TOPIC:

Hello,
My Great Grandad Thomas Henry Perks from Shropshire, was in the signalling section of the Scots Guards in the Boer War. I have a wonderful photo of him and the rest of the Signalers. He was born in Morville in 1881, so would have been very young.
Can anyone tell me anything about what the Signalling section did? In particular the Scots Guards bit of it , and where they went?
Thomas has two mwdals, one from Transvaal and one from orange free state (I believe that's correct, but i have this by word of mouth).
Any help would be great Thanks!
Jan

Hello Jan,

Thank you for your message.

The signallers would have been responsible for intra and inter regimental communication and I their main tools were the flag, telegraph and heliograph. Some signallers were also involved in working searchlights. Here is a picture of a heliographer and the spotter from a regiment.


The signallers would have travelled round with the regiment . Information on the Scots Guards can be found here. www.angloboerwar.com/imperial-units/659-scots-guards . The images page contains a picture of the signallers from the 1st Battalion. Is this the same picture you have?

Regards
David

Jan,

The medal roll (WO100/165 p265) shows a single entry for him as 2806 Lance Corporal T Perks, serving with the 3rd Scots Guards. He was entitled to the clasps Cape Colony and Orange Free State. I cannot see an entry for the KSA so I think he may just be entitled to the QSA with two clasps.

If you have a look at the FindMyPast site, there is an entry for Thomas Perks in the Military records section. I think this may well be his service papers.

Regards
David

Dear David,
Thankyou so much for replying to my request and for all the fantastic information, I shall now go and read up on the 3rd battallion. The picture i have is not the same one. It is incredible to think of Thomas heading off for such far flung places from the sleepy Shropshire Country-side. However, times were very hard for farm labourers and perhaps it seemed a great adventure. Thomas's Brother William also went, but i have no idea what battalion etc he was in. I am guessing he may have joined the Scots Guards too. I am now going to try and find the Findmypast site you mentioned. Thanks for the photo of the Signallers too.
Best Wishes Jan