TOPIC:

A recent purchase.
QSA Lieut S A Anderson J'burg M R ( running script engraved) clasps Tug Hts, OFS, RoL, Trans, L Nek, CC)
KSA Capt S A Anderson Johannesburg M.R. (impressed) clasps SA 01, SA 02.
Sydney Ashcroft Anderson commenced his service with Bethune's M.Inf.as a Tpr. He apparently transferred to the J.M.R. and was commissioned.
Anderson received an M.I.D. for ambushing Boers. I havn't found anything to indicated any furthers service.
Both medals are heavily toned and the engraving on the QSA is very difficult to read.
I'll try to photo the QSA to add a photo to the post on officer QSA's but there are no promises as to how clear they will be.

I don't have that many QSA's to officers but I am sure that he is the only one to progress from Tpr to Capt.

Keep safe,

Jim

Jim
More than one! In my custody is the group of Tpr. J.Laing, Natal Carbs. who later became Capt., Johannesburg MR (with a DSO to boot) and subsequent WW1 service.
Perhaps there were others?
Regards
IL.

Very nice, Jim.

There are attestation papers for several Andersons in BMI but not Sydney.

He served in BMI 19 October 1899 to 31 October 1900. Nr 129.

IL,

My brother and I were temporary custodians of Laing's group. He had quite a career!

I'm sure you will already have this:

Laing, Captain John, D.S.O. 1902; b. Wigtownshire, 29 Jan. 1868; m. 1901, Agnes Augusta, d. of William O' Marsh of Oxford; one d. At fifteen went to sea for three years as apprentice sailor; lived for a period in Brazil and Argentina; settled in S. Africa, 1889; took the field on 1st Oct. 1899 as trooper in Natal Carabineers; served with that regiment for a year and a half and was then given a troop in J. M. Rifles (despatches three times, Queen's medal three clasps, King's medal two clasps, D.S.O.); Reserve of Officers.

I have a couple of letters which I will email to you.

Best wishes
David

David
Thank you for that. I am not certain that I had the letters. Laing would have been an interesting bloke to talk to. While the army of those days is popularly regarded as having been hidebound, the fact is that leadership qualities were recognised - example; Tpr. to Captain J. Laing. A further example of a jump from OR to Captain is another group in my current custody; the BSACM/QSA/KSA trio to "Cpl. W.Foster" (sic) of the BSAP who ended up as Captain W.Haire-Forster, Royal Irish Fus. (attached to MI) with an MID. I recall that I contributed a post on him some time ago.
Best regards
IL.

That Laing group is a cracker. Would not be many of those around. Three MID’s and a DSO is quite an achievement.
I should have worded my post differently He is the only one I have to the best ok my knowledge that progressed from Tpr to Captain.
Thanks for the BMI info David.
Jim