Description
Queen’s South Africa, 3 bars, Cape Colony, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, 1778 Private William Henry Carlyle, Prince Alfred’s Volunteer Guards, born Scotland, Married New Zealand, Died South Africa.
Officially impressed: “1778 Pte W. Carlyle. Prince Alf: Vol: Gd:”
Confirmed on the medal roll, which notes the medal with the 3 clasps attached was issued after his death on 20th August 1909 to “Mrs Chapman, 2 Princes Road Ellascombe, Torquay”.
According to his South African Death Records, at the time of his death 15th March 1904, submitted by his “Friend present at his death” Nellie Aitken, who provides the following information as she recalled:
Mr William Henry Carlyle was born “In Scotland” circa 1855. (1861 census recalls a man by this name and age from Dornock, Dumfries.)
By 1904 his father was dead but his mother was as written: “Alive ‘as far as I know’ “
He was not employed by the time of his death but was formerly an Auditor.
His marriage was to Margaret which took place: “In New Zealand, South Island, Don’t know which town.” (NZ marriage index confirms a marriage of William Henry Carlyle to Margaret Dick in New Zealand during 1886, NZ newspaper recalls it at Mrs Graham’s Spring-bank in Fendalton by Rev W Dinwiddie.)
Amusingly his list of children reads: “There are 4 children, the eldest is 16, I do not know their names”
Might be the same William Henry Carlyle, born circa 1854-5, who served a few years in the 9th Lancers, from 1872-1875, but was medically discharged following medical issues with his heart and having drowned in India, the medical report noting he might never be fit for hard work, which might line up with his premature death at 49.
