TOPIC:

HI GUYS, help required. As I have said in my introduction,I have three QSA's all three are to Blairs. Can I assume that the reciepients are brothers,or perhaps cousins? I am assuming family as the three medals were together when I obtained them.(house clearance of relative).
I know little,(nothing),of their history,other than I think,they maybe connected to his wife's family.I have a couple of queries other than your opinions on my forementioned assumption.1.One has the inscription,RL.HIGHRS.M.I. Can any one verify this meaning? 2. should I clean them? If so how? thanks for now,kindest regards,Roy.

Papahoot.......

RL.HIGHRS.M.I. stands for Royal Highlanders Mounted Infantry......

Can you please advise names and numbers on edge of each medal......

Mike

Hi,Mike, sorry I was away from my PC. Thanks for your reply. I thought that's what it was despite not finding any mention of this.
The medal details are as follows:- 1.QSA with 5 clasps(Cape colony:Orange Free state:Transvaal:South Africa 1901 & South Africa 1902) to 7512 Pte W.BLAIR. RL.HIGHRS. M.I.
2.QSA with 4 clasps(Cape Colony: Orange Free State: Transvaal & South Africa 1902) to 37566 TRP.A.BLAIR. SCOTTISH HORSE.
3.QSA with3 clasps(Cape Colony: Orange Free State & South Africa 1902) to3720 Pte R. Blair. SCOTS GUARDS.
From what I can gather,medal 2 trooper ALEXANDER Blair 1st.Batt. with that number given in QSA medal rolls. That's all I know so far.
I have also suspected links to Perth/Perthshire as the house clearance took place in Perthshire and amoungst other things,there is a coronation memorial medal for Edward VII & Alexandra City of Perth 26th June1902 which appears was worn by a piece of QSA medal ribbon.

Roy
I will do a post on each of the QSAs as follows:
Note, the info came from "A Military History of Perthshire" (1908).
"7512 Pte. W.Blair "- on roll of the 2nd Royal Highlanders Detachment, 22nd Bn., Mounted Infantry. Clasps CC/OFS/Tvaal.
Portrait -

Brief bio -




More on the others a bit later.
RegardsIL.

Roy
From the same source .
"37566 Tpr. A.Blair, Scottish Horse"




Bio -



The 1st and 2nd SH were both crack units. Should you care to do so, Stirling's "The Colonials in South Africa" (in the books section of this site) has a good synopsis of the SH's activities.

Regards
IL.

Roy
From the same source.
"3720 Pte R.Blair , Scots Gds"
pic -



bio





Looks like the recipients of the three medals could be related? Therefore some digging in the archives for you to do Would not want to spoil the fun! How to clean the medals? Everyone has a different opinion. Unless they are very dirty, I leave them alone (perhaps a wash in warm water). Others like the Full Monte with silver dip or whatever it is now called. If the medals have the original ribbons, they should be kept and - if fragile - kept in an envelope. Some don't like the modern production ribbons and would search for the silk types. Me? For what it is worth, I don't mind. In fifty years, nor will anyone else!
Just as well you mentioned that the x3 medals came from Perthshire. That was really a vital clue.
Enjoy the medals
Regards
IL.