Third Annual Report of the SPMR 1908-1909

[Kimberley John Lindsay]

Dear Great War Forum fellow-enthusiasts,

The dates 1908-1909 are seemingly off-topic, however, most of the Officers and Troopers shown in a group photo printed in the "Third Annual Report of the Southern Provinces Mounted Rifles, 1908-1909" (Madras: Printed by the Superintendent, Government Press. 1909) served in 1914-18.

I possess merely a photocopy of the cover, plus two pages of detail concerning 'my' Trooper 365 W. J. Davis ("C" Troop: Capt. Parsons). Therefore, my benefactor who supplied the copies, and who sadly can no longer find the ca. 78-page booklet with paper covers, told me about the Group Photo therein. 

I would be more than grateful (a Goodie awaits the kind GWF member!) to have a scan of that Southern Provinces Mounted Rifles group photo!

TPR. W. J. DAVIS was awarded the Vol. LS Medal - one of 54 to the 'S. PROV. M. RIF., A.F.I.' - in Indian Army Order of 1928. By that date, of course, he had already earned the BWM, Victory and had been Mentioned in Despatches (twice: IARO, late 2nd Q.V.O. Sappers and Miners, attd. Royal Engineers, Indian Establishment) for Mesopotamia (T/Major, but rank impressed '2-LIEUT.'). The IGS clasp "Malabar 1921-22" followed (EX-ENG. W. J. DAVIS): 'Executive Engineer on Spcial Duty to assist the Military Commander in Malabar'. Thereafter, the 1935 GVR Silver Jubilee Medal (when he was 'Superintending Engineer, Madras Circle'), and the 1937 GVIR Coronation Medal (when Superintending Engineer, Coimbatore Circle). 

He retired to a beautiful house in Surrey until he died in 1968 at the age of 82, which went for 1,500,000 Pounds a few years ago - but I have failed to find a photo (aka Image) of the elusive William John Davis...!

Kindest regards,

Kim.

[Guest]

KJL-   A tough publication to find-   The only run I can locate is in the library resources of the National Army Museum:

 

Item Details
Southern Provinces Mounted Rifles - Report - 1907-08           NAM Accession No: 23892
Southern Provinces Mounted Rifles, Annual Reports 1921-31           NAM Accession No: 24670
Southern Provinces Mounted Rifles, Annual Reports 1931-41           NAM Accession No: 24671

 

 

       There are some further photographs of SPMR at the British Library, in the Oriental collections- the old India Office. I suspect that there might well be a run of the reports also at BL but just not showing up- probably in the Secret and Political Department library,which BL holds.

 

 

 

 

[Kimberley John Lindsay]

 

Thanks for that - a good lead...

kindest regards,

Kim.

[Guest]

KJL- Don't thank me- I am only making more work for you!!

 

     There are a fair few pics. of SPMR around- Your man is almost certain to be in some of them.  The timeframe is right.

 

BRITISH LIBRARY- MANUSCRIPTS CATALOGUE

 

      5 SPECIFIC PHOTOGRAPHS LISTED.

 

 

5 Results

sorted by:sorted by:relevanceOr hit Enter to replace sort method

Material Type	Add to My Shelf Action	Record Details and Options
1	Material Type: Archives and Manuscripts		[Regiment on parade] Southern Provinces Mounted Rifles. Photographer: Wiele and Klein Photo 723/4(23) : c 1914 ·         Details ·         I want this ·         Notes & Tags
2	Material Type: Archives and Manuscripts		[Regimental group] Southern Provinces Mounted Rifles. Photographer: Wiele and Klein Photo 723/4(22) : c 1914 ·         Details ·         I want this ·         Notes & Tags
3	Material Type: Archives and Manuscripts		[Regimental group] Southern Provinces Mounted Rifles. Photographer: Wiele and Klein Photo 723/4(24) : c 1914 ·         Details ·         I want this ·         Notes & Tags
4	Material Type: Archives and Manuscripts		Captain Alan Guthrie Collection: Album of photographs of the SouthernProvinces Mounted Rifles Contingent at the 1911 Delhi Durbar and miscellaneous photographs of India. Photo 632 : 1911-1920 ·         Details ·         I want this ·         Notes & Tags
5	Material Type: Archives and Manuscripts		Captain Alan Guthrie Collection: Presentation album - 'SouthernProvinces Mounted Rifles Delhi Durbar Contingent, 12th December 1911'. Photographer(s): Unknown Photo 632/1 : Dec 1911

