TOPIC:

I've recently come across a reference to a distant cousin of mine, C.V.S. (Claude) Skrimshire, born in about 1879, who was apparently among 30 men picked from the Cambridge Volunteer Corps to go out to South Africa in 1899 or 1900, attached to the 1st Suffolks. Apparently he took part in the advance on Pretoria in 1900, and was in action the day before Pretoria was entered. He may also have been involved at the capture of Middelburg, and in various other engagements. I believe he was in South Africa for about 16 months. I'd very much appreciate any information anyone can provide on C.V.S. Skrimshire, or on any of the men of the Cambridge Volunteer Corps.

C.V.S. Skrimshire later served in the British Army in Mauritius, Ceylon and Hong Kong, retiring in 1922 as a Major.

Thanks!

C.V.S. Skrimshire was at St Catherine's College when he went to South Africa as a member of the CUVRC attached to the Suffolks. On their return they were presented with a handsome silver cup by the town and university.

Further details can be found in Hew Strachan's "History of the Cambridge University Officers Training Corps" (1976) ISBN 0-85936-059-8

Regards

Justin

Thanks, Justin, that's extremely helpful! I'll look for the Strachan book -- it's good to know about that.

I've discovered that he married, lived to a good age (about 85), and died in Hampshire in June 1964 (though he'd been living in Dorset).

Ardmore.

C.V.S. Skrimshire's Cup:



Picture & description courtesy of Leski Auctions

Description:
BOER WAR INTEREST: Substantial antique English sterling silver presentation beaker, engraved with shields and castle, inscribed "A Tribute Of Respect From Town & University To CLAUDE VICTOR SAINSBURY SKRIMSHIRE Pte: 4th (C.U.) Vol. Batt. Suffolk Reg.t. One Of Those Who At Their Country's Call Left Cambridge For Service In South Africa, 1900-1901".
Stamped "D.M.", made in London circa 1901, and retailed by MUNSEY of Cambridge.
12cm high, 364 grams

Variously described as silver stoups, beakers, cups or tankards, c. 63 of these tributes were presented at three ceremonies.

"The stoups (each weighing 12 ounces) were straight sided cups, without handles, and were five inches high. They were copies of the old stoups in Magdalene College buttery".



"The home-coming of the Cambridge Volunteers. An Illustrated Souvenir", p.4.
Published by the Proprietors of the Cambridge Graphic.




