Tuesday 31 December 2019

The QSA named to a cruise ship: HMS Ophir

In June 1901 HMS Ophir took the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (the future King George V and Queen Mary) on a tour of the Empire. Their route included South Africa - the war was still raging.

From EF Knight, With The Royal Tour

The ship named 'HMS Ophir' was a civilian ship of the Orient Steam Navigation Company. It only received the prefix 'His Majesty's Ship' for the duration of the Royal tour. One of the functions carried out by the Royals was the presentation of QSA medals to Australian and New Zealand recipients. These, known as "Ophir presentation medals", were issued unnamed and engraved locally, thus they have a different and distinctive naming style to other QSAs.

From EF Knight, With the Royal Tour

Example of naming on a QSA presented on HMS Ophir and named locally in Australia. Ryan Darby
To supplement the civilian crew 53 Royal Navy officers and men were seconded to the ship. Most of the sailors had served during the war, so they were correctly entitled to a Queen's South Africa medal.

The curiosity is that a number of these men received QSAs named to 'HMS Ophir', a ship that never served in a war-like capacity during the war.



From the table below it will be seen that only seven of the 53 of the HMS Ophir QSAs are known, and only three are named to HMS Ophir.

Name Number Rank Unit served ABW Medal Named To
Amos JE 4.197 Gunner Royal Marine Artillery, HMS Monarch
Banbury W Carpenter HMS Niobe
Bath E 5509 Gunner Royal Marine Artillery
Blackler ER 138.978 Petty Officer 1st Class HMS Niobe
Brooks AJ 355.853 Domestic HMS Niobe
Bryer SMG Engineer HMS Niobe
Coak G 114.036 Petty Officer 1st Class HMS Niobe
Collins AD 341.209 Shipwright HMS Partridge
Crichton-Maitland CM Lieutenant HMS Niobe
Dilton WJ 165.933 Stoker HMS Powerful
Dingle A 182.842 Able Seaman HMS Fearless
Elmes H 5719 Private Royal Marine Light Infantry
Farnley AH 147.391 Acting Chief Yeoman of Signals HMS Diadem HMS Diadem
Fraser R 5.265 Gunner HMS Monarch
Fuggle WJ 139.794 Petty Officer 2nd Class HMS Powerful
Game J Ply6.451 Private Royal Marine Light Infantry, HMS Powerful
Gosling JS 158.692 Able Seaman HMS Niobe
Gregson J 278.345 Stoker HMS Powerful
Guyatt F Po7.816 Private Royal Marine Light Infantry, HMS Powerful
Harvey E 5.641 Gunner Royal Marine Artillery, HMS Powerful
Herring CR 4.540 Gunner HMS Monarch
Hogan AJ 180.318 Able Seaman HMS Niobe HMS Niobe
Holdway W 151.709 Leading Stoker HMS Fearless HMS Ophir
Hutchings F Ply5.808 Private Royal Marine Light Infantry, HMS Niobe
Killan T 284177 Stoker HMS Powerful HMS Ophir
Knight DJ 130.376 Petty Officer 1st Class HMS Niobe
Land CE 167.357 Able Seaman HMS Powerful
Lee WR 183.137 Able Seaman HMS Fearless
Livingstone J 3396 Private Royal Marine Light Infantry
Martin JF 142.963 Stoker HMS Fearless
McCormack C 109.665 Master At Arms HMS Niobe
Millington J Ply6.742 Private Royal Marine Light Infantry, HMS Niobe
Musk W 161.890 2/Yeoman of Signals HMS Niobe
Norris J 4367 Gunner Royal Marine Artillery
Raikes GL Lieutenant Royal Marine Artillery, HMS Monarch HMS Monarch
Read WG 182.574 Able Seaman HMS Monarch
Ridgway F 4.260 Gunner Royal Marine Artillery, HMS Monarch
Saurin GL Midshipman HMS Diadem HMS Diadem
Smith AE 282.946 Stoker HMS Powerful
Spencer E 158.713 Stoker HMS Powerful
Stockley HHF Lieutenant Royal Marine Light Infantry, HMS Niobe
Stone RJ 124.598 Petty Officer 1st Class HMS Niobe
Stumbles GE 163.303 Able Seaman HMS Niobe
Taylor E 153866 Leading Stoker HMS Fearless HMS Ophir
Tildesley JH Po7.134 Private Royal Marine Light Infantry, HMS Powerful
Tillman W 8266 Private Royal Marine Light Infantry
Toms E 133.659 Petty Officer 1st Class HMS Niobe
Tye AC Ch4.569 Private Royal Marine Light Infantry, HMS Monarch
Walker FS 186.955 Able Seaman HMS Tartar
Wemyss RE Commander HMS Niobe
Winsloe AL Captain HMS Niobe
Wreford FA 112.186 Petty Officer 1st Class HMS Niobe
Wright H 179.875 Able Seaman HMS Tartar

