azyeoman

Fortunately, many on another forum were able to help me find the info on "George Smith". So, here is the biographical info etc. on "George Smith". I'm especially grateful to Kevin Asplin for his expertise at the NA and for researching and providing all the papers need that opened the door to further ancestral research on FMP. He does exceptional work and quickly too, all for a modest fee. 'George Smith' was an alias; his real name was John Virgo Skip. His real name wasn’t noted until April 1876, but the census returns, birth and death details as well as the 99th’s Pay Roster of 1 July to 30 September 1876 all confirm that was his real name. He was born in Lambeth in 1838. His father John Skip (1814-) was a greengrocer, and his mother was Ann Skip (1816-). He had a younger brother, William who was born in 1840. They had an 18-year-old domestic servant Elizabeth Read living with them. Later, John Virgo was a porter, and enlisted in the 53rd at Westminster Police Court on 19 October 1854 when he was 19 years old. When with the 53rd Ft. He was a Pte. From 19 Oct. 1857 to 19 June 1858. He went AWAOL at Christmas 1857 and was tried and imprisoned on 31 Dec 1857 until 19 January 1858. He was released and continued to serve in the 53rd Ft. until 31 January 1866 when he transferred to the 99th Regt as a private. He was promoted to Corporal on 16 January 1866 and served as such until 12 June 1867. He reengaged in Natal for 11 years and was promoted to Serjeant on 1 September 1869. He went AWOL again on 13 Oct 1869 and was arrested and tried on 14/15 Oct. 1869. He was reduced in rank to private on 16 Oct. 1869 and served as such until 9 Nov 1878 when he left the forces at Chatham. Despite his two trials by court martial for being AWOL, and entered four times in the Regimental Defaulters Book, he had four good conduct badges. He served a total of 21 years and 15 days. He served over a year and a half in the East Indies (India); over five years in China and about a year and a half in the Cape of Good Hope. He was 40.5 years old and 5’6.5” tall with a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and light brown hair. His intended place of residency was Newnham, Gloucester. In the 1881 census, he was married to Eliza Saunders who was a dressmaker and five years older than he was. They married in 1878 and were living in Paddington (Marylebone), London She was from Blakeney, Gloucester. He put his place of birth as Camberwell, Surry and his profession as a Verger.

One of my very favorite groups is to Trinity House Master Pilot Frederick George Utting. There is an article on him entitled "Trinity House, Master Mariners and World War I Mercantile Marine Medals" in the Journal of Orders and Medals of America (Vol. 75, No.2 (March - April - May - June 2024). It's a very nice and unusual group and there is a photograph of him wearing the medal group*. * Note the medals are not in the correct order, but are shown as Utting wore them.

Here is a terrific group! Egypt and Transport medal group to Surgeon John Brunt, Royal Navy, later Mercantile Marine Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, no clasp officially named to: J. Brunt. Surgn. R.N. H.M.S. “Agincourt” Transport 1899-1902, 1 clasp, S. Africa 1899-1902 officially named to: J. Brunt. Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, unnamed as issued. The Egypt pair nearly very fine, the second good very fine, and an unusual combination. John Brunt was born on 24 September 1851, and having qualified as a doctor entered the Royal Navy as a Surgeon at Plymouth Hospital on 1 October 1879. He was next appointed to Netley Hospital (November 1879) and joined his first ship H.M.S. Royal Adelaide in March 1880, and subsequently served as Surgeon aboard London (April 1881), Duke of Wellington (June 1881), and Agincourt (September 1881). Whilst employed in the latter ship in Egyptian waters he earned the Egyptian medal and Khedive’s bronze star. He served next in Boscawen (September 1883), R.M.A. Division Eastney (September 1884), Flora (August 1886) and Duke of Wellington (April 1889). On 21 June 1889 he was allowed to withdraw from the Royal Navy after nine years service with a gratuity of £1,000.00 under the terms of an Order in Council dated 1 April 1881. In 1900 he joined the Merchant Marine as a Surgeon, served with the Union Castle Steamship Company and whilst aboard the Hawarden Castle employed on Transport Duties during the Boer War he gained entitlement to the Transport medal and clasp.

Hi Chris, That's funny as the Transport Medal group to Moses Roberts graces my ABW collection. : ) Cheers, John

I’m curious why the Kimberly Star group is in with the mercantile marine groups. I have that exact bar in my collection and as far as I know, he has nothing to do with the merchant navy. ???