RECIPIENTS

06/05/1901 presentation

1st Volunteer Active Service Company, 1st Bn. Suffolk Regiment –
Captain George Frederick WHITMORE
Lieutenant P. HUDSON (not on published list of recipients; absent - in Dublin)
Lieutenant George Henry MASON
46 Sergeant-Instructor Harry Augustus LOADER
6570 Sergeant R. LUKER (not on published list of recipients; absent - in S. Africa)
6532 Sergeant Alfred Ernest PITSTOW
6549 Sergeant [Lance-Corporal] Benjamin POOLEY
6569 Lance-Sergeant [Corporal] Edgar Campbell RUSSELL [Undergraduate]
6533 Corporal Thomas OLDFIELD
6589 Corporal Albert WILKINSON
6567 Lance-Corporal Frank Robert BAKER [Undergraduate]
6568 Lance-Corporal Henry ROBINSON [Graduate]
6552 Lance-Corporal Charles William RUDD
6559 Lance-Corporal William Bushell WESTLEY
6584 Lance-Corporal Charles Robert WORTHINGTON [Undergraduate]
6535 Private Alfred Thomas Edwin BARNARD
6536 Private Walter Charles BILLING
6537 Private George BOWYER
6566 Private John Francis CARTER [Undergraduate]
6550 Private Samuel CHAPMAN
6565 Private John Spencer COATES [Undergraduate]
6538 Private Samuel Henry COLLINS
6590 Private Charles Frederick CULLAM
6564 Private Maurice Fitzmaurice DAY [Undergraduate]
6539 Private Thomas DELLER [Dillar]
6540 Private Thomas George ELBORN
6541 Private Lucas Charles FROMENT
6563 Private Christopher GRAHAM
6562 Private Bernard HAIGH [Undergraduate]
6571 Private James Oswald HALDANE (not on published list of recipients, but entitled as a Cambridge University undergraduate)
6542 Private Arthur William HALLS (not on published list of recipients, but entitled as a resident of Cambridge)
6543 Private James Brummitt HAYNES
6560 Private Francis Richard HOARE [Undergraduate]
6593 Private Frank HUNT
6572 Private John Hyde ILES [Graduate]
6573 Private Henry Arthur JERWOOD [Undergraduate]
6544 Private Frederick Charles KING (not on published list of recipients - died at Netley Hospital)
6545 Private Oliver LILES
6592 Private H.G. LINSDELL (not on published list of recipients, but entitled as a resident of Cambridge)
6575 Private William Lister NEWCOMBE (invalided - not on published list of recipients, but entitled as a Cambridge University undergraduate)
6574 Private Percy Arnold LLOYD-JONES (invalided - not on published list of recipients, but entitled as a Cambridge University graduate)
6546 Private John MEASURES
6547 Private Alfred Charles MOLE
6548 Private Frank William MOORE
6576 Private Henry Eckley Herbert OAKLEY [Graduate]
6577 Private Hugh Brindley OWEN [Undergraduate]
6551 Private Arthur Harry RICHARDSON
6553 Private Arthur RYAN
6578 Private Claude Victor Sainsbury SKRIMSHIRE [Undergraduate]
6579 Private Sidney SMITH [Undergraduate]
6554 Private Robert STAFFORD
6587 Private Sidney John STEWARD [Undergraduate]
6580 Private Lewis St George STUBBS [Undergraduate]
6556 Private Ernest Edward SWANN
6581 Private Maurice Llewelyn TAYLOR [Undergraduate]
6582 Private Edward Cuthbert USHERWOOD
6583 Private Marmaduke WARNER [Undergraduate]
6557 Private Frank Warboys WARRINGTON
6558 Private Horace Frank WATERS

Presentation made by the Mayoress (Miss Emily J. Taylor), in the Corn Exchange, Cambridge.


13/06/1901 presentation

1st Volunteer Active Service Company, 1st Bn. Suffolk Regiment –
6555 Private Louis Thomas STOAKLEY
6534 Private Sidney Byron ANDREWS

Presentation made by the Mayoress (Miss Taylor) in the Guildhall, Cambridge.


June 1902 presentation

2nd Volunteer Active Service Company, 1st Bn. Suffolk Regiment –
6777 Private Percival Charles CORNWELL
6779 Private Frederick Henry METCALFE
6780 Private Alfred Money RAVEN
6623 Private Frederick WILLIAMS

"The military ardour aroused by the return of the Cambridge Volunteers has not evaporated, though the men are safely returned to the bosom of their families with their silver tankards". (Cambridge Daily News, 26/06/1902).


KNOWN EXAMPLES HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN




"The home-coming of the Cambridge Volunteers. An Illustrated Souvenir", published by the Proprietors of the Cambridge Graphic.
Cambridge Independent Press, 03/05/1901
Diss Express, 03/05/1901
Cambridge Daily News, 07/05/1901
East Anglian Daily Times, 07/05/1901
Morning Post, 07/05/1901
Cambridge Independent Press, 10/05/1901
Bury Free Press, 11/05/1901
Shetland Times, 18/05/1901
Yorkshire Post, 04/06/1901
Cambridge Independent Press, 14/06/1901
Cambridge News, 26/06/1902
Cambridge Independent Press, 14/11/1902


..

Thanks Neville; that is a great summary.

Unfortunately I was the under-bidder; maybe I should have pushed harder

But then I would be fighting for space in the dog kennel tonight