TOPIC:

I have inherited the Queen's South Africa Medal awarded to my grandfather Henry William Robert ABEL.

It has six Clasps: (from top)
SOUTH AFRICA 1901
LAING'S NEK
TRANSVAAL
ORANGE FREE STATE
DEFENCE OF LADYSMITH
TALANA

The edge of the medal is Imprinted:
"17339 DVR: H.W.R. ABEL` 13 BTY: R.F.A"

Am I correct in assuming that this means:
17339: = British Army service number?
DVR: = Driver?
BTY: = 13th Battery?
R.F.A = Royal Field Artillery?

This is somewhat at odds with the angloboerwar site's "Name Search" record which reads:
Surname: Abel;
Forename: H W R;
No. 17339;
Rank: Bombardier;
Unit: 13th Battery RFA;
Notes: QSA(6)
Source: List of QSAs with the clasp Talana from the Talana book

So my direct questions are:
1. Would the Rank in the "Name Search" [Bombardier] and the rank on his medal [DVR=driver?] be from different times? Which would be earlier?

2. Would there be an accessible record of his army service?

3. Am I correct in assuming that QSA(6) refers to his Queens South Africa medal with six clasps?

4. Where can I find further info/reference to the Talana book?

Thanks for any help you are able to offer.

As further info, my grandfather was born in 1875 in Woolwich, Kent. According to findmypast.co.uk, his regiment was WO97 Chelsea [which means?]. After discharge, he immigrated to homestead in Alberta, Canada c1909 and died in Vancouver, British Columbia in the mid-1960s.

I'll be delighted to learn more about my grandfather, particularly about his service life in the British Army. He may have also served in India.

Thanks for an informative site.

Roger Burrows
North Vancouver

Hello Roger,
Welcome to this forum, a very fine medal you have there, WO97 Chelsea on FMP refers to his service papers, War Office 97 Chelsea pensioners, the originals will be found in WO97 at the TNA Kew London, if you have already looked at FMP, go back and download them.
The medal rolls in WO100 all verify his medal and all the clasps you mention, WO100/140 Page 169 confirms the rank of Acting Bombardier, and the supplementary roll on page 181 gives the rank as Bombardier, there is also a nominal roll too, again, this gives a rank as Bombardier, the unit on all three is the 13th Battery Royal Field Artillery.
If the medal is named DVR, then that was his actual rank at the time, so Driver and Acting Bombardier.
The Talana Book is well worth buying and the author is the site owner here, on the left click on "Publications" from the menu.
So to answer your questions,
1, Driver then Bombardier
2, Yes, FMP.
3, Yes correct
4, Talk to David and look at Publications as mentioned.
Its very late here, so if you come back tomorrow, I'm sure David will talk to you.

Kind regards Frank

WO100/140 Page 169

Hello Roger,

And a warm welcome to the forum.
As Frank says that is a fine medal you must be very proud to be the current custodian.
I am unable to add to Franks concise information but I do wish you luck in any further research.

Regards
Paul

Hello David,
As you appear to be on line, I wondered if you have any thoughts on this man for Roger?
Kind regards Frank

A big thank-you Frank, for the fine welcome and info on my grandfather's medal. And also the welcome from Coldstream. Yes, it is a medal to be proud of, and I intend to display it [it'll need a new ribbon]. I wish I had known what I know now about the Boer War, and asked my Grandad more before he passed.

I think I have figured-out all the acronyms involved. I'm still wondering though, what a DVR (Driver) rank would have done -- presumeably driven teams of horses?

Regards

Roger Burrows
North Vancouver

Welcome Roger....

Here is a description of the rank driver.....

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driver_(rank)

Mike