If anyone can help, it will be MOST appreciated! I cannot locate any papers for the fellow below. It's a very common name, but Fold3 etc only have his medal rolls information. Again, any help with his service or attestation papers would be heartily appreciated. Thanks in advance. An Indian Mutiny Medal and China clasp Pekin 1860 pair awarded to Private George Smith, 99th late 53rd Regiments of Foot. Both medals are confirmed on the rolls. The Indian Mutiny Roll mentions that he was discharged on 24 November 1859 from the 53rd Ft. 171 Pte. George Smith, 53rd Ft. (Shropshire) Later volunteered to the 99th Ft. (Lanarkshire) where he served as 1319 Pte. George Smith. Smith was still serving in 1871 with the 99th Regt. (Duke of Edinburgh’s) at Parkhurst, Isle of Wight. The 99th Regiment provided the guard for the Royal Pavillion at Aldershot

QSA: CAPE COLONY, PAARDEBERG, DRIEFONTEIN, TRANSVAAL - 3589 TPR E.T. CLARKE. KITCHENER’S HORSE. Ernest Taylor Clarke was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England in 1873. He was residing in South Africa when the Boer War occurred and served with Kitchener’s Horse as a Trooper from 9/2/1900 – 29/8/1900. He was taken prisoner of war at Waterval Drift on 15/2/1900. He appears in the casualty lists dated 11/5/1900 as seriously ill with typhoid fever. He was medically discharged on 29/8/1900. He also appears on the rolls of the Provisional Transvaal Constabulary as serving with them from 14/6/1900 – 26/7/1900. Trooper A. Clarke 3588 is on the same roll with the notation "medal issued to his brother". Based on the consecutive serial numbers it would appear that E.T. Clarke is his brother. On the 12/2/1900 a squadron of Kitchener's Horse was left at at Blaauwbosch Pan, about eight miles north-east of Dekiel's Drift, on the Riet, in order to protect the wells until the infantry, who were following, should arrive. Unfortunately, the infantry took a different course, and instead of them a large force of Boers turned up, who attacked the squadron and compelled their surrender after they had made a very creditable defense in a farmhouse for two days. It is unknown when he was released by the Boers.

C.M.G., Companion’s, neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, D.S.O. (VR), Q.S.A., 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Major Imp: Yeo:), K.S.A., 2 clasps, S.A.1901, S.A.1902 (Major Imp. Yeo.) Lieutenant-Colonel J. F. Humby, D.S.O., Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment, late commanding Dublin Imperial Yeomanry (Note: The D.S.O. is a fine, contemporary jewelers copy. The suspension is original and presumably the original badge parted company at some point.) Mounted for wear prior to the issue of his Great War medals C.M.G. London Gazette 3 June 1916. Entitled to a '15 Star Trio and MID emblem as Lt. Col. of the Sherwood Foresters. He landed in France on 30/08/1915. D.S.O. London Gazette 31 October 1902: ‘James Frederick Humby, Captain, 8th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry; Major, 3rd Battalion the Royal Irish Rifles. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa. M.I.D. L.G. 15/11/1901 (Kitchener’s dispatch 8/10/1901 “The 74th (Irish) Squadron, ‘Imperial Yeomanry, under Captain Humby, behaved with great gallantry and determination. Though outnumbered by 400 Boers, who surrounded the convoy, and pressed to close •quarters, our men held their ground and offered such a stubborn resistance, that at nightfall the enemy abandoned the attack and withdrew. On the following day Captain Humby, who did not lose a single wagon, took his convoy safely into Griquatown, but his losses were extremely heavy. Nine men of the escort were killed, and 2 Officers and 21men were wounded.’ It was described as ‘At this point the reputation of the Imperial Yeomanry was once again saved by the outstanding bravery displayed by one of its units in the field, the gallant defense of a convoy at Rooikopjes, outside Griquatown, by men of the 74th (Dublin) Company on 24th August 1901. The two-mile-long convoy was transporting food to the remote town of Griquatown in the north-west of Cape Colony, which was surrounded by Boer commandos and in urgent need of supplies. The convoy was escorted by the 100 strong 74th Company, commanded by a Captain James Humby, who had himself been taken prisoner at Lindley the previous year. When the convoy was attacked by several hundred Boers, Captain Humby quickly laagered the wagons. At the same time, he ordered the Irish yeomanry to seize a ridge which overlooked the convoy and provide covering fire. This they did, holding it throughout the whole of the following night, during which they were involved in intense close- quarter fighting. During the defense of the convoy, the Dublin Company lost 7 men killed and 25 wounded, two of the wounded later dying.’ The Lindley Affair, the Capture of the 13th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry by the Boers. The 13th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry, with two Colt guns, comprised the 47th Company (the Duke of Cambridge’s Own) under Capt C S Keith and the three Irish companies: the 46th under Capt R A Maude, the 54th under Capt J F Humby, and the 45th under Capt the Earl of Longford. After holding Lindley for 4 days against superior Boer odds and well capable of holding pending the arrival of a relief column the position fell by strange circumstance. Between the two koppies was a small post of a few men, one of whom decided to raise the white flag as a token of surrender. This man was shot by his comrades. Reinforcements from the 54th Company arrived, but it was too late to save the position. With the southern koppie already in Boer hands, Lt Robin, under the mistaken notion that he was bound by the white flag of his subordinate, ordered a ceasefire. This brought the valley in which the transport was parked into Boer hands. The remainder of the British position became untenable. Seeing the futility of further effort, Colonel Spragge also surrendered. Lord Longford, with the 45th Company to the north, and Capt Maude, with the 46th Company in the west, held out for a little longer but they too finally surrendered. All firing ceased at about 14.00. Originally Humby was held prisoner along with the other officers and men of the 13th were held at Airlie POW camp. On 13 August 1900 due to the awful conditions some 1,700 British prisoners were freed by Gen B.J. Viljoen. The 47 officers however were held and transported to Barberton. Humby is recorded as escaped at Nooitgedacht (some 120 miles from Barberton whilst presumably on route) on the 30th August, 1900. M.I.D. London Gazette 15 June 1916. James Frederick Humby was born on 21 July 1860, son of Fred Peter Humby, of Southbroom, Devizes, Wiltshire. Educated in Paris, he joined the 3rd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, as Second Lieutenant, in 1891, and became Captain in 1896. He served in the South African War, 1900-2; commanded the 54th (Ulster) Imperial Yeomanry from February 1900. He took part in the operations in Orange Free State, February to May 1900; operations in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, July to 29 November 1900; operations in Orange River Colony and Cape Colony 30 November 1900 to 31 May 1902. He was taken prisoner at Lindley with the 13th Battalion, but escaped 30 August 1900. He became Major in 1901, and commanded the 74th (Dublin) Imperial Yeomanry from June 1901; 8th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry from May 1902. He was twice mentioned in dispatches; received the Queen’s Medal with four clasps; the King’s Medal with two clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order. Lieutenant Colonel J. F. Humby served in the European War in command of the 12th Battalion, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment in France from 30 August 1915, and was created a C.M.G. in 1916 for his services, and personally decorated by King GV. During WWII he lived at Lamorna Cottage in Goldsithney, Cornwall. He died at age 83 in June 1943 and was buried in Perranuthnoe Parish Cemetery. The funeral was attended by members of the British Legion; Humby was Chairman of the Ruishp Branch. He had married Betha Elizabeth Rich-Jones (18/10/1861) in 1883 in Bradford upon Avon, and they had a daughter Moireen Freda Humby born in 1904. He was the son of Frederick Peter Humby (1833-1882) who was a brewer and Mary Ann Macklin. Interestingly, he was educated in Paris. Upon his father’s death, he and his brother took over the business and expanded it, then sold it to Wardworths in 1889 upon his brother’s death. He moved to Staffored, Stafffordshire with his money in 1890 where he purchased a new brewery. He was also elected as a member of the Conservative Party to be Mayer of Devizes in 1888 and 1889. This is a story of a family that rose through hard work and investments. His grandfather was a blacksmith, his father was a publican who then became a brewer. He married a farmer’s daughter and they had three daughters and two sons; James Frederick was obviously well educated, hardworking and courageous, and according to his obituary, he was a congenial man who took a sincere interest in veterans.

