PHOTO PAGE 73

Photo GALI 1 Please contact Lindi Beckwith at > beckwith@iafrica.com

Lindi wrote "My grandfather, FREDERICK ERNEST GALLIMORE born 04.06.1885 LICHFIELD, Staffordshire, England, emigrated to SOUTH AFRICA around the turn of the century. He was a porter on the railway at WOOD GREEN, NORTH LONDON (I think this is how he started out his career after school) and appeared to have by then already taken an interest in BISLEY SHOOTING (in which he continued to excel out here). I have looked through some old Bisley newspaper cuttings, and it appears he could have joined the army before emigrating to South Africa with the army. The passage below is from one of the cuttings (November 1907) and is my greatest lead in this respect, but whether or not he joined the army in the UK or SA is yet unknown. One of the articles in the Bisley newspaper cuttings read, "Though but 33 years of age, his triumphs at the butts have been great. One of the most active members of the LOYAL NORTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT he, while yet a recruit, established a recruit's record for the Aldershot district, and his fame a colour-sergeant in the ranks during their sojourn in South Africa has been equally great, his team invariably taking leading honours at our Bisley meetings. One of the best Transvaal shots. Made the Army record for the Recruits' Course in 1898 He married, THOMASIN LEE (born 1885 SHOTLEY BRIDGE, CO DURHAM), in Johannesburg October 1908." I don't know when she emigrated either as yet (came out as one of the maids to the SCHUMACHER family, from Co. Durham or Newcastle upon Tyne), but I am fairly confident that they only met here.

The puzzle becomes even more interesting as the following photograph will demonstrate.

Photo GALI 2

Lindi wrote in a later e-mail "Another snippet from a cutting dated 26.11.1907: "On purchasing from the Army (this must have been the Loyal North Lancs), less than two years ago, Mr Gallimore enrolled in the TRANSVAAL LIGHT INFANTRY and on the disbandment of that corps joined the force of which he is now a useful member, the WITWATERSRAND RIFLES." So his military service with Loyal North Lancashire Regiment was relatively short-lived. "

I have a feeling that Lindi may not (as yet) have the full story of her Grandfather's fascinating career. This photograph seems to suggest that he was at some time a soldier of the The Kings Shropshire Light Infantry? I have inserted a "close up" of Sergeant Gallimore's collar dogs (collar badges) below this image. Lindsi and I would appreciate an expert opinion on this and any information and research suggestions please.