Hello everyone,
I am a military history enthusiast and collector from the south of England currently making enquiries on behalf of a friend with regard to a family medal.
The medal is a QSA (2nd type) that has spent the last few decades languishing unloved in a drawer.
I know that the QSA was a widely awarded medal and is considered fairly common but after cleaning the years of accumulated grime from this example I was intrigued to find that is was awarded to a member of a Volunteer Service Coy of the Manchester regiment.
The inscription reads:
7061 PTE W. E. BAXTER VOL COY MANCH REGT
By searching online I have so far gathered that Pte Baxter was a member of the 1st Volunteer service company attached to 1st Bn Manchester Regt, serving in SA for one year from June 1900 having been allocated his service number between 9th February and 10th March 1900 before embarking on the 11th of May that year. (His service number seems to have him originally as a member of the 3rd Vol Bn)
Returning to the medal, its current condition is less than perfect due to the broken swivel and lack of ribbon or any clasps. Its owner was in the first instance inclined to sell it but I am going to try to convince him to keep hold of it due to its significance given the small number of Vols in the Coy. To that end it may be worthy of restoration for display purposes, can anyone tell me please which if any clasps the 1st Vol Coy would have been entitled to? Also were the 1st Vol Service Coy Mounted Infantry?
Further to the above, during my online research so far I have come across a reference to another W. E. Baxter.
This being: 7873 Sgt W. E. Baxter of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, who it seems, served in the Great War. Sgt Baxter is recorded as having been taken as a POW prior to December 1914 and also it seems that he may have been awarded a D.C.M.
I could be wrong but I’m inclined to think that these two W. E. Baxter’s where the same man.
Once again, any information that might confirm this or otherwise would be much appreciated please.
Please see below for links to the info sourced so far as well as film footage of the 1st Vol Coy returning from SA and images of the medal.
http://www.victorianwars.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=6723http://www.themenbehindthemedals.org.uk/index.asp?page=full&mwsquery=(%7BPerson%20identity%7D=%7BEmmott,%20W%7D)
http://player.bfi.org.uk/film/watch-return-of-the-brave-manchester-volunteers-1901-1901/http://www.themanchesters.org/9th%20batt.htm
