
Commercial traveller. 3
Compositor. 3
Conductor. 1
Confectioner. 1
Cook. 1
Cook and steward. 1
Cowboy. 2
Cyanide worker. 1
Cyanider. 2
Dentist. 1
Digger. 1
Draper. 2
Drill instructor. 1
Drill sharpener. 2
Electrical engineer. 3
Engine driver. 6
Engineer. 17
Engraver. 1
Explorer and Surveyor. 1
Farm hand. 1
Farm servant. 1
Farmer. 53
Farmer's son. 1
Farrier. 5
Field Officer, Public Department. 1
Fireman. 7
Fish merchant. 1
Fitter. 9
Flour miller. 1
Ganger. 1
Gardener. 2
General dealer. 1
General hand. 1
'Gent'. 1
Groom. 3
Hairdresser. 2
Horse breaker. 1
Horse dealer. 1
Horse trainer. 2
Horseman. 1
Horseman trainer and jockey. 1
Hosier. 1
Hospital servant. 1
Independent. 1
Jockey. 1
Joiner. 2
Journalist. 1
Kaffir Trading. 1
Labour agent. 1
Labourer. 9
Law student. 1
Lawyer's clerk. 1
Litho artist. 1
Manufacturer. 1
Mason. 9
Mechanic. 2
Mechanical engineer. 1
Mercantile clerk. 1
Mercer. 1
Miller. 3
Mine Captain. 1
Mine engineer. 1
Miner. 24
Mineral water manufacturer. 1
Mining speculator. 2
Mining surveyor. 1
Moulder. 1
Novelist. 1
Painter. 10
Painter and decorator. 1
Pastry cook. 1
Photographer. 1
Platelayer. 6
Policeman. 2
Postman. 1
Printer. 6
Printing. 1
Prospector. 1
Pump driver. 1
Railway contracts. 1
Railway man. 1
Ranching. 1
Rangeman. 1
Ranger. 1
Reporter. 1
Rigger. 2
Rigger and wire splicer. 1
Saddler. 6
Sailor. 13
Salesman. 3
Sawyer. 1
School teacher. 1
Seaman. 3
Shipwright. 1
Shoemaker. 4
Shopkeeper. 1
Shunter. 3
Solicitor. 1
Spirit vendor. 1
Standard Bank employee in Johannesburg. 1
Station Foreman. 1
Stationer. 1
Stevedore. 1
Steward. 4
Stockbroker. 1
Stockman. 1
Stoker. 1
Stone cutter. 3
Stone mason. 1
Store keeper. 1
Store manager. 1
Storekeeper. 3
Storeman. 1
Student of science. 1
Surgeon dentist. 1
Surveyor. 3
Tailor. 4
Teacher. 1
Telegraphist. 6
Timekeeper. 1
Timekeeper and clerk. 1
Tinsmith. 2
Town Clerk. 1
Trader. 6
Transport rider. 2
Upholsterer. 1
Valet. 1
Veterinary surgeon. 1
Wagon conductor. 1
Wagon driver. 1
Wagon maker. 1
Wagon master. 1
Wheelwright and wagon builder. 1
Wine and spirits merchant. 1