TOPIC:

My grandfather joined the British South Africa Police in 1901. He was at home in Kent, England in April 1901 for the census but on WW1 attestation papers it says he had been shot in the leg in August 1901 in South Africa and had previously suffered from Blackwater fever. I know very little about his time in the BSAP and would love to find out more but I don't have a clue how to go about it. I have a couple of pictures which I am assuming is to do with his time in Africa and I also have a picture of 3 little metal stars attached to dark green fabric and wonder if these were off his uniform? He often went by the name Claude William Laurence Champion (actually born 1881, but may have lied about his age) but he was born William Laurence Champion. In the photo of 5 men, he is the one seated on the left.

Hello SarahF
Welcome to the forum
I have attached a link for you regarding your Grandfather's regiment BSAP
I will also send you a link to the Rhodesian Volunteers as they are mentioned on your Grandfather's Canadian WW1 attestation papers. Perhaps that gunshot wound to the ankle may have occurred having served with them?

www.angloboerwar.com/unit-information/so...-south-africa-police

Dave......

www.angloboerwar.com/unit-information/so...rhodesian-volunteers

As promised....link R Volunteers

Welcome to the Forum, Sarah.

The main BSAP records are in South Africa but there is some information available here from the UK.

The medal roll for the QSA for No 2 Division BSAP lists 1468 Trooper W Champion. He earned the clasps Cape Colony and Transvaal. There is a duplicate entry later on in the BSAP QSA roll so it would indicate he receive a two clasp medal.

Being back in the UK in 1901 would explain the lack of any date clasps of the KSA.

I cannot see any service in other campaigns in South Africa.

Nor can I see mention of being wounded. I search the BSAP nominal roll (in the link below) for mis-spellings of his surname but there are no likely matches. This does not mean that he was not wounded as the casualty records are not wholly accurate. Sometimes the medal rolls record if a man has been invalided home but there is not annotation of this on his records.

Being back in the UK in 1901 would explain the lack of any date clasps of the KSA.

There is information on the movements of the BSAP here: www.angloboerwar.com/unit-information/so...-south-africa-police

Probably the best next step is to contact a researcher in South Africa to copy his BSAP papers. I will check with someone on this and come back to you. There would be a cost involved with the person directly if you decided to go ahead.

Best wishes
David

Thank you Dave. We were both looking into this at the same time.

It is interesting that the gun shot wound is listed on his later papers.