Lot Essay
Sold with an original photograph depicting the recipient's funeral procession in Benoni in the early 1920s.
D.C.M. London Gazette 27.9.1901.
The 8th Infantry was the 1st Battalion, Transvaal Scottish.
Peter K.A. Digby, Honorary Curator, Transvaal Scottish Museum kindly supplied the following details:
On taking his discharge in Pretoria from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, before the Regiment left South Africa, it was not surprising that Baxter, a miner by profession, should proceed to Johannesburg to find employment. As he had been a Drummer in the Pipes and Drums of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, he joined the Pipe Band of the Johannesburg-based Transvaal Scottish Volunteers. This unit had been raised on 9.6.1902 and Baxter obviously encountered members of the Transvaal Scottish Volunteers from 1.9.1902 to 4.5.1903, the 1st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders being stationed in camp just below the Johannesburg Fort (which had been built by the South African Republic immediately after the Jameson Raid to keep an eye on the Uitlander population), as part of the Johannesburg garrison, after the cessation of hostilities. This event is commemorated to this day by Johannesburg's smallest suburb of Argyll, that consists of one street "Sutherland Avenue". The presence of the Argylls had a great effect in attracting recruits to the newly-formed Transvaal Scottish Volunteers. This unit, as well as other units of the Defence Force of the Transvaal Colony, had been formed as a direct result of the Anglo-Boer War and many able bodied soldiers who had taken their discharge in South Africa, rather than return to the cold climate of Britain, took up volunteering as a hobby. During the stay of the Argylls the uniform of the Transvaal Scottish was an open sesame to the Officers' and Sergeants' Messes of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Several Officers of the T.S.V. were attached to the Argylls for some months for training purposes. During the German South-West Africa Campaign 1914-15, Baxter served as Bass Drummer in the Pipe Band of 1/Transvaal Scottish. Today the Regiment still exists as a part time unit (Territorial) of the South African National Defence Force and is the proud possessor of 18 Battle Honours.
D.C.M. London Gazette 27.9.1901.
The 8th Infantry was the 1st Battalion, Transvaal Scottish.
Peter K.A. Digby, Honorary Curator, Transvaal Scottish Museum kindly supplied the following details:
On taking his discharge in Pretoria from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, before the Regiment left South Africa, it was not surprising that Baxter, a miner by profession, should proceed to Johannesburg to find employment. As he had been a Drummer in the Pipes and Drums of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, he joined the Pipe Band of the Johannesburg-based Transvaal Scottish Volunteers. This unit had been raised on 9.6.1902 and Baxter obviously encountered members of the Transvaal Scottish Volunteers from 1.9.1902 to 4.5.1903, the 1st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders being stationed in camp just below the Johannesburg Fort (which had been built by the South African Republic immediately after the Jameson Raid to keep an eye on the Uitlander population), as part of the Johannesburg garrison, after the cessation of hostilities. This event is commemorated to this day by Johannesburg's smallest suburb of Argyll, that consists of one street "Sutherland Avenue". The presence of the Argylls had a great effect in attracting recruits to the newly-formed Transvaal Scottish Volunteers. This unit, as well as other units of the Defence Force of the Transvaal Colony, had been formed as a direct result of the Anglo-Boer War and many able bodied soldiers who had taken their discharge in South Africa, rather than return to the cold climate of Britain, took up volunteering as a hobby. During the stay of the Argylls the uniform of the Transvaal Scottish was an open sesame to the Officers' and Sergeants' Messes of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Several Officers of the T.S.V. were attached to the Argylls for some months for training purposes. During the German South-West Africa Campaign 1914-15, Baxter served as Bass Drummer in the Pipe Band of 1/Transvaal Scottish. Today the Regiment still exists as a part time unit (Territorial) of the South African National Defence Force and is the proud possessor of 18 Battle Honours.