I was in the UK a couple of months ago, and managed to look at the records myself at The National Archives in Kew. Unfortunately no luck.
But just because I didn't find the record doesn't necessarily mean it isn't there!
Summary of request, with up-to-date information (03:09 GMT, Thursday 18 Jan 2011)Still hoping for a lookup in the Queen's South Africa (QSA) Medal Roll...
Name: Walter Williams
Regiment: RGA/RHA/RFA. (Stories say Royal Horse Artillery (RHA), WWI record says he served previously in Carmarthen RGA)
Rank: These three are the most likely from the stories we have - 'Gunner-Driver', 'Farrier-Sergeant', or 'Shoeing-Smith'
Regimental Number: Unknown. (Although I'm keeping my fingers crossed that
'Williams, W, 18311' might match. Also we can't rule out
'Williams, W, Gunner, 13269, 2 bat, RFA' and
'Williams, W, Gunner, 92302, G bat, RFA')
TIA!
Original first post, edited to include information from replies to this threadNot sure whether the lookup offer posted on this board covers just the WO100/137-139 Royal Artillery, or the WO100/140-145 RFA as well, but it's worth asking.
Only have a name, Walter Williams, and the story that he was in the Royal Horse Artillery in the 2nd Boer War, the lead rider on a gun team
[Edit: so maybe a 'driver'?]. So I'm guessing his regiment was either the RHA, RA, or RFA.
[Edit 12Jan: New story! Maybe he was a 'farrier-general' (see aussienl's first post here, ninth one in this thread), so any regiment with horses is possible, but I still think an RHA/RFA/RA links is our best lead]Two possible regimental numbers have come up from various online records, both in the RFA - "13269 Williams, W" and "18311 Williams, W".
[Edit: now have three possibles (thanks Trevor) - hopefully the QSA Medal Roll will confirm whether the first name of any of these men is Walter:
Williams, W Gunner 13269 2 bat rfa
Williams, W 18311
Williams, W Gunner 92302 g bat rfa] There were also a couple of other "Williams, W" with no regimental numbers given
[Edit: Trevor's second reply indicates that these were officers, so not my man]So I'd be interested in any medal roll entries for any Walter Williams in the RA, RFA or RHA.
Hopefully this will give me a few (not too many I hope!) regimental numbers as leads to take further.
TIA,
Pete
P.S. What was the criteria for being eligible for this medal? I vaguely recall it being on active service for at least 3 weeks, and being under fire (I assume that an artillery-piece being fired in an engagement would count here?)