The tour received much press coverage. At least two accounts were published:


HMS Ophir was escorted by two Royal Navy Ships HMS Juno (7 QSA medals) and HMS St George (12 QSA medals). None of these medals are known to be extant.

HMS St George
Name Number Rank Ship served ABW
Bunker S 174.718 Able Seaman HMS Niobe
Carpenter AA 187.102 Ordinary Seaman HMS Powerful
Chichester EG Midshipman HMS Powerful
Clarke F 166.379 Ordinary Seaman HMS Powerful
Claxton AA 145.559 Leading Carpenter's Crew HMS Powerful
Coate JJ 183.468 Stoker HMS Powerful
Jacobs W 180.568 Ordinary Seaman HMS Powerful
Johncox EA 190.774 Ordinary Seaman HMS Powerful
Read WCC 162.263 Ordinary Seaman HMS Powerful
Stannard WP 173.522 Ordinary Seaman HMS Powerful
Terry FG Midshipman HMS Niobe
Walker BC Midshipman HMS Niobe

HMS Juno
Name Number Rank Ship served ABW
Barwell W Po9.471 Private Royal Marine Light Infantry, HMS Monarch
Bowes J 153.881 Stoker HMS Powerful
Chant FG 193.151 Ordinary Seaman HMS Powerful
Dowden F 175.472 Ordinary Seaman HMS Powerful
Gooch JA 159.697 Ordinary Seaman HMS Powerful
Le Quelenac JA 172057 Ordinary Seaman HMS Powerful
Spicer JG 125137 Yeoman of Signals HMS Monarch, HMS Philomel

POWs - Overseas Colonial Contingents

This post, using data collected by The Register, shows the numbers of captures of men from the Overseas Colonial Contingents - Australia, Canada, India, Ceylon and New Zealand. This includes those listed as "missing". There are 311 captures representing 309 individuals. Two men were captured twice:

Pte 201 FH Muir, 1st Queensland MI - Kroonstad June 5th and Elands River Post August 6th, 1900.
Sgt-Mjr 1 JG Price, 1st Queensland MI - Onverwacht Janaury 4th, 1901 and Familie Hoek December 6th, 1901 (as RSM 311 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.

The vast majority of data comes from the official published casualty rolls, but other captures have been gleaned from a variety of sources. Undoubtedly other names will appear with more research.


Two men do not have an exact capture date:
Pte Hemry, New South Wales Mounted Infantry (SAFF Casualty Roll)
Sgt 110 E L'Estrange, 1st NZ Mounted Rifles (London Daily News of September 4th, 1900 as having returned to Warm Bath August 30th)

