TOPIC:

Doug wrote: Hi all

In this auction, they have lot 63, a single QSA with NATAL bar to 1761 Pte G Buckingham, with a copy of the roll. I cant find anything on him, his number or anything else, he is also not mentioned in the initial roll for the 2nd Battalion. The unit was at Colenso, so unless he arrived late to join them, something seems interesting, especially with the ornate silver suspender? Most of the 2nd Battalion who have a clasp seem to have the belmont clasp

Any thoughts.

Doug.

Hello Doug

No mystery - The Register tells you he is on WO100/171p15, single clasp 'Natal'. I researched this medal for a client called Doug in 2009

I don't understand the reference to the Belmont clasp - the RF weren't there.

Regards
Meurig

Meurig

Oh, that makes sense then as page 15 is missing, so it doesn't come up in Ancestry! Yes, I am glad my collecting tastes haven't changed!!

Ignore my Belmont reference, which confused me too. I was looking at the records and did the usual thing of looking at the tick after the name in the Belmont column and with no other entitlement, got a tad confused!

Anyway, thanks for sorting that out!

Doug.

Hello Doug,
In the case of the infantry battalions of 1899, it is important to remember that they are around one thousand strong after they had deployed in South Africa, with their reservists, if he was there on establishment in 1899, he need not have actually been serving with his regiment anyway, clearly, he was not engaged at Colenso,
What you ended up with as the war went on was a percentage of men, although, all on the establishment of the regiment concerned, they would fall into groups, so in addition to those present and fit for duty, you would also have those in prison, those unfit to march, those detached for various duties, those in hospital and so on.
Regards Frank

The GBP/ZAR exchange rate does indeed bode ill for South African collectors planning to bid on the latest City Coins auction. In addition to the currency advantage, it is my impression that there are collectors in Britain and elsewhere with very deep pockets. The GBP3,000 paid recently for the no clasp QSA to the Dundee Postmaster converts to nearly ZAR60,000, which, to bottom-feeders like me, is an eye-watering amount of money. Perhaps the time has come for me to hand in my Medal Collector's License, which was issued to me by my wife about 15 years ago.

Brett

What about lot 61, does this mean you shall not be having it?

Brett Hendey wrote: The GBP/ZAR exchange rate does indeed bode ill for South African collectors planning to bid on the latest City Coins auction. In addition to the currency advantage, it is my impression that there are collectors in Britain and elsewhere with very deep pockets. The GBP3,000 paid recently for the no clasp QSA to the Dundee Postmaster converts to nearly ZAR60,000, which, to bottom-feeders like me, is an eye-watering amount of money. Perhaps the time has come for me to hand in my Medal Collector's License, which was issued to me by my wife about 15 years ago.

Brett

I am thinking about it, Frank. In the weeks preceding a City Coins auction I always do a lot of thinking, and then do something impulsive. I have had both success and failure, so the wait for results is tense.
Regards
Brett