Description
Queen’s South Africa, 3 bars, CC, OFS, Transvaal, 9047 Private William McDonald Carey, 4th Volunteer Service Company, 2nd Bn Northumberland Fusiliers.
Officially impressed: “9047 Pte W. Carey North’d: Fus:”
Confirmed on the medal roll, of the 4th Volunteer Service Coy, 2nd Bn North’d Fusiliers.
For his additional service in South Africa he earned the dated pair of “SA 1901” & “SA 1902” clasps sent on separately.
With copy service papers.
William McDonald Carey was born in St Judes, South Shields, Durham in late 1883, although given on his enlistment records he claimed to be 18.5 years old, which was oddly crossed through to read 20, when he was about 17 in fact.
He enlisted for service on 26th February 1901, stating he was 18 years 5 months old, however 18 was crossed through and 20 was written, but we are pretty sure he was actually 17 years old according to local Birth Records, and perhaps trying to sneak into the Army to fight in the ongoing Boer War (Based on official registered birth records).
His papers were heavily annotated, as he enlisted barely a month after the death of Queen Victoria, so every instance of “Her” was crossed through to read “His Majesty”, and it did come up a lot on his records.
He stated he had already served with the 5th Volunteer Battalion Durham Light Infantry.
Very soon after he enlisted, he was sent off to South Africa, his postings read:
Home, 26th February 1901 – 14th March 1901
South Africa, 15th March 1903 – 21st June 1902
Home, 22nd June 1902.
He had signed on for only a 1 year contract, which ran over an extra 3 months.
After returning home he was discharged following the end of his terms of engagement on 22nd June 1902.
Also receiving a gratuity of £5 for his service in the war.
Returning home to “St Judes” in South Shields, he married there on 28th February 1912 to Ethel Christie.
