| A very rare photograph of an obscure South African colonial volunteer unit - Prince Alfred's Guards. In this instance depicting No. 448 Bandsman Corporal Ted LeGros. He inscribed the reverse of the photograph (below) to an unknown sibling in January, 1885. LeGros was still with Prince Alfred's Guards during the Anglo-Boer War. By the time of the war LeGros had been promoted to Bugle Major during the course of hostilities transferred to the Field Intelligence Department and was commissioned Lieutenant. For his service during the war LeGros was entitled to the Queen's South Africa Medal with the clasps "Cape Colony" and "Orange Free State". He was also entitled to the King's South Africa Medal with its manditory two clasps "South Africa 1901" and "South Africa 1902". No other information has come to light as of now regarding Ted LeGros. Having signed the photo "Ted" and the fact that the QSAM Roll list him as "E. LeGros" it is porobably safe to assume that his Christian name was in fact Edward. Interestingly the after LeGros transferred to the Field Intelligence Department his name is shown as "C. E. LeGros". In spite of this seeming disparity I have little doubt that it is in fact the same man. Carte de Visite C. W. Smart - Photographer Donkin Street, Port Elizabeth, Cape Colony, South Africa January 1885 |
