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In IL's initial post he says 'Two Coys., 236 men in total were recruited - one mounted, one on foot. Up to 80 were chosen specifically for stalking prowess and all recruits were suitably tested for basic skills. After seven weeks of intensive training, the First Contingent of Lovat's departed from Beauly Station and arrived in Cape Town on 17041900.'

The medal roll for the original two companies of Lovat's Scouts is in WO130 pages 58 to 81.

There is no identification of the number of medals issued in the AG2 header but counting up, I make it a net of 234 medals issued, close to IL's number. 12 medals were returned or issued off other rolls.

39 men served in the Provisional Transvaal Constabulary, roughly between October 1900 and either January or June 1901.

All bar two men in the original draft of Lovat's Scouts have numbers in the range 87nn to 88nn. The other two numbers are 713 and 949.

Some example QSAs to the original two companies of Lovat's Scouts, including 2 of the 4 DCMs they received:

QSA (3) CC OFS Joh (8697 Pte W Barbour, Lovat’s Scts). William Balfour was a Water Bailiff. Joined at Fort Beaufort on 3 February 1900 and went to South Africa in March. His service concluded when his horse rolled on him and damaged his right arm in September 1900. Spink October 1999

QSA (3) CC Tr Witt (8906 Corpl. T W Barrett, Lovat’s Scouts); KSA (2) (Lt. T W Barrett, Scot. Horse). DNW December 2003 £410

DCM Ed VII (8709 Cpl A Chisholm Lovat’s Scts); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal GV (850 Sgt Lovat’s Scts Yeo). DCM LG 26 June 1902. DNW May 1992 £740

QSA (4) CC Tr Witt SA01 (8713 Pte G Craig, Lovat’s Scts). Spink February 1975

QSA (3) CC OFS Joh (8740 Pte A Grant, Lovat’s Scts). City Coins #57

QSA (4) CC Joh DH Witt (8750 Private J H Henderson, Lovats Scouts.); KSA (2). Wounded near Edenburg 14 November 1900. Sotheby November 1978. Sotheby January 1972

QSA (3) CC Witt SA01 (8811 Pte. D. Macfarlane, Lovat’s Scouts). DNW July 2001 £180

QSA (3) CC Witt SA01 (8812 Pte D S Macgregor, Lovat's Scouts); Natal (1) (Trooper D.S. MacGregor, Transvaal Mounted Rifles). DNW May 1992 £150

QSA (4) CC Tr Witt SA01 (8818 Pte H Mackay, Lovat’s Scts). City Coins #35. DNW March 2011 £250

QSA (3) CC Tr Witt (8813 Pte A MacIntyre, Lovat’s Scouts). Alexander MacIntyre was also entitled to the “South Africa 1901” clasp for his subsequent services in ‘A’ Division, South African Constabulary (No. 194 Corporal) and the Provisional Transvaal Constabulary. DNW September 2007 £190. Sold with a QSA named to him in the SAC by DNW, June 2005

QSA (3) CC Witt SA01 (8835 Pte. J. MacLachlan, Lovat’s Scouts). James MacLachlan was born near Pitlochry, Perthshire. A Gamekeeper and Blacksmith by occupation, he attested for one years service with the Black Watch for the Special Highland Scouting Corps (Lovat’s Scouts) at Beaufort Castle on 5 February 1900, aged 34 years. With Lovat’s Scouts he served in South Africa, March 1900-August 1901. DNW September 2013 £180

QSA (5) CC Joh DH Witt SA01 (8853 Pte. A. MacMillan, Lovat’s Scouts). Alexander MacMillan was born in Kilwinning, Ayr. A Policeman by occupation, he attested for service at Beaufort Castle on 2 February 1900. He served with Lovat’s Scouts in South Africa from 11 March 1900 until 13 August 1901. He was discharged on 20 August 1901. DNW December 2006 £190

Pair. 8823 Corporal J. McKenzie, Lovat's Scouts. DCM Ed VII (Pte); QSA (4) CC Joh DH Witt (Cpl). DCM London Gazette, 26.6.1902. Sotheby November 1978. DNW July 2017 £1800. DNW July 2018 £1900

QSA (4) CC Joh DH Witt (8874 Pte J Ross, Lovat’s Scouts). Attested at Beaufort Castle, 6 February 1900 and arrived in South Africa 11 Match 1900. He attested in the ‘Special Highland Scouting Corps’. Discharged 31 January 1902 to work as a locomotive foreman in the Central African Railways. Spink October 1999

QSA (5) CC Joh DH Witt 01 (8895 Pte J Taylor, Lovat’s Scts). Spink October 1999. Spink July 2019


QSAs are also found named to the 113th, 114th and 178th IY (Lovat's Scouts) which were raised in 1901. These are identifiable by the regimental number.

