King’s South Africa Medal 1901-1902, 2 Clasps: South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902; (3229 PTE. F. SIMONS. 10TH. HUSSARS.)
Entitle to QSA with five clasps. Please contact if you have Simons' QSA as I'd like very much to reunite the pair.
Awarded to Private (No.3229) F. Simons, 10th Prince of Wales’s Own Royal Hussars, who saw service during the Boer War on operations in South Africa from 6th November 1899, and was present during the relief of Kimberley and in action at Paardeberg, Driefontein, Wittebergen and in the Transvaal. Simons was taken prisoner of war by the Boers at Ladybrand on 26th March 1900, though he was released shortly afterwards. On the 26th, five men of the 10th Hussars, including Simons, were sent into Ladybrand to arrest the Landrost (magistrate) and his clerk. While getting a pony for the clerk the men were surrounded by a large number of Boers and captured. One man was wounded prior to surrendering. Simons who was released and then returned to operations, was eventually posted home from South Africa on 26th July 1902.
The SAFF Casualty Roll lists the five (5) men under the correct date of 26 March, but the place is incorrectly given as Sannah’s Post. In addition, Simons’ regimental number is also incorrectly recorded as 3029. However, in the War Office’s lists of prisoners released at the Waterval Camp, north of Pretoria on 6 June 1900, his correct number of 3229 was stated.
Ladybrand is a small agricultural town in the Free State province of South Africa, situated 18 km from Maseru, the capital of Lesotho. Ladybrand is one of five towns that forms the Mantsopa Local Municipality. It was founded in 1867 following the Basotho Wars, and was named after Lady (Catharina) Brand, the wife of the president of the Orange Free State, Johannes Brand. The settlement of Ladybrand was created by Voordtrekkers to give them control over the territories conquered and captured after the above-mentioned Basotho war. In 1900, during the Second Anglo-Boer War, Ladybrand came under the control of the British.
