Description
Queen’s South Africa, 5 bars, Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, CC, OFS, Tvl, 715 Private J. Griffiths, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, who also volunteered to serve in the South African Constabulary during the war.
Officially impressed: “715 Pte J. Griffiths. K.R.R.C.”
Confirmed on the medal roll, which notes his invalided on 21st March 1900, earning the 3 top clasps with the South African Constabulary.
With copy service records including his detailed (46 pages) service file from the S.A.C.
John Griffiths was a young soldier in the KRRC who served in the early part of the Boer War, taking part in the Battle of Talana Hill followed by becoming a defender in the Siege of Ladysmith.
He was sent home afterwards as an invalid, and was clearly aware that he was suffering from Epilepsy.
He would however choose to return to the war with the South African Constabulary and managed to conceal his issue until his Captain finally spotted one of his fits, of which he had suffered many during his time but never in public until he was s
He made it all the way through to the end of the war, coming home in November 1902 with a good extra pension from the SAC.
John Griffiths was born during 1880 in Essington, Walsall, Staffordshire.
He enlisted having recently turned 18 years old with the KRRC on 24th January 1898, having worked as a Miner.
He first landed in South Africa on 22nd December 1898, being there before the outbreak of the war, taking part in the early stages including the Battle of Talana which lead into those men becoming besieged in Ladysmith right afterwards.
After that relief, he was invalided home on 25th May 1900, and coming home he was transferred to the Army Reserve on 31st March 1901.
He would finish out his 12 years of service with the reserves to be discharged fully on 23rd January 1910.
However this was not actually the end of his service in South Africa as his papers might indicate.
Possibly displeased with not being able to return to fight in the remainder of the war, he enlisted into the South African Constabulary on 19th February 1901.
He stated his references as Captain Allgood and Fenner of the KRRC and had “2 years in South Africa as a Soldier”.
He was assessed as Fair at shooting and riding, he could also swim and was at the time 3 years into his service with the KRRC.
Captain WH Fenner KRRC gave him a recommendation: “Since I have known this man I have found him a steady man and of good character.”
After serving out the rest of the Boer War in South Africa with the South African Constabulary he was found medically unfit and discharged late that year in November 1902.
It appears he had been suffering from Epilectic Fits, The Invaliding Board writes:
“Six months ago patient fell down in a Fit. He says he thinks it lasted about 10 minutes since that date he has had about 10 similar ones, but has never seen in one by a Medical officer, until 20th November when I saw him in a true Epileptic Fit.
P.C. patient suffers from constant headaches, which at times is very severe, other wise a well nourished, but dull looking man. Not the result of service or climate.”
