TOPIC:

Hi all:
I have dug out a QSA that had been put away for some time. The medal has TRANSVAAL, SOUTH AFRICA 1901, and SOUTH AFRICA 1902 clasps attached, and is named to 4317 Pte. J.W. BAKER, RL. LANC. REGt. M.I.
I believe that M.I. stands for mounted infantry, which would have been a sub unit of the Royal Lancaster Regiment?
Can anyone confirm the clasps as being entitled to him, as well as any background info on this man and his service.
Any assistance very much appreciated.
Thanks!
John S

Good evening,
Baker served with his MI company in South Africa, formed from the 1st Battalion Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regt, part of the 19th Battalion Mounted Infantry and his medal and Transvaal clasp was issued from the 1st Battalion Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regt roll in WO100/168 page 15.
His South Africa 1901 and 1902 clasps were both issued from WO100/168 page 152, this is the supplementary roll of the 2nd Battalion Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regt, it does, however confirm his service in the 19th MI, moreover, in the remarks column "T X 18 8 02"(Time Expired 16th August 1902)
I was going to say welcome but I seem to think we have met already with the JMR fellow.
Regards Frank

John S wrote: Hi all:
I have dug out a QSA that had been put away for some time. The medal has TRANSVAAL, SOUTH AFRICA 1901, and SOUTH AFRICA 1902 clasps attached, and is named to 4317 Pte. J.W. BAKER, RL. LANC. REGt. M.I.
I believe that M.I. stands for mounted infantry, which would have been a sub unit of the Royal Lancaster Regiment?
Can anyone confirm the clasps as being entitled to him, as well as any background info on this man and his service.
Any assistance very much appreciated.
Thanks!
John S

Frank:
Many Thanks for this.
Is there any indication as to what his given names were- also, any idea as to when he signed up, and would he have had continuous service in the R Lanc R M.I. from his attestation up until his time expired in August 1902?
Much appreciate your previous help on the JMR QSA.
Cheers,
John S

Hello John,
Forget what I said about Barker, it is indeed Baker on both, sorry my fault.
To have served in the 19th MI and be time expired at that date, I would expect him to have joined the Kings Own RL Regt on a short service engagement, seven years with the colours and five in the reserve, so perhaps 1895 or so.
All surviving service papers for this period are in WO97 at the TNA Kew London, most, though, not all have been digitised and are available on line at FMP, if a particular man's papers are not available on line, it does not mean that his papers have not survived, it does, however, mean that they are less likely to have survived, in that case only a manual search would give you an answer, that may or may not prove fruitful, from my own experience, it would normally be the latter.
Regards Frank

John S wrote: Frank:
Many Thanks for this.
Is there any indication as to what his given names were- also, any idea as to when he signed up, and would he have had continuous service in the R Lanc R M.I. from his attestation up until his time expired in August 1902?
Much appreciate your previous help on the JMR QSA.
Cheers,
John S

John,
I have found him, so to answer your questions, John William Baker, an 18 year old waiter, he joined the Kings Own RL in 1894 and having served at home, Malta, Hong Kong and Singapore he served in South Africa from the 16th of February 1901 to the 10th of September 1902.
He was posted to the Mounted Infantry on arrival in South Africa, having passed the "class of instruction" for the MI and tranferred to the "A" class reserve on the 3rd of November 1902.
A good simple medal, nice too, that it is named MI and his only campaign medal for his service.
Kind regards Frank

John S wrote: Frank:
Many Thanks for this.
Is there any indication as to what his given names were- also, any idea as to when he signed up, and would he have had continuous service in the R Lanc R M.I. from his attestation up until his time expired in August 1902?
Much appreciate your previous help on the JMR QSA.
Cheers,
John S

Well researched Frank, top job.

Paul

Frank Kelley wrote: John,
I have found him, so to answer your questions, John William Baker, an 18 year old waiter, he joined the Kings Own RL in 1894 and having served at home, Malta, Hong Kong and Singapore he served in South Africa from the 16th of February 1901 to the 10th of September 1902.
He was posted to the Mounted Infantry on arrival in South Africa, having passed the "class of instruction" for the MI and tranferred to the "A" class reserve on the 3rd of November 1902.
A good simple medal, nice too, that it is named MI and his only campaign medal for his service.
Kind regards Frank

John S wrote: Frank:
Many Thanks for this.
Is there any indication as to what his given names were- also, any idea as to when he signed up, and would he have had continuous service in the R Lanc R M.I. from his attestation up until his time expired in August 1902?
Much appreciate your previous help on the JMR QSA.
Cheers,
John S