TOPIC:

There are 115 medals noted as being issued to the PAOCA (WO100/264p31) in the initial allocation. There is a KSA roll.

Raised on the 26th August, 1857, with the title of the Cape Volunteer Artillery, with a strength of 60, by Lt.-Col. the Chevalier du Prat. Although the battery was equipped with field guns, 6-prs, and wore the uniform of the British Volunteer Field Artillery of the day with the busby and carried swords.

The first campaign in which the unit served was the Ninth Kaffir War to which they sent one gun, a 6-pr ., and in 1878 two guns served in the Northern Border War on the Orange River. In November, 1880, 63 other ranks served with Colonel A. G. Wavell's Column in the Transkei area during the Basutoland Rebellion. The armament was four 7-pr. R.M .L., and Martini Henry carbines were carri ed. The battery marched with the force when Wavell moved to Basutoland, but left en route and returned to Cape Town. In 1897 three guns, 12-pr. R.B.L. with shaft draught, were sent up-country for the Langberg fighting. Next year three 15-pr. R.B.L. were also issued. The annual Report on the Volunteers states that the unit was without greatcoats. During the S.A. War of 1899 the battery was split up, serving in various areas. The strength was 115 all ranks. In 1908 the guns were drawn by mules, hired from the Table Bay Harbour Board, instead of horses, and the drivers were Non-Europeans, as in the C.M.R. [Source: Tylden]


Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen (Lieut: R. Janisch, Prince Alf: O. Cape A.) officially engraved naming

Verified on WO100/264p31, one of 7 officers on that page.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

CGHGSM (1) Bechuanaland (Gnr. H. P. Crosby. P.A.O.C.V. Arty.)

Noonan's say 'approximately 40 single-clasp medals for Bechuanaland issued to Prince Alfred’s Own Cape Volunteer Artillery.'

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

SAGS (1) 1877-8 (Gunr. H. J. Art, P.A.O. Cape Vol: Art:)

Noonan's say 44 medal issued to Prince Alfred’s Own Cape Volunteer Artillery, including 29 with clasp ‘1877-8’.

Here is my PAOCA example to 159 Gunner J Thallon.






Dave......

The QSA to Lt R Janisch, PAOCA.

This is perhaps Richard Julius Alexander Herman Janisch (1867-1908). He married in 1895 at St James' Church, Sea Point, Cape Town, He was 28 and worked as a clerk. This would make him 32 when war broke out.

Janisch is an unusual name in the Boer War rolls. There is only one other, Lt P Janisch in the DEOVR. This may possibly be the same man. More research needed in all areas.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen (55 Serjt: W. Knaggs. Prince Alf: O. Cape A.)

QSA listed on WO100/264p34. SA01 on WO100/264p39