A Fine Collection of Queen's South Africa Medals to Scout Units

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Relief of Ladysmith (409 Tpr: E. M. Finlayson. Colonial Scouts.) extremely fine £140-£180

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Queen's South Africa Medals to Scout Units.

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Edwin Mitchell Finlayson enrolled for the Colonial Scouts at Pietermaritzburg on 9 December 1899.

Sold with copied Enrolment Form and medal roll extract.

In December 1899 another corps, known as the Colonial Scouts, was raised by the Natal Government; strength five squadrons, commanded by Colonel F. Addison, MLA. They were during part of 1900 chiefly employed in Zululand, and on the border of tat country and the Transvaal. The corps did not see much fighting, but their presence in this district was very valuable. The Scouts provided a bodyguard of about 30 men to General Warren. The corps was disbanded in April, but the majority of the volunteers joined other irregular bodies - for example, "G" squadron practically became "F" squadron of Bethune's Mounted Infantry under their old company commander Major Menne, who afterwards raised Menne's Scouts. Steinaecker's Horse was also at first recruited from men of the Colonial Scouts, in which Steinaecker himself had been a non-commissioned officer.