TOPIC:

Dear Forum
I am trying to de-cipher the clasp entitlement for 8151 Private Alfred Hallam 1st battalion
The Kings Royal Rifle Corps. His QSA has a Natal, Orange Free State and the 2 date clasps.
He also has a KSA with date clasps. Was it permitted to have the KSA as well as the dated clasps on his QSA? One of his medal rolls states he isn’t entitled to the Orange Free State but a Cape Colony clasp. Any thoughts or information you can provide would be most grateful…..best regards. Dave F

Hi Dave

The medal rolls are confusing. They show him entitled to a QSA originally with clasps Natal & OFS and (issued later) CC, SA01 & SA02. They also show him entitled to a KSA with both date clasps.

It looks like the issuing authorities got themselves into a tangle. The absence of a CC clasp can be explained by the regulations not allowing a CC and Natal clasp on the same QSA so the CC was probably subsequently not issued as the Natal clasp had already been awarded. They still managed to duplicate the issue of the two date clasps on his QSA and KSA.

I would therefore say that, despite the discrepancy, both the QSA and KSA are as officially issued but that the two date clasps on the QSA shouldn't have been awarded.

Regards

David

Hello David
Many thanks for your quick response and your thoughts on the clasps. It certainly looks like the issuing authorities had slipped up with Private Hallams entitlement. Also, having looked into the Natal clasp which is clearly stated on the medal roll, according to L.L. Gordons book British Battles and Medals, the KRRC (60th Regiment of foot) is not mentioned regarding Natal. It may be possible that Private Hallam my have been on some sort of secondment and therefore was entitled to the Natal clasp. Many thanks for your information, very much appreciated.
regards
Dave F

Dave - The KRRC had 3 battalions in Natal although most of them qualified for either the Defence or Relief of Ladysmith clasp or Talana (plus very often others). Gordon's omission of Natal from the clasps the regiment qualified for overlooks the fact that a minority of men in the KRRC who weren't involved in the Defence or Relief of Ladysmith or Talana but served elsewhere in Natal up to 11 June 1900 qualified for a Natal clasp instead. In Hallam's case he most likely served south of Estcourt while the Defence and Relief of Ladysmith were going on, perhaps in an admin role.

Regards

David

Hi David
Thanks again for the info. Having delved a little further into Private Hallams history, It transpires he was in South Africa in December 1896 until April 1899. Then a few months in India and back to South Africa September 1899 until September 1902. This leads me to believe he was serving with the 2nd Battalion. Thanks again for your information.

regards

Dave F

Dave,

There are service papers for your man. he was born in 1872 in West Derby, Liverpool, Lancashire.

The papers are available from the National Archives in London for free or at cost from FindMyPast.

Best wishes
David