Short Service Attestation and Medal

[Canadian Goose]

Hello,
I have a Short Service Attestation for my grandfather, I think.  Copy attached.  Am not sure of the date it was signed, 1900 or 1910.  These dates seem at odds with the medal I have although the #7885 appears on both. The medal has a small plaque below it showing L. J. McDonald (spelling varies on the last name of everything) 7885, Queens Medal, South Africa 1889-02.  3 bars are attached to the ribbon but can't read them well.  One looks like Belfast, one Cafe Colony? and the other, no idea.  Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated.

[tonepad]

Clasps for the Queen's South Africa Medal:

CAPE COLONY (11 October 1899 – 31 May 1902). For service in the Cape of Good Hope where no clasp for a specific action in the Cape had been received.

BELFAST (26–27 August 1900). Awarded to troops east of a north-south line drawn through Wonderfontein, the garrison and troops quartered at Wonderfontein excluded, west of a north-south line drawn through Dalmanutha Station and north of an east-west line drawn through Carolina in the South African Republic.

See the link below for other clasps -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen%27s_South_Africa_Medal


Tony

[tonepad]

Would say the date at the bottom of the form reads 1900.
This would be consistent with taking part in the Second Boer War 1899-1902.
The Belfast Clasp dates in August 1900 also tie in with the attestation date in January 1900.

Tony

[medpat]

He was 21 years 9 months old when attested - if you know when he was born it would be easy to work out what year it was.

[Brentor boy]

GRO Index- Birth . Leo McDonald. June Q 1877. West Derby and Toxteth Park. Mmn Smith.

[MaxD]

Tha later sheets of the record give the dates:
Attested 19 Jan 1900 (for a one year engagement)**
S Africa 17 Feb 1900 to 16 Feb 1901
Discharged at his own request 22 Mar 1901

** With the caveat that if the war in S Africa lasted longer then he would stay until no longer required

He served in S Africa with the Volunteer Service Company Royal Irish Regiment.  The VSCs were additional companies sent to reinforce the regular troops of their regiment

The third clasp is Wittebergen.

MaxD

[Canadian Goose]

Thank you MaxD, BrentorBoy, medpat, and tonepad for your help and information.  Leo was born 11 Apr 1877 so the age of 21 yrs. 9 months would only be a year off if the attestation was signed in 1900.  Everything else matches up so I think this is definitely my grandfather.  The info on the medal was greatly appreciated, thank you.  Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!