Captures By Unit
Unit Casualty Type Total
Australian Commonwealth Horse Prisoner of War 3
Australian Horse Prisoner of War 4
Australian Horse Prisoner of War - Escaped 1
Canadian Mounted Rifles Missing 1
Canadian Mounted Rifles Missing - Rejoined 21
Canadian Mounted Rifles Prisoner of War 2
Canadian Mounted Rifles Prisoner of War - Released 6
Canadian Scouts Missing 1
Canadian Scouts Prisoner of War - Released 3
Lumsden's Horse Prisoner of War 11
New South Wales Citizens Bushmen Missing - Rejoined 1
New South Wales Citizens Bushmen Missing - Released 2
New South Wales Citizens Bushmen Prisoner of War 7
New South Wales Citizens Bushmen Prisoner of War - Released 1
New South Wales General Staff Prisoner of War - Released 1
New South Wales Imperial Bushmen Missing - Rejoined 5
New South Wales Imperial Bushmen Missing - Released 1
New South Wales Imperial Bushmen Prisoner of War - Escaped 1
New South Wales Imperial Bushmen Prisoner of War - Released 8
New South Wales Lancers Prisoner of War 10
New South Wales Mounted Infantry Prisoner of War 1
New South Wales Mounted Infantry Prisoner of War - Released 7
New South Wales Mounted Rifles Missing - Rejoined 1
New South Wales Mounted Rifles Prisoner of War 7
New South Wales Mounted Rifles Prisoner of War - Released 14
New Zealand Missing - Rejoined 1
New Zealand Prisoner of War 1
New Zealand Mounted Infantry Prisoner of War 31
New Zealand Mounted Infantry Prisoner of War - Released 5
New Zealand Mounted Rifles Missing - Rejoined 3
New Zealand Mounted Rifles Prisoner of War 1
New Zealand Mounted Rifles Prisoner of War - Released 2
New Zealand Rough Riders Prisoner of War 2
Queensland Imperial Bushmen Prisoner of War 1
Queensland Imperial Bushmen Prisoner of War - Escaped 1
Queensland Imperial Bushmen Prisoner of War - Released 28
Queensland Mounted Infantry Missing - Released 1
Queensland Mounted Infantry Prisoner of War 12
Queensland Mounted Infantry Prisoner of War - Released 2
Canadian Field Artillery Royal Missing 1
Canadian Field Artillery Royal Missing - Rejoined 1
Canadian Dragoons Missing 1
Canadian Dragoons Prisoner of War - Rejoined 1
Canadian Regiment Of Infantry Missing - Rejoined 2
Canadian Regiment Of Infantry Missing - Released 5
Canadian Regiment Of Infantry Prisoner of War 1
Canadian Regiment Of Infantry Prisoner of War - Released 2
South Australian Citizens Bushmen Prisoner of War - Released 3
South Australian Imperial Bushmen Prisoner of War 3
South Australian Mounted Rifles Missing 1
South Australian Mounted Rifles Missing - Rejoined 3
Strathcona's Horse Missing 3
Strathcona's Horse Prisoner of War 11
Strathcona's Horse Prisoner of War - Released 2
Tasmanian Bushmen

Tasmanian Contingent Missing - Rejoined 1
Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen Prisoner of War 1
Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen Prisoner of War - Escaped 1
Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen Prisoner of War - Released 2
Tasmanian Mounted Infantry Prisoner of War 10
Tasmanian Mounted Infantry Prisoner of War - Released 1
Victorian Bushmen Missing 6
Victorian Bushmen Prisoner of War 1
Victorian Mounted Infantry Missing - Rejoined 2
Victorian Mounted Infantry Prisoner of War 10
Victorian Mounted Infantry Prisoner of War - Released 2
Victorian Mounted Rifles Missing 3
Victorian Mounted Rifles Missing - Rejoined 1
Victorian Mounted Rifles Prisoner of War 9
West Australian Bushmen Prisoner of War 1
West Australian Horse Prisoner of War 1
West Australian Mounted Infantry Missing 3
West Australian Mounted Infantry Prisoner of War 5

