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Hi Anna

Is it possible that he had started to collect medals!? That's one option - the other is that these were sent to him for onward transmission or presentation to these men and circumstances dictated that he never got to pass them on.

Regards

Rory

Anna,
on the War Museum of the Boer Republics ( www.wmbr.org.za/ ) database there are eight Gert van Deventers who were POWs

24425 Van Deventer Gert Potchefstroom Traka Trichinopoly
16485 Van Deventer Gert Potchefstroom Near Fredericks Ahmednagar
7727 Van Deventer Gert Albertus Ficksburg Fouriesburg Diyatalawa
16484 Van Deventer Gert Albertus Bloemfontein Fouriesburg Ahmednagar
14023 Van Deventer Gert Dani-L Pretoria Koedoespoort Diyatalawa
30344 Van Deventer Gert Jacobus Field-Cornet Bethlehem Straithnairn Umbilo
28698 Van Deventer Gert Johannes Kroonstad Straithnairn Onbekend
2191 Van Deventer Gert Johannes Jacobus Potchefstroom Paardeberg Broadbottom


However, none of these were sent to Bermuda, so it is likely your man was sent to another camp. Note: "Onbekend" means unknown.

The best fit for rank was Veldcornet Gert Jacobus Van Deventer Age 45 - but he was only captured on 1902/02/27 so unless he escaped and continued fighting, it can't be him.


It would be good to hear more about your great grandfather.
The Manchesters were famous in the Defence of Ladysmith, and their dry-stone bivouac, "Manchester Fort" is still there on Caesar's Camp {Platrand) - it can be seen on Google Maps if you type in the GPS -28.58733, 29.77131
Attached is a photo of Tin Town, Ladysmith.

If you ever plan to visit the area I'd be pleased to advise.

Rob

Hi Rob

Thank you so for the info, I will follow up on these. Appreciate the photo as I was as of yet unable to find one of the camp. I will definitely have a look on google.

Hi
I apologise for the delay, what I could find: Lt. Col. O.S. Wynne, last stationed in Kimberly, 2nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment. The medals I found are as follows:

* Queens South Africa Bronze Medal with no clasps 446 Dooly Bearer Rajanna B. Comd Nag Distr
* Queens South Africa Bronze Medal with no clasps 445 Dooly Bearer Bunda Nirsamloo B. Comd. Ng Distr.
* Khedive's Sudan Medal 1896 - 1908 202 Dooly Bearer Moomola Ggloo Moomola Gdloo … (Name is inscribed twice)
* India General Service Medal, Clasp Burma 1885-7 87 Bearer Needagunta Pochigadoo , Trans, Dept , Madras
* India General Service Medal, Clasp Relief of Chitral 1895 21 Dooly Bearer Yilamelia Jojia Com. Trans. Dept. Madras
* India General Service Medal, Clasp Relief of Chitral 1895 68 Dooly Bearer Badal Jika S & J B. Cd

I struggled to read the running script on some, so this was the closest I could get.

Thank you

It looks like your ancestor collected some medals whilst in South Africa. I will keep looking for a South African association for the others but a great start with one. Search "Talana" & user name "David Grant" in the search facility for more.

India General Service Medal, Clasp Relief of Chitral 1895 68 Dooly Bearer Badal Jika S & J B. Cd
68 Dooly Bearer Badal Teeka served in the Orange Free State;Talana & in the Defence of Ladysmith
(Kamptee District) The Queen's medal was unclaimed. Badal returned to India early.

Thank you, appreciate the feedback