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There is a TMI attestation paper for H H Parry but nothing for the J Parrys.

The two entries from the Nominal roll for the two J Parrys:

From the next City Coins auction, November 2020

QSA (1) RoL (3457 Pte. J.C. Moloney., Th’croft’s M. I.)
Edge bruising, suspender a bit “wobbly”.

Pte Moloney was killed in action at Colenso on 15 December.

Picture courtesy of City Coins

DCM VR (Sgt. J. H. Jefferies, Thorneycroft’s M.I.) ‘J.H. Jeoffreys’ privately engraved after unit);
QSA (5) Tug H, OFS, RoL, Tyl, L Nek (7139 Serjt., J.H Jeoffreys. Th’croft’s M.I.);
1914-15 Star (Capt. J.G. Jeoffreys S.A. Irish Regt.);
BWM & AVM (Capt J.H Jeoffreys)

Minor contact wear and edge bruising. BWM and AVM impressed with small lettering. (Late issues)

According to the South African Who’s Who (1908) Joseph Horace Jeoffreys was born on 14 April 1874 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. However, according to an obituary published in “The Star”, he was born in County Cork in 1873. He came to South Africa in 1896 and was employed on railway construction work in the Orange Free State. He enlisted in in “A” Company, Thorneycroft’s Mounted Infantry on 27 October 1899 and was recommended as Sergeant J H Jeffries for the grant of the DCM for “Conspicuous gallantry: Colenso 15 December 1899 and Spion Kop: 24 January 1900” in Buller’s Despatch of 30 March 1900 (LG of 8 February 1901, p938 & 940). Jeoffreys’ detailed account of the difficult climb up Spion Kop and the subsequent fight can be found in W. Baring Pemberton’s Battles of the Boer War (p172, 181-2).

He took his discharge from TMI in Pretoria on 15 Nov 1900 and joined the Transvaal Civil Service as Deputy Clerk of Customs in Boksburg on 1 May 1901. The award of his DCM was published 11 days earlier in the LG of 19 April 1901, p2709. Following the promulgation in the Transvaal of the “Volunteer Ordinance, 1904”, Jeoffreys was appointed as Lieutenant in the Volunteer Force on 1 April 1905 and subsequently as Captain on 20 August 1909. In this rank he was posted to the Reserve of Officers on 1 July 1913. On his initiative the S.A. Irish Regiment was formed five days after WWI broke out and he was appointed O/C of “C” Company. After serving in German South-West Africa he went to Europe at his own expense and joined the Middlesex Regiment as Captain, serving until the end of the War.

He came back to South Africa after a severe gassing and a bad bout of trench fever and returned to his position as Inspector of Customs and Excise with the Union Government. The outbreak of WWII again sparked his Irish sentiment. The formation of the 1st South African Irish Regiment in 1940 followed representations by Jeoffreys to General Sir Pierre van Ryneveld that “Irishmen and South Africans of Irish descent be encouraged to form a special unit for services anywhere in Africa or overseas, according to the decision of the Union Government”. (Shamrock & Springbok refers).

Captain Jeoffreys died in Johannesburg on 5 January 1940.

From the next City Coins auction, November 2020

QSA (1) RoL (8962 Pte. J. Parry. Thorneycroft’s M. I.)

John Parry (home address 111, Field Street, Durban), a well-known local soccer player, enlisted in “E” Company, TMI on 28 December 1899.

He was killed in action at Spion Kop and is buried on the summit.

There is a certain amount of confusion on the QSA medal rolls as to his clasp entitlement as there was another John Parry who served in TMI. However, this second John Parry only enlisted on 10 Dec 1901 with Regimental Number 2020 and hailed from Australia.

Picture courtesy of Noble Numismatics

QSA (5) Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Liang's Nek, with unofficial MID emblem (9564 Corpl: R.R.Macgregor. Thorneycroft's M.I. Impressed.
[ KSA (2) ]
[ 1902 Coronation Medal ]

MID: 13/6/1900, mentioned in General Buller's despatches.

Information from the book titled Steinaecker's Horsemen by William (Bill) Woolmore, pp247, 'McGregor Robert R., Corporal/SSM No.1271: Born Drip End, Stirling, Scotland on 6 September 1862. In the Matabeleland campaign of 1893 he served as Trooper 1658 in the Bechuanaland Border Police and in the Rhodesia campaign of 1896 he served as Corporal in K troop, Bulawayo Field Force. Previous Anglo-Boer War service as Sergeant No.6614 in A Company of Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry from 1 February 1900 to 31 January 1901 (as 'MacGregor R.R.' No.9564 on KSA roll). While serving with them he was mentioned in General Buller's despatches of 13 June 1900. He served for a period as No.179 with SAR Volunteers. Enlisted in SH (Steinaecker's Horse) at PMB (Pietermaritzburg) on 8 February 1901 - mining contractor, age 38, 5'11 1/2", grey eyes, dark greying hair, no marks. NOK: mother, Mrs M.McGregor, Drip End, Stirling. He was promoted to Squadron Sergeant Major. Discharged at Komati Poort on 7 February 1903 following disbandment of the regiment. Paraded in London with the SH Coronation contingent and awarded the Coronation medal. Qualified for the QSA medal with clasps Tugela Heights, OFS, Relief of Ladysmith, Laing's Nek & Transvaal. His KSA with the two date clasps was issued from the roll of SH.' (his QSA medal and a Coronation medal (not his but one used for photo only) illustrated at Fig 90, p247 of above book)

Ex. W (Bill) Woolmore Collection.