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Greetings,

I recently came into possession of my maternal great grandfather's QSA and BSAC medals. His name was Samuel Hadley Weight (1869-1910).

He first served in the British South Africa Company Engineering corps as a Corporal (medal - Rhodesia 1896) and subsequently in the Kaffrarian Rifles as a Private (Regimental no 801). His QSA has five clasps, including Wepener.

The medals were severely tarnished and currently have no ribbons, but I have ordered and will post a photo when fully refurbished.

Not sure why he would have dropped rank, but assume that transfer from BSAC to a more 'formal' military unit is the reason?

I would be Interested to find out more about him if possible.

Also of relevance to both Anglo - Boer Wars.

One of my paternal great grandfather's was Richard Charles O'Neill who inherited the farm 'Belfast' at Majuba Hill from his father John James O'Neill and was founder of the town 'Belfast' in what is now Mpumalanga.

John James was the son of Richard Charles O'Neill senior (c.1790 - c. 1864) who served as an officer in the British Army in India, then in the Royal African Corps 1818 - 1824.

John's brother (also named Richard Charles O'Neill) was the owner of O'Neill's Cottage on Majuba Hill where the First Boer War treaty was signed in 1881.

The O'Neill's were Irish Nationalists at heart and were suspected of being Boer sympathizers during both wars.

WGOODWIN
Welcome to the Forum. Our host's book "WEPENER Account and medal roll" confirms your GGF's QSA with Wepener clasp (enlisted 24/10/99). The combination of BSACM and QSA with Wepener clasp is a particularly nice one. At this stage it is hard to establish why the "drop in rank" - although he obviously had some knowledge to be promoted Cpl. in the BSAC Engineer Corps. Perhaps the KR did not need that knowledge?
Regards
IL.

Samuel Hadley Weight (b 1869 in Bristol, UK - d 1910 in South Africa) receives good coverage in public family trees on Ancestry although none have picked up his military service.

Below is the record of his baptism in Clifton, Bristol on 23rd February 1869, which also very helpfully gives his date of birth as 24th January 1869.



Next is a 1900's postcard held by the Bristol Archives showing the Wesleyan Methodist Church where the event took place.



Not many Methodists served in the Boer War because it was a pacifist organisation at the time and vehemently opposed the war. They changed their minds at the start of WW1.

But perhaps you knew all this.

The drop in rank is usually of no concern when changing units and the gap in service. The KR probably had a sufficiency of Corporals when he enlisted. But, a new unit wouldn't be obliged to give a man a rank he held in a previous unit, commanding officers had different standards.

Thanks for the info. Much appreciated.

Many thanks for the info. Much appreciated.