Another new Second Anglo-Boer War PoW pair. QSA: RoL, Paard, Drie - 2567 Pte. C. Eggerton. Glouc. Regt. KSA: SA01, SA02 - 2567 Pte. C. Eggerton. Glouc. Regt. PoW 23 Nov1900 - taken prisoner of war at Dewetsdorp while serving with the 2nd battalion; later released on 5 Dec 1900. Charles Eggerton enlisted on 2 February 1889. He was a laborer from Cheltenham. He was born in 1867 and the son of William and Mary Ann Eggerton. His father was a brick-maker and his mother was an ironer. He had two siblings: William (1865) and Rose (1869). Their address was 138 Queens Place, Cheltenham. Eggerton was stationed at Home from 2/2/2889 to 20/7/1891 and then to the East Indies from 21/2/1891 to 6/11./1892; Malta 7/11/1893 to 7/10/1895; Egypt 8/10/1895 to 14/2/1897; Home 10/2/1897 to 31/12/1899; South Africa 1/1/1900 to 4/2/1902; and home 5/2/1902 to 8/2/1902. His only medals were the QSA and KSA. He was discharged at the depot as "time expired" and was a Private he entire Army career.

Thanks Tony, These links look very promising! Cheers and all the very best, John

I've always found the Yata-no-Karasu badges most interesting due to the Three-legged Raven story in Japanese mythology. Here are the three I've recently acquired consisting of the Ordinary Member's Badge , the Supporting Member's badge and lastly the Tokubetsu type or Special Member's Badge with the green border around the central oval. According to Murphy and Ackley, the Tokubetsu was awarded to officers in the organization. They are all very well made with excellent enamel work.

Hi Tracy, I received the obidome today and there is no longer a circle. The seller must have polished it as now there is nothing there. It would have been interesting if there has been… alas…

Hi Tracy, Will do upon its arrival from Japan,

It appears to be a mark. Perhaps someone can tell what it means. 🤞🏻

Here’s another new obidome for an Aikokou Fujinkai Imprial Patriotic Women’s Association member.