Captures by Unit and Location


Date Location Unit Number Captured
16/01/1900 Rensburg Australian Horse 3
16/01/1900 Slingersfontein Australian Horse 1
16/01/1900 Slingersfontein New South Wales Lancers 9
09/02/1900 Jasfontein Tasmanian Mounted Infantry 4
12/02/1900 Hobkirk's Farm Victorian Mounted Infantry 11
20/02/1900 Paardeberg Canadian Regiment Of Infantry 1
24/02/1900 Kuilfontein Tasmanian Mounted Infantry 1
05/03/1900 Auchteetarn Tasmanian Mounted Infantry 5
06/03/1900 Slingersfontein New South Wales Lancers 1
21/03/1900 Not stated Canadian Regiment Of Infantry 2
26/03/1900 Arundel New South Wales Mounted Rifles 2
31/03/1900 Koornspruit New Zealand Mounted Infantry 17
31/03/1900 Koornspruit Queensland Mounted Infantry 5
07/04/1900 Spytfontein New South Wales Mounted Rifles 1
23/04/1900 Bloemfontein (2) Canadian Mounted Rifles 3
23/04/1900 Karrefontein South Australian Mounted Rifles 1
30/04/1900 Bloemfontein (2) Canadian Regiment Of Infantry 4
30/04/1900 Houtnek Victorian Mounted Infantry 1
30/04/1900 Houtnek Victorian Mounted Rifles 1
30/04/1900 Os Spruit Lumsden's Horse 10
01/05/1900 Karee Siding Victorian Mounted Rifles 1
01/05/1900 Marendellas Canadian Field Artillery Royal 1
04/05/1900 Kareekloof Victorian Mounted Rifles 1
05/05/1900 Bloemfontein (2) Canadian Mounted Rifles 4
10/05/1900 Kroonstad Canadian Regiment Of Infantry 2
10/05/1900 Nr Kroonstad West Australian Horse 1
10/05/1900 Virginia Kopje Australian Commonwealth Horse 3
10/05/1900 Virginia Kopje Australian Horse 1
20/05/1900 Lindley New South Wales Mounted Rifles 1
23/05/1900 Nr Kroonstad South Australian Mounted Rifles 1
23/05/1900 Nr Pretoria Victorian Mounted Rifles 1
26/05/1900 Driefontein West Australian Mounted Infantry 4
27/05/1900 Houtnek South Australian Mounted Rifles 1
28/05/1900 Nr Johannesburg South Australian Mounted Rifles 1
29/05/1900 Nr Pretoria Victorian Mounted Rifles 3
29/05/1900 Pretoria Canadian Regiment Of Infantry 1
04/06/1900 Nr Pretoria Canadian Mounted Rifles 1
05/06/1900 Kroonstad Canadian Mounted Rifles 2
05/06/1900 Kroonstad New Zealand Mounted Infantry 1
05/06/1900 Kroonstad Queensland Mounted Infantry 3
12/06/1900 Pretoria New South Wales Mounted Rifles 1
22/06/1900 Katbosch Canadian Mounted Rifles 5
28/06/1900 Lindley South Australian Imperial Bushmen 3
30/06/1900 Spitzkop (3) New South Wales General Staff 1
01/07/1900 Waterval Strathcona's Horse 2
05/07/1900 Greylingstad Strathcona's Horse 6
05/07/1900 New Denmark Strathcona's Horse 2
05/07/1900 Pienaars Poort Victorian Mounted Rifles 3
11/07/1900 Bethlehem West Australian Mounted Infantry 1
12/07/1900 Plat Kop Strathcona's Horse 4
13/07/1900 Rietvlei Canadian Mounted Rifles 1
16/07/1900 Rhenoster West Australian Mounted Infantry 2
16/07/1900 Rietvlei New Zealand Mounted Infantry 1
16/07/1900 Witpoort New Zealand Rough Riders 1
18/07/1900 Pretoria Lumsden's Horse 1
19/07/1900 Bloemfontein (2) Canadian Mounted Rifles 1
19/07/1900 Paardeplaats New South Wales Mounted Rifles 1
21/07/1900 Kosk's River West Australian Bushmen 1
21/07/1900 Koster River Victorian Bushmen 1
21/07/1900 Rustenburg (1) New South Wales Citizens Bushmen 2
22/07/1900 Kosk's River New South Wales Citizens Bushmen 5
25/07/1900 Klerksdorp Tasmanian Mounted Infantry 1
26/07/1900 Rietvlei New Zealand 1
26/07/1900 Rietvlei New Zealand Mounted Infantry 17
01/08/1900 Magato Nek Victorian Bushmen 2
01/08/1900 Not stated New South Wales Mounted Infantry 5
05/08/1900 Elands River Post New South Wales Imperial Bushmen 5
06/08/1900 Elands River Post Queensland Mounted Infantry 2
