TOPIC:

4 BAR QSA, 20th COY IMP YEOMANRY / FIFE & FORFAR YEOMANRY, PRISONER OF WAR NOOTIGEDACHT 13-12-1900

QSA: CC, OFS, TR, SA01 named to: 9240. PTE.H.L.PLAYFAIR.20th.COY.6th.IMP.YEO

Harry Lyon Playfair from, Bendochy, Coupar Angus, Perthshire was born in 1880. He enlisted in to the Fife & Forfar yeomanry in January 1900 when he was 20 years and three months old. He was a clerk, and had been an apprentice for five years. He served as a private in the first contingent IY in South Africa from 1 March 1900 through to 16 June 1901. He was captured and later released at the battle of Nootigedacht on 13 December 1900 where British casualties were 66 killed, over 187 wounded (of whom 14 died of their wounds), and over 346 taken prisoner or reported missing.

Playfair returned home to the UK in June of 1901, and was officially discharged on 24 June 1901 after serving for 1 year and 155 days. He was 21 years, nine and a half months old when discharged and was 5’ 10.5” tall, with grey eyes and dark brown hair. His conduct was excellent. His intended place of residence was with his father.

His father was James Playfair (1845-?) and his mother was Susan S (1852-?). They were both from Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Scotland. He had three siblings: James M (1871-?); William S (1873-?); Margaret L (1879-?) and then later a younger brother Charles Gordon Playfair who served in the second contingent of the Fife & Forfar Yeomanry. His father was a farmer who had a 340-acre farm and he employed 6 men and 6 women. He had four domestic servants according to the 1881 census. In 1903, Henry L. was living with his brother Charles G. in their father’s house (Islabank Farm).

His brother Charles Gordon Playfair served in the second contingent IY. The Military History of Perthshire lists them both as residents of Coupar Angus. Their father was James Playfair of Islabank House Farm, Bendochy, Perthshire.

Azyeoman
Quite some time ago I did a post about a chap in the 20th Co., 6IY (the Fifes) and in doing so, drew some detail from a book entitled "The Fifes in South Africa" by "9176 I.Y.". Here I have attached a pic of your man's entry in Appendix III of that work; together with a group pic of the unit at a certain point in time. Back then, I worked from an original copy; however these days a facsimile copy is available quite reasonably from on-line sellers. You may find that book useful in reading about the action in which he was wounded and other information besides.
Regards
IL.
So

Thank you very much for the information on Playfair! What a great photo too. I really appreciate your help!
John