About the product

QSA KSA Military Foot Police Brazilian born

Queen’s South Africa, 5 bars, King’s South Africa, 2 bars, 410 Sergeant George Borges, Military Foot Police, a Brazillian in the British Army, Early MFP member since 1891. Grandson of a Colonel in the Brazilian Army.

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SKU: J6878 Category:
Origin: United Kingdom
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Queen’s South Africa, 5 bars, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek, King’s South Africa, 2 bars, SA 1901, SA 1902, 410 Sergeant George Borges, Military Foot Police, a rare pair to an early member of the Corps of Military Police since 1891.

 

George Borges was born in Brazil, South America during 1866.

 

He was the son of Victoriano Augusto Borges, who married an English Lady, Elizabeth Cliford.

 

Victoriano, his father, was from Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil, and had moved to England and lived in Liverpool, he was an engineer and had come to England as a boy, appearing as a Boarder in the 1861 census, where he adopted the anglicised “Victor”. His Father.

 

George’s Grandfather, was also a Victoriano Augusto Borges, who worked as Chief of Customs in Ceara, Brazil, he was also a “Coronel” Colonel in the Brazilian Army and was very well known in Ceara.

 

His father appears to have sent him for an education in England, he graduated from the Liverpool Institute during 1857, graduating in Geography, Geometry, Algebra, Natural Philosophy and Recitations.

 

He met a young Liverpudlian lady, Elizabeth Clifford, and they married and had 2 children Winifred Benvinda Borges during 1862 and then George Borges was born during 1866, when they were back in Brazil.

 

Whilst Victor had moved to England and become English, his brother, Pedro Augusto Borges was rising through the ranks of the Brazilian Army as a Doctor.

 

George’s Uncle, General Pedro Augusto Borges was a Military Surgeon and Doctor, who was an early Senator with the Brazilian Senate after the Military Coup of 1891 finally ending the Kingdom of Brazil. He became the Governor of the State of Ceara with the first Republican Party of Brazil.

 


George Borges was a Seaman before attesting for service at the age of 18 years and 6 months at Preston, for the North Lancashire Regiment on 18th December 1885.

 

In order to not stick out amongst his comrades, he changed his birthplace, stating he was born in Chorlton on Medlock, in Manchester.

 

Following 7 years of service, on 14th March 1891, he transferred to the Corps of Military Foot Police.
Upon the creation of the MFP in 1885, they only had a strength of 31 NCO’s and 59 privates, by 1900, The corps still had a strength of only about 300 men spread around the world.

 

He saw good service and re-engaged to complete 12 years during 1891, then to complete 21 years service during 1897.

 

He saw the following overseas service from 1885-1906:

 

Home: 15th Dec 1885 – 10th Apr 1897
Malta: 11th Apr 1897 – 20th Nov 1899
South Africa: 21st Nov 1899 – 13th Nov 1902
Home: 14th Nov 1902 – 14th Dec 1906

 

During the war in South Africa, he finally gained some promotions, being appointed as a Corporal on 14th March 1900, and near the end of the Boer War, being promoted to Sergeant on 1st August 1902, whilst serving under W. Bonham, Captain and Provost Marshall.

 

He completed his 21 years term of service on 14th December 1906 and was discharged as a Sergeant.

 

During his retirement he lived in Chatham, with his wife and 7 children, he found work as a Watch Man at the Royal Sailors Home naturally when the Great War came about, he presented himself at Chatham, on 7th September 1914, aged 47, to volunteer for further service with the Military Foot Police.

 

He joined as a Private on 7th September 1914, and was instantly promoted back to Sergeant.

 

On 14th October 1916 he was appointed as Acting Colour Sergeant.

 

Appointed as Acting Warrant Officer 2nd Class and paid Acting Company Sergeant Major on 24th June 1918.

 

Having taken his discharge one final time after the end of WW1, he had amassed about 26 years of service with the British Army of which 20 had been with the Military Foot Police, he soon after died at St Bartholomew’s Hospital and was buried in Chatham on 5th December 1919.