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The QSA to 4890 Pte J Rennie, Gordon Highlanders


Picture courtesy of Baldwins

Private J Rennie; of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, was severely wounded at Elandslaagte. A contemporary report by Private W Reed of the 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders mentioned in the Newcastle Daily Chronicles on the 4th of December 1899 that: ‘It was something horrible to see the lot our regiment alone lost...there was Printz, young Kelley, Ginger McCabe, Sergeant Middleton – he died up at the front – and then...Rennie, who was badly wounded.’ Regimental records note that John Rennie was wounded by a gunshot to the right shoulder from an elephant gun during the main offensive. Despite a relatively high number of casualties (237 British to roughly 350 Boer – including the capture of General Kock and Colonel Schiel), Elandslaagte is recorded as a clear cut tactical victory for the British in the Boer War, and one in which members of the experienced 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders under Colonel Ian Hamilton played an important role in charging a Boer hill position.

His single clasp medal is verified on WO100/203p395. The note says 'To England'.

Another Elandslaagte from the Baldwin auction of medals to men of that surname.

IGS 1895 (1) Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (5381 Pte C. Rennie 1st Bn Gord: Hrs:)
QA (4) Eland DoL LN Belf (5381 Pte. C. Rennie, Gordon Highrs:)
KSA (2) (5381 Pte C. Rennie. Gordon Highrs)

Private Charles Rennie; a gardener from Fyvie, Aberdeenshire, enlisted into the Gordon Highlanders on the 6th of June, 1895 at the age of twenty.


Picture courtesy of Baldwins

Not a medal you will see very often!


Picture courtesy of Dreweatts

QSA (3) Elandslaagte, Colenso, Relief of Ladysmith (4916 Pte. W. G. Deeks 1st East Surrey Regt ). Erased and renamed in upright capitals.

The trio to Private Francis Pirie, Gordon Highlanders


Picture courtesy of Dreweatts

IGS 1895 (2) Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (5261 Pte. Fr. Pirie 1st Bn. Gord: Hrs.)
QSA (3) Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (5261 Pte. F. Pirie, Gordon Highrs:)
KSA (2) (5261 Pte. F. Pirie. Gordon Highrs:)

ex Glendining’s, June 1994
ex Spink, 20-21 October 1999, lot 156

Francis Pirie was born in December 1876 in the parish of St Nicholas, Aberdeen, Scotland. The 1881 census finds him living at Duncan’s Court in Aberdeen with his widowed mother and 4 brothers ages 13, 8, 3 and 1. Pirie enlisted for service with the Gordon Highlanders 11 December 1894, having previously worked as a Labourer, and having spent some time with the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Gordon Highlanders. He served with the first Battalion in India but when the 2nd Battalion came to replace the first he elected to remain in India. The battalion did not remain there long and were shipped to Natal in anticipation of hostilities with the Boers. The 2nd Battalion saw much action during the conflict and his QSA carries the four clasps that are common to the 2nd Battalion. Francis married Jane Slaven on Feb 24th, 1896 at St Joseph's Catholic Church in Glasgow and had two daughters and a son. (Ellen, Elizabeth and Francis).

In 1911, he joined the HLI and served in the early part of the Great War earning a 1914 trio.

I particularly like the Colenso bar. As you say, not often seen on the market !
Regards
Mike

Mike,

I'm sure many of the Dublin Fusiliers would agree that the Colenso clasp should have been awarded for their service in the relief.