Queens South Africa Medal. Silver issue & 3 x clasps 'Cape Colony', 'South Africa 1901' & 'South Africa 1902' (37314 Pte L. Keill. Lovat's Scouts.)

Medal is officially impressed, and as issued showing surname 'Keill' (sic) - it should be Keil - and as wrongly shown on the respective campaign medal roll. A clerical error, with the medal being issued as transcribed from the medal roll

Clasps are in a 3 x clasp riveted block are loose on riband - and typical for medals awarded to this particular regiment (with majority of medals firstly issued without clasp(s) n 1902, and the clasps later issued separately in 1903

Great War Fatal Casualty: The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records that No. 118 Corporal Lewis Keil 1st South African Infantry, died on 5 June 1917. The life and supreme self sacrifice of  No 118 Corporal Lewis Keil 1st South African Infantry is commemorated in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at the Potchefstroom Military Cemetery located in South Africa, where his bodily remains lie buried under a headstone engraved with his regimental badge and service details

Reference 'The Morayshire roll of honour. A biographical record of the men and women connected with the county who took part in the Great War, 1914-1918' (William J McKenzie, 1921', the biographical entry for Lewis Keil is quoted below:

Quote,

KEIL, Lewis. No. 118, Cpl., Nesbitts Horse ; born at Rothes, July, 1879 ; joined at Johannesburg, South Africa, Dec, 1914 ; served in South and East Africa ; killed in East Africa, June 6th, 1917. Son of Charles and Janet Keil, Rothes. Occupation, millwright.

Unquote

The Rothes War Memorial includes the name of Lewis Keil showing his force served as E.A. Expd Force, for East African Expeditionary Force - local newspapers in 1917 record the unit that Lews served as Rifle Squadron, Nyasaland Contingent!

Presumably Corporal Keil died of wounds in South Africa, from the wounds he received on active service in East Africa where he had served on active service 

Recipient of a Gallantry Award: Lewis Keil - while an apprentice 'millwright' - performed an act of civilian gallantry on 13 August 1899, when he saved the life of  John Garrow, when he prevented him from drowning in the River Spey on that date.  For his gallantry he was formally presented with a certificate by the Royal Humane Society. The 'North British Daily Mail' newspaper issue of, 23 October 1899, refers

aving the life of  

Medal(s) & Clasps Verification: Private Lewis Keill is confirmed as being entitled to the medal (with no clasp on roll WO 100/130 the medal roll dated Inverness, 3 September 1902 ) and all 3 x clasps per the respective campaign medal roll of the 178th Company Imperial Yeomanry Lovat Scouts' (reference WO 100/130), which latter roll was compiled and signed at, Beauly, Scotland, on, 5 June 1903

In addition to the QSA Medal, Lewis Keill was also entitled to Great War campaign medals for his service in East Africa with the South Africans

The recipient was very much a case of  'Poacher turned Gamekeeper' on joining the 'Special Highland Corps - Lovat Scouts', per his former reported felony, as recorded in 'The Elgin Courant and Courier' newspaper issue of 19 November 1895:

Quote,

ELGIN SHERIFF COURT.- Before Sherriff Rampini on Friday, Lewis Keil, labourer, Rothes, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing some rabbit snares from the farm of Smallburn, Rothes, last month, and was fined 10s with the alternative of  seven days' imprisonment.

Unquote. 
 
Lewis Keil, son of Charles Keil & Janet Keil (nee French), was a native of, Rothes, Elginshire (now Moray), Scotland, where he was born circa in 1879. Lewis was a 'Millwright' by trade, and was 22 years & 6 months of age, when he enlisted at Inverness, Scotland on, 30 October 1901, for 'One Years Service With The Colours'. Lewis specifically requested and was subsequently posted to the newly established Lovat Scouts - a 'Special Highland Corps' - of the Imperial Yeomanry of the British Army, for service overseas during the South African War. At the time of his enlistment Lewis, stated that he had previously served as a volunteer with the 3rd Volunteer Battalion with the Seaforth Highlanders. Lewis took his discharge at Elandsfontein, South Africa on, 2 July 1902, at which time he cited his decision to remain in South Africa so that he could take up employment in Johannesburg. On discharge his character and military conduct while serving with Lovat's Scouts was described as 'Very Good'. His service record with the Lovat Scouts was:

- 30/10/1901- 02/12/1901: Home service
- 03/12/1901- 02/07/1902: South Africa

Lewis appears never to have returned to his native Scotland after having left for war in 1901

Lovat Scouts: The regiment was raised in January 1900, by Simon Fraser, 14th Lord Lovat, Chief of Clan Fraser, for service with the Imperial Yeomanry in the Second Boer War. The Lovat Scouts were the first known military unit of the British Army to wear a ghillie suit. The 'Special Highland Scouting Corps' as they were known in 1900, were largely recruited from gamekeepers, ghillies and professional stalkers who worked on Highland estates, and who were renowned for their elite reconnaissance capabilities. Lovat Scouts served at Gallipoli during the Dardanelles Campaign of 1915. In 1916, the Lovat Scouts formally became the British Army's first sniper unit, then known as "sharpshooters". The regiment also served in the Second World War 

The recipients British Army service papers are extant and are held & accessible at The National Archives

A most interesting medal recipient

Condition: GVF

Code: 25455