Terry Posted 15 January , 2007 Share Posted 15 January , 2007 I have just won on ebay a single British War Medal to Sister J. Leys. Her MIC indicates that she earned the victory medal as well and that her unit was the Nyasaland Field Force. Do any of the Pals have information on this organization? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KONDOA Posted 16 January , 2007 Share Posted 16 January , 2007 Nyasaland provided troops and a base for the invasion of German East Africa , under General Northey. It may be that Sister Leys was part of the medical / ambulance facilites of this column. Roop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonmate Posted 16 January , 2007 Share Posted 16 January , 2007 Terry Go to another part of this site and read about it ! http://www.1914-1918.net/hawthorns_first_despatch.htm Sotonmate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christine liava'a Posted 16 January , 2007 Share Posted 16 January , 2007 Dr N M Leys, who is possibly her father, or maybe a brother, can be found on the Internet. He was a graduate of the University of Glasgow http://www.archives.gla.ac.uk/honour/brows...end=100&l=L and a "Maverick civil servant" http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:FjjPj2...=clnk&cd=12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Posted 17 January , 2007 Author Share Posted 17 January , 2007 Thanks for the input, Pals. I had come across the doctor's name, and the notation that as a captain in the Nyasaland Field Force he had been mentioned in despatches, and I wondered if he may have ben the husband of the nursing sister. Hadn't considered a brother or father. Cheers, Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter Posted 13 May , 2007 Share Posted 13 May , 2007 Terry As I've just mentioned the Nyasaland Field Force in a post, I thought I'd offer an additional source: If you look at the old articles in the The Society of Malawi Journal ( http://www.societyofmalawi.org/index.html ) you might get a little more background for the medal. Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter Posted 8 November , 2007 Share Posted 8 November , 2007 Terry If you haven't come across them already, the Imperial War Museum holds private papers of Mrs. J. Leys. Try IWM 88/51/1. You should be able to source a very graphic description of the Karonga battle & the nurses' part in it. Reards Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter Posted 26 November , 2007 Share Posted 26 November , 2007 Terry I can't get a response from you by PM. I now have a copy of a letter written by Sister J. Leys (wife of Dr. Norman Leys) written just after the Battle of Karonga. The letter has 14 pages & is explicit about the severity of both the battle & the wounds that Sister Leys saw & dealt with. This letter can only enhance the importance of the medal you have acquired. PM me if you would like a copy. Regards Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest relies Posted 6 March , 2012 Share Posted 6 March , 2012 Hi to all who have made comment on this subject of Dr. N. M. Leys and yes, is his wife Sister J Leys. As part of my family history I am researching this family as both Dr. leys and self are descended from same background. Have an old family tree drawn up in 1888 and he is listed on it. Naturally I am not but my Grandfather is. I am pleased Terry you have Medal and Letter for Sister J. Leys, quite envious actually but pleased someone has them. Even a photo or photocopy of letter would be valued by me. {hint]. However my main purpose is to say I have information on this couple and willing to share, as to who they were, when born, married, when and where died etc. also wondering if you, over time have gathered anything else re Norman MacLean Leys and his wife Jane Reid Leys [nee Donald] Regards Interloper [Jan] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter Posted 9 March , 2012 Share Posted 9 March , 2012 Jan Greetings Details sent by email Regards Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanlw Posted 31 January , 2013 Share Posted 31 January , 2013 Going off at a bit of a tangent, a chap I'm researching, Capt. (Henry) Courtney Brocklehurst was flying nearby in 1917 for RFC 26 (SA) Squadron, though I've found very little about his time there in the war diaries. Now I've just been reading his obituary written by his brother in 1946. This states that Courtney Brocklehurst flew in the Nyasaland Field Force which I gather was under General Northey. Does anyone know if the Flying Section of the Nyasaland Field Force was that just part of the same RFC 26 Squadron or something separate? Thanks. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter Posted 1 February , 2013 Share Posted 1 February , 2013 Alan Greetings I believe that the planes that supported Northey were detached from 26 Sqn. I briefly mentioned a plane and crew here: http://www.westernfrontassociation.com/great-war-on-land/other-war-theatres/2512-out-on-a-limb-the-road-through-tunduru-german-east-africa-may-to-november-1917.html If you wish to PM me with an email address I'll send more information and photographs. Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillian Stokes Posted 23 October , 2020 Share Posted 23 October , 2020 (edited) Hi all I have joined this forum to try and get more information about my late grandfather Frank Maiden and my two great uncles, his brother John Lefevre Maiden and brother in law Albert Beves Northern. I believe Frank and John went to Nyasaland from the UK as planters... not sure who hired them though. There they met Albert Beves Northern who was my maternal grandmother's brother. I am so curious about their lives in Nyasaland especially as I was born in Zomba some 43 years after my grandparents got married there. At the time my Dad was with the Rhodesia Nyasaland signals seconded to the 2KAR. Frank Albert and John were all with the Nyasaland Field volunteers as from 1914. I have an actual letter from my great grandmother dated November 1917 in which she mentions the my grandfather was with the NVR and "currently" stationed at Chinde at the Zambezi mouth. My grandparents and Albert and his wife moved to South Africa eventually. My grandfather Frank is listed on the medal role as both volunteer and lieutenant. From what my late mother used to say about her father, he was in clerical/ bookkeeping roles her whole life and I can't quite picture him in any kind of military capacity although I suppose when duty called, people answered. I have medal cards from the records at Kew for Frank John and Albert. I would love to know what medals these were and what they looked like. I need to get a copy of Peter Charlton's book Cinderella's Soldiers as I am very interested in finding out more about the NVR and the role the field forces played in the great war. I am incredibly curious about my great uncle John LeFevre Maiden who died back in England in 1916. I would love to know if he was injured and/or what lead him to leave Nyasaland in the middle of the great war and return to the UK. I have very scant information on him. Edited 23 October , 2020 by Gillian Stokes Adding a little more information Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaureenE Posted 25 October , 2020 Share Posted 25 October , 2020 You could read the FIBIS Fibiwiki page East Africa section Records which gives an indication of what is available. https://wiki.fibis.org/w/East_Africa For an officer, there is the London Gazette, and Monthly Army Lists, both available online. For Medals, see the FIBIS Fibiwiki page Medals https://wiki.fibis.org/w/Medals This includes a link Medals: Imperial Awards: World War One 1914-1918 Department of Defence, Australian Government, which has all the information about WW1 medals. Also the FIBIS Fibiwiki page Medal Rolls has some general information. https://wiki.fibis.org/w/Medal_Rolls The Medal Index Cards usually give details of the medals awarded. If you can'r see this, you could attach images which perhaps others may be able to interpret. Cheers Maureen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillian Stokes Posted 27 October , 2020 Share Posted 27 October , 2020 (edited) Thank you Maureene Edited 27 October , 2020 by Gillian Stokes Name spelled wrong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillian Stokes Posted 27 October , 2020 Share Posted 27 October , 2020 What in these cards would signify which medals? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveE Posted 27 October , 2020 Share Posted 27 October , 2020 (edited) Gillian The references against Victory, British and 15 Star indicate that each medal was awarded so all three qualified for the trio of medals. [Image from https://www.researchingww1.co.uk/guide-to-british-ww1-medals] Left to Right...... 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal & Victory Medal. Steve Edited 27 October , 2020 by SteveE Image added Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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