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A little assistance is sought with the subject of this post: IL has run into a proverbial brick wall.
Illustrated is a QSA medal bearing the clasp OFS and impressed to "Guide A.Harmsworth, Intell: Dept:". Obtained many years ago via Philip Burman's list, this particular QSA commenced IL's I.D./F.I.D. bent and led to him finding Buxton's "F.I.D. Honours, Awards and Casualty roll". A must useful book - quite recommended.




The Buxton roll shows " Scout Harmsworth A.C." as a member of the "Natal Corps of Guides (Intelligence Dept.)" and holding the honorary rank of Sergeant. His actual full clasp entitlement is CC/OFS/Tvaal. One hundred and twenty three names are shown under that heading - with some excellent clasp entitlements - however only three have his particular entitlement. The medal roll WO 100/301 page 38 shows his rank as "Scout". Quite possibly the terms "Guide" and "Scout" were interchangeable and - given that our subject does not show as being entitled to either date clasp nor a KSA - it is clear that Guide A.C.Harmsworth did a fair bit of Guiding and/or Scouting between 11 Oct 1899 and 31 Dec. 1900.
An article on another site has it that the NCoG was organised with 45 white British subjects and 50 natives; the men came from Natal, Transvaal and the Free State, could exist on the veldt for periods of time, were fluent in Dutch and native languages, could ride and shoot and possessed local knowledge. The quoted numbers clash - but the background of the men is interesting.
IL had Guide A.C.Harmsworth researched via a local source. Hopes for any personal docs were dashed; however the researcher additionally attached a copy of a page from the medal roll of the Windsorton-Wedburg Town Guard (WO 100/286) which included the name "Capt. A.C.Harmsworth" with no clasp entitlement and the notation "Capt Klipdam TG". Could it be the same person? The researcher also said that he found "many references" to an A.C.Harmsworth who acted as a Magistrate at Pearston, S.A. Certainly there might have been two or more "Harmsworths" with the NFF and/or SAFF; however, two or more having the same sequence of initials would seem to be stretching things a bit far.
IL did ask Dewald Nel his opinion on the abovementioned possibility. He, however, did not think my suggestion was at all likely.
Hence, here we are. Does anybody have any leads which might be followed to (hopefully) resolve this little puzzle? Is there a list of Magistrates somewhere? Does any such list detail background? Or is IL simply left with a token of Imperial Service prior to the end of December, 1900 - and leave it at that?
Regards to all
IL.

Hi Linney

Alfred Charles Harmsworth was the magistrate at Pearston. Divorced Annie Simpson in 1884
Was magistrate in 1904, but no longer magistrate in 1906.
Died 1919.
This is from the SA National Archives search for Harmsworth.

There is a civil service list which I have , I will look him up.

Perhaps you could try ascertain what the AC initials in the Guides stand for ?
I suspect Captain Harmsworth is the magistrate, Guide Harmsworth is another. But how to prove it ?

Regards

Adrian

Hi Linney

The Natal Directory and Almanac of 1894 lists a C. J. Harmsworth, a wine merchant at 248 Church Street, Pietermaritzburg.
It also lists a A.J. Harmsworth at Grantleigh Hotel, Mooi River Station.


The Cape of Good Hope Civil Service list of 1909 gives Alfred Charles Harmsworth No 9, passing the Civil Service Law Examination in 1892.
It does not have him in the Service of Officers section unfortunately, but perhaps he had retired by then, since in 1906 the archives state that he was "the late assistant magistrate at Pearston".

Regards

Adrian

Adrian
Had another look at the ID/FID rolls and there is no amplification of the initials "A and/or "C". Thanks for your efforts in consulting the records you named. It may well be that IL has to be content with what info he currently has!Best Regards
IL.

Hello Ian,
I well remember seeing this medal on several occasions over the years, I suppose at a earlier time in my collecting, it stood out, simply because of the way it had been named and the fact that in those days, I did not see too many FID medals anyway.
Sadly, there are no rank and file papers here for them, it is only when they have served elsewhere within the SAMIF that you can often take matters further, even their nominal roll is incomplete and their medal roll is very badly damaged, so much so, that these days, only the wretched covered folio are available, notwithstanding, you still have a really nice medal there.
Regards Frank

Frank
Well, the post was worth a try; one never knows. When I finally ran across a copy of the Spink 100th anniversary catalogue (many years after the event), I spotted the Harmsworth QSA; including a notation about the "Intelligence Dept" unit marking being uncommon. Some time ago I managed to get a CD containing the ID/FID QSA/KSA medal rolls and the images on it are quite good.
No matter if the initial question posed re Scout or Guide A.C.Harmsworth ran into another brick wall! The QSA is proof of some hard work and the medal is certainly going nowhere for the forseeable future.
Thanks for the input
IL.