Description
Queen’s South Africa, 2 bars, Cape Colony, SA 1902, 39595 Private Henry McBeath, 141st Company Imperial Yeomanry, Fincastle’s Horse. Scotsman from Dornoch, Sutherland.
Officially impressed: “39595 Pte H. McBeath. 141st Coy Imp: Yeo:”
With copy Imperial Yeomanry service records.
Henry McBeath was born in Kildonald, Dornoch, Sutherland circa 1879.
The son of James and Johan McBeath, both born in Clyne, Sutherland.
His father was a Farm Servant when Henry was born in Dornoch, the family moving by 1891 to Rogart, Sutherland by this time his father James was a “Farm Greive” a Manager role.
Having worked as a Mason, and 23 years old, he had been a member of his local 1st S.R. Volunteers, The Sutherland “Highland” Rifle Volunteer Regiment.
Henry signed on directly with Fincastle’s Horse on 11th January 1902.
He would see the following service:
Home, 11th Jan 1902 – 16th April 1902
South Africa, 17th April 1902 – 18th October 1902.
Home, 19th October 1902 – 26th October 1902.
He took his discharge following his return home at “His own request” on 26th October 1902.
His conduct was said to have been “Very Good”, he intended to return back home to Pittentrail, a hamlet in the small village of Rogart, Sutherland.
The unusually seen Imperial Yeomanry regiment known as “Fincastle’s Horse”, the title of the 31st Battalion Imperial Yeomanry was raised by The Earl of Dunmore, Alexander Edward Murray VC DSO MVO DL.
A young man who was the recent recipient of the Victoria Cross in 1897 with the 16th Lancers in India.
Having seen some service already in the Boer War since 1899 as A.D.C. to General Sir HC Chernside, he returned home to raise Fincastle’s Horse, becoming the commandant with the rank of Lt Col on 22nd January 1902.
The Battalion would number 32 Officer and 603 men, most like Henry McBeath were from the “Highlands” region of Scotland.
