TOPIC:

Hello David,
I've often wondered about the Wepener clasp and just why it was that there appear to have been so many "issues" (no pun intended!) surrounding the entitlement for it, both the War Office and the Admiralty certainly did not seem sure of the exact criteria at one point, whether or not, it was to be granted to the relief forces too etc.
Then you get odd abnormalities where the clasp is shown in the papers of gentlemen who were not engaged in the defence or the immediate relief of Wepener and whose regiments took no part whatsoever.
Kind regards Frank

You're right Frank. It does appear to have its unfair share of anomalies. Perhaps the importance of the action there encouraged some speculative requests for the clasp to be issued?

Hello David,
I am at a complete loss to fully understand what was actually going on sometimes, have a look at 5086 George Haylock 1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers, certainly a case in point, his actual entitlement is very clear in WO100, but, then look at WO97, to actually have a Wepener clasp, he would certainly have needed to have known Doctor Who well enough to have a trip in the Tardis, I certainly fail to see, how he, or indeed, anyone else for that matter, can be in two places at the same time.
Kind regards Frank

Ian,

What a superb group
A rare combination of clasps indeed, you a very fortunate to receive such a wonderful birthday present

Cheers
Paul

LinneyI wrote: Forum members
The illustrated medals surfaced late last year; just in time to qualify as a birthday present .
QSA clasps RofK, Wepener, Transvaal and Wittebergen impressed to "3418 Cpl.H.Keys. Kitchener's H".
KSA clasps SA1901/02 impressed to "452 Gnr. H.Keys Cape G.A."
14/15 Star to "Cpl.H.Heys S.A.Irish"
BWM/VM to "Sjt. H.Keys 3rd S.A.I."

A quick check of the Kaplan roll verified the RofK and Wepener clasps and the Palmer roll added that 3418 Cpl.H.Keys of KH was PoW at Wells, near DeKeils drift 13021900. The SAFF verified that quite a few of KH went into "the bag" (E Sqn) after making a creditable defence against DeWet for two days. Not, however, our Cpl.H.Keys! Whilst 70 odd KH chaps were notified as "released" 12071900 by The Times, our man clearly qualified for his RofK clasp two days after his reported "capture" - obviously he escaped or somehow evaded the fate of E Sqn and managed the 20plus miles (as the crow flies) between DeKeils Drift and Klip Drift in time for the Great Flank March.
His initial enlistment in KH as 3418 ran from 03021900 to 02041900 and he then served with 1st and 2nd Brabant's H; his service running from 02041900 to 24091901 as n/n Sjt in 1st BH. It is my opinion that he was seen as a very able NCO and immediately transferred to Brabant's H on that account.

Reference to the medal roll pages shows marginal activity! The KH roll merely records his transfer to Brabant's; whilst the medal roll of 1st BH records "returned 14/1204", then "issued 24/3/05", then "search 24/2/23" then "..illegible 18580" and finally "reissued 493.148 14/8/23". The Cape G.A. KSA roll has "returned 24/9/09" and "reissued 9/3/14".

I had planned to end this post with some reference to Cpl/Sjt Keys' service
in the Great War and had put in a search request to South African DofD some three months ago. Clearly, they must be very busy as no response so far and I will update as soon as more info comes to hand.

To conclude, I feel that we have here a quite unusual QSA clasp combination and yet another example of wishing that a Medal Could Talk!
Thanks to those who have read this far
IL.

Paul,
Superb, does, just about, sum things up really rather well, you have, in effect, a man who has taken part in four very different campaigns, an epic ride with General French, the defence of Wepener, an equally epic march to deprive the wretched hun it's ability to command the High Sea Fleet in the southern hemisphere and the absolute valour of the Transvaal and Rhodesia Regiment from it's very inception, superb indeed.
Frank

Hello Ian,

A wonderful group of medals.

Ian, if memory serves, Dewald found a box of attestation papers to the Cape GA hidden away in a corner in the SANDF Archives in Pretoria. Perhaps he could have a look for your man.

Regards
Adrian