TOPIC:

Frank Kelley wrote: Good evening Meurig,
Okay, yes, I agree, but, what about any man who is shown as invalided, dead or killed, those men that are highly unlikely to have seen prior service because of the dates concerned or their regt/corps?
I would have included them and perhaps added a note along the lines of requires further verification.
Of course, with the others, a close look at any surviving papers can often prove or discount additional service either way.
What short of figure do you think we are talking about here, I am thinking perhaps fifty, what do you think?
Regards Frank

Hello Frank

Looking at the casualties for RoM - those with Plumer's force earned the Rhodesia clasp so none of them are single claspers.

I can only find three single claspers amongst the casualties - all A sqdn Rhodesian Rgt. Ironically they didn't qualify for the Rhodesia clasp. These would have been included in my "at least 27".

50? - would be surprised if it is higher.

When I am done with Wepener - RoM is next.

Regards
Meurig

Meurig,

SWB wrote: Having captured the M Btty roll - Kaplan's 57 is spot on.

The members of M Battery with the RoM clasp are not all contained in WO100/139. My brother and I used to own the medals to M Battery's CO, Major H K Jackson DSO. His RoM is listed on WO100/147p130.

Regards
David

djb wrote: Meurig,

SWB wrote: Having captured the M Btty roll - Kaplan's 57 is spot on.

The members of M Battery with the RoM clasp are not all contained in WO100/139. My brother and I used to own the medals to M Battery's CO, Major H K Jackson DSO. His RoM is listed on WO100/147p130.

Regards
David

Great - thanks David.

/147 is the individual claims roll - not surprised Kaplan didn't look there.

Hello Meurig,
Now this is getting to be a very interesting post, I looked into the Rhodesia Regt in WO100/266, about twelve years ago now, I really don't know where the time goes, it seems so long ago now!
It became very clear that the Rhodesia clasp is very scarce to members of both A and D squadrons only, most men received the Transvaal clasp and not the Rhodesia clasp.
From memory I think there were about six or seven single Relief of Mafeking's, all members of A squadron, a couple were very obvious and did not really need looking at, as they had died, others were clearly shown as being issued and then there were a couple that had nothing to go on, so I started with them.
Now this is where the medal roll on its own is of no use, so a look in WO126/115 was needed, the discharge sheet is not always present, of course, but, when it is, well, thats a differant matter altogether.
I think I looked at two and in both cases the men concerned were shown as being discharged as permanently unfit for any military service and had returned home to Great Britain, moreover there was also annotation to the effect that their parchment discharge certificates had been forwarded to them.
So I was satisfied regarding the handful of men that I had looked at and concluded their medals were worth having.

I strongly agree with you, more research needs to be done here and what nicer than the Relief of Mafeking clasp, it is certainly not encountered very often these days!

Best Regards Frank

Hello Frank

Looking at the casualties for RoM - those with Plumer's force earned the Rhodesia clasp so none of them are single claspers.

I can only find three single claspers amongst the casualties - all A sqdn Rhodesian Rgt. Ironically they didn't qualify for the Rhodesia clasp. These would have been included in my "at least 27".

50? - would be surprised if it is higher.

When I am done with Wepener - RoM is next.

Regards
Meurig[/quote]

Forum members
I have been following this topic with considerable interest. Mainly because I developed an interest in RofM QSA's due to their relative scarcity. I cannot add very much new to the discussion (my current examples ILHs, Rhod Rgts, KLH and KTG cover Plumer and Mahon); save to advise of a book titled "Plumer's Men" by Robert Burrell ISBN 13: 978-1-920169-55-8 printed in Durban, 2009. Not a bad read for those interested in the clasp. The Kaplan roll says that some NSW Citizen's Bushmen were originally listed as entitled to RofM - but entries were later "crossed through". Doubtless because they were on the other side of a line on a map. If ID'd, certainly worth having. In many years of collecting, I have never even seen a 3QMI example.
Perhaps our Moderator might put "RofM" on his list of projects?
IL.

Good morning Ian.
Yes I agree completely, I have always been interested in Colonel Plumer's force, but, an added bonus for me is the Natal connection, with the Imperial Light Horse and those few fusiliers!
Much more work needs doing here!
Regards Frank