Description
British South Africa Company, Rhodesia 1896, Trooper Gerald Yorke Carmichael-Anstruther, B.S.A. Police, Heir to the Carmichael-Anstruther Baronetcy, one of Scotland’s Prominent Ancient Families.
Officially engraved: “Troopr G.Y. Anstruther B.S.A. Police.”
Confirmed on the medal roll.
Gerald was also entitled to the Queen’s South Africa, 2 bars, Cape Colony, SA 1901, for his service in the Boer War as a Corporal in the Midland Mounted Rifles, this medal was recently sold on 19th June 2024 at Noonans for £300 + Premiums, so a reunite is possible.
Edinburgh Evening News, 1st July 1910 reports on his death:
“SCOTTISH BARONET HEIR DEAD
The death has occurred at the Brompton Hospital for Consumption, London, of Mr Gerald Yorke Carmichael Anstruther, Grandson of Sir Wyndham Carmichael Anstruther, 7th Baronet and Heir-Presumptive to the present holder of the title.
He had returned home from South Africa only a week before his death.
Mr Carmichael Anstruther was in his 40th year. His only son, Wyndham Eric Francis, born in 1900, now becomes the Heir Presumpstive to the present holder of the title, who was born in 1902 and succeeded in 1903 as the tenth Baronet.”
Mr Gerald Yorke Carmichael Anstruther was born on 24th January 1871 in Henley, Oxfordshire.
Whilst his family was living at the Trinity Vickeridge in Rotherfield Greys, Henley, Oxfordshire.
He was the son of Windham George Conway Carmichael Anstruther (1845-98) and Ellen Anne Katherine, daughter of John Adam HEICS.
Being educated at Shrewsbury School he would enter the Insurance business with Standard Life Assurance Company.
He then emigrated to South Africa as a young man where he worked as an Accountant, inbetween taking up arms in both the 1896 Rhodesian War as well as the Boer War.
After spending about 15 years in South Africa he finally returned home and was due to take on the Baronet of his family as the Heir Presumptive, when he died aged only 40, barely a week after his return.
He left behind his son, Baron Sir Windham Eric Francis Carmichael-Anstruther, 11th and 8th Bt (1900-80) as an Orphan, as he had lost his mother in South Africa circa 1903. He was raised by his relatives after Gerald’s death, being educated at Marlborough College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He then became and Explorer and Surveyor in Canada returning home to claim the Baronetcies and Estates during 1928. He was the DL for Lanarkshire during 1940 and was also during WW2 the Commandant of 34 and 38 Group of the Royal Observer Corps.
SOUTH AFRICA AND RHODESIA
We believe that as young men, Gerald and his brother, later Captain Hugh John Elphinstone Carmichael-Anstruther, later Royal Welsh Fusiliers went out to South Africa during the early years of Rhodesia, both fighting in the 1896 Campaign followed by the Boer War.
His other brother, would similarly fight in the Boer War, Lieut Eric George Basil Carmichael-Anstruther, Army Service Corps, also of the Transvaal Constabulary and Ceylon Mounted Infantry. Although he had taken up fruit growing in California before the war.
FAMILY TIES TO THE KINGDOM OF SCOTLAND AND WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR
He came from an Ancient Scottish family, descended from the first “Anstruthers” who were given the name and town of Anstruther in Fife back in the 12th Century by William the Conqueror, when they acquired the name.
Apparently the lands were given under their original name to “William de Candela”.
De Candela was possibly a Norman from Italy, William I of England aka “William the Conqueror” sought assistance from William de Candela and sent his son or grandson to his assistance, it was after this that the family first acquired the land of Anstruther.
The family would then hold a distinguished part of Scottish History, taking part in various historically significant events.
His family fought at the Battle of Flodden in the Anglo Scottish War of 1513. This was Andrew Anstruther who married Chrstina Sandilands, descended from the Daughter of Robert II King of Scots.
Notably Sir Philip Anstruther, fought as a Royalist during the English Civil War and received King Charles II at Dreel Castle after his coronation at Scone during 1651. Philip would be taken as a Prisoner of War after the Battle of Worcester in 1651 where the Anstruthers fought to defence King Charles II, King of Scots against Oliver Cromwell and his English Parliamentarian Army
