An interesting Boer War, Great War Egypt and Gallipoli and Army Long Service and Good Conduct Group awarded to Sergeant Trumpeter J.T. McIver, Royal Field Artillery, later Serjeant, 1st Battalion, Lovat’s Scouts who having attested aged 14 years and 2 months in December 1889, would later go on to serve with 11th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery in South Africa during the Boer War being present on operations in the Cape Colony, being present at Driefontein on 10th March 1900, Johannesburg on 31st March 1900, Diamond Hill from 11th to 12th June 1900, and Belfast from 26th to 27th August 1900. He would be awarded the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in Army Order 77 of 1908 before being discharged on 12th February 1909. He would later serve during the Great War as part of the 1st Battalion, Lovat’s Scouts and saw action in Egypt and later in Gallipoli where he would suffer a slight gunshot wound to the head on 12th November 1915. He would then serve in Egypt for the remainder of the war before being discharged on 25th March 1919.
Group of 5: Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899-1902, 6, Clasps: Cape Colony, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast, South Africa 1901; (76658 SGT TPTR. J.T. MCIVER. R.F.A.) 1914-1915 Star; (2302 SJT. J.T. MC IVER. LOVAT’S SCTS) British War Medal and Victory Medal; (2302 SJT. J.T. MCIVER. 1-LOVAT’S SCTS.) Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, EVII; (76658 SGT. TPTR. J.T. MCIVER. R.F.A.)
Condition: Good Very Fine
John Thompson McIver was born in Leith, Edinburgh and attested for the Royal Field Artillery at Stornoway on 3rd December 1889 aged 14 years and 2 months. Joining 2nd Division Depot as a Boy he joined the 51st Battery as a Trumpeter 12th November 1889 and ‘E’ Battery, Royal Horse Artillery as Trumpeter on 11th November 1894. Imprisoned (offence not recorded but was released to duty on 6th December 1894. He would serve in India from 12th November 1892 until 24th November 1899. He joined the 11th Brigade, Royal Artillery as a Sergeant Trumpeter on 18th December 1899, and would serve in South Africa from 18th January 1900 until 20th December 1901 with 11th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery taking part in the Boer War and was present on operations in the Cape Colony, being present at Driefontein on 10th March 1900, Johannesburg on 31st March 1900, Diamond Hill from 11th to 12th June 1900, and Belfast from 26th to 27th August 1900.
McIver would be awarded the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in Army Order 77 of 1908 with a £5 gratuity and would be discharged on 12th February 1909 at his own request having served for 18 years.
He would attest for the Lovats Scouts at Huntingdon on 17th September 1914 shortly after the outbreak of the Great War. Initially serving as a Private. Recording his next of kin as his mother Mrs. McIver, Green Park, Baybles, Stornoway. Appointed Sergeant Trumpeter 17th September 1914, he served in Egypt and Gallipoli with the 1st/1st Lovat’s Scouts from 7th September 1915. Arriving at Alexandria 18th September, to Lemos on 20th, they then laded at Suvla Bay on 26th September and to the Salt Lake Line where they were attached to the 2nd Mounted Division. McIver would suffer a slight gunshot wound to the head on 12th November 1915, the Regiment being evacuated from Gallipoli on 20th December 1915 proceeding to Imbros. The 1st/Lovat Scouts became the 10th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders on 17th November 1916 and remained in Egypt until 2nd February 1919. He would be demobilised from the Depot on 25th March 1919.
