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Further to QSAMIKE declaring his single QSA to Lt. Rich of the Namaqualand Border Scouts, my final purchase and jiffy bag arrival has been the 6 clasp QSA to 3579 Trooper W. H. Morris of Kitchener's Horse, later transferred to Rimington:s Guides. More about him within the next week or so!
As for the 'best' acquisition, the honours must go to the QSA and KEVII territorial pair to Lt. and Quartermaster Harry Emerton, an original member of Lord Robert's Bodyguard. I had a real bidding war with this one at Noonan's sale, but achieved probably my main QSA target!.
Do I continue collecting now I have hit the jackpot? Of course I do and continue to learn all I can about both sides in this fascinating conflict!
More on Harry soon.
Wishing all of my fellow forummers and their families a healthy, prosperous and happy new year!!
Steve

Here's one important addition to my ABW PoW collection. A superb Defense of Mafeking Prisoner of War QSA with three clasps: Orange Free State, Defence of Mafeking and Transvaal awarded to Trooper A.F. Wood, Protectorate Regiment Frontier Force who is confirmed as having taken part in the defense of Mafeking which lasted from 13th October 1899 through to 17th May 1900 as well as on operations in the Transvaal and Orange Free State, he was taken Prisoner of War after going out into the open to tend to his wounded brother, Trooper A.J. Wood, Protectorate Regiment. He was later released on 26th December 1899.

Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899-1902, 3 Clasps: Orange Free State, Defence of Mafeking, Transvaal; (102 TPR. A.F. WOOD. PROTECT: REGT F.F.)

A.F. Wood saw service as a Trooper (No. 102) with the Protectorate Regiment – Frontier Force and is confirmed as having taken part in the defense of Mafeking which lasted from 13th October 1899 through to 17th May 1900 as well as on operations in the Transvaal and Orange Free State. He joined the regiment on 18/08/1899 and was discharged on 31/10/1900. His brother, 103 A.J. Wood (Alfred Joseph) joined on the same day and was KIA on 26/12/1899 in the attack on Game Tree Hill. Arthur Frederick Wood was captured trying to guard and help his wounded brother; he was later released on 26 December 1899.

The action at Game Tree Hill, 26th December 1899. "Two squadrons Protectorate Regiment, supported by armored train and Bechuanaland Rifles, were ordered to attack enemy's works from left flank under Major Godley, while three guns and a maxim prepared the way from the right front of the work. On pressing home, the attack a heavy fire killed or wounded most of the officers and leading troops. These succeeded in gaming the parapet, but the work was found to have been strongly roofed in and so closed as to be impregnable". The British losses were this time very serious. Captain R J Vernon, Captain H C Sandford, Lieutenant H P Paton, and 21 non-commissioned officers and men were killed, Captain FitzClarence and 22 men wounded, and 3 missing. Colonel Baden-Powell said "If blame for this reverse falls on any one it should fall on myself, as everybody concerned did their part of the work thoroughly well and exactly in accordance with the orders I had issued. Both officers and men worked with splendid courage and spirit".

Steve,

A small contribution to you New year research.

David,
Many thanks for posting this document. Exactly what I needed to confirm the Doncaster connection! I now have his background and origins.
Indebted.

Steve,

An unusual set of hand-written papers for William in Damant's Horse