TOPIC:

The Herschel Native Police was a small unit with European officers with many local troops, none of whom received medals.

QSAs and KSAs are known to the Herschel Native Police. Some 27 KSAs were issued.


Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (2) Cape Colony, Orange Free State (975 Pte. E. R. Gomme. Frontier L.H.);
KSA (2) (1 R.S. Mjr: E. R. Gomme. Herschel N.P.)


Picture courtesy of Noonan's

[ QSA ];
KSA (2) (Lt. A. R. Gedye, Herschel N.P.)

Served in the Protectorate Regiment (331); CinC Bodyguard (Lieutenant) and 1st and 2nd Kitchener’s Fighting Scouts for the QSA.

[ QSA ];
KSA (2) (Captain J. Rein. Herschel N.P.).

The main QSA roll for the Herschel Native Police (WO100/248p198) contains a note saying 'Caution. Not issued from and filed because of cross-reference only'

A further note says 'For the individuals whose names are marked this * see roll AG2/M/15980 and thus * 68.SA.4588.



AG2/M/15980 appears in WO100/ 248p321:



This is the source of QSAs issued to this unit, for example to Lt A Thomas with claps CC, OFS, SA01 and SA02.



Archibald Hillier Giddy Thomas.

He was born c 1882 in Burghersdorp, son of Roston Jonathan (a merchant in Aliwal North who died in July 1910) and Martha Anne (nee Smith, died in 1922) Thomas, the ninth of twelve children. He served in the Herschel Native Police 1 April 1901 to 30 June 1902. He married Annie Sophia Jorden in Rockdale, Herschel in May 1932 when he was 50 and Sophia was 38. Archibald was described as a trader at the time of his marriage. Both resided in Rockdale. The couple bore four daughters and a son. He died 18 August 1953 and was described as a war pensioner. He resided at 152 Willow Road, Fairview, Port Elizabeth.

Example of a QSA named to this init:



From City Coins #58

QSA (1) SA01 (Capt J.A.F. Gladwin Herschel N. Police).

Described as 'A well-documented example of Cape naming, done “upside down”. The medal was sent by the Cape Colonial Defence Department to Armstrong & Co. on the 18 June 1906, with instructions that the unit had to be altered from “E.G. F. Fce.” to “Herschel N. Police”. Medal was skimmed in total, and rank, name and unit re-impressed.'

An unnamed photo of the officers of Herschel Native Police from Hook's 'With sword and statute (on the Cape of Good Hope frontier)'

A KSA altered from the Herschel Native Police




Picture courtesy of Spink

SAGS (1) 1879 (Pte A. C. Vasey. C. M. Rifles), the rank and name unofficially re-engraved;
GCHGSM (1) Basutoland (Pte A. C. Vasey. C. M. Rifs.);
QSA (3) Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen (Pte. A. C. Vasey. Border Horse);
KSA (2) (Captain A. C. Vasey. O.C. Troops Lady Grey.), the surname officially corrected, the unit unofficially re-engraved

Albert Charles Vasey served with the Cape Mounted Rifles during the Anglo-Zulu War and the Basuto Gun War. Joining the 5th Company, Border Horse during the Anglo Boer War he served with them from 21 March - 31 October 1900. After this he was commissioned Captain with the Herschel Native Police and posted to the town of Lady Grey. Here he commanded the local forces earning a Cape Colony clasp to go with the clasps for Transvaal and Wittebergen which he had previously earned as a Trooper.