I am in the early stages of researching my family tree and have established that one of my first cousins (Cecil Archibald Valentine SMITH) was a Trooper/Private in the Queens Bays. In the 1901 Census (which was taken on 31 March) he was at the West Cavalry Barracks, Aldershot but I believe that later the 2nd Dragoon Gurads sailed to South Africa for the Boer War. To start the ball rolling is there anyone who can tell me where the 2nd Dragoon Guards were posted during the War and in what actions they would have taken part in. David Blackmore Bristol

Hello David, The Queen's South Africa Medal roll for the regular cavalry shows 4237 Pte. C.A. Smith 2nd Dragoon Guards entitled to the medal with clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal & South Africa 1902. Thiis ties in with the late arrival of 2DG who landed at Cape Town around the turn of the year 1901/1902. (The war ended on 31/5/1902). They had long since missed all the major battles and served in columns on the drives which attempted to capture the remnants of the Boer commandos still out in the field. The regiment was mainly involved in these drives in the northern Orange Free State and southern Transvaal, hence these two clasps on the medal. He would have automatically qualified for the Cape Colony clasp just by landing at Cape Town and the dated clasp just for being there during the first five months of 1902. Regards, David ----- Original Message ----- From: Dave <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, September 28, 2003 9:40 AM Subject: [BOER-WAR] 2nd Dragoon Guards > I am in the early stages of researching my family tree and have established that one of my first cousins (Cecil Archibald Valentine SMITH) was a Trooper/Private in the Queens Bays. In the 1901 Census (which was taken on 31 March) he was at the West Cavalry Barracks, Aldershot but I believe that later the 2nd Dragoon Gurads sailed to South Africa for the Boer War. To start the ball rolling is there anyone who can tell me where the 2nd Dragoon Guards were posted during the War and in what actions they would have taken part in. > David Blackmore > Bristol

Hello, David Can you possibly assist me in finding the name of unit of the Rifle Brigade that my great grandfather joined in 1894, please? Also information on the besiege of Ladysmith. Charles Edward Lowman of Hampshire joined the Rifle Brigade at the age of 18 in 1894. He took part in the Nile Expedition in 1898 was at the battle of Omdurman, the occupation of Crete and was in South Africa 1899-1902, being one of those besieged at Ladysmith. Charles rejoined for WW1 in 1914 and was awarded seven medals, none are in the family's procession. The Sudan, Khedive's medal , with Khartoum clasp, South African medals and clasps,, the 1914 Star, the Victory medal, and the King' medal. The Rifle Brigade at Winchester and the Totton British Legion sounded the Last Post and Reveille at his funeral on 22nd August 1936. Regards Heather Smith formerly Lowman Hello David, The Queen's South Africa Medal roll for the regular cavalry shows 4237 Pte. C.A. Smith 2nd Dragoon Guards entitled to the medal with clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal & South Africa 1902. Thiis ties in with the late arrival of 2DG who landed at Cape Town around the turn of the year 1901/1902. (The war ended on 31/5/1902). They had long since missed all the major battles and served in columns on the drives which attempted to capture the remnants of the Boer commandos still out in the field. The regiment was mainly involved in these drives in the northern Orange Free State and southern Transvaal, hence these two clasps on the medal. He would have automatically qualified for the Cape Colony clasp just by landing at Cape Town and the dated clasp just for being there during the first five months of 1902. Regards, David I am in the early stages of researching my family tree and have established that one of my first cousins (Cecil Archibald Valentine SMITH) was a Trooper/Private in the Queens Bays. In the 1901 Census (which was taken on 31 March) he was at the West Cavalry Barracks, Aldershot but I believe that later the 2nd Dragoon Gurads sailed to South Africa for the Boer War. To start the ball rolling is there anyone who can tell me where the 2nd Dragoon Guards were posted during the War and in what actions they would have taken part in. David Blackmore Bristol