On offer on eBay (154407107973)
QSA (2) SA01 SA02 (1416 Tpr H L Gay, BSAP)
Described as:
QSA Medal, Tpr H L Gay, BSAP, also served US Cavalry, and Farr Sgt, Canada F Art.
Herbert Leicester Gay, born 28 November, 1877, at London, England.
In 1901 living at 83 Grove Lane, Camberwell, London, occupation a commercial traveller.
In 1901 went to South Africa and joined the British South Africa Police, no. 1416, and served with the Bulawayo District.
Shown on two medal rolls: the first shows him as being awarded the clasp 'Rhodesia' but this then has the annotation 'Not entitled to Rhod. clasp ...' He is one of three men on the roll with this note against his name. This would seem to be correct as that clasp was only earned between 11 October, 1899, and 17 May, 1900. Gay was still in the UK at the 1901 census. He is then on a second roll listing the clasps 'South Africa 1901' and 'South Africa 1902', one of some 269 members of the BSAP who were awarded the QSA with just these two date clasps. Apparently he served with the BSAP for two years.
Returning to the UK, in 1904 he emigrated to the USA, shown as a commercial traveller, where, on 4 May, 1904, he enlisted in the US Army, and served with the 11th US Cavalry, for 18 months, being discharged on 28 September, 1905. His later Canadian papers show him as being a Farrier.
On 28 December, 1907, he re-enlisted in the US Army, this time to serve with the 8th US Cavalry. His later Canadian papers state he served for 3 years, but his enlistment form says he was discharged on 7 May, 1905, after 5 months. His later Canadian papers show him as being a Sergeant.
On 5 February, 1915, at Woodborough in England, he attested for the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force, no. 42871, with the 12th Battery, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade, as a Farrier Sergeant. He embarked for France on 11 February, 1915. He went sick a lot with haemorrhoids (too much time in the saddle?), and was reduced to Gunner. He was discharged, services no longer required, on 24 August, 1917.
His WW1 service earned him the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
On 25 March, 1918, at Woolwich, when he was aged 40, he married Florence Elizabeth Govis, who was aged 18. They were to have 4 children. On 24 February, 1921, he applied to become a Freeman of London.
He emmigrated with his family to the USA and in 1927 applied for USA naturalisation. In 1935 he moved to Canada, where he died at Shaughnessy Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on 13 October, 1961, and is buried in Vancouver Cemetery.
