TOPIC:

Hi all

I am new to the forum and I hope I am asking this in the correct place.

My GGG grandfather was in the national scouts. I suspect he didnt "claim" his medal because of the social consequences of being in the national scouts. He told his children they were from Germany and that was the story passed down through the generations. It was only when I did some digging did I locate the truth.

If he didnt claim his medal, where would it have gone to?

This is what I know about him: ourfamilyfacts.com/getperson.php?personID=I507601&tree=tree1

Petrus Wilhelemus Benjamin BRITZ
26 May 1861 - 3 Aug 1930

Camp History
Name: Standerton RC
Age arrival: 41
Date arrival: 07/04/1901
Date departure: 03/01/1902
Reason departure: National Scouts
Tent number: RT 19, Tent AA/36
Farm History
Name: Holfontein
District: Bethal
__________________________________________________
UK, Military Campaign Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1949

Name: P W B Britz
Service Date: 1899-1902
Service Place: South Africa
Campaign or Service: South Africa - Second Boer War
Regimental Number: 711
Rank: Trooper

Thank you in advance

All unclaimed medals were eventually returned to the Royal Mint in England where they were melted down or skimmed and renamed and issued to others.

Your Britz was no. 711 National Scouts - his medal was returned to the Mint as per the attached below. I haven't included his exact name because it's further down the list, but he is on it as PWB Britz.



Regards

Rory

Thank you @Rory I appreciate your reply. I had a feeling he didnt claim it.
I wonder if the British took any photos of the national scouts? Not that I would know what he look like but I am curious none the less.

Very few photos of the unit, for obvious reasons. Even today it is a subject best avoided, I have found.
Here's one
www.shutterstock.com/editorial/image-edi...s-prepared-5850795av
You may also be interested in this site
www2.lib.uct.ac.za/mss/bccd/Person/14624...emus_Benjamin_Britz/
One of the reasons he may have joined the NS could have been the tragedy of losing 3 children to disease in the concentration camp - families of NS members were treated far better.

Thank you! I have found that certainly to be the case. My grandparents also thought their grandparents were from Germany. I understand why they would have told them that. For me, I want to know the truth and as much as possible. We cant change the past and what happened and I am slowly starting to learn more about Petrus and his life. A few years ago our family knew nothing.

The insignia he would have worn on his epaulets is shown here:
www.angloboerwar.com/forum/21-uniforms-b...lder-badge#gallery-1
Other than the NS badge, they looked much like any other irregular mounted infantry unit. They did not fight as a large body of men, but were attached as guides to British units.