Jim Maclean Posted February 4, 2007 Posted February 4, 2007 These medals are from my Grandfather's brother. His QSA is from his time with the Royal Sussex Regiment. I believe from what I was told he was totally enamourmed with South Africa and when his initial enlistment was up went back and joined the Bechuanaland Police. Obviously he was back in the UK when WW1 broke out as he must have re-enlisted pretty quickly to get the 1914 Star (AVC). From his medal index cards it appears that he did not see out the whole of WW1 and probably went back to Bechuanaland to earn the LS medal with the police.
Riley1965 Posted February 4, 2007 Posted February 4, 2007 That's a GREAT story of service shown by his medals!!! Doc
Jim Maclean Posted February 4, 2007 Author Posted February 4, 2007 (edited) Here's a couple of pics, first probably him on the right with only a QSA Edited February 4, 2007 by Jim Maclean
Jim Maclean Posted February 4, 2007 Author Posted February 4, 2007 (edited) After a game hunt. Just love that Peterson pipe, still made today. Edited February 4, 2007 by Jim Maclean
Jim Maclean Posted February 4, 2007 Author Posted February 4, 2007 That's a GREAT story of service shown by his medals!!! DocThanks Doc, I always wished I'd met him but unfortunately I didn't. He must have been an interesting man. Even though he loved his life in Africa he never forgot his family.
Tony Posted February 4, 2007 Posted February 4, 2007 Very nice Jim and those photos are fantastic.Did he stay in Africa after going back to the police or go to the UK again?Tony
Jim Maclean Posted February 5, 2007 Author Posted February 5, 2007 Very nice Jim and those photos are fantastic.Did he stay in Africa after going back to the police or go to the UK again?TonyThanks Tony.From what I know he went back to the police and stayed in Bechuanaland until he died. Details about him are sketchy, reading between the lines he was a bit of a black sheep I think. On the back of the picture of him with a pipe is an inscription saying he was well under the influence when it was taken. I've downloaded his Medal Index Cards from Kew (he's got 3!) and it appears he was discharged from the army 28/10/1915. I'm going to try to find out from my uncle that lives in Canada when he died, and take it from there, though I suspect trying to research a career with the Bech. Protectorate Police will be difficult. I wonder how good the Botswana national archives are? Here are his brother, my grandfather's WW1 medals, along with his WW2 medals still in their packets.
Chris Boonzaier Posted March 21, 2007 Posted March 21, 2007 After a game hunt. Just love that Peterson pipe, still made today.I have about 10 petersons... I smoke them in secret as pipes look so pretentious nowadays...
Kev in Deva Posted March 21, 2007 Posted March 21, 2007 Hallo Jim, a great set of medals with a unique family connection thats what makes this hobby so interesting, thanks for sharing them and the photographs.Kevin in Deva
Jim Maclean Posted April 4, 2007 Author Posted April 4, 2007 I have about 10 petersons... I smoke them in secret as pipes look so pretentious nowadays...They're a fine pipe, I've got 2, one smooth and one rough. Both of them are 'bent' like the one in the photo. Curiously I bought both before I ever saw the photos. I don't think smoking a pipe is pretentious, owning 10 though is borderline . Unless you're a closet collector
Jim Maclean Posted April 4, 2007 Author Posted April 4, 2007 Hallo Jim, a great set of medals with a unique family connection thats what makes this hobby so interesting, thanks for sharing them and the photographs.Kevin in Deva Thanks Kev they mean a lot to me.
Chris Boonzaier Posted April 4, 2007 Posted April 4, 2007 . Unless you're a closet collector Maybe so ;-)
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