South Africa Boer War pair awarded to Private R.B. Pilmer, 1st Royal Dragoons, formerly 3rd Dragoon Guards. From North Leith, he lived in Edinburgh all his life and was a cabinet maker by trade though he saw service in army from November 1886 until October 1894 when on service in India and South Africa. Recalled for the Boer War, he saw service with the 1st Royal Dragoons on operations in both the Orange Free State and the Transvaal between June 1900 and January 1902.
Pair: Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899-1902, 2 Clasps: Orange Free State, Transvaal; (4908. PTE. R. PILMER. 1/RL. DRGNS.); King’s South Africa Medal 1901-1902, 2 Clasps: South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902; (4908 PTE R. PILMER. RL: DRAGOONS.)
Condition: Good Very Fine.
Robert Brown Pilmer was born on 11 November 1870 in North Leith, Midlothian, Scotland, the son of George Gibson Palmer and Isabella Brown. His father was a dock porter, and he was one of eight siblings. Having gone to work as a cabinet maker, he then attested for service with the British Army at Preston on 9 November 1886, joining as a Private (No.2970) the 3rd Dragoon Guards. He saw service out in India between September 1888 and October 1892 when posted to South Africa, and then home in October 1894, he be transferred to the Army Reserve on 28 October 1894. He married Margaret Wiggins Anderson in Edinburgh on 8 July 1898, she being a cork factory worker. They remarkably went on to have 14 children!
Owing to the outbreak of the Boer War he was recalled to army service on 29 May 1900 when posted as a Private (No.4908) to the 1st Royal Dragoons, with whom he saw service service out in South Africa with from 7 June 1900 until 9 January 1902, being present on operations in both the Orange Free State and the Transvaal. Posted home he was discharged on 8 November 1902. Pilmer died in Edinburgh on 22 February 1950. Confirmed as his full medal entitlement.
