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Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (2) Cape Colony, South Africa 1902 (Lieut: E. W. Chapman, 3rd. Rl: Welsh Fus.) Battalion number officially corrected

Ernest Walker Chapman was born on 30 April 1883, in London and was educated at St. Peters College, Adelaide, South Australia. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant into the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers on 17 April 1901, and was promoted Lieutenant on 28 June 1901.

He served in the South African War as a Militia Officer, RWF, attached to 3rd Battalion the King’s Liverpool Regiment. He subsequently obtained a regular commission as Second Lieutenant in 1st Battalion the South Wales Borderers, serving in India from July 1903.

He died from Enteric Fever at Karachi Station Hospital on 18 December 1905, aged 22.

Picture courtesy of DNW

IGS 1854 (2) Burma 1885-7, Hazara 1891, second clasp loose on riband as top lugs removed from both clasps (970 Pte. T. Williams. 1st. Bn. R.W. Fus.) initial officially corrected;
QSA (3) Natal, Transvaal, Orange Free State, clasp mounted in this order (970. Pte. T. Williams, R. Welsh Fus:);
KSA (2) (970 Pte. T. Williams. Rl: Welsh Fus:)

Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, September 2001.

Thomas Williams was born in Hereford in 1864 and attested for the Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, on 19 May 1885.

He served with the 1st Battalion in India from 15 December 1885 to 27 March 1893, and took part in the Third Burmese War and later in the Hazara campaigns of 1891. Transferring to the Army Reserve on 12 April 1893, he was discharged on 18 May 1897, after 12 years’ service, but re-enlisted in the Reserve for a further four years.

Recalled to the Colours on 29 January 1900, he served in South Africa during the Boer War from 10 February 1900 to 22 May 1902, and was finally discharged on 1 July 1902, after a total of 16 years and 308 days’ service.

Clasps confirmed, with the OFS clasp appearing on a supplementary roll, hence the claps order on the QSA.

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (7) Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, clasps mounted in this order (4677 Pte. W. Gecks, R. Welsh Fus:)
[ KSA (2) ]
[ Army LS&GC GV ]

William Joseph Gecks was born in Aldershot, Hampshire, in 1880 and attested for the Royal Welsh Fusiliers as a Musician at London on 11 May 1895, aged 15. He was appointed Bandsman on 8 March 1897, and served with the 1st Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War from 23 October 1899 to 3 February 1903.

He was promoted Corporal on 17 February 1905, and was posted as a Musician to the 2nd Life Guards on 1 September 1906. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal per Army Order 353 of 1915, and was promoted Corporal of Horse on 27 November 1917.

DNW say: First five clasps confirmed, with the OFS clasp appearing on a supplementary roll, hence the claps order on the QSA. The recipient was not entitled to the two date clasps on his QSA, being instead entitled to the King’s South Africa Medal with two clasps.

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (5) Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Orange Free State, unofficial rivets between top two clasps (5586 Pte. J. Mason, R. Welsh Fus:);
China 1900, 1 copy clasp, Relief of Pekin (No. 5586 Private J. Mason, 2nd Batt: R.W. Fusiliers.) renamed;
Coronation 1902, Hong Kong issue, bronze (J. Mason);
Volunteer Force Long Service (India and the Colonies), GV (Q-M-S. J. Mason. 3-E.I. Ry. R. A.F.I.)

John Mason was born in Wotton-under Edge, Gloucestershire, in 1880 and attested for the Royal Welsh Fusiliers on 28 February 1898, having previously served with the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment. He served with the 1st Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War from 23 October 1899 to 18 July 1900, before transferring to the 2nd Battalion, and serving in China from 19 July 1900 to 9 November 1902, and then in India. He was discharged in India on 17 March 1906; he clearly remained in India, and was awarded his Volunteer Force Long Service Medal while serving with the 3rd Battalion East India Railway Regiment per Indian Army Order 591 of 1925.

Note: The Queen’s South Africa Medal is confirmed on roll, with the Orange Free State clasp being confirmed on a supplementary roll, and presumably therefore despatched later. No confirmation has been found regarding the recipient’s entitlement to a China Medal; presumably, given the fact that it is renamed and the clasp a tailor’s copy, the recipient believed that he was entitled to it from his service with the 2nd Battalion, although it is unlikely that he was officially entitled to it.

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (3742 Pte. L. Jenkins, R. Welsh Fus:);
KSA (2) (3742 Corpl: L. Jenkins. Rl: Welsh Fus:);
1914-15 Star (14963 Sjt. L. Jenkins. R.W. Fus:;
BWM and VM (14963 Pte. L. Jenkins. R.W. Fus.)

Leyshom Jenkins attested for the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in October 1892 and served with the 2nd Battalion in India from 9 March 1894 to 9 December 1897. Transferring to the 1st Battalion in 1900, he served with them in South Africa during the Boer War from 18 July 1900 to 11 September 1902, and was discharged on 11 October 1904, after 12 years’ service.

Following the outbreak of the Great War Jenkins re-enlisted in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers with the rank of Sergeant on 14 September 1914, and served with the 11th Battalion during the Great War from 15 September 1915, and subsequently with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. He was reduced to the ranks due to two courts martial for drunkenness, and was discharged due to sickness on 12 December 1917, being awarded a Silver War Badge no. 283381. He died of heart failure on 1 April 1937.

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (5) Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Orange Free State, clasps mounted in this order with unofficial rivets between fourth and fifth clasps (2794 Pte. J. Jones, R. Welsh Fus:);
KSA (2) (2794 Pte. J. E. Jones. Rl: Wesh Fus:)

John Edward Jones was born in Rhyl in 1872 and attested for the Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Wrexham on 8 August 1890, having previously served with the regiment’s 3rd Volunteer Battalion. He transferred to the Reserve on 11 November 1897 but recalled to the Colours on 9 October 1899, and served in South Africa during the Boer War. He was wounded in action at Frederikstad on 25 October 1900 (his service papers state severely, the casualty roll states slightly), and was discharged again in September 1902, and from the reserve in 1907.