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Thanks Rory.

Shame Sparks' story hasn't turned up any reason to help enlighten us on the uneven distribution of date clasps and KSAs to the Natal forces.

Another anomaly with Sparks which you most likely saw I chose to ignore was his elevation to the rank of Major although he saw no further service anywhere in uniform.

His obits are heavy with mention of the rank but I could find no corroborative evidence to support a promotion. Mention is made of him being appointed as Commandant of Ladysmith but I'm not sure if this carried promotion with it.

Rory

A few recently unearthed photos of Sparks and his officer colleagues circa Boer War

I like that last photograph, particularly, that holstered Model 1896, worn by him on the right, clearly a man of good taste, a superb image.

Is that the broom handle Waffenfabrik Mauser Frank?

Indeed, a very fine thing, WLSC had one!