Description
Queen’s South Africa medal, type III, clasps “ORANGE FREE STATE”, “TRANSVAAL”, “SOUTH AFRICA 1901”, & “SOUTH AFRICA 1902”, impressed “2891 L. -CORPL: W.O. SMITH. N.S. WALES. M.R.”.
A fine QSA to a Lance Corporal of the 3rd M.R. of the New South Wales contingent, unfortunately typically with a lack of Boer War service details, later at the age of 50 attesting for the AIF although did not see active service due to illness, therefore also entitled to a WWI pair. QSA with light marks otherwise basically as issued, Extremely Fine.
William Oscar Smith, born in Colchester, Essex, England in 1863 (per Boer War discharge papers) or 1865 (per WWI attestation papers), was a watchmaker by trade and a resident of Marrickville, Sydney. Smith attested for the New South Wales (2nd M.D.) Military Forces at Sydney on the 27th February 1901 for service in the Anglo-Boer War, enlisting as Trooper 2891 of the Reinforcement Drafts to the Third New South Wales Mount Rifles. The drafts, 10 officers and 294 others strong, embarked aboard transport ship ‘Antillian’ on the 5th April 1901 and arrived at Durban on the 12th May.
- 3rdS.W. M.R. were 37 officers, 980 other ranks, 1000 horses strong
- Over their service, 36 killed or died, 6 officers and 46 others struck off in South Africa
- At some point, Smith was promoted to Lance Corporal
The 3rd N.S.W. M.R. entrained for Cape Town on the 28th April 1902 and embarked for Australia on the 4th May. Smith embarked aboard transport ship ‘Columbia’ (per nominal roll) and discharged on the 12th June 1902.
With the onset of the First World War, William Oscar Smith attested for the Australian Imperial Forces on the 20th October 1915 at Holdsworthy, New South Wales, enlisting as Private 3925 of the 9th Reinforcements to the 19th Infantry Battalion.
- Embarked at Sydney aboard H.M.A.T. ‘Runic’ on the 20th January 1916
- Disembarked at Alexandria, Egypt 26th February 1916
- Admitted to No. 1 Australian General Hospital 3 days later, 29th February 1916
- Deemed dangerously ill with pneumonia 3rd March 1916
- Deemed unfit for service and invalided, returning to Australia per Hospital Ship ‘Karoola’, embarking on the 12th April 1916
- Disembarked at Melbourne 9th May 1916.