TOPIC:

Adrian,

That is a wonderful Kimberley group. He's not the only Defender who went on to serve in Damant's Horse after the siege.

I will look for a picture of Schmidt's.

With thanks
David

3665 Pte R Duerden 1st Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment


Just got this one. I have no information about him, apart from the fact that the medal roll says he deserted on 7 October 1903! Research in the past has failed to come up with service papers. Any information gratefully received!

Patrick

Patrick,

You are on a roll!

The medal roll for this man suggests the authorities tried to recover his medal after the desertion but that they failed to do this so this is a medal that should no longer be around?

No service papers, as you say

There are a few men of this name in the Great War. I'm not sure whether a deserter would have been allowed back in or welcomed back in at that time?

Presuming your man came from the Lancashire area, there are possibly service papers for a relative or his father from a generation before:

DUERDEN, RALPH 1859 — 1877 British Army Service Records 1760-1915 Nelson, Burnley, Lancashire, England

djb wrote: Patrick,

You are on a roll!

The medal roll for this man suggests the authorities tried to recover his medal after the desertion but that they failed to do this so this is a medal that should no longer be around?

David. Thank you. I couldn't decipher the comment on the roll, but I presume it says'Cannot recover', given your message?

Patrick