Help needed

Posts : 5 Join date : 2014-02-01 Location : Devon

I have a QSA medal awarded to G. Jefferson 2030 1/24th Regiment with the 1879 bar, and despite hours of research, cannot find any reference to him or his whereabouts in January 1879. His name is mentioned in Norman Holmes book and I have a copy of the medal roll where he is called Jafferson. I know he survived and was transferred to the 2/19th. I would appreciate any help in finding out more about him. Thank you in advance.

Posts : 615 Join date : 2013-05-07 Location : Brecon

The reason is that he was not there in January 1879. He was on the draft which left UK (Woolwich) aboard the Clyde on 1 March 1879. The only exciting thing he witnessed in South Africa was when the Clyde hit a reef just after passing Simon's Bay. He transferred back to 2/19th when the 1/24th returned to UK (Gosport) in October 1879. There could be a set of documents for him in the National Archives at Kew. [The Clyde draft pay & muster roll is reference WO16/1573 at Kew].

Note he would have had a different personal number in 19th Foot - 2030 is the 25 Brigade number issued by 24th Foot.

QSA - Queen's South Africa Medal - campaign medal awarded for 2nd Anglo-Boer war 1899-1902
South Africa Medal - campaign medal awarded for Frontier and Anglo-Zulu war 1877-79

Posts : 5 Join date : 2014-02-01 Location : Devon

Thank you for that. Sorry for my ignorance but would he have begun his Army career with the 2/19th as you say he transferred back to them later in 1879? I haven't found any attestation information for him.

Posts : 615 Join date : 2013-05-07 Location : Brecon

Yes, the Clyde draft pay & muster roll states he was from 2/19th but does not give his personal number only 25B/2030 allocated by the 24th.

If there are no personal documents - this is likely if he was only a short service soldier - you could try and track him down on 2/19th pay & muster rolls - you would have to visit Kew as these are not available on-line - WO16/1523 (1877-79) and WO16/1524 (1879-81).

Posts : 5 Join date : 2014-02-01 Location : Devon

Thank you for your help - just another thought - if G Jefferson did not see any action in South Africa, why was he entitled to the South Africa medal?
I think his personal number for the 2/19th was 1946

Posts : 615 Join date : 2013-05-07 Location : Brecon

He joined 1/24th at Dundee in May 1879 when the battalion were preparing for the second invasion of Zululand. The battalion were part of the 2nd Division under Maj Gen Newigate in the advance to Ulundi. At the time of the final battle of Ulundi (4 July 1879) - 1/24th was guarding the camp in the rear on the White Umvolozi River and did not take part in this action. As George crossed into Zululand he was entitled to the '1879 clasp'. Having travelled this ground a number of times, it would have been quite a challenge for the young soldiers in 1879.

Posts : 5 Join date : 2014-02-01 Location : Devon

Thank you so much for all of your help - it definitely makes us wonder what the young men went through. We were given a 1914 Christmas tin containing this medal and others including a QSA medal with Natal clasp and Army Long Service and Good Conduct medals awarded to H Vigors, and a 1914 Star trio awarded to G Jefferson. All three recipients were related. Curiosity has led to our research and subsequent interest in 1879. Do you think that these medals would be of interest to a serious collector? Advice would be gratefully received.

Subject: Help Needed Sun Oct 05, 2014 12:37 pm

Hi Helmo
There is no doubt the Medals would be of interest to the serious collector . The South African Medal with the 1879 Clasp would be the most expensive of those . Medals to the 1 / 24th Regt are always more expensive than the other Regiments ' medals , which I find curious , as the 1st 24th didnt take part in any action after Isandlwana .
Cheers 90th Shocked

Posts : 5 Join date : 2014-02-01 Location : Devon

Hi 90th. Thank you for your advice. If these are of any interest to anyone on this forum, please contact me for any more information.

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