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8692 Private Robert Allan Lovat's Scouts

Robert Allan attested for short service at Beaufort Castle on the 3rd February 1900



His attestation shows to the "Black Watch for Special Highland Scouting Corps"




Robert's age is shown as 20 and his trade is shown as " Strapper" below is an explanation.
A strapper is a British English term, mostly used in Australia, for a person holding a position looking after racehorses. The duties range from cleaning out the stables and yards, feeding, grooming and rugging horses, plus saddling horses for track-work and races, hence the

In North America, these tasks are lumped into the general job category of "groom," though saddling may be a task assigned to more experienced grooms while stall cleaning and walking hot horses are tasks assigned to the less-experienced stablehand.[3] Courtesy of Wikapedia.
Robert is a strapping lad for the period showing a height of 5ft 11" and weighing 10st
He spends 36 days "at home" and then embarks for South Africa on 11th March 1900
The casualty rolls show him as severely wounded on 26th July 1900 Nr.Bethlehem.
His proceedings on discharge are shown on 20th August 1901 again at Beaufort Castle where his employment for civil life is listed as Gamekeeper.
He then Attests again for short service with the I.Y. Lovat's Scouts at Inverness on the 31st October 1901 he is finally discharged on terms of engagement on 26th September 1902.
His medical records show he was in hospital at Springfontein in June 1901 with a gunshot wound which is strange as the casualty rolls list it as July 1900.





The records show he came home on the S.S. Tintagel Castle on 17th August 1902 and then to Netley Hospital on 26th September 1902.
His medical records show a case of Syphillis.
Robert's service furthered into the Great War were he signed on to the Terrirorial Force at Aberdeen on June 1915 his address is shown as 38 Don Street Aberdeen which is still there today.
He enlisted to the No.1 Supernumerary Co. 4th Batt, Gordon Highrs.
His home service meant he was not entitled to WW1 medals.
His service in South Africa earned him the QSA with clasps Cape Colony and Wittenbergen and also the KSA which is unfortunately missing fro this group.
Robert later married Bessie and is shown as living at 38 Don Street Aberdeen.
More research to follow.

Paul

Very nice Paul, is this the man you mentioned to me recently when we spoke about collecting and where you want to be?

Thanks Frank,

Yes it is, started to collect quality rather than quantity which I have been prone to in the past

Paul

Frank Kelley wrote: Very nice Paul, is this the man you mentioned to me recently when we spoke about collecting and where you want to be?

Just a small update.
Robert in later life became a Gamekeeper, his Father was a Gamekeeper at Westhaugh in Oyne Aberdeenshire.

Paul

Can anyone shed any light on what action might of taken place Nr.Bethlehem around 26 July 1900 where Robert became a casualty please?

Paul

Paul
Lovat's lost Lt. Brodie (sev. wounded) and your man Allan (similar) and 8696 Pte. W.Barron (killed) at/near Bethlehem on 26071900. General Hunter had publicly thanked Lovat's Scouts for their work at Retief's Nek 24-25071900 and the action of 26071900 came just prior to the attempt to seal the Golden Gate 28071900. You will recall that the clasp "Wittebergen" was awarded to "all troops inside a line drawn from Harrsimith to Bethlehem and thence to Senekal and Clocolan along the Basuto Border and back to Harrismith between 1-29 July 1900 inclusive". Prinsloo surrendered to General Hunter on 30071900. I have been interested in Lovat's Scouts for quite some time and they did a great job in the Brandwater Basin. Their activities there are dealt with in rather more detail in Packenham. It would be nice if someone would do a history of Lovat's Scouts in the ABW.
I have a couple of QSA's bearing the clasp "Wittebergen" to Lovats. You have a very nice medal, there.
Regards
IL.