PRIVATE W. BUTLIN, SERVICE COMPANY, 1ST VOLUNTEER BATTALION LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT AND CONSTABLE, TRANSVAAL CONSTABULARY. Two: Queen’s South Africa Medal, type 2, 3 clasps, Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal, officially named, impressed in plain block

PRIVATE W. BUTLIN, SERVICE COMPANY, 1ST VOLUNTEER BATTALION LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT AND CONSTABLE, TRANSVAAL CONSTABULARY.

Two: Queen’s South Africa Medal, type 2, 3 clasps, Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal, officially named, impressed in plain block capitals; 6799 Pte. W. BUTLIN, 1 : LEIC : REGt); King’s South Africa Medal, 2 clasps, officially named, impressed in plain block capitals (276 CONST. W. BUTLIN, TRANS. CONST.). Generally Almost Extremely Fine and an unusual combination of units and clasps, the King’s South Africa Medal rare named to the Transvaal Constabulary.

Medal accompanied by biographical details, copied QSA and KSA Medal rolls (confirming medals and clasps), extract from 1891 census and 4 pages of photocopied service papers. Medal rolls confirm medals and clasps, and that Butlin saw service initially in South Africa with the Service Company, 1st Volunteer Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment and subsequently with the Transvaal Constabulary.

Walter George Butlin is recorded in the 1891 census as being resident at 121 Station Road, Wigston Magna, Blaby, Leicestershire. He was then an 11 year old schoolboy, the son of Thomas Butlin, a foreman over railway points shunters. Service papers confirm place of birth as Wigston Magna, Leicestershire. Walter Butlin enlisted into the Leicestershire Regiment after the outbreak of the Boer War, on 23/4/1900. At the time of enlistment Butlin was 20 years of age, gave his trade as railway clerk and confirmed that he was then serving with the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment, his enlistment into the regular army, thus facilitating his transfer overseas for active service. Butlin never rose above the rank of Private, and was discharged on 4/2/1901, service papers confirming that he was discharged on joining Johannesburg Police.

The Transvaal Constabulary was raised following the fall of Pretoria on 5/6/1900, with a view to providing the Transvaal with a paramilitary police force. The following is the official notice with regard to the raising of that corps –

Army Headquarters, Pretoria, 8th June 1900, notice No.12 Provisional Mounted and Foot Police Force. A limited number of men are required for enrollment in a Provisional Mounted and Foot Police Force for employment in the Pretoria District occupied by British Troops. Volunteers for this force are now called for from the Imperial Yeomanry and colonial Corps from all portions of the British Empire, which are now serving in South Africa. Engagements for the Force will be for 3 months, to be extended (with the man’s consent) to six months, if found necessary later. Men joining this force will revert to their Corps if found unsuitable for police duties and also on completion of any limited engagement. Men enrolling in the Provisional Mtd. and Foot Police Force who are found suitable for police duties will have first claim to the appointments, in any peramnent(sic) police force, which may be created in this state when the Country is settled, appointments carrying non-commissioned rank will be reserved for those members of the Provisional Mounted and Foot Police Force who may posses the necessary educational qualification. Pay etc.- Men volunteering for this force from the Imperial Yeomanry and Colonial Corps will bring with them their uniform, arms and equipment in the case of mounted men saddlery included. A Government horse will be provided by the State, for each mounted man. Consolidated pay will be issued, which will include. Regimental pay at present rates, and allowance in lieu of free rations and forage. The rates of pay for the several ranks will be as follows:- Lieutenant 25/- per diem Corporal 12/- per diem. Sergeant 15/- per diem Private 10/- per diem. Officers commanding Imperial Yeomanry and Colonial Corps are requested to call for Volunteers for the Provisional Mounted and Foot Police Force from their own corps and will forward a list of the officers, N.C. Officers and men offering their services whom they can thoroughly recommend, to the Military Governor Pretoria, to reach him as soon as possible. Owing to the nature of the duties that the Provisional Mounted and Foot Police Force will be called upon to perform only the most reliable and steady N.C. Officers and men should be recommended for appointment. N.B. Candidates from the African Corps will find a knowledge of the Dutch language a great advantage but this knowledge is not compulsory. In cases where men have a knowledge of Dutch, Officers Commanding will record the fact when forwarding their recommendations. By Order (sgd.) W. Kelly, Major General, Deputy Adjutant General

Butlin’s KSA is listed on a Supplementary Transvaal Constabulary Medal Roll, which gives his unit as the Johannesburg District Military Police. Whilst there are rolls for KSA Medals to the Transvaal Constabulary, there do not appear to be any QSA rolls. The KSA rolls record recruits to the Transvaal Constabulary as having been recruited from a wide variety of units, with a high percentage of the men coming from Volunteer companies of infantry regiments, the Imperial Yeomanry and colonial units. They would thus appear to be men aware that the war was coming to an end and intent on staking out a career in civilian life in post-war South Africa. Most constables continued to serve with the Transvaal Constabulary until the end of January 1902.

Butlin’s biographical sketch on Ancestry ends in 1904 with his marriage to Emma Cobley in Blaby, Leicestershire, perhaps indicating that after marrying he returned to South Africa?