Description

Queens South Africa Medal (1899 – 1902) with 5 clasps CAPE COLONY, TUGELA HEIGHTS, ORANGE FREE STATE, RELIEF OF LADYSMITH, TRANSVAAL, impressed named 95773, GNR: R. M^C ALLISTER. 28^TH BTY: R.F.A.; Kings South Africa Medal (1902), 2 clasps SOUTH AFRICA 1901, SOUTH AFRICA 1092, impressed named 95773, GNR: R. MC ALLISTER. R.F.A.; 1914 – 15 Star, impressed named 36981 GNR. R MC ALLISTER. R.F.A.; British War and Victory Medals both impressed named 36981 GNR. R. MC ALLISTER. R.A. Comes with copies service records, medal rolls, 1911 & 39 census and pension papers.

Robert McAllister was born on the 4/12/1873 at Houghton-Le-Spring, Ryhope, Easington Lane, Sunderland, a labourer by trade he enlisted into the Royal Artillery on 28/1/1893. At the time he was serving with the Durham Artillery Militia.

After training at the Depot at Woolwich he was posted to the 28^th Battery 8/3/1893. On the 1/6/1897 he received 10 days imprisonment, 7/3/1898 back to the cells awaiting trial on the 12^th and received another 21 days imprisonment.

Served South Africa 5/12/1899 – 22/9/1902 all with the 28^th Battery. The Battery saw heavy fighting and service during the campaign. McAllister was wounded during the Relief of Ladysmith 23/2/1900, shell splinter right hand Colenso’ (Tugela Heights). One copy of his service papers records under the wounded section ‘ slightly splinters of shell ‘R hand’ at Colenso 23/2/00’, the other copy shows ‘at Relief of Ladysmith 23/2/00’. He survived the war and was posted to the Depot 28/8/1902, Army Reserve 21/12/1905 and discharged time expired 20/2/1909.

Between the wars he was working as a coal miner ‘stone shifter’ in Sunderland where he enlisted back into the R.F.A 12/9/1914 with the new service number 36981.

WW1: He landed in France 9/3/1913 and by the 15/3/15 was posted as a gunner to 123^rd Brigade (37^th Division) He served with them until 19/12/1917 when he was posted back to the Depot. 25/1/1918 Posted Labour Corps with the 44^th Labour Company service no 448257, transferred to the reserve 13/11/1918. He served in France 9/3/15 – 30/10/1918.

He was possibly posted to the Labour Corps due to ‘loss of hearing’ which is recorded on his pension record.

He was drawing a pension as of 13/11/18 – 1923. The 1939 census recorded him living in Durham as a retired miner, he died 22/4/1941 in Sunderland.