Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899-1902, Silver issue with 5 x clasps, 'Cape Colony', 'Orange Free State', 'Transvaal', 'South Africa 1901', 'South Africa 1902' (1687 Tpr: E. M. Hoops. S.A.C.)

Sold together with:

- Silver prize medal (from an Isle of Man school with school monogram on obverse DSC or DCS), with English silver hallmarks on reverse for Birmingham 1890 & engraved ‘3rd Prize Boys Championship Race Won by E. M. Hoops.’

Medal and clasps verification: The QSA medal and all 5 x clasps verified as entitled per the campaign medal roll of 'A' Division South African Constabulary (ref WO 100/247 (State clasps) & WO 100/271 (date clasps), this latter with entry under remarks showing that Trooper Hoops had taken his discharge from the South African Constabulary on, 10 February 1903 (his Canadian South African War Service Application for Volunteer Bounty, 1908, shows that he was described as a Rancher, and had enlisted in the South African Constabulary on 26 April 1901)

Ernest Mostyn Hoops, a native of Co. Donegal, Ireland, was second son of Dr. Samuel Evans Mostyn Hoops & Harriette Anna Kathleen Hoops (nee Robinson). He was born at Roshine Lodge, Dunfanaghy, on, 27 September 1878, with the birth registered at Dungloe, both places in Donegal, and where his father Dr. Hoops was registrar of births, marriages, and deaths

By the time of the 1881, National Census for England & Wales, the Hoops family was living in Wales and by the time of the 1891 Census were then resident on the Isle of Man. On the Isle of Man, the family comprised Dr. Hoops with his wife Harriet Anna Kathleen (1856 - 19 Feb 1906) and three youngest children, vis Ernest Mostyn (27 Sep 1878 - 1 Jul 1964), Brabazon Newcomen Mostyn (2 Mar 1883 - 29 Nov 1951) and Eileen Constance Mostyn (14 Sep 1885 - 7 Feb 1963). Ernest's elder brother was Dr. Albert Launcelot (6 Jun 1876 - 16 Nov 1940). The two eldest children including Ernest had been born in Ireland, the two younger children were born in Wales. In January 1888, Dr. Samuel Evans Mostyn Hoops had accepted an appointment from the Royal Navy to be surgeon and agent at Douglas, Isle of Man. The Hoops family lived at 22 Derby Road in Porter's 1889 Directory and again in Brown's Directory for the Isle of Man in 1894. It would appear that his son Albert Launcelot - Ernest's elder brother - did not use the name Mostyn-Hoops, only Hoops, and followed in his father's footsteps to become a Doctor and medical author. Ernest's father, Dr. Samuel Hoops was recorded in "Thom's Directory" for Ireland as LRCSI (Licentiate Royal College Surgeons Ireland) and LRQCPI (Licentiate Royal Queens College Physicians Ireland) as well as Licentiate in Midwifery. He was not located in 1876 but appears to have been practicing in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal in 1877, 1878, 1879, 1880 and 1881

The below following newspaper article was published in the Surrey Leader issue of 30 December 1960:

Quote,

Travel and Adventure in Many Lands Gave Colorful Life to Couple

To land far up the Plate River in central Argentine at turn of the 20th century, when he had intended to disembark in Australia, was only one of the interesting experiences much-travelled Ernest Hoops of White Rock has encountered in his 82 active years.

This interesting resident, who has made his home on five of the world’s continents, looks back on such encounters as “broadening experiences” filled with opportunity to learn values.

Mrs. Hoops’ experiences can almost match some of her husband’s.

There was the time, when living in Portland, she was asked to journey to Telkwa in northern, B.C. to nurse a minister’s wife. Telkwa wasn’t even listed on the map.

When she finally got there, the Nass River froze over and she was stranded at the home of her patient for six months.

Mr. Hoops was born in Donegal, Ireland in 1878. He headed for Australia just prior to his 17th birthday, and worked there on fruit farms for four years.

He had intended to make a return trip to Australia when the ship changed its course and after leaving Capetown, headed into the heart of South America.

Hoops’ father had come out from Ireland earlier and taken the overland route to the Klondike Gold fields. He headed north from Edmonton with 121 head of horses, but failed in his attempt to find riches.

He settled at 150 Mile House and practiced medicine for five years before moving to Vancouver Island.

Ernest Hoops himself went to Skagway as early as 1900.

Mr. Hoops joined Baden Powell’s police force and left from Vancouver in 1901 to join in the South African war. A fellow soldier who sailed for South Africa from Vancouver on the same ship, now residing here, is William McConnell, Best Road.

After another trip to Argentine and several yeras in South Africa, Hoops moved to the Cariboo coutnry and operated a cattle ranch four miles out of Soda Creek for three years.

He moved to Telkwa and entered the real estate and insurance business in which he continued for 35 years, prior to retiring to White Rock.

While in Telkwa he served as a member of the School Board, the Cancer Society and the Red Cross, in which his wife, whom he married at Telkwas, was also active.

Mr. and Mrs. Hoops retired to White Rock in 1947 where they had hoped to purchase a boat and enjoy the sea, but Mr. Hoops has found owning a boat creates a bit of a problem in White Rock since a moored boat is at the mercy of beach goers.

But in spite of being confined to land, the couple enjoy a beautiful view of the sea from their home at 1227 Merklin Street, and have the satisfaction of a restful garden, filled with many colorful blooms.

Unquote

Important: The Bulkley Valley Museum archives in British Columbia, Canada, have a large on-line archive of photographic and text material pertaining to Eileen Constance Hoops, and her Irish family who were prominent early pioneers in Telkwa, British Columbia. Her father being a Doctor, and her mother a Nurse. With brothers who were ranchers, and adventurers who had worked the Klondike & Yukon as miners, as well as serve overseas in the South African War. The Museum archives have numerous photographs, and articles

The recipient's sister's Great War campaign medals are listed for sale separately on the website

Sold with some hard-copy research

A most interesting Irish Adventurer and Canadian Pioneer's campaign medal lot

The QSA medal retaining its original long length of original silk medal riband now stitched with minor soiling

Condition: About EF

Code: 22858