RARE BOER WAR FAMILY HISTORY

[Mervyn Mitton]

Graham - I can only say Thankyou. Your knowledge is most impressive and has pointed me in a direction for further enquiries.

Mervyn

[leigh kitchen]

I just typed up a lengthy post & had cropped down some images from the photo in post 3 - & now I've seen that Merv has put up some good crops already - so a much reduced post from me -

Graham, The Volunteer Force LSGC was round, with green ribbon, the oval TFEM with green ribbon bearing central yellow stripe replaced it in 1908.

The TFEM was replaced by the TEM with green ribbon with yellow side stripes in 1921, although I think this was more a change to the medal itself than to the criteria for award, & this was replaced in 1930 by the EM, which had a green ribbon with narrow yellow side stripes for the bulk of the TA (1930 - 68 & 1982 - 99) a halved green & blue ribbon with yellow side stripes for the TAVR (1969 - 81) & the halved blue & red with yellow side stripes for the Honourable Artillery Company.

The medal you show in post 14 is the EM, introduced in 1930, the preceeding medals had ring suspenders

The apparently oval medal worn in the photo does?nt have the basic ring mount of the TFEM though, by the look of it - could it be a round medal with ornate bar suspender?.

The cap badge does look as if it lacks the "HINDOOSTAN" scroll above the tiger.

The shouledr title - numeral "5"?

Merv, where do the Northants come into this please? Grandad's wearing the cap & collar badges of the Leicestershires in one photo, & in the other collar insignia that don't look like the Northants to me.

[leigh kitchen]

Although it looks like a King's Crown, this is a Victorian era crown, the flattish topped "Jubillee" or "Cavalry" Crown worn by some units instead of the usual big cushioned Victorian Crown.

[Mervyn Mitton]

Leigh - thanks for taking all this trouble - and to everyone else - what a pity I didn't know him, would have saved all this effort. I agree with you re: the shape of the Crown. This was the one that was in use at the end of the 19th. C - and carried over in the early period of Ed.7. With regard to the medal - I think it is oval, with two bars - because of the big suspender it appears to hang ,lower and, therefore, looks oval. When he was commissioned, I was told by my Father that he was transferred to another Regt. - as, is I believe, the usual case. I had the Derbyshire Regt. fixed in my mind, and then remembered the family also, mentioning the Northants. Looking through a jewellers loop, the collar badges have most resemblance to the Northants, - a castle, with three turrets. I am sorry that I can,t be more sure - my memory has failed me in this case - it is 35 years since my father died.

Merv.

[leigh kitchen]

Merv, other regiments used the 3 turret castle, including the Suffolks, Cambridgeshires, Inniskillings, Essex & Dorsets, could you scan the collar badge in the 2nd photo please?

I'm hazy on collar dogs, but that of the Northants could well have been a crowned small oval wreath with the Rutland horse shoe, although think at this time it would have been the same design as the cap badge for OSD.

Edited May 12, 2009 by leigh kitchen

[Graham Stewart]

Right gents bringing this one back to the surface, as the photo of Henry Mitton as a Captain in officers service dress has had me on the go for a while now. Anyway even though we don't have a clear shot of the only collar badge, I've never been convinced they were either Northamptons or Notts and Derby, so I've done a bit digging in the London Gazette & Army List.

The collar badge we can see always looked to me as though it had the Sphinx on it and believe it or not we do actually find a temporary Captain & Quartermaster H. Mitton, 8th(Service)Battalion, Gloucestershire Regt being attached to the 5th Bn, Northamptonshire Regt(Pioneers) on the 17th December 1914.

Therefore gents I conclude that this our man.

Edited May 17, 2009 by Graham Stewart

[Mervyn Mitton]

Graham - what do I say - thankyou, seems totally inadequate ! I appreciate, that as hobby, research is fun, but you, Leigh and others who took part in this search have shown just how much specialised knowledge lies within our ranks.

The only question that still puzzles me - was he a regular - 8th Bn. sounds territorial. Maybe he had retired and was brought back for war service ?

I am indebted to you. Mervyn

[Graham Stewart]

Mervyn,

The 8th(Service)Bn, Gloucestershire Regt was a war raised "Kitcheners Army" battalion formed in Bristol in September 1914. On it's formation it moved to Perham Down Camp for training as part of 57th Brigade, 19th Division and spent the December 1914 in Billets in that area. In March 1915 it moved to Tidworth before moving to France on the 18th July 1915. Henry had left the Battalion in the December 1914.

The 5th(Service)Bn, Northamptonshire Regt(Pioneers) were also a "Kitchener Army" war raised unit formed at Northampton in August 1914. They were originally regarded as 'Army Troops' and attached to 12th Division which were forming at Shorncliffe. In November 1914 they moved to the Hythe area where the Battalion become the Divisional Pioneer Bn of 12th Div. In Feb 1915 they moved to Aldershot and eventually moved to France on 30th May 1915. The battalion remained with 12th Div throughout the war.

Hopefully if his service records survive you may get snippets of his previous military service.