TOPIC:

Morning all
I've just successfully bid on a 3 clasp QSA to 6247 J. Michie of the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers.
The clasps are BELMONT/ORANGE FREE STATE and TRANSVAAL.
What stirred my interest was the absence of the clasp for MODDER RIVER so I checked the casualty rolls.
A Lance Corporal J. Mitchie of the 1st Bn Northumberland Fusiliers is shown as being wounded at BELMONT - this could explain the
absence of that clasp on this medal.
However, whilst the casualty roll indicates he was a member of the 1st Bn Northumberland Fusiliers, the regimental number shown is :
S.A.R./36.
As far as I have been able to establish there are no other men of this name shown on the medal rolls etc for the Fusiliers so my question/suspicion
is - was this man attached to another unit which might explain the above designation.
Apologies if I am showing my not inconsiderable ignorance here.
Thanks for any pointers.
Chris

Chris
On the SAFF Casualty roll your man is one of a small number so endorsed with SAR/#. The medal roll for 1NF simply shows his Regimental number with no marginal note (WO100/169 NF page 49) and as a matter of interest, your man is also entitled to a KSA. The marginal note in that case says "Army Reserve in South Africa" and that probably has some tie in with the initials SAR.
Regards
IL.

Hi IL

Thanks for taking the time and trouble to respond - much appreciated.
I did think that S.A.R. could be the annotation for the Army Reserve in South Africa but in almost reverse form.
I have to confess I hadn't looked for any other men with the S.A.R. notation only for men named Michie/Mitchie.
But if, as it seems there were a few men with the S.A.R. desingnation it would go some way to confirming that the casualy is indeed 'my' man.
Thanks again
Chris

Chris
I am sure that your man was indeed wounded at Belmont. Regarding that battle, Lt. March Phillips of Rimington's Guides commented: "The action described is a victory, and so in a sense it was, but is not the sort of victory we should like to have every day of the week".
Regards
IL.

Thanks again.
Batt Major Cogger was killed at Belmont - he was 6243 of the Northumberland Fusiliers but shown on the casualty roll as S.A.R. 33.
Close to Private Mitchie with both numbers.
Cheers
Chris

Another Northumberland Fusiliers man, also wounded at Belmont, has the same "SA R" prefix. I don't know if this is relevant.

SA R/5 Corporal A. Balsden [Bolsden] (or 6218 Corporal A.J. Balsden)

Balsden was discharged in South Africa (not transferred to the Army Reserve).

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