TOPIC:

I have been researching my family history and have managed to obtain my Grandfather's army records.
His name was Reginald Walter Silver. He joined the Royal West Kent Regiment in March 1887 and served for over 21 years reaching the rank of Colour Sergeant. His army number was 1820.
In March 1900 he embarked on the S/S Bavarian arriving in Cape Town on 6th April before transferring to to Port Elizabeth on 9th April. He then went to Edenburg and came under fire from the Boers on 12th April.
His record mentions Cape Colony, Transvaal and Wittebergen. He left South Africa on 4 November 1902 and then went to Ceylon for 2 years. He finally left the army in November 1908.
He was mentioned in despatches on 10th September 1901.
I have his South Africa medal with bars for 1901 and 1902.
In addition he rejoined the army in 1915 at the age of 45 and was promoted to Company Sergeant Major and then transferred to the Labour Corps.

Hello Derek.....

The medal that you have with only the South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902 looks like the King's South Africa Medal..... Does it have the face of King Edward on it?????

The three locations that you mention are also bars for the Queen's South Africa Medal and that may be missing..... Or do you have it as well?????

Look at this section of the forum:

www.angloboerwar.com/unit-information/im...l-west-kent-regiment

With that long a service he should have also the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, and some for WW1.....

Mike

Hello Derek,
And welcome to the forum, good luck with your further research.

Paul

I only have the medal with the head of King Edward, I think that my cousins may have other medals. His military history sheet mentions what I think says "Queens medal and clasps Wittebergen, Cape Colony and Transvaal. There is also mention of "Long service and good conduct (with gratuity)". I didn't realise that referred to a medal.
Thanks for the link.

Hi Derek,
In addition to his service papers in WO364, which confirm the issue of the Long Service and Good Conduct medal, via Army Order 189, you will also see him on the medal roll pages for his QSA and KSA, he is shown on WO100/194 page 58 in respect to his QSA and Cape Colony and Wittebergen clasps.
His Transvaal clasp is shown in WO100/194 page 123, which is their supplementary roll and his KSA is shown in WO100/338 page 78.
You are very lucky to have such a good amount of papers to look at!
Regards Frank

DerekS wrote: I only have the medal with the head of King Edward, I think that my cousins may have other medals. His military history sheet mentions what I think says "Queens medal and clasps Wittebergen, Cape Colony and Transvaal. There is also mention of "Long service and good conduct (with gratuity)". I didn't realise that referred to a medal.
Thanks for the link.

I got the papers from The Royal West Kent Regiment museum, which is part of the Maidstone Museum. They were very helpful.
They sent me copies of about 20 pages or original documents.
Is there any way to find out details of his "mentioned in despatches" on 10 September 1901?