TOPIC:

His second QSA entry (WO100/299p242) has a note I cannot fully read: ___ of operations?

The Natal Volunteer Staff roll (WO100/299p152) reads like the Natal Who's Who?

David

It looks like Base of operations? You can imagine the dinner on a Saturday evening!

Yes, I have to admit, there have been times when I have looked at these and thought nothing of them, but now have a KIA single NATAL and when you look at Rietfontein, the invalided and KIA for that skirmish didn't qualify for the DoL clasp, so it is well worthy of looking into.

I trawled through my interests in the auction over the past few days and you do learn so much.

Doug.

David

The Choles medal appeals to me because the man behind it had become 'part of the furniture' in Colonial Natal, and, as Doug wrote, gatherings of such men in Pietermaritzburg must have been great occasions. To many of them, 'home' still meant Britain, but the apron strings were loosening, with 1906 being something of a landmark year in that respect.

It was then that the Colonists sorted out their differences with the Zulus on their own without any help, and only a little interference from London, which led Winston Churchill to refer to Natal as that "hooligan Colony". Nevertheless, the reverse of the Natal Rebellion Medal showed Britannia standing protectively with Natalia, which is a permanent reminder that, after all, the ties between the two were still strong.

Regards
Brett

Doug,

That would make sense given his location. Thank you very much for your help.
David

Brett,

I know what you mean about Choles' medal. he must have been in the thick of it in PMB and I can imagine him taking tea in the Governor's residence with the great and the good of Natal.