TOPIC:

Hi

CE Idle was a resident magistrate in Barberton, Lichtenburg in 1902-1904, there are many entries in NAAIRS so you would be able to find out more about his activities after the war.

Regards
Adrian

Pictures courtesy of DNW

SAGS (1) 1879 (Interpr. J. S. McAlister.);
QSA (0) (Guide J. S. McAlister. F.I.D.);
KSA (1) SA02 (Guide J. S. McAlister. F.I.D.)

Single clasp to K.S.A. not confirmed. Sold with original photograph of a group of Army Medical Department men with field ambulances in South Africa, and another of McAlister on horseback.



James Simpson McAlister was born in 1848, a son of Robert McAlister (b. 1826) of Claton, Glasgow, and Christina Boyle (b. 1821) of Kirkenton, Dumbartonshire. In 1853 Robert McAlister had a farm, ‘Hillside’, in Melmoth, Natal. His son, J. S. McAlister was an Inspector of Police in New Germany when, on 25 September 1873, he married his first wife, Elizabeth Boyle, by whom he had two children, Robert and Charlotte, before she died at the early age of 29. He married secondly, Gertruida Peternella Wilson, of Humansdorp, Eastern Cape. They had five children, the eldest of whom, Susanna Jacoba Theodora Dawelina, married John James Bassage on 22 August 1906.

DNW’s comment on the KSA is interesting. As a collector if single bar KSA’s I am struggling to see how the FID got a 1901 Bar only. Unless he left the FID and served in a more civilian role. Possibly Guide was considered such but I have never seen a ruling that they could not get bars.

Ryan

David and Ryan
The Buxton roll shows "Guide McAlister, J.S." as medal with no bar, FID , Zululand". The margin also shows "KSA". I had a look at the FID KSA roll. As follows:
"Guide McAlister J.S.", KSA roll shows "SA1901" barred out and "SA1902" as YES. In "Other corps" column, it says "17 Genl. HP. Standerton, 26.4.01 to 2.2.02" also "2nd Bde Bearer Co., Natal n/n". There are some squiggles I cannot decipher. A note under the "SA02" entry says "Medal and 02 clasp issued 8/5/08 to GO CinC, South Africa".
Would not mind a shot at that group myself!
Best regards
IL.

A bit later to the above
I had a look at the FID QSA roll for Guide McAlister - (as Buxton occasionally leaves things off).



"Natal" clasp ringed and margin shows FID in ZULULAND, 27/3/02 to 31/5/02. Bearer Coy, 12/11/99 to 25/4/01.
Underneath (in case hard to read), "clasp returned to Woolwich 8/4/08, not entitled.
IL.

Thanks Ian. I miss read. I thought he had a 1901 bar instead of 1902. I have a pair to the FID with a 1902 only KSA, so they exist.

Good luck on the auction, hope you get it.

Cheers
Ryan