TOPIC:

Below is the first page of the Medal Roll of the first wave of the 48th (North Somerset) Company, 7th Battalion of the Imperial Yeomanry.



First question:
The 48th acted as Bobs Escort and escorted him from Bloemfontein to Pretoria and then on to the Battle of Diamond Hill. Bar one they all received the Diamond Hill clasp but not the Transvaal clasp. The exception did not receive the Diamond Hill clasp but received the Transvaal clasp. Am I right in assuming that receiving a clasp for a battle that occurred in the Transvaal disqualified a soldier from receiving the Transvaal clasp?

Second question:
The rank of 2489 A Winstone & 2491 N J Kiddell appears to read “A M Sgt” – what does this stand for?

Yep. The Battle bar disqualified the colony clasp.

Q.M. Sgt. - Quarter Master Sergeant.

RobM

Thanks Rob - bit worried as my specs are only a few months old!

Now found the attestation papers/service records for both, which say when they were discharged they held the rank of Company Quarter Master Sergeant.

Kiddell was actually William John Kiddell and he is one of those whose life story drops easily out of Ancestry. On his return to Blighty he married in 1903, had two sons and then the family emigrated to Canada. He died in 1923 and is buried in Ross Bay Cemetery, Victoria, BC.

Albert Winstone was a stop at home except for his time in SA. Born, lived and died at Rock Farm, Wraxall, Somerset. He never married and is buried in All Saint's Churchyard in Wraxall - wonder if Berenice found his grave when she visited earlier this year?

The service in SA of both men is commemorated on a tablet in Bath Guildhall along with most of the 48th - strangely they have been demoted and are listed as Troopers. The tablet was unveiled in 1903.

Besides their QSAM's, which would also have had a "SA 1901" clasp, they would also have received in the post "Bobs Badge" in thanks for their escort/bodyguard duties.

Smethwick
While my interest in the 48th Coy., IY has been on their second Contingent (Vlakfontein, Moedwil and see my post re "A DCM for Moedwil"), I have never heard of the "Bob's Badge" for certain members of the first Contingent; to which you refer. Would you please describe "Bob's Badge" for me and others interested?
Regards
IL.

"Bobs Badge" is my name for the medallion that Lord Roberts had made to reward members of the first wave of the 48th (North Somerset) Company, 7th Btn IY for providing him with an escort/bodyguard during his march north in 1900. By my reckoning about 116 would have been awarded and the link below takes you to a post with a brilliant photo of one that has survived and is in the possession of a forum member. The post shows at least 3 have survived. My name comes from a letter written home by one of the Troopers of the 48th in which he writes "We shall get a special badge from 'Bobs' for being his bodyguard." I have looked high and low for a newspaper article covering their presentation without success. I then discovered one indicating they were sent in the post by the commanding officer of the first wave who was "Bobs" nephew and by the time he sent out the medallions he was "Bobs" ADC. I have now worked out the life stories of 55 of the recipients, one of whom went on to manufacture motorcycles and ride in the 1907 Isle of Man TT race and another who was killed riding his motorbike home on the evening of 29 August 1913.

www.angloboerwar.com/forum/5-medals-and-...iefs-yeomanry-escort

Smethwick
Well, that is interesting and a beautiful badge. Have to keep my eye peeled - you never know.
Regards
IL.