Description
Queen’s South Africa, 2 bars, Natal, Belfast, 6154 Private F.H. Taylor, 1st and 2nd Battalion Devonshire Regiment.
Officially impressed: “6154 Pte F.H. Taylor Devon Regt”
An early issue of the QSA Medal with the large letter style of naming and visible “Ghost Dates” on the reverse.
Confirmed on the medal roll. An unusual combination of clasps for a British Regiment. Quite unusual circumstances as he was a former Regular Army soldier who had been discharged and was actually a 3rd Bn Militia Man on attachment during the Boer War.
Also entitled to a matching KSA medal with both bars, this roll noting that he was by the time of the issue of the medal now serving with the “1st Royal Garrison Regiment.”
Earlier in his Army Career, he had previously seen active service in India with the 2nd Bn Devonshire Regiment, earning the India General Service Medal 1854, bar, Burma 1889-2.
Francis Harper Taylor, was born in the town of Newbridge, County Kiildare, Ireland circa 1867.
Following the end of the Boer War, he signed on with the 1st Royal Garrison Regiment, on 13th January 1903, citing previous service in Devonshire Regiment having finished his terms of engagement, and being an active member of the 3rd Devon Regt at the time.
It looks like had in fact been brought out of retirement initially to take part in the Boer War, as his RGR Papers recall pevious “Embodied Militia Service in 3rd Bn Dev Regt from 4-12-98 to 13-9-02, 2 years 218 days.”
His papers recall prior service “With Hanton Column Upper Burma 1891, and With N. Eastern Column 1891-92, S. Africa 1900-02”
Note the Hanton Column was sent out from Bhamo to reinforce the Easter Kachin Column (on receipt of the news that the latter had been surprised ant attacked at their camp at Hanton) and effected its purpose successfully.
Under Command of Major P.H. Smith, 2nd Devonshire Regiment.
An interesting note on his papers state that “This Man has made a False Answer to Question 7”,
Question 7 being “Have you ever been convicted by Civil Powers”.
It looks like they dug up his earlier service file from his time with the Regulars, where he was recorded as “Imprisoned by the Civil Powers” from 29th March 1888 to 28th April 1888.
