Description
Queen’s South Africa, 5 bars, CC, OFS, Tvl, SA 1901, SA 1902, 5114 Private Andrew Craig, C Company, 1st Battalion Cameron Highlanders.
Officially impressed: “5114 Pte A. Craig. Cam’n Highrs:”
Confirmed on the medal roll. With copy service papers.
Andrew Craig was born in Pendleton, Lancashire about April 1879.
Andrew was Scottish by heritage, being raised by his Scottish Father Andrew, a Blackmith, and Scottish mother Elizabeth, who looks to have like many in those days, come down to Lancashire for work.
He was baptised on 3rd November 1880 at Christ Church in Salford.
During the Boer War, he chose to sign on with the Cameron Highlanders, having worked as a “Traveller”, at the time he was up in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, on 9th January 1900.
Andrew was at first posted to Gibraltar for 6 months before arriving in South Africa in November 1901 to served out the Boer War.
His foreign service:
Home, 9th Jan 1900 – 7th May 1900
Gibraltar, 8th May 1900 – 20th nov 1901
South Africa, 21st November 1901 – 10th Oct 1902
Home, 11th October 1902 – 6th November 1903
Malta, 7th November 1903 – 15th April 1904.
South Africa, 16th April 1904, 15th November 1907
Home, 16th Nov 1907 – 8th Jan 1912.
Andrew was a decent soldier, apart from on one serious occasion in 1906 when he was once again stationed in South Africa.
On 20th January 1906 he was arrested and awaiting trial.
He was then “Tried for District Court Martial for Striking his Superior Officer, Convicted and sentenced to 112 days of imprisonment and hard labour.”
He was then confined from 5th February 1906 although was allowed “A remission of 70 days Imprisonment and hard labour” at least.
On his last day in prison he was allowed out one day early his Officer Commanding remitting 1 extra day, returning to duty on 14th March 1906.
