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Hello to all,

I have been browsing through this excellent website for many months, and thought it was time I joined.

My interest is primarily in the Scottish Horse. This is because my Grandfather was the Trumpet Major of the 1st Battalion (there were only 2 Trumpet Majors - one in each 1st and 2nd Bat.): Palmer, Herbert Jesse 541 (cf the Nominal Rolls on this site). After discharge he joined the Transvaal Constabulary for 7 years. Later he served in the 1st WW in the Army Service Corps.

There were few sasanachs in the Scottish Horse. I'm afraid, how a young guy (25) from Brighton became one of their Trumpet Majors is still a mystery to me.

RP

Hi RP,
Welcome to the forum, look forward to reading your posts.

Regards
Paul

RP,

The Scottish Horse were a large unit during the Boer War with lots of history so I too welcome you to the forum and look forward to your posts.

As you look through the attestation papers in the National Archives, you see people from varied backgrounds and locations. I wonder what factors influenced the decision to join one unit over another? It is clear that some units recruited in a certain area but others have less of a pattern. Do you think there was competition between units for recruits? Lastly, I wonder if there were recruiting posters for local units?

Best wishes
David