TOPIC: Medals to the Bechuanaland Rifles

Pictures courtesy of DNW

QSA (2) Defence of Mafeking, Transvaal (115 Corpl: H. Woolnough. Bec’land Rif:);
KSA (2) (115 Cpl. H. Woolnough. Bechuanaland Rif.)

Pictures courtesy of Noble Numismatics

QSA (0) (14 Sjt: C.S.Andrews. Bechuanaland Rifles.) Impressed.

14 Sergeant Charles Stewart Andrews confirmed on nominal roll of Bechuanaland Rifles. Charles Andrews was a fireman, enlisted at age 18 with mother noted as M.Andrews, 10 D'Arcy St, Kimberley. Served 05 Oct 1899 to 26 Jul 1901. Discharged on completion of service.

This man is something of a conundrum as I cannot find him on the medal roll (WO100/236).

The roll is mostly listed by officer's rank and then by regimental number.

Many of the men with low regimental numbers were involved in the defence of Mafeking:



An exception is 9 Lance Sgt A G Smith who was involved in the relief:



There is a man called Andrews on the roll but with initials E T:



The nominal roll lists both Andrews:



9 Sergeants received the KSA but there was no award to Sgt Andrews.

I thought perhaps the naming was suspect but this is not the case.

He is certainly a conundrum. he must be listed somewhere for him to have received the QSA and was he involved in the defence?

The naming on the medal to Sergeant Andrews is fine but I am no closer to unravelling the question of clasp entitlement and roll verification.

David
The Mafeking Siege Register by Colin Walker has it that one "Andrews, C.S." was a Bank Employee, Standard Bank of SA, Mafeking. Then he says "5/10, volunteered left ban(k?). Aged 25 at siege(J Ineson). This may be the Cpl. Andrews of the Bechuanaland Rifles listed on the Siege Slip Roll'.
I can't see him on the Hibbard list of DofM, nor the Mitchell roll.
Don't know where else he could have been; not in the siege?
Best regards
IL.
(J.Ineson wrote a book on the paper currency of the ABW).

Soldiers of the Queen has him as a Corporal - I wonder where they got that info from?

Thank you both.

I suspect he was in the siege but I cannot confirm that yet. It is odd that no roll entry exists for him either. Perhaps he is in late or individual claims?