TOPIC:

Hello Sarah,

The medal roll for the NFA is in WO100/260.

I have been through the medal roll and there is no one of the surname Bell listed. Do you think he served in the Boer War as well as the Natal Rebellion?

There is a W G Bull on the nominal roll: angloboerwar.com/unit-information/south-...ld-artillery?start=1

Thanks for your reply!

Yes, I have looked through the medal rolls as you did, however it appears that all of those are for the period before the rebellion - the roll indicates "...who served during the War". I don't believe my ancestor served in the Second Boer War, as he would have been too young... In fact, I have him only leaving school in Pietermaritzburg in December 1901. He was born 1 May 1886.

I know he served in the Natal Field Artillery (or at least purported to have) as he indicates such on his 1917 attestation form in NZ. C Battery was raised at Pietermaritzburg, and said to be made up of mostly civil tradespeople (my ancestor was a carpenter), so the dates/places and details line up to make it possible. I'm wondering now if the "(0)" indication in the database entry for HJ Bell could mean that he in fact did not receive the medal? It seems odd, then, that the source listed for the entry is only "Recipients of the Natal 1906 Medal". He surely must be listed somewhere?!

I would appreciate your thoughts.

Cheers,
Sarah

I should also mention that his full name is Halton Jephson Bell. Unfortunately his forename was mis-transcribed quite frequently, and I have variously seen it written as "Heton", "Hilton", etc.

It is always nice to see a QSA to the NFA.

From the next Spink sale:

QSA (4) Elandslaagte, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 (33 Gnr: C. Leverett. Natal F. Arty:), unofficial rivets between state and date clasps, good very fine

Just one Battery of Natal Field Artillery, armed with 7-pounders served at the Battle of Elandslaagte, 21 October 1899.

The medal to Leverett hammered at £580 just now.

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (6) Elandslaagte, Relief of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Tugela Heights, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 (18 Gnr: K. Rich. Natal F.A.) last three clasps loose as issued;
Natal 1906, (1) 1906 (Q:M:S: K. Roch, B. Battery N.F.A.);
Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal, EdVII (B.Q.M. Sgt. K. Rich. N.F.A.)
[ 1902 Coronation Medal]

Provenance: Christies, March 1987.

Gunner K F Rich was part of the Coronation detachment.