QSA (4) CC OFS SA02 SA02 (36666 Pte. D. Cameron, Lovat’s Scouts); BWM & VM (11/280 Sgt. D. Cameron, N.Z.E.F.), renamed; Army MSM GV (11-280 Sjt. D. Cameron, N.Z. Pnrs.). Duncan Cameron was born in Glasgow, Scotland in February 1866 and, as confirmed by accompanying research, saw active service with the Gordon Highlanders in India and was awarded the India General Service Medal for the Hazara operations of 1888 and 1891. During the Boer War he served in 11th Company, Imperial Yeomanry (Lovat’s Scout’s) and was severely wounded at Sptzkopnear on 20 September 1901, namely by a gunshot wound in his right thigh and stomach. Enlisting in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in August 1914, he was embarked for Gallipoli in May 1915, where he was slightly wounded while serving at the Mounted Rifles Brigade H.Q. on 27 June. Later still, he was evacuated to Mudros suffering from debility (1914-15 Star). Embarked for England in late 1915, he transferred to the N.Z. Maori (Pioneer) Battalion in September 1916 and went to France in January 1917, where he was advanced to Sergeant that summer. It was in this latter capacity that he was awarded the M.S.M. ‘in recognition of valuable services rendered with the armies in the Field’ (London Gazette 1 January 1918, refers). However, later in the same year - on 30 August - he was wounded by a gunshot to the forehead and evacuated to England. Cameron was discharged on account of wounds in October 1919 but was re-employed by the N.Z. Army Ordnance Corps until December 1921. He died at Silverstream in March 1949 and bequeathed the whole of his Estate - including his medals - to the Wellington Presbyterian Orphanage and Social Service Association. DNW July 2016 £550

QSA (4) CC OFS SA02 SA02 (36683 Pte J Fraser, Lovat’s Scts). John Fraser was born in Inverness. A Tailor by occupation, he attested for one years service in the Imperial Yeomanry - Lovat’s Scouts at Beaufort on 10 May 1901, aged 24 years, 8 months. With the 113th/114th Company Imperial Yeomanry (Lovat’s Scouts) he served in South Africa, June 1901-August 1902. City Coins #56. DNW September 2013 £160

QSA (4) CC OFS SA01 SA02 (36685 Sergt S A French, Lovat’s Scouts). DNW March 2007 £160

QSA (4) CC OFS SA01 SA02 (36724 Pte. P. McDougall, Lovat's Scouts). Sotheby November 1978

QSA (4) CC OFS SA01 SA02 (Capt. D. E. Mackintosh, Lovat's Scouts) last two clasps are copies, not entitled to OFS. Together with a miniature dress medal of the QSA; Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, bronze medallion, reverse inscribed, ‘Awarded to D. E. Mackintosh, 15th April 1891’, in (damaged) Kirkwood, Edinburgh case of issue. David Euan Mackintosh was born on 11 February 1877, the son of Hon Lord Kyllachy, of Kyllachy. DNW September 2013 £520

QSA (3) CC SA01 SA02 (37377 Pte. J. Macleod. Lovat’s Scouts). James Macleod was born in Barvas, Outer Hebrides in 1881 and attested for the Imperial Yeomanry at Inverness on 30 November 1901. He served with the 178th (Lovat’s Scouts) Independent Company, Imperial Yeomanry in South Africa during the Boer War from 3 December 1901, and was discharged at Green Point, Cape Town, on 3 July 1902, after 257 days’ service. DNW May 2018 £200

QSA (4) CC OFS SA01 SA02 (36731 Pte. D. McKenzie, Lovat's Scouts). Wounded at Spitzkop, 20th September 1901. DNW May 1992 £130

QSA (4) CC OFS SA01 SA02 (36733 Pte J McKenzie, Lovat’s Scts). DNW December 2013 £210

QSA (1) CC (36728 Pte A Mckenzie, Lovat’s Scts). City Coins #18

QSA (3) CC SA01 SA02 (36624 Pte J Meldrum Lovat’s Scts). City Coins #28 April 1982. City Coins #68

QSA (4) CC Rhod OFS Tr (36631 Pte. J. Munro, Lovat's Scouts), last clasp a copy. Sotheby November 1978. Liverpool February 1997 £65. Clasps not confirmed and dubious

QSA (3) CC SA01 SA02 (37465 Pte. A. Murray, Lovat’s Scouts). Private Alexander Murray, 178th (Lovat’s Scouts) Company, Imperial Yeomanry, was severely wounded at Stapleford on 21 May 1902. DNW December 2001 £360

