TOPIC:

In St Mary's Church, Stanton, Staffordshire.

George Smith a 19 year old farmer from Stanton upon joining the old cheesemonger's in 1897, he served with French's Cavalry Brigade on the western front from the relief of Kimberley to the opening of the guerrilla war and beyond, the poor bugger!

Berenice
Nice memorial. My cavalry roll says "2009 Trooper 1st Life Guards" and his medal bears clasps RofK/Paar/Dreif/Joh/DH/Witte. Further comment is "died at Windsor, 7/3/01". I wonder if his medal survives?
Regards
IL.

Hello Ian,
It was indeed very tragic, just imagine being able to join that particular regiment, not so easy, as unlike the rest of the Army, you needed to provide a couple of good referees upon applying to join, they were very keen to get men with all the right qualifications, the right height and so on, I well remember looking at number of these in the past for a close friend at Kew.
They tend to be typical recruits, six feet tall, just like George Smith and country boy's used to working with horses, so often you get typical referee's such as the village vicar, who had to state that he had known the gentleman concerned not only as a parishioner, but, also as a person for ten years or so and could clearly testify to the given mans good character.
All very important indeed if a gentleman is to actually mount the sovereign's close escort and bodyguard.
A composite unit was put together from all three regiments for actual service in South Africa, again tragic, after what would have surely been the ultimate ride of his life with General French's Brigade for this very young man.
Regards Frank

LinneyI wrote: Berenice
Nice memorial. My cavalry roll says "2009 Trooper 1st Life Guards" and his medal bears clasps RofK/Paar/Dreif/Joh/DH/Witte. Further comment is "died at Windsor, 7/3/01". I wonder if his medal survives?
Regards
IL.

Frank
Some very good points made. Years ago I ran across a QSA to 2nd Life Guards (1948 Tr.R.Penman 2:L-Gds) and the main reason was for the clasps Joh and Witte. However, later research told me how exacting were the enlistment requirements (as you say). And being a component of the Sovereign's Escort would have been very prestigious.
Over the years I have been occasionally struck by the variation in clasps on LG QSAs. Someone once told me that the LGs were employed as Bodyguards for senior officers. That might account for it.
Best regards
IL.

Hi Everyone......

I also have a 1stLG medal and his Edward V11 LSGC but his rank is Trumpeter and I have often wondered what ceremonies he would have been involved with......

Mike