TOPIC:

Nearly three and a half years I wrote regarding Major Magrane “I am interested in the mention of two clasps to his QSAM as the only medal roll I can find him on implies he received no clasps. This is the same for the 8 Smethwickians he commanded but their service records show they were awarded the "South Africa 1902" clasp.” Today, at long last, I have found the missing medal roll. So here he is Major Magrane on the medal roll drawn up on 18 July 1902 at Harrismith:



… and here he is on the company medal roll drawn up on 26 September 1903 at Harrismith:




The problem is the 1903 one does not show up using the usual search method and I only found it by determinedly scrolling to the right. Further scrolling shows that my 8 Smethwickians should no longer be on my database as single claspers.

I have also found Major Magrane’s return journey home in the shipping records:

London Times, 21 Jul 02 (Monday) Page 6a
The German left Cape Town for England July 9 with the following on passage home:
Volunteer Company York & Lancs. – E W Longden and 36 men
Volunteer Company W Riding – Lieutenant L H Palmer and 23 men
Volunteer Company S Lancs – Lieutenant E F Willcocks and 26 men
Volunteer Company Scottish Bord. – Lieutenant J Stevenson and 60 men
Volunteer Company E Surrey – 2/Lieutenant E V Bayliss and 21 men
Volunteer Company Middlesex – Lieutenant H V Kershaw and 53 men
Volunteer Company Border – Lieutenant F P N Dunne and 23 men
Volunteer Company Derby – Lieutenant J E Blackwall and 18 men
Volunteer Company Welsh – Lieutenant W H Edmond-Jenkins and 53 men
Volunteer Company Cheshire – Captain J Bates, Lieutenants T Ridgway, L V Walker, H L Moir and 116 men
Volunteer Company Buffs – Lieutenants W Wyllie, J R Manderson and 20 men
Volunteer Company S Staffs. – Captain V J Magrane and 110 men
Volunteer Company R Scots Fusiliers – Lieutenant J Alexander and 21 men
Volunteer Company Hants. – Lieutenant C G Young and 49 men
Volunteer Company Liverpool – Lieutenants J W Fisher, H D Read and 42 men
Volunteer Company W Yorks. – Lieutenant A W Hill and 23 men
Volunteer Company Durham Light Infantry – Captain E S Strangwayes, Lieutenants H Ensor, P P Wilson and 90 men
Volunteer Company Manchester – Captain J N Eaton, Lieutenants G K Dury, C J Slade and 82 men
Volunteer Company Norfolk – Lieutenants J H Holston, H Diver and 58 men
Volunteer Company R Lancs. – Lieutenants C G Bradley, W B Harte and 18 men
Volunteer Company Lancs. Fusiliers – Captain C S Lakeman, Lieutenants A C Bealey, W Wike and 111 men
Volunteer Company S Wales Bord. – Lieutenant E W Hitchcox, S G Mullock and 29 men
Volunteer Company Yorks. Light Infantry – Lieutenant E C St G Stockwell and 19 men
Volunteer Company A & S High. – Captain G H Black, Lieutenants J M Lamont, H R Rae, S Foulds, and 94 men
Newcastle-on-Tyne Volunteer Eng. – Captain R M Rodgers and 19 men
Volunteer Company Black Watch – Captain J Buyers, Lieutenants C E C Walker, T Ferguson and 88 men
Volunteer Company Essex – 43 men
Volunteer Company N Staffs. – 28 men
Aberdeen Volunteer Eng. – 17 men
RE – Lieutenant H Jackson
RS – Lieutenant P W Stewart
Civil Surgeons L C M Wedderturn, W E Burnand
RAMC – 6 men
Due Southampton Aug 1.

An interesting boatload and presumably all 3rd Volunteer Service Companies. Had the South Staffs left 3 of their men in hospital as 113 are listed on the 1903 Medal Roll or had some decided to seek a new life in South Africa? The remarks column on the medal roll is blank except for saying a couple had also served in the 1st VSC. My understanding is that the VSC’s all went out just over 100 strong and there was no shortage of volunteers, thus the low numbers for some of the other regiments is interesting.

Of those on the memorial the following served under Major Magrane - 7190 Color-Sergeant Martin, 7228 Lance-Corporal Jones, 7202 Private H Cartwright, 7201 Private S Costin & 7223 Private R Wade. (The spelling “Color” is interesting).