TOPIC:

Where QSAs to TGs have clasps (Kimberley, Talana, Ladysmith and Mafeking), they are predominantly single clasps medals. I always find it very interesting when multiple clasps medals appear.

Here is one example:


Picture courtesy of Jaeger Medals

QSA (5) DoM OFS Tr SA01 SA02 (T. JOHNSTONE. MAFEKING TOWN GD:)

The Mafeking Medal Award Roll shows that Johnstone received the last four clasps separately on October 8, 1907, for additional service with various units; Kitchener's Horse, South African Mounted Infantry, Commander in Chief’s Bodyguard, Field Telegraph Department, 1st Scottish Horse, Johannesburg Town Guard, possibly Midland Mounted Rifles and another I can’t make out! – all noted on his Mafeking Town Guard roll. Last four clasps officially riveted to each other (as issued), but non official rivets attaching these from the OFS to Mafeking clasp.

From WO100/283p159:



He additionally served:

Kitchener's Horse (9601)
SAMIF
C in C BodyGuard (35866)
Field Telegraph Department
1st Scottish Horse (35471)
Johannesburg TG

There is a T Johnstone in the Midland Mounted Rifles but this is not him. The text is 'n/n' for 'no number'.

What is that final unit?



This is what the Kitchener's Horse roll lists:



13 months BSAP
14 months SAC

Houwhoek DMT?

Hi
Houwhoek DMT : WO100/281, p198/9.
This is one of the very few local units that I could in more than 40 years not find a QSA to. Majority unclaimed, or issued from other units. 3 or 4 remained for the collecting fraternity.
Henk

Thank you for confirming that, Henk. I must add that unit to the DMT list!

David
The topic "Multi-clasp QSAs to TGs" rang a bell. Had to check the index to locate this one:





QSA clasps "Defence of Kimberley", "Relief of Mafeking", "Orange Free State" and impressed to "CR: Serjt: J.H. Watcham. Kimberley Town GD:".
On the Kaplan RofM roll for KLH (clasps RofM and OFS only as "234 Tpr. Watcham, J.H."). Recipient on DJB's "Kimberley Siege Account and Medal Roll" with the three shown clasps as "Col. Sgt. Watcham, James Henry, L Coy., KTG". Further service with KLH from 17/3/00 to discharged date of 5/6/00.
An interesting chap. Clearly, he stepped back several ranks to get in on the Mafeking Relief. CGHGS to DFH and WW1 service in GSWA and France - where he was severely wounded in 1917.
Best regards
IL.

A beaut IL - no other way to describe it.

Rory
Quite some time ago, I agonised a little over shelling out for Watcham's group - simply because it was not accompanied by a Kimberley Star. They were not at all common then and I wanted one with the dated top bar. Anyway, one turned up and I had the group professionally mounted.
If you have a glance in David's alphabetical listing of D of Ks, you will see that, at one time, when it was on offer from a certain dealer, Watcham's group did have a K Star. In a later list from another dealer, the K Star was missing. I don't know how that would happen either!



Best regards
IL.