Description
Queen’s South Africa/King’s South Africa, Kimberley Star and 1915 trio – Kimberley Town Guard / Lt Horse
An intriguing and rare group -with re-named QSA/KSA
Queen’s South Africa, clasps Defence of Kimberley, Paardeburg, Relief of Mafeking, Rhodesia, Transvaal. These clasps are old (but good quality) tailor’s copies.
Clasps confirmed in rolls except for Rhodesia to which he does not appear to be entitled.
[re-named in engraved upright caps. to Sergt. Major C. Greetham, Kimberley Lt. Horse.]King’s South Africa – usual clasps – renamed in engraved upright caps. to Lt. C. Greetham Field Intelligence Dept.
Kimberley Star, with “d” hallmark (=1903 issue), unnamed.
Also served in Kimberley Town Guard and Jo’burg Mounted Rifles.
1914-15 Star – named correctly to : 217 Tpr. C. Greetham, E. Afr. Mtd. Rifles
British War and Victory Medals – named correctly to : 217 Tpr. C. Greetham, E. Afr. M. Rifles.
Clarence George Greetham initially served with the Kimberley Town Guard and then Kimberley Light Horse during the Boer War, in the rank of Troop Sergeant Major and Pay Sergeant to the unit. He was mentioned in Lord Roberts’ despatch (London Gazette 17 June 1902), an account of which is given in The Colonials in South Africa:
‘At Edenkop, Eastern Transvaal, 30th June, he twice went out under heavy fire to bring in his brother, who was stunned by [a] fall of his horse.’; he had already been “Mentioned” by Lord Roberts while Troop Sergt. Major in the Kimberley Light Horse (2.4.1901) = 2 x MID for war.
Greetham was subsequently commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Field Intelligence Department for the remainder of the war, with the roll showing his rank as Staff Captain.
At the onset of the Great War, he enlisted as a Trooper in the East African Mounted Rifles on 9th September 1914, and served in East Africa, his MIC noting ‘Theatre 4A’ (East Africa) from 9.9.14. He was discharged medically unfit on 4th November 1914 and was issued with a Silver War Badge.
Later addresses given as Queen’s Rd., Portsmouth and 45, Ifield Rd., Crawley.
Note – there is a Clarence George Greetham, born Portsmouth 1868, who served in the Royal Navy as a Writer from 1890 to 1899 and then deserted. Possibly the same man ?
With copied rolls, some papers and research etc.
The group bar mounted as worn with Kimberley Star to front. Light contacting the QSA/KSA – trio in better condition, GVF+.
An interesting an intriguing career represented in this “damaged” group!
