TOPIC:

Dear All

I found something very strange the other day when I received a call from a person asking about a Queens medal to a New Zealander. After asking a few questions I was able to discover that the medal was named to a New Zealand unit but the man settled in South Africa. It seemed a great story and the man brought the medals and documents in a few days later and I found he had a very nice QSA bars Transvaal and SA02 named to 8254 Tpr H Holford NZMR 9th Cont.

but with it was some great photos and papers including a discharge certificate. Imagine my surprise when I looked carefully at the discharge certificate and noted - Attested at NEWCASTLE NATAL SA on 21st April 1902 and discharged in Wellington NZ 26th August 1902.

So he served 4 months in the NZMR but joined in South Africa. Seems the wrong way round. He was a New Zealander who come out to South Africa in his private capacity, and seems to have joined the NZMR to hitch a ride back home.

Is this correct that they would take men into their units in South Africa.

Did he have enough service to qualify for 2 clasps? Or did he serve in another unit?

Holford owned the 1st Taxi in East London with registration EL1. I have a picture of this.

Kind regards

Munroe

Lieutenant Colonel Abbott clearly felt he was so entitled!
WO100/295 page 160

Here is my 9th Contingent man......

Mike

BORELL, G.

REG. NO.: 7143
RANK: TROOPER

REGT: 9th CONTINGENT NEW ZEALAND MOUNTED RIFLES
BARS: TRANSVAAL, SOUTH AFRICA 1902

REMARKS / HISTORY:

1. CONFIRMED AND PHOTO OF BORELL ON MAIN FILE.

The 9th contingent sailed on 12th March 1902, two days after Lord Methuen's disaster had been announced.

On 4th June, four days after peace was concluded, the 9th contingent had the misfortune to lose Lieutenant Robert M'Keigh, killed, and Lieutenant Henry Rayne, wounded, near Vereeniging. Firing had been started under some misconception.

The 9th contingents sailed for home in July 1902.

Munroe,

I concur with Frank & Lt Abbott, these are the clasps issued to the 9th Cont NZMR.

Harry Holford signed for these clasps (SA02 & TVL) at Pietermarburg? Natal SA on the 13 Sept 1902.

You have the correct clasps and good sound QSA.

As an aside he comes from my Home town in New Zealand.

Cheers
Stephen

Frank Kelley wrote: Lieutenant Colonel Abbott clearly felt he was so entitled!
WO100/295 page 160

Dear All

Thank you for the input. Most appreciated,

But what do you think about the fact that he attested in South Africs when the 9th arrived. He did not attest and sail with them from NZ.

Is this normal.

Surely these units had some sort of training etc before they left for SA. This guy would have had none. Seems he just signed the bottom line and got a rifle, horse and uniform and was into war.

Kind regards

Munroe

Munroe
Local enlisting for certain Colonial unit did happen once they arrived in SA. I once researched a 3NSWIB QSA in the old collection and the recipient had served in no less than five SA recruited units before enlisting in the 3NSWIB in January of 1902. Contact with the AWM back in the late 1970s indicated the unit mentioned above was formed from reinforcement drafts for other units that were "time expired" . 3NSWIB was thus formed and with some local recruitment. I have no doubt that many hundreds of men sailed for SA as horse handlers in ships or so called "indulgence passengers". Most would have joined irregular units. Whether serving with a KIWI unit would have got him a trip home later: I don't know.
Regards
IL.