Description
Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service, GV, Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officer Decoration, GV, Major Charles Francis Withers, Cape Town Highlanders.
LSGC Officially impressed: “Lieut C.F. Withers. 6th Infy (D.C. & S.O. C.T.H.)”
Decoration engraved on reverse: “CAPT C.F. WITHERS C.T.H (D.C.S.O.)”
LSGC awarded on 18th July 1924.
Decoration awarded on 20th July 1934.
Also earned a 1914-15 Star Trio for WW1 service and even returned for WW2 to earn a 1939-45 War Medal and Africa Service Medal when in his 60s.
With copies of SA service records for WW1 and WW2, and confirmations of these 2 medals.
The Book: The Cape Town Highlanders, 1885-1985, by Neil D. Orpen, 1986, lists him as “Major C.F. Withers” and might contain further information.
Major Charles Francis Withers was a long serving officer of the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn’s Own Cape Town Highlanders.
An unusual career, being born to an Quarter Master Sergeant in the Army in Bandon, County Cork, Ireland, he had joined the Coldstream Guards as a young man back in 1898.
The naming corresponds to the official designation of the unit at the time of issue, from 1913 to 1932 they were the “6th Infantry (Duke of Connaught and Strathearn’s Own Cape Town Highlanders)” as part of the Union Defence Force’s Citizen Force.
In 1932 the title was changed to the Cape Town Highlanders (Duke of Connaught and Strathearn’s Own).
Charles Francis Withers was by birth an Irishman, born in the town of Bandon, in County Cork, Munster, Ireland in the far south of Ireland.
The son of Frances and Lydia, his father was a Quarter Master Sergeant in the British Army, his papers note that he was the “Camp Qr Mr Sgt Aldershot”.
He first enlisted into the Coldstream Guards on 11th May 1898, having worked as a Telegraphist and served part time with the 1st Battalion of Hants Regiment Militia.
He served his 12 years at home, but did not go overseas or earn any medals.
He was discharged to go the army reserve on 29th July 1902 and would go on to finish his 12 years with the Army Reserves on 1st May 1910.
It was around this time perhaps during his Army Reserve period that he came to South Africa and settled in Cape Town.
With the outbreak of World War 1, he enlisted into the South African Infantry for the duration of war on 8th September 1914.
Being a former Telegraphist and taking on a career in this field he joined the A Company of the 5th S.A. Infantry as a Sergeant Signaller.
He was commissioned and served as a Lieut in the S.A.F.T. & P.C. from 1st Jan 1915 until 28th August 1915.
It looks like he was released from the service on 28th August 1915 as an officer, but rejoined in 1916 to serve in France
Promtoed Acting Sergeant on 3rd October 1917 and served with the South Africa Corps Signal Company Royal Engineers.
Papers records e “Emarbked at Cape Town on the Balmoral Castle 7th October 1916, arrived from South Africa 25th October 1916.”
Returned home: “Disembarked at Cape Town on the Ingoma 28th April 1919.”
Discharged on demobilisation on 30th May 1919.
Returning to the part time “Citizen Forces” he would in a few years earn his Long Service Medal as a Lieutenant and then 10 years after that in 1935 earn his decoration as a Captain, reaching Major some time afterwards.
Even as an Officer of the Citizen Forces when World War 2 began he, even though he was about 60 years old enlisted as a Private into the South African Technical Services Corps on 20th May 1941.
An interesting note is that he was born during 1879 but his papers read 1881, which would have made him 59 years old at the time, he appears to be have nudged his age under 60 to not be turned away.
Seeing service at home in South Africa until his discharge on 9th December 1943.
