Queen's South Africa Medal. Silver issue with 4 x clasps 'Cape Colony', 'Johannesburg', 'Diamond Hill' & 'Wittebergen' (1264 Pte J. McGrath, 1st Cam'n: Highrs:)

The recipient served with 1st Battalion Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders

Medal and Clasps Verification: The recipient's entitlement to the 4 x clasp on the QSA, together with entitlement to a further dated clasp 'South Africa 1901' is confirmed per the respective campaign medal rolls referenced below:

- QSA Medal with 4 x clasps: WO 100/204 dated Pretoria, South Africa, 12 October 1901
- QSA single clasp 'SA 1901': WO 100/204 a later supplementary page Fort George, February 1903

The later medal roll entry, compiled in 1903, shows the recipient with remark 'Time Expired to England' 12 November 1901. Whether the recipient ever received the loose dated clasp is not known, the medal on offer being exactly as originally issued

John McGrath, who claimed to have been born in South Leith, near Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, in 1870, first joined the Cameron Highlanders in, January 1885. At the time he enlisted in the British Army, John was a 'Boy Soldier'. On enlistment he was barely 15 years of age, and was posted to the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders with which regiment he held the regimental number 1264. From its establishment in 1881, the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, remained a single battalion regiment of the British Army, until 1897, when it raised a 2nd battalion. As time spent in 'Boy Service' never reckoned towards the standard adult engagement tenure of 12 years, viz; 7 x years 'With the Colours' & 5 years of the Army Reserve, John McGrath had completed his 7 x years 'With the Colours' in 1895, in which year he was then transferred to the Army Reserve. Shortly after the outbreak of the South African War John McGrath was re-called and mobilized for active service being posted to his old corps

1/Camerons, were located in Egypt in 1899, and only embarked for South Africa in March 1900. Immediately prior to embarking from the United Kingdom to join his battalion on overseas service, John married, Ann 'Jane' Ward at, Edinburgh, Scotland, on, 2 February 1900. John completed his 12 years engagement while in-the-field on campaign service in South Africa, and embarked for return to the UK 'Time Expired' on 12 November 1901. After taking his discharge from the British Army, John returned to his wife in Edinburgh, Scotland, where the couple lived at, 211 Cowgate, Edinburgh

In August 1914, John McGrath, 44 years of age and a described as a 'Labourer', voluntarily re-attested for service in the British Army, at Edinburgh, Scotland on, 31 August 1914. At time of his volunteering, he indicated that he had prior military service, with '1st Camerons Time-Expired'. John - evidently a patriot - was posted to 3rd (Reserve) Battalion Queens's Own Highlanders, and given the regimental number 3/5930 (the prefix 3 in his regimental number indicated that he was a 'Special Reservist'. John McGrath was discharged 'medically unfit' at Invergordon, Ross and Cromarty, on 26 October 1914, his reckonable time with 'The Colours' being just 27 days in 1914

The Queen's South Africa Medal awarded to John McGrath is his only medal entitlement

The recipient's service papers for his 1914 service are extant and accessible at The National Archives

The medal with bright crisp toning and of uncommonly exceptional condition and appearance

Condition: EF

Code: 24746