TOPIC:

David
I agree with your The ring around CC and Natal on the Native Labour Corps roll suggests the compiler was aware that these two clasps were in conflict.
BUT
I don't agree that you are correct that his entitlement was CC, OFS and Tr. is definite. I think there is circumstantial evidence to favour Natal above CC.
Of the 3 noted on the Murray's Scouts roll as "employed elsewhere" both Marwick and Wheelhouse went on to serve as Superintendents in the "Supplies Native Labour Corps. Their roll entries are annotated "Murray's Horse Intelligence co". That suggests to me that they were colleagues in Natal, Marwick moving through Natal with the fighting section, and Wheelwright in the non-battle section. Note that the roll on which they both appear is signed by G D Wheelwright as "Officer personally cognizant of the Claimants' services". Who better to know of his entitlement to the Natal clasp and of Marwick to battle clasps? Later, they transferred together as Superintendents of the DoS NLC. At some stage Wheelwright moved through OFS, Tr, and CC. BUT his earlier service in Natal suggests to me that that discounts qualification for CC.

Pete

Pete,

You are correct that the entitlement to CC, OFS and Tr is not definitive. Your hypothesis makes good sense.

It started me thinking about the inability to earn both CC and Natal and how, as in this case, the authorities decided which to issue? I read the criteria to be that the CC clasp would be issued unless the recipient earned a clasp for an action in Natal as opposed to receiving the clasp Natal. It may be that I have read too much into the criteria for CC where it is stated that CC would be issued to those who ' ... received no clasp for an action already specified in the Cape Colony nor Natal clasps.'

I will do some digging and see if there is guidance. I looked back to the Important Decision Book but found no clarification there.

Best wishes
David

Pete and David,
This one is proving to be something of a teaser!
There must be other medal rolls with entitlement to Natal and Cape Colony circled and offering the researcher the same dilemma.
Hopefully we can find the definitive answer in due course.
In the meantime, I shall post his story and get the medal repaired once I know whether or not I need to find an original Natal clasp from somewhere.
I look forward to learning more.
Cheers Steve

Steve, David,
There is another perspective to this question - that clasp entitlement does not necessarily mean clasps issued.

I’ve looked again over the rolls on which Wheelwright’s and Marwick’s names appear.

The Murray’s Scouts roll at the top of the first page has the identifier A.G.2/M/534 with a note “The names of men ticked in green were issued 20 7/02 with M & clasps AG2/M/534”

On this page

www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collectio...f8feb3fca&pId=527785

Marwick and Wheelwright are so ticked without mention of clasps, confirming the issue of no-clasp medals to both men. Note that Marwick’s entry is annotated AG/SA/8032. Wheelwright is not annotated.

The Native Labour Corps roll has the identifier -/M/11400, and is headed MEDALS ONLY. I take that to mean that as non-combatants in this corps they were ineligible for clasps.

It is also noted in the roll header that “153 medals 6 clasps” were issued, and there is table showing the issue for each page of the roll. Page 2 has 8 medals and 2 clasps, page 9 has 9 medals and 1 clasp, and page 12 has 11 medals and 3 clasps.
Marwick is on page 10 and Wheelwright is on page 16. No clasps were issued off this roll on those pages.

This roll is crammed with references against names quoting entitlement and issue of clasps from other rolls. Marwick has the reference x Medal issued AG2/M/534 Murray’s Scouts, and a further reference to 68/SA/8032 being authority to issue Tug Hts, R of L,& L Nek, these marked with x.

Wheelwright has the same reference re. issue of Medal from AG2/M/534 Murray’s Scouts roll, but no other roll reference. In the absence of evidence to further rolls, it appears that Wheelwright’s medal had no clasps awarded to it.
Pete

Pete,
A no clasp medal to Marwick and Wheelwright is highly feasible, when you consider that the majority of civilians who were of the rank Conductor, Overseer, Superintendent etc. and served with local labour outfits or attached to Imperial units were awarded no clasp medals.
I acquired the medal disc only for Wheelwright with no other loose clasps or suspension, so I have no idea how the medal was made up originally.
It is highly likely that my repair will simply be to attach the disc to a replacement suspension and to thread a new length of ribbon!. If further evidence were to come to light confirming clasp entitlement (ie the QSA to Marwick turning up in original state as issued) I can always have this/these added.
When all is said and done a no clasp medal to Murray's Scouts is still a mighty scarce issue.
Many thanks for your input gentlemen.
Steve

David

In my last I wrote
confirming the issue of no-clasp medals to both men. Note that Marwick’s entry is annotated AG/SA/8032. Wheelwright is not annotated.

I presume that AG/SA/8032 is a reference to the Important Decisions Book. It might be instructive to this discussion if we were able to see what is stated.

Pete.