Private 547 F (S). Skinner 1st Batt. 24th Foot.

Posts : 9 Join date : 2011-07-18

Hi everyone, I was hoping to gain some information about a Private F. Skinner (1/24th) and his possible involvement in the Zulu War. My father recently purchased a South Africa Medal engraved to F. Skinner with an 1877-8-9 clasp. According to Holme's The Noble 24th and Roy Dutton's medal roll compilation Skinner is only entitled to a clasp for the years 1877-78, and his first name begins with an S. While I can understand a transcription error accounting for the letter difference between the medal and the reference works, I am troubled about the medal's clasp being different from what Skinner was entitled to. I was wondering if anyone possessed any information concerning Skinner's SA service and if there were any circumstances which would place him in Zululand in 1879 and entitle him to a 1877-78-79 clasp.

Thanks everyone for any help that can be offered,

Nathan

Posts : 455 Join date : 2013-05-07 Location : Brecon

First name was Frederick. Could have been with B Company 1/24th in Pondoland under Harrisson.

Posts : 229 Join date : 2009-10-16

Pvt 547 Frederick Skinner was discharged 16 Nov 1881 in London after 6 years 292 days service.
This would mean he enlisted about October 1874
rai Keynshamlighthorse

Posts : 184 Join date : 2017-02-05 Location : Texas, U.S.A.

Nathan,

According to the medal roll for the 1st Battalion, 24th Foot, Pte Skinner, F., Regimental Number 547 was not engaged against the Zulu in 1879.

If you contact me by PM and send me your email address I will send you a copy of the page from the medal roll which has his name.

Tom

Posts : 9 Join date : 2011-07-18

Thanks for the information and help, Kenny, Rai and Tom. Since Skinner wasn't entitled to the clasp with the medal I'm wondering if he felt somehow entitled to the extra year and added the clasp. If I have time and can see my father I might be able to post a picture(s) of the medal. The naming style is different from other SA medals I have seen.

Best,
Nathan

Posts : 1186 Join date : 2015-11-24

The forum quite regularly receives inquiry's from new member's wanting
information on this person or that.. below are a few book's which contain
such information.. all can still be found online but i'm not suggesting that
anybody buy's any or all of these.. do any member's regard any of these
to be the ' one to have '. bearing in mind if one is searching for imperial
or colonial unit's.

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Subject: Private 547 F (S) Skinner 1/ 24th Thu Jul 26, 2018 7:31 am

Hi Les
I have them all with the exception of the 1853 Medal Roll , these excellent publications will help those trying to find , and research individuals, great starters for the beginner , and those who are more advanced , another well worth having is Robert Hope's book ' A Staffordshire Regt In The Zulu & Sekukuni Campaigns 1878-79 , this has individual records of those who served in the 80th Regiment , amongst many other details from the inception of the 80th Regt , and also many details , and facts etc , concerning the two campaigns mentioned in the title .
90th Salute

Posts : 1186 Join date : 2015-11-24

Hiya Gary, agreed.. i have the Hope, it's a fine little book, i
have Holme's first effort the medal roll's of the 24th Regt
from 1971 and we must not forget Mack and Shad, also
' whatever happened to a vc ' is a lovely little book, put to-
gether by D'Arcy's family. it's a tad warm here at the mo, at
last we seem to have a summer on our hand's.. Salute

Subject: Private 547 F (S) Skinner 1/ 24th Thu Jul 26, 2018 2:48 pm

Hi Les
Agreed , cant forget about Mack & Shad ! , there are several books you can buy as you've shown on your earlier post , I did here it was going to be in the 30's there today , 18 for us tomorrow and its Winter , but it was cold earlier this week , seems Sydney is on it's way to having it's warmest winter ever , was 25 deg there yesterday , 23 tomorrow ! WTFFFFF . Shocked

90th

According to the paylist of the 1/24th April to September 1878 25B/547 Pte Frederick Skinner was sent to the Cape Town 15th May. He then appeared on the paylist of the 88th Regt (resident battalion there) from 16th May to the 4th June 1878. In the remarks column for the 88th " to payment 16 May from payment 5 June" but then it also has "to payment 7 August" suggesting he may have come back on the strength of the 88th. However the total days listed for pay is only 20 covering the first period.

I cannot find him on other lists, I'm not sure if there was another unit in Cape Town at that time, perhaps other members may know more about the movement of Regiments in South Africa in 1878.