TOPIC:

Steve,

That is an intriguing medal.

I do not think he is entitled to the KSA and would instead have the SA01 and SA02 clasps on his QSA.

Option 3 is the most likely to me but I like the idea of option 2.

There is a George Lovat Fraser who was born in PMB (or Aberdeen) in 1880 and died in Ladysmith in 1918.

The ILH attestation paper for George Lewis Fraser lists only his service in the Colonial Scouts.



Best wishes
David

The roll in the Natal Volunteer Record lists Trooper Fraser as having been through Ladysmith (L). The second abbreviation after his name, SS, stands for "Special Service". Unfortunately, the author doesn't explain exactly what this entailed, but it may have some bearing on your conundrum. For those who joined after the siege, the abbreviation "A" was used.




..

I had just looked at the same page from the Natal Volunteer Record that Neville posted but Neville's image is much better quality than mine.

David,
Yes, option 3 does make more sense. And another look at the Medal Roll for the date clasps show you are absolutely right, not entitled to KSA. Date clasps to the QSA, lost in the post or returned I suspect.

Neville,
That is a great help, and I feel reinforces option 3 from my original post.
'Special Service ', now that is intriguing!

Many thanks gentlemen.

Moranthorse
The muster roll for the NC (1899-1902) in Stalker's "The Natal Carbineers" also shows Tpr. G.L.Fraser with notation "L" for being present in the siege. The List of Ladysmith residents in Lines' "Ladysmith Siege" does not show a G. Fraser - though I am unsure how definitive that listing is.
I did some research on another NC chap who was noted as SS and memory tells me that it denoted a wartime enlistment in that unit.
Regards
IL.

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (3) Defence of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing's Nek (514 Tpr: A. J. Mason. Natal Carbnrs:);
Natal 1906 (1) 1906 (Sgt: A. J. Mason, Natal Carbineers.)