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Hi Rory
QSA in my collection,
Can you cast light on the medal entitlement of 8750 Pte A Wells C'stream Guards?
On the QSA there is the 'Cape Colony' and 'Driefontein' bars and I find nothing in the casualty roll.
Neither can I find his name on the Nominal Roll.
Could he have been at Modder River or Magersfontein? perhaps in the Transvaal theatre?
Were there new recruits joining the forces in the field or being transferred to other units all the time during the war? Can you please help ? tkx Evyn

Evyn
I am not rory but I can tell you that your man 8750 Pte. A.Wells is on the medal roll for Coldstream Gds WO 100/165 page 263 and entitled to QSA with bars CC and Drief. No other notation in the remarks column. Suggest a deeper search is needed (i.e., any surviving personal papers in NA). Any unit in an active service area needs replacements/reinforcements and your man could have been a Reservist. Research should show more.
Good luck
IL.

Albert Wells a 19 year old labourer, from Dartford, joined the Army, the Coldstream, from the Militia, the 4th Royal West Kent's in November 1891, recalled to the colours for the war, he was posted back to his regiments 1st Battalion on the 9th of October 1899, with actual service in South Africa from the 22nd of October 1899 to the10th of July 1900 only, he transferred to his regiments 3rd Battalion on the 11th of July 1900, discharged, he served again in the Great War with both the Berkshire Regiment and the Rifle Brigade.
A very nice medal indeed, the Coldstream are keenly sought by collectors here.

Dear Rory, Frank and IL,
I'm really grateful to know that members on the ABW Forum are so willing to provide info to fellow members who have no way of discovering the info on one's own.
I'm most grateful to you all and will be making requests again in the near future.

During my holiday break before Christmas I took the opportunity to visit Modder River station the Scottish Brigade cemetery next to the N12 road; Also spent hours looking over the Magersfontein battlefield, the hill top memorial to the Imperial troops and the monument to the Boer fighters opposite Bisset's Farm.

Lt Gen Wauchope's reported fears about the order to attack are well founded considering the lay of the land north of the Modder River, It would seem that prudence and better reconniassance should have prevailed,
The museum on the Magersfontein koppie is well maintained, but sign posting to reach the battlefield is in very poor state or non existent, a poor reflection on the Northern Cape Province roads and monuments department.
A Prosperous 2015 is wished for all ABW Forum members and contributors.
A most valuable research tool for all.
Regards Evyn Thorne

The Guards Brigade was then and always had been, a pretty good formation, they did see some very bloody fighting on the western front, in particular, on the Modder, the usual combination to the Coldstream was eight clasps on both medals, but, Well's medal is quite a scarce one, he gave his next of kin as his parents, Charles and Margaret at their home, 22 Springvale, Dartford, Kent.