11/08/1900 Nr Horensnek New South Wales Mounted Rifles 2
12/08/1900 Kaalfontein Queensland Imperial Bushmen 1
12/08/1900 Kaalfontein Queensland Mounted Infantry 1
12/08/1900 Kaalfontein Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen 1
18/08/1900 Buffelshoek South Australian Citizens Bushmen 3
19/08/1900 Otto's hoop New South Wales Imperial Bushmen 1
27/08/1900 Otto's hoop New South Wales Imperial Bushmen 4
31/08/1900 Not Known New South Wales Mounted Infantry 1
01/09/1900 Badfontein (1) Strathcona's Horse 1
01/09/1900 Warm Bath Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen 1
02/09/1900 Elands River New South Wales Citizens Bushmen 3
02/09/1900 Elands River Queensland Mounted Infantry 1
02/09/1900 Elands River Victorian Bushmen 4
05/09/1900 Nooitgedacht Canadian Mounted Rifles 6
08/09/1900 Nr Thabanchu Victorian Mounted Infantry 2
10/09/1900 Nr Rustenburg New South Wales Mounted Infantry 1
12/09/1900 Malopo Oog New South Wales Citizens Bushmen 1
29/09/1900 Doornlaagte Queensland Imperial Bushmen 1
07/10/1900 Nr Wonderfontein Canadian Dragoons 1
24/10/1900 Zeerust New South Wales Imperial Bushmen 1
27/10/1900 Jacobsdal (1) Tasmanian Contingent 1
02/11/1900 Nr Belfast Canadian Field Artillery Royal 1
07/11/1900 Nr Belfast Canadian Dragoons 1
10/11/1900 Nr Frederikstad Strathcona's Horse 1
11/11/1900 Ventersdorp New Zealand 1
08/12/1900 Wolmarans Drift New South Wales Imperial Bushmen 4
04/01/1901 Onverwacht (1) Queensland Imperial Bushmen 1
16/01/1901 Nr Avontuur Victorian Mounted Rifles 1
07/02/1901 Not Known New South Wales Mounted Rifles 2
13/02/1901 Zwartkopjes Queensland Mounted Infantry 3
19/03/1901 Nr Winburg Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen 2
27/03/1901 Rondal New Zealand Rough Riders 1
07/04/1901 Nr Pietersburg New Zealand Mounted Rifles 1
16/05/1901 Grobbelaar Recht West Australian Mounted Infantry 1
24/05/1901 Nr Bethel New Zealand Mounted Rifles 1
01/06/1901 Blesbok Spruit New Zealand Mounted Rifles 1
03/06/1901 Rietspruit (2) Queensland Imperial Bushmen 2
06/06/1901 Graspan (2) New South Wales Mounted Rifles 1
21/06/1901 Kaffirstad Victorian Mounted Rifles 1
03/07/1901 Waterval Randbergen New South Wales Mounted Rifles 1
13/07/1901 Witkopjes New South Wales Mounted Rifles 1
15/07/1901 Wonderfontein Queensland Imperial Bushmen 1
25/07/1901 Palmietfontein (9) Queensland Imperial Bushmen 1
26/07/1901 Nr Heilbron New South Wales Mounted Rifles 2
29/07/1901 Grunvlei New South Wales Mounted Rifles 1
10/08/1901 Roberts Drift New South Wales Mounted Rifles 1
17/08/1901 Zaaihoek New South Wales Mounted Rifles 1
31/08/1901 Zand River New South Wales Mounted Rifles 1
25/09/1901 Vaalkrans New South Wales Mounted Rifles 1
27/09/1901 Bastersdrif New Zealand Mounted Rifles 1
27/09/1901 Mokari Drift Queensland Imperial Bushmen 12
12/10/1901 Kromdraai Canadian Scouts 3
13/10/1901 Niemandskraal New South Wales Mounted Rifles 1
21/11/1901 Nr Castrol Nek New Zealand Mounted Rifles 1
23/11/1901 Familie Hoek Queensland Imperial Bushmen 2
06/12/1901 Familie Hoek Queensland Imperial Bushmen 3
20/12/1901 Nr Tafel Kop (5) New South Wales Mounted Rifles 1
04/01/1902 Onverwacht (1) Queensland Imperial Bushmen 6
13/02/1902 Nr Rolfontein Victorian Mounted Rifles 1
25/03/1902 Nr Klerksdorp Canadian Mounted Rifles 2
27/03/1902 Tafelkop Canadian Scouts 1
31/03/1902 Boschbult Canadian Mounted Rifles 4
15/04/1902 Oorbeitjesfontein Canadian Mounted Rifles 1
31/12/2009 Not stated New South Wales Mounted Infantry 1
31/12/2009 Not stated New Zealand Mounted Rifles 1