TOPIC:

While looking through my QSA/KSA collection last night I was drawn to the first QSA I bought which got me involved in the ABW campaign.
I realised it was nearly two years to the day so perhaps it is its birthday!
It then got me thinking that it might be interesting if forum members can remember thier first QSA or KSA purchase and tell us about how it came about.
My first was to 3621 Pte.Isaac Miller KOYLI and purchased at a Militaria fair at Leeds Yorkshire.
I had started out collecting WW1 medals but then became fascinated by the Victorian campaigns, I must admit my first QSA was purchased for the asthetic beauty of the medal and the dealers helpful information.
The rest the say "is history" and I was hooked, funnily enough my last purchase QSA my 50th was a KOYLI man!
Here are a few details about my first QSA
Isaac Miller was born in 1873 in Gateshead then Durham now Tyne and Wear.
He attested for the Yorkshire Light Infantry on 10th November 1891
His service sent him to India were he served with the Tirah Expeditionary Force where he was awarded the India medal with clasps Bengal Frontier 1897-98 and Tirah.
He was then posted to Mauritius and then onto South Africa where he was awarded the QSA with clasps Wittebergen and Cape Colony.
At the outbreak of WW1 Isaac volunteered again for the KOYLI on the 31st August 1914 he was unfortunately discharged on 29 October 1914 for having deficient teeth and being unable to digest food.
Isaac spent the rest of his days in his native Gateshead and passed away in 1931 aged 58



This medal and soldier will always have a special place in my collection as it started me on a great and enjoyable journey.

Please add your own first share your thoughts.
Thanks for looking
Paul

coldstream wrote: While looking through my QSA/KSA collection last night I was drawn to the first QSA I bought which got me involved in the ABW campaign.

I realised it was nearly two years to the day so perhaps it is its birthday!

O. M. G. Paul......

Two years ago you got your first QSA / KSA combination......

Please add 52 years to that.....

From My Collection Catalogue:.......

001 SHIELD, T. (THOMAS)

REG. NO.: 9574
RANK: PRIVATE

REGT: COLDSTREAM GUARDS, 1st BATTALION
BARS: BELMONT, MODDER RIVER, PAARDEBERG, DRIEFONTEIN, JOHANNESBURG, DIAMOND HILL, BELFAST

DATE OF PURCHASE: SEPT. 10, 1960
PRICE AT TIME OF PURCHASE: $35.00

REMARKS / HISTORY:

KINGS SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL - USUAL TWO BARS

1. VERIFIED - PRO W-100 - 164
2. PAGE 138 OF ROLL

And since the following were renamed the dealer gave them to me for free.....

002 FOX, H.

REG. NO.: 4298
RANK: PRIVATE

REGT: 8th HUSSARS, THE KING'S ROYAL IRISH
BARS: CAPE COLONY, ORANGE FREE STATE, JOHANNESBURG, DIAMOND HILL, BELFAST

DATE OF PURCHASE: SEPT. 10 1960
PRICE AT TIME OF PURCHASE: GIFT

REMARKS / HISTORY:

1. KINGS SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL, USUAL TWO BARS
2. MEDALS HAVE BEEN RENAMED.
3. ONLY ENTITLED TO - CAPE COLONY, ORANGE FREE STATE, TRANSVAAL, SOUTH AFRICA 1901

Sorry No Photos.......

Mike

$35!

QSAMIKE wrote:

coldstream wrote: While looking through my QSA/KSA collection last night I was drawn to the first QSA I bought which got me involved in the ABW campaign.

I realised it was nearly two years to the day so perhaps it is its birthday!

O. M. G. Paul......

Two years ago you got your first QSA / KSA combination......

Please add 42 years to that.....

From My Collection Catalogue:.......

