TOPIC:

Scott's Railway Guards about 500 strong and under he command of Lieutenant Colonel R G Scott, VC, DSO, did work on the Orange River - Kimberley railway line not unlike what the Railway Pioneer Regiment did on the Central Railway.


Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (5) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (1639 Tpr. A. Tully. Scott's R.G.), a later duplicate issue with impressed naming

A. Tully served during the Boer War with Kitchener's Horse (No. 23642) from 25 July 1900-5 June 1901 and latterly with Scott's Railway Guard from 12 September 1901-10 March 1902.

An example of the unit naming

Here's another one:

SCOTT’S RAILWAY GUARDS

294 – 798 TROOPER CHEESMAN, E.V., CAPE COLONY, RHODESIA, SOUTH AFRICA 1901, SOUTH AFRICA 1902 ( Died of Disease and is last name on SRG's casualty list)

Picture courtesy of C&T Auctions

QSA (3) Cape Colony, South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902 (1854 TPR: M. MYERS. SCOTT’S RLY: GDS:)

C&T says 'Confirmed on the roll for Cape Colony clasp only. Medal has a single scratch line on the edge through the initial and surname.'

Hammer price £85

1649 TROOPER JOHN LICKES: SCOTT'S RAILWAY GUARDS


QSA with the single clasp Cape Colony





John Lickes' military experience in the Anglo Boer War began with his attestation to the Cape Medical Staff Corps as Private 111 on 6th August 1901 at Cape Town. His surname was misspelled as Lickers on the Nominal Roll of CMSC, but at least it is correctly spelt around the rim of his QSA!
The life of a medical man obviously didn't suit John, or perhaps the pay wasn't sufficient to meet his needs as evidenced by his leaving this irregular corps on 12th September 1901 after just over five weeks within their ranks.
It was on 17th September 1901 that John put pen to paper to become Trooper 1649 for Scott's Railway Guards at Cape Town. Here his age is given as 27, born in 1874 and declared to be a Miner by trade.
Interestingly, his next of kin was his sister Kate Lickes, a resident of Plum Hollow, Ontario, Canada. So was John Lickes Canadian? Perhaps one of our learned forummers may know the answer? Please add to the story if you are able.

The final stint of soldiering for John Lickes came on 1st April 1902 where he attested to the Orange River Scouts (Neylan's Orange River Imperial Scouts to give the unit's full title) as Trooper number 58. Again, his stay with this outfit was to be short and sweet, but this was due to disbandment on 30th June 1902 at the cessation of hostilities.

Steve,

That is a very nice medal.

He was Scottish, born in Edinburgh, 17 June 1874. His OR Scouts attestation is here: www.angloboerwar.com/unit-information/so...-scouts-surnames-l-r

Best wishes
David