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Hello Everyone. What a wonderful site. How have I missed it all these years? Actually I pretty well know all about my great Uncle William Grant as I got a copy of his service records from Kew Records back in the 1980's. My main concern is that I couldn't find him in your pages when I searched for his service no 9464 and I would like him to be remembered.
William was orphaned when only 4 years old and my grandmother just 7 years old after both parents had died in 1871 and 1874. They were farmed out to different aunts but always kept in touch.
William enlisted in the Coldstream Guards in Sheffield on 17th May 1893. However it seems he was a bit of a naughty boy being awarded Good Conduct pay and then forfeiting it shortly afterwards on at least two occasions. Then the worst. He got violently drunk and assaulted the Poliss which earned him 5 months in HM prison. That was right at the end of his initial enlistment and took him up to his discharge in May, 1896. Then he was recalled under a special Army Order in October - can't read the year but it begins with '18' and he was back on good conduct pay by August 1900 which he forfeited in January 1901, but got it back again in January 1902.
He was eventually awarded the Kings South Africa medal with clasps for 1901 and 1902 and the South Africa War medal with clasps for Dreifontein, Modder River, Belmont, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill and Belfast.
I found a marvelous sketch of the Coldstream Guards charging at Diamond Hill and can't help wondering whether the artist actually saw William and so he may be one of the men portrayed in the sketch which was in The Sphere.
I could never learn much about William after the Boer War. An aunt told me that he his girl had gone for somebody else while he was away fighting and so he became a recluse living in a cottage on the Yorkshire Moors.

Do you have his medals Malcolm? If so please post a photograph of them

Regards

Rory