001 SHIELD, T. (THOMAS)

REG. NO.: 9574
RANK: PRIVATE

REGT: COLDSTREAM GUARDS, 1st BATTALION
BARS: BELMONT, MODDER RIVER, PAARDEBERG, DRIEFONTEIN, JOHANNESBURG, DIAMOND HILL, BELFAST

DATE OF PURCHASE: SEPT. 10, 1960
PRICE AT TIME OF PURCHASE: $35.00

REMARKS / HISTORY:

KINGS SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL - USUAL TWO BARS

1. VERIFIED - PRO W-100 - 164
2. PAGE 138 OF ROLL

And since the following were renamed the dealer gave them to me for free.....

002 FOX, H.

REG. NO.: 4298
RANK: PRIVATE

REGT: 8th HUSSARS, THE KING'S ROYAL IRISH
BARS: CAPE COLONY, ORANGE FREE STATE, JOHANNESBURG, DIAMOND HILL, BELFAST

DATE OF PURCHASE: SEPT. 10 1960
PRICE AT TIME OF PURCHASE: GIFT

REMARKS / HISTORY:

1. KINGS SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL, USUAL TWO BARS
2. MEDALS HAVE BEEN RENAMED.
3. ONLY ENTITLED TO - CAPE COLONY, ORANGE FREE STATE, TRANSVAAL, SOUTH AFRICA 1901

Sorry No Photos.......

Mike

Good evening Paul,
I am very conscious of not having made a contribution to you Imperial Yeomanry post, I must do somthing about that.
I regret that I have already put my very first QSA, which I bought as a boy, on the forum last year in Mr Hendey's Natal Carbineers post, after being provoked by Rory who made fun of the fact I'm the only person in the world who does not have a medal to the Natal Carbineers, so you will forgive me if I go away and have a think about what to add here, I'm thinking perhaps my first medal to an Australian or perhaps a Kiwi Rough Rider! I suspect Stephen would approve of this latter!
Regards Frank

Hello Mike,
Thank you for adding to the thread.
Seems you started well before me!
That is a very nice pair to start your collection and for a princely sum but probably a weeks wage then.
"And since the following were renamed the dealer gave them to me for free....."
Do you think that could ever happen again, I think not!

Paul

QSAMIKE wrote:

coldstream wrote: While looking through my QSA/KSA collection last night I was drawn to the first QSA I bought which got me involved in the ABW campaign.

I realised it was nearly two years to the day so perhaps it is its birthday!

O. M. G. Paul......

Two years ago you got your first QSA / KSA combination......

Please add 52 years to that.....

From My Collection Catalogue:.......

001 SHIELD, T. (THOMAS)

REG. NO.: 9574
RANK: PRIVATE

REGT: COLDSTREAM GUARDS, 1st BATTALION
BARS: BELMONT, MODDER RIVER, PAARDEBERG, DRIEFONTEIN, JOHANNESBURG, DIAMOND HILL, BELFAST

DATE OF PURCHASE: SEPT. 10, 1960
PRICE AT TIME OF PURCHASE: $35.00

REMARKS / HISTORY:

KINGS SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL - USUAL TWO BARS

1. VERIFIED - PRO W-100 - 164
2. PAGE 138 OF ROLL

And since the following were renamed the dealer gave them to me for free.....

002 FOX, H.

REG. NO.: 4298
RANK: PRIVATE

REGT: 8th HUSSARS, THE KING'S ROYAL IRISH
BARS: CAPE COLONY, ORANGE FREE STATE, JOHANNESBURG, DIAMOND HILL, BELFAST

DATE OF PURCHASE: SEPT. 10 1960
PRICE AT TIME OF PURCHASE: GIFT

REMARKS / HISTORY:

1. KINGS SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL, USUAL TWO BARS
2. MEDALS HAVE BEEN RENAMED.
3. ONLY ENTITLED TO - CAPE COLONY, ORANGE FREE STATE, TRANSVAAL, SOUTH AFRICA 1901

Sorry No Photos.......

Mike

A very interesting thread Paul. Your collection has certainly grown apace in the last two years!

I can't actually remember my first QSA as it was probably purchased by my brother in the early 1970s. Not quite as far back as Mike's but still a long time ago. I am sure this first medal was sold in part exchange for something slightly better to take its place in the collection, for a while at least.

Best wishes
David