TOPIC:

Also in the Kaplan auction is a QSA named to the NSW AMC:

Lot M026
QSA (0)
To 30 Pte W.M. COUSENS NSW AMC
VF
Est R3000

The QSA roll for the Australian AMC can be found in WO100/293 starting at page 118 and lost 106 names. There is an entry for 1261 Cpl W M Cousens awarding the 1902 clasp and noting prior service in the NSQ AMC.

He is listed on the NSW AMC QSA roll (WO100/289/191) for clasps Paar Drie Joh Witt & CC. A note says he also served in the Aus AMC.

There are some 270 names on the NSW AMC roll.

His name is crossed out on the KSA page for the Aus AMC.

I did not realise this unit was in South Africa early enough to participate at Paardeberg.

Medals to Aus units seem to command a high premium so I guess this estimate will be far exceeded?

David

Picture courtesy of Noble Numismatics

QSA (2) Transvaal, South Africa 1902 (1303 Pte J. W. Murray. Aust. A.M.C.) Impressed.

John Wederburn Murray confirmed as serving in the Boer War with Australian Army Medical Corps and New South Wales Bearer Company.

1307 PRIVATE PERCY FRANCOIS BAILEY: AUSTRALIAN ARMY MEDICAL CORPS

Percy Francois Bailey was born in Wodonga, New South Wales, Australia on 23rd September 1879 to parents Edward Harold and Agnes Bailey.
He was christened at Wagga Wagga on 5th August 1883.

Percy attested to the Commonwealth Contingent of the Australian Army Medical Corps which had an original strength of 183 men who were recruited from the five states of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.
Murray (1911) lists Percy as being of the Victorian portion of recruits.
The contingent under the command of Major T. A. Green, embarked for South Africa in February 1902 aboard the ship Manchester Merchant (Wilcox 1959).
The unit served in country between March and May 1902 on the Natal border and the Transvaal, suffering no casualties and receiving no decorations for gallantry having arrived near the end of the conflict.
The unit returned to Australia July -August of 1902 aboard 'Norfolk' and 'Drayton Grange'.

However, the prospect of life in South Africa obviously appealed to a handful of these Australians. Percy was just one of those who opted to begin a new life in Natal.

His Queen's South Africa medal must have been delivered to him in South Africa.


Queen's South Africa medal with clasps Transvaal and South Africa 1902 awarded to 1307 Private P. F. Bailey (Medal Roll WO100/298).


Number, rank and name officially impressed to the rim.


Regimental naming.

Percy settled down to life as a dentist, and married Myra Jennie Christie on 30th April 1912 at Berea, Durban, Natal.
There were three children of the marriage; Dorothy Agnes (18/06/1913); Joyce Emma (03/02/1997) and Robert Christie Francois (02/03/1992).

Percy passed away on the 3rd December 1960 at the good age of 81. He had suffered from a cerebrovascular accident according to his death certificate. His remains are probably where a memorial plaque commemorates him and his grandson Robert Frank Pascoe Bailey who was 'called home' at just three years old. This is located at Stellawood Cemetery and Crematorium in Durban.

Perhaps Percy was a dentist back home in Australia, or maybe he learned his profession with the AAMC and studied further in civvies in South Africa?

Either way, he found a nice life in his adopted country.


References

Murray. P. L. , Lt. Col. R.A.A. (Ret.) (1911). "Official Records of the Australian Military Contingents to the War in South Africa". The Naval and Military Press.

Wilcox, Craig., (1959). "Australia's Boer War. The War in South Africa 1899-1902".

Familyseatch.

Ancestry.

ABW Forum.

Steve you asked: "Perhaps Percy was a dentist back home in Australia, or maybe he learned his profession with the AAMC and studied further in civvies in South Africa?"

I think the attached document will give you the answer - he is listed about half way down. I found it attached to his profile on a Bailey Family Tree on Ancestry - the rest of the info attached to his profile you already have.

He & his family figure on FamilySearch and I suspect that is where you found his death certificate. There are also photos of him on his wedding day, marriage certificate, the cemetery tablet you refer to plus a blurred mugshot of him later in life - the wedding photo is of very good quality and a cracker. FS does my head in a bit and I wonder if you also found the photos. The photos cannot be downloaded which is maybe why you have not posted them. I have screenshots of them and happy to either post cropped versions or email them to you.

Regards, David.

David,
Many thanks for finding the information concerning his graduation as a dentist in Australia. It helps fill a gap in his story. We can now be pretty sure that he would have been practicing his dentistry skills on men who had broken their teeth during combat, falls from horses and eating the army hardtack biscuits etc!

Yes, I had found the images of the wedding and memorial plaque. The wedding photo is a cracker, but as you comment unable to be downloaded. I thought it was just me!
A pity because Familysearch is a good source of photos, documents and family trees.

If you would be so kind, please post your cropped wedding photo for Percy and Myra here.

Much appreciated,
Steve

Marriage Certificate:



Wedding Day photograph:



Memorial tablet:



Afraid there has been a slight loss of quality during the copying process. Have not bothered with his mugshot which was already very poor quality.

Regards, David.