TOPIC:

A paragraph from The Highland News of August 24, 1901:



It comes from an a long article entitled "Home-Coming of Captain Ellice"

Steve - I will email you the whole page, fascinating adverts as well!

Kindle Edition available on Amazon for £5.99 - three chapters are devoted to the Boer War.

From the Amazon site:

"This unique Regiment of Scouts was raised by Lord Lovat in 1900, mainly from Highland stalkers. Valiant, hardy and unorthodox, they and their successors distinguished themselves in two world wars. In a variety of roles they were always superb in fieldcraft, spying and reconnaissance. Today they still exist proudly in the Northern Isles. Their story is now told for the first time with eye-witness accounts of their exciting exploits and also of many strange and amusing incidents. Written with realism, humour and affection, this unusual book can be described as "a living contribution to Highland history". Michael Ian Leslie Melville1918 - 1977 was educated at Eton, read Agriculture at Balliol, and served in the Lovat Scouts from 1936 to 1951. A Chartered Surveyor, he managed land from the Highlands to the Borders and farmed near Selkirk. He married Cynthia Hambro and had three children and five grandchildren. Mike was a countryman with a keen knowledge of trees and birds who loved Scotland. He involved himself in all field sports and particularly fox hunting, and deer stalking. He was a deputy lieutenant for Ettrick and Lauderdale and a Member of the Royal Company of Archers."

Used hardcopies apparently available from AbeBooks for £24.

David (Smethwick), many thanks for the extra newspaper clipping, I wonder if that inscribed pocket watch is still out there!
I've managed to pick up a copy of the Lovat's Scouts regimental history that you recommended off e-bay for £18. So I am eagerly awaiting it's delivery to find out more!

Linneyl, I will follow up on your references, thank you.
There are numerous units that participated in the conflict deserving of a regimental history. Kitchener's Fighting Scouts, Kitchener's Horse and Loch's Horse are just a trio that would reveal some amazing individuals.
But, I think that Lovat's Horse service during the Anglo Boer War would be a very interesting and 'doable' project, involving a few trips upto Inverness for research purposes.
Hmmmm.....

36560 PRIVATE SAMUEL FRASER: LOVAT'S SCOUTS (2ND CONTINGENT), 113TH COMPANY IMPERIAL YEOMANRY.

Samuel Fraser was born in 1881 in Kiltarlity, Beauly, Inverness-shire, Scotland to parents Alexander and Madeline. The family lived at their house "Balgate" in Kiltarlity.
Samuel worked as a Butcher and was already serving in the 1st Battalion Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders when he decided to enlist into the Lovat's Scouts on the 13th May 1901 at Beaufort Castle, the family seat of the Lords Lovat.
Samuel was 20 years and 5 momths old at attestation, and was 5' 9 1/4" in height, weighed 168 lbs (12 stone), and had a chest range of 34"-36". He was of a fresh complexion, hazel eyed, light brown hair and Presbyterian by way of religious denomination.
No doubt his skills as a Butcher would have helped the recruiting officers to favour Samuel Fraser's selection as they would prove to be very useful when on trek with the columns and with many hungry men to feed when the opportunity to slaughter captured cattle came their way!

Allocated the regimental number 36560 in the 2nd Contingent of Lovat's Scouts, now under the Imperial Yeomanry, Private Fraser arrived in South Africa on 8th June 1901.
He appears to have survived his service unscathed with no casualty records.

Following the cessation of hostilities, Samuel was discharged at Aldershot on 25th August 1902 having served with Lovat's Scouts for a total of 1 year and 105 days.
His conduct and character were described as "Very Good" on his discharge papers, and that he was qualified as a Butcher to re-enter civilian life.


Queen's South Africa medal awarded to 35650 Private Samuel Fraser bearing the single clasp Cape Colony.
Medal Roll WO100/130 also records entitlement to both date clasps. But I assume that they were never received because he had emigrated to Canada.


Number, rank and naming to the rim of the medal.





Regimental naming to the rim.

Now residing in Regina, the capital of Saskatchewan, Canada, Samuel was now a married man and still plying his trade as a Butcher.

At Saskatoon on the 7th December 1915, Samuel enlisted into the 96th Canadian Expeditionary Force, The Canadian Highlanders, doubtless joining many of his Scottish ex-patriots in this highland unit. On enlistment he declared his previous 18 month stint with Lovat's Scouts.
Upon reaching the front in France and Flanders he was transferred to a fighting battalion, the 15th (48th Highlanders of Canada) CEF.
In 1918 Private Fraser is recorded as a casualty and his war was now over. He then returned to his wife back in Canada.

I do not possess his medals for his World War One service and currently do not know whether or not they remain extant.

SOURCES
Research data from previous collector.
Imperial Yeomanry attestation document.

37436 PRIVATE JOHN MACDONALD: LOVAT'S SCOUTS (3RD CONTINGENT),178TH COMPANY IMPERIAL YEOMANRY.

John MacDonald was born in Inverness, Scotland in 1872, the son of Bella MacDonald. No mention of father.
Bella lived at 9 Charles Street, Inverness.

John was working as a Waiter when he enlisted into the 3rd Contingent of Lovat's Scouts Imperial Yeomanry at Inverness on 22nd November 1901. He declared previous service with the 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, from which unit he was discharged by purchase. This previous military experience may well have made him an ideal recruit for Lovat's Scouts.
On joining up he was 28 years and 11 months old and stood 5' 7" in height. He was a substantial chap at 175 lbs in weight with a chest expansion range of 38 1/2"-40".
He had a fair complexion, blue eyes, moderately dark hair and was Presbyterian by religious faith.
He has a small wart on the back of his neck.

He arrived in South Africa on 3rd December 1901 (a rather quick journey I think!).

He returned to Aldershot unscathed where he was discharged at the termination of his period of service on 35th August 1902. His conduct and character were described as "Very Good" and he intended to return to Inverness.



Queen's South Africa medal awarded to 37436 Private John MacDonald bearing clasps Cape Colony/ South Africa 1901 & South Africa 1902, all entitlement confirmed on Medal Roll WO100/130.


Number, rank and naming to the rim of the medal.





Regimental naming to the rim.

As far as I can tell, this is sole medal entitlement, with no further service during World War One.

SOURCES
Information from previous collector.
Lovat's Scouts Imperial Yeomanry attestation document.