TOPIC:

I have 3 separate medals available.

Still looking for these ones.......

2102 3rd CLASS TROOPER CHARLES WILLIAM RYALL
2072 1st CLASS TROOPER WILLIE HERBERT GIBBONS
3420 3rd CLASS TROOPER HAROLD FALTENHINE
2090 1st CLASS TROOPER RICHARD DOUGLAS MUIR
2120 3rd CLASS TROOPER CLAUDE LESLIE YOUNG

Picture courtesy of Wallis and Wallis

Described as:

QSA 2 clasps CC, OFS (838 3rd Cl Tpr F Cotterill S.A.C). GVF. Recipient with E. Divn South African Constabulary, died of Enteric Fever, Sydenham, 6th January 1902.

9836 Pte John Woodward of the 2nd Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corp & South African Constabulary

Queen's South Africa Medal 1899 with four clasps: Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Defence of Ladysmith, Transvaal; 9836 Pte J. Woodward. K.R.R.C.

King's South Africa Medal 1902 with two clasps: South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902; 2553 Tpr: J. Woodward. S.A.C.

British War Medal 1914-18; Sjt J. Woodward S.A.S.C.

Victory Medal 1914-19; Sjt J. Woodward S.A.S.C.

John Woodward attested for the KRRC at age 18y6m in 1897 whilst working as a Driver.

The 2nd Battalion was sent from India to Natal in September 1899.

The battalion was first engaged on 24th October 1899 at Rietfontein outside Ladysmith.

At the battle of Ladysmith on the 30th October 1899 the battalion was with Grimwood; their losses were approximately 1 officer wounded, 8 men killed, 29 wounded and some missing.

In the great attack of the 6th January 1900 four companies of the 2nd King's Royal Rifles were sent in the early morning as reinforcements to Waggon Hill where they took part in the furious fighting. One company under Lieutenant Tod attempted to rush the eastern crest, then held by the Boers, but the attempt failed, Lieutenant Tod being killed. The battalion's losses that day were 4 officers and 7 men killed and about 35 wounded.

After the relief of Ladysmith the battalion marched north to the Transvaal-Natal border and in July was ordered to sail for Colombo with prisoners.

However, John Woodward returned to England and transferred to the 4th Battalion KRRC before returning to South Africa in May 1901 following his transfer to the Army Reserves to join the SAC; he had completed his Mounted Infantry Certificate back in February 1899.

He transferred to the South African Constabulary on 1st May 1901; promoted to 2nd class trooper on the 5th October 1901 and 1st class trooper on the 8th May 1902.

He was finally discharged from the SAC on the 30th June 1906; worked as a tram conductor and enlisted on the 7th May 1917 in the South African Expeditionary Force and allotted to South African Service Corps - Mechanical Transport; he was then sick with malaria and hospitalized 3 times before being discharged on the 26th February 1919 at Durban, South Africa.

Baden-Powell explaining the different ranks in the SAC:

' ... a private, when he joins, is only a recruit; he is no use for practical purposes, so we put him on a low rate of pay until he has passed his recruit drills, when he becomes a third-class trooper; then he is a passed soldier, and is just fit to take his place in the ranks. Then, if he chooses to qualify in signalling and various other things, learning Dutch and police law, he becomes a second class trooper, and draws extra pay; and if he further qualifies himself by doing so much tactics and drill, he becomes a first class trooper, with still further increased pay. That leads up again to corporal, and there again he becomes, in succession, third, second, and first corporal, and in the same way, third, second, and first sergeant, so that a man no sooner gets into one grade than he finds there is another just worth working for. I find that better than giving them extra pay. They might take the musketry course, one year, or they might pass the signalling test another year. It is more on the principle that they work on in the Navy, I think, grading them like that.'

Source: Baden-Powell's evidence to the Royal Commission, 19 March 1903. p433

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (5) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, Transvaal (2808 3rd Cl Tpr: W. McGillicuddy. S.A.C.) last clasp attached with unofficial rivets;
South Africa Police Good Service Medal, 1st issue (NO 2146 (M) 1/C Sergeant W.S McGillicuddy)

CC and OFS on WO100/273p109. SA01 and SA02 on WO100/273p299. Tr not traced.