 

2) Ebay

1909 INDIA ~ SOUTHERN PROVINCES MOUNTED RIFLES BANGALORE LED HORSES JUMPING

    Single page of pics. From the Times of India  pictorial supplement- I suspect the pics. Are from the album below, which appears to have been semi-published.

 

3) BLOOMSBURY BOOK AUCTIONS-  APRIL 2015 =lot 186

 

Wiele's Studio. - Southern Provinces Mounted Rifles,

 

two photograph albums, comprising 88 gelatin silver prints mounted onto rectos & versos of album ff. with printed captions below, mostly c.105 x 145 mm. to c. 85 x 210 mm., one album with printed roll of members, tissue guards, with 6 further, larger photographs by Wiele's studio relating to the same loosely inserted (some slightly dog-eared), albums in similar sewn original red cloth, lettered in black, some water-marking and edge wear, oblong folio, Bangalore, 1907-9. Subjects include cavalry troop formations & exercises, camp scenes and weaponry.

 

Auction ended on Thu, Apr 30, 2015

See Sold Price|

Estimate £300 - £400

|Sell a Similar Item

 

[Kimberley John Lindsay]

 

Thanks are very much in order.

Indeed, if you send me a Personal Message with your name and address, I will send you a Goodie for your - most valuable - efforts, which you kindly made in the spirit of the Great War Forum: namely helping a fellow-enthusiast who is less good at finding out such things.

Armed with the above information (he may well have been one of the 1911 Durbar Contingent: I found a lady who once met him (!), I can beam these (from sw Germany) to my London BL researcher and say "Find!" - It's only money...

I found some of those jumping photos, by chance. Furthermore, I attach interesting Kut connections to that Raj busy bridge- and road-builder, William John Davis, BSc.

Kindest regards,

Kim.

[Guest]

  Will do. Goodie not required. Others help me out with some daft/daft-ish  little problems.Now if you stopped buing medals, then that  would do away with the need for research........................   yes, I know-NOT likely 

 

[Kimberley John Lindsay]

Dear Guest

Nice of you not to jump at the Goodie. Next time!

My medal acquisitions have been fairly modest (compared with some collections) - circa forty Officer groups, several with gallantry, and many with researched Images. My aim is to buy different sorts of groups (I attach three examples) and then research them diligently! Oftentimes, fascinating stories come out of it all, including side-effects, like 'meeting' enthusiasts like yourself, which is nice. The frustrating part, is when someone like W. J. Davis, BSc., has researched beautifully, but his image remains elusive!

Kindest regards,

Kim.

[Guest]

 On purpose, I omit the price that my esteemed bookseller colleague has on this item- but if someone wins the lottery......

I post this merely to show that reports for 1911-1912 actually physically exist. OK, pricy but at least we know they are real and out there somewhere

 

Annual Report of the Southern Provinces Mounted Rifles. Sixth Report 1911-1912, & Seventh Report 1912-1913.

 

Published by Madras Superintendent, Government Press (1912)

Used

Quantity Available: 1

From: John Randall (Books of Asia), ABA, ILAB(Rye, East Sussex, United Kingdom)

 

 

About this Item: Madras Superintendent, Government Press, 1912. Two volumes, first editions, pp.50; 38, 2 plates, 2 maps hand coloured in outline. Spines torn and repaired with tape, a few worm holes, otherwise very good copies. The Report for 1912-13 was printed at the Caxton Press, Ootacamund. Seller Inventory # 12127