Hi Melissa and David Another possibility for IMR would be Imperial Military Railway. My database includes a number of entries gleaned from newspaper reports of returning soldiers showing that unit. Colin Roe Oz-Boer Database www.pcug.org.au/~croe/ozb/oz_boer.cgi On Thursday 15 December 2005 19:01, BOER-WAR-D-request@rootsweb.com wrote: > Re: [BOER-WAR] military designations > Date: Wed Dec 14 18:29:57 2005 > From: David Humphry <davidh9999@yahoo.co.uk> > To: BOER-WAR-L@rootsweb.com > > Hi Melissa, >     >   1) V.B. = Volunteer Battalion >     >   2) V.S.C. = Volunteer Service Company >     >   3) Rand Rifles - Formed after the fall of Johannesburg to the British > (31/5/1900). They guarded the gold mines and were effectively the > Johannesburg Town Guard. >   4) I.M.R. = Definitely Mounted Rifles but not Imvoti. (Should be Umvoti). > My guess is Indwe. >   5) Your guesses ref D.F.F.A., K.L.H. & C.G.A. are correct. >     >   6) The volunteer battalions were not part of the regular army but part > time soldiers who were able to respond to the government's request for > military service. This normally involved home service only but in the Boer > War most (if not all) regular infantry regiments provided a volunteer > service company from one of their volunteer battalions for service in South > Africa. As for his apparently extensive service with so many units in a > shorter military career, I think that he retained (and quoted) his > principal affiliation with the Royal Fusiliers' Volunteer Battalion while > simultaneously attached to the other units. >   I hope this helps. Regards, David > > mlagusis <mlagusis@pacbell.net> wrote: > > Hello listers, > > I am new to this list so I apologize if this query is a repeat. I > attempted to send this message before I had subscribed officially, so > this is my second effort. > > > I just received the Attestation papers for my grandfather, Robert > Percy CLARK, for the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force (WW1). > In it he lists his previous military experience in South Africa. > > I wonder if anyone can confirm my interpretation of the abbreviations > and the significance of certain initials. > > He lists: > > 4 yrs V.B. Royal Fusiliers...what does V.B. signify? > > 2 yrs V.S.C. Royal Fusiliers....again what is the significance of > V.S.C.? > > 1 yr Rand Rifles > > 3 mo I.M.R. Vol....what does I.M.R. stand for? > > 18 mos D.F.F.A .....I am guessing that this stands for Diamond Fields > Field Artillery. > > 5 mos K.L.H....I am guessing this stands for Kimberley Light Horse. > > 8 yrs 5th C.G.A.....am I correct in guessing that this stands for > Cape Garrison Artillery? > > I think some of his experience must have been concurrent because, as > far as I know, he was only in South Africa from 1900 to 1908. Was it > possible to serve in different outfits simultaneously or was he > padding his resume? > I also have his attestation papers from British National Archives > confirming his service in the South African campaign 1900, 1901 with > the Royal Fusiliers. I believe he received the following medals > (according to my deceased aunt) but I have no idea of their > significance: > > Commander St Michael and St George, the Military Cross, The > Distinguished Service Order, General Service Medals, The Mons Star, > Coronation 1911, South Africa: King's and Queen's Long Service Medals. > > Where could I find more details on his South African military record? > > I do know that he went on to achieve the rank of Brigadier General in > the Canadian Army. > > Yours, > Melissa -- Colin Roe, Torrens ACT Australia

Hi Colin - Yes, you could well be right. I hadn't thought of a railway unit but in a way it's a bit more logical that an officer from a territorial battalion would be attached to one rather than to a local mounted rifles unit. David Colin Roe <croe@pcug.org.au> wrote: Hi Melissa and David Another possibility for IMR would be Imperial Military Railway. My database includes a number of entries gleaned from newspaper reports of returning soldiers showing that unit. Colin Roe Oz-Boer Database www.pcug.org.au/~croe/ozb/oz_boer.cgi --------------------------------- To help you stay safe and secure online, we've developed the all new Yahoo! Security Centre.