QSA (4) CC OFS SA01 SA02 (36762 Pte. D. Noble, Lovat’s Scouts). Severely wounded at Spitzkop, near Quaagersfontein, on the night of 20 September 1901, when their camp was attacked by a band of Boers under Kritzinger. The Boers charged into the sleeping camp and shot down officers and men as they struggled out of their blankets. Among the Lovat’s Scouts killed were the Colonel, Hon. Andrew Murray, and his brother, Captain Hon. E. O. Murray; 48 others were killed or wounded and one field-gun captured. DNW December 1999 £250

QSA (3) CC SA01 SA02 (37367 Pte. H. Stokes. Lovat's Scouts.); BWM (Lieut. H. Stokes). He was born in Carr Bridge, Invernesshire & emigrated to Canada prior to WWI. He was commissioned into the 174th Bn. C.E.F. (Cameron Highlanders of Canada). He later transferred to the 14th Res. Bn. in England, but because of a disability never crossed over to France, and consequently was only entitled to the BWM. Burman March 2000.

QSA (3) CC SA01 SA02 (36650 Pte A A Taylor, Lovat’s Scts). Dixon 2013

QSA's named to Lovat's Scouts






KSA named to Lovat's Scouts IY

Here are a couple more for the list...…

QSA - CC / WITT / SA01 - 8835 PTE. JAMES MACLACHLAN, ATTESTED FOR 1 YEAR WITH BLACK WATCH FOR THE SPECIAL HIGHLAND SCOUTING CORPS (LOVAT'S SCOUTS), WELLINGTON AUCTIONS JANUARY 2014

QSA - CC / OFS / SA01 / SA02 - 36683 PTE. J. FRASER, SERVED WITH 113/114 CO. IMP YEO - WELLINGTON AUCTIONS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

Mike

David
I found that extract from the 1904 Hansard to be most interesting. Would it be possible to add a link to the Unit Information for Lovat's Scouts? That would add another dimension to members doing research. Regarding the stated lack of telescopes in the early days of the Boer War, I wonder why someone did not try to borrow some from the artillery? Or perhaps they did!
The old three-draw spotting telescopes (sometimes called "Scout Regiment telescopes") were very much in vogue during my early days of full-bore Target Rifle work. I could not afford one for ages and had to use a borrowed example to look for the marker's spotter on my target. With a bit of experience however, you could look deep into shadows and resolution of the landscape in the middle and far distance was very crisp. And the adjustment of the ocular draw was ease in itself. Tiring to use after a while, however.
Best regards
IL.

IL,

That's a good idea. I have edited your initial post to add a link to the unit information.

It's great to hear some real-life experience of using a telescope too.

Lord Simon Joseph Lovat has a busy military career. He was a CB and DSO for the Boer War.

LOVAT, LORD (SIMON JOSEPH), Major, was born 25 November 1871, son of the 5th Baron, and Alice, daughter of T Weld Blundell, of Ince Blundell Hall, near Liverpool. He was educated at Fort Augustus Abbey, and at Oxford; succeeded his father in 1887; became Lieutenant, 1st Life Guards, and Captain, 1st Volunteer Battalion Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, being promoted to Major 13 December 1899; became temporary Captain in the Army 21 February 1900; raised and served with Lovat's Scouts in the South African War of 1899-1902; commanded Lovat's Scouts from the 20 September 1901 to 31 May 1902; in command mobile force from November 1901 to May 1902; operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1900; operations in the Orange River Colony, May to 29 November 1900, including actions in the Wittebergen (1 to 29 July) and on Caledon River 27 to 29 November; operations in Cape Colony, north and south of Orange River, 1899-1900; operations in Cape Colony, Orange River Colony and the Transvaal 30 November 1900 to 31 May 1902 (Despatches [London Gazette, 18 February and 10 September 1901, and 29 July 1902]; Queen's Medal with two clasps; King's Medal with two clasps; created a CB, and a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 27 September 1901]: "Simon Joseph, Lord Lovat, Major, 1st Volunteer Battalion Cameron Highlanders. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". He became Lieutenant Colonel, Lovat's Scouts, 30 March 1903; was created a CVO, 1903; became Colonel 9 November 1908; created a KCVO in 1908. On his return from South Africa Lord Lovat formed two Yeomanry Regiments, which formed part of the Highland Mounted Brigade. Major General Lord Lovat was created a Knight of the Thistle in 1914. He commanded the Highland Mounted Brigade in Gallipoli, 1915; IVth Mounted Division on East Coast of England, 1916; Lovat Scouts observers in France, 1916-17; was appointed Director of Forestry, BEF, April, 1917. He was a landlord who owned about 181,800 acres. He married, in 1910, the Honourable Laura Lister, second daughter of the 4th Baron Ribblesdale and Charlotte Monckton (who died in 1911), daughter of Sir Charles Tennant, 1st Baronet, and they had one son, Simon Christopher, Master of Lovat, born 9 July 1911, and one daughter.

His medals can be seen here.