I posted in the introductions thread- but this really belongs here:
Why am I here? Well, my great grand-dad served in South Africa during the Boer War. I have his miniature medals KSA & QSA, 1st World War & 2nd go round too- all the way up to his MBE awarded for his work on RMS Ordurna particularly off North Africa.
Now, the story gets...hazy...about how he earned the KSA and QSA, and I don't have his full sized medals to see which bars were awarded.
Family legend has it that he served under at least 3 different names in SA, probably in Infantry, Artillery and mustering out as either Cav or MI- I'm not sure which. He and his battle buddy then proceeded to prospect across Africa, including him getting bit by a Black Mamba (!) before returning to sea by 1909.
He was born in 1884, got to South Africa by having his parish priest sign his passage as a cabin boy, then jumping ship in SA, one presumes in 1899.
Anyway, I did a bit of a search on here, and came up with two hits for Harrold Collins- one in Menne's Scouts another in Imperial Light Infantry.
flic.kr/p/XAbAN9
(his Obit)
The general questions I have are is there any relatively easy way to work back from his MBE (which I have the Gazette entry for, as well as the full sized medal) to see how he had been awarded the KSA and QSA medals? And what bars had he earned? I know the
Navy the Army (I did 20 years in the RCN) floats on a sea of paperwork, so is there any way to worm my way backwards ?
I am well aware that because he "unofficially" changed units at least 2x, it is unlikely that a full record of his service in SA can be constructed. However, given that I presume he updated his information on turning 16 to his legal name and home, there is at least some hope. I know he wore his medals, so I have to presume that he mustered out as Harold Collins.
There is a further story about his KSA and QSA- he was Chief Steward onboard RMS Ordurna during Scout Peace Cruise III, and Lord B-P
may have had a conversation about how a man of his age (early 50's, at that point- 1936) was wearing KSA and QSA...I have a couple of Momento's from the cruise.
Using the search on here, it shows a Harold Collins in Menne's Scouts, which would seem entirely possible as a unit that he could have mustered out from. There is a muster roll for Harold Collins in the Imperial Light Infantry, which may be the start of his adventure.
Anyway, thanks for any advice,
James Powell
