The 2nd Battalion sailed for South Africa on 7th November 1899.
After their arrival they were for about two months mainly employed on the
lines of communication in Western Cape Colony, the headquarters being at
Orange River Station, with a detachment at Zoutpans Drift. On Lord
Roberts' arrival at Modder River they, along with the 2nd Duke of Cornwall's
Light Infantry, 1st Gordon Highlanders, and Canadian Regiment, were put into
the 19th Brigade under Major General Smith-Dorrien, and formed part of
the IXth Division under General Sir H E Colvile. The work of the
division and of the brigade has been sketched under the Duke of Cornwall's
Light Infantry.
At Paardeberg the Shropshire Light Infantry did excellent work. On
the night of the 21st they made, what General Colvile called, "a fine
advance to within 550 yards of the Boer trenches", and by spade-work this
distance was subsequently diminished. At Paardeberg the battalion had
about 