Lot Essay
War Office records verify a single clasp entitlement for 'Cape Colony'.
Private Robert Green was born in Cumberland and enlisted into the Royal Munster Fusiliers at Carlisle in April 1897, aged just 14 years. As evidenced by his official 'Statement of Services' (P.R.O. WO/97/4986 refers), his subsequent career was at best a most unhappy one, a string of Court Martials resulting in lengthy confinement. He appears, however, to have scraped through active service in South Africa, between October 1899 and April 1902, without incident, or at least until the voyage home when he was charged for throwing his kit overboard. He was subsequently discharged in September 1903, being described as 'incorrigible and worthless'. It is interesting to speculate as to the origin of his extra seven clasps, and indeed his Medal, not least since his Service Papers are stamped, 'Forfeited under Article 1256(b)'.
Private Robert Green was born in Cumberland and enlisted into the Royal Munster Fusiliers at Carlisle in April 1897, aged just 14 years. As evidenced by his official 'Statement of Services' (P.R.O. WO/97/4986 refers), his subsequent career was at best a most unhappy one, a string of Court Martials resulting in lengthy confinement. He appears, however, to have scraped through active service in South Africa, between October 1899 and April 1902, without incident, or at least until the voyage home when he was charged for throwing his kit overboard. He was subsequently discharged in September 1903, being described as 'incorrigible and worthless'. It is interesting to speculate as to the origin of his extra seven clasps, and indeed his Medal, not least since his Service Papers are stamped, 'Forfeited under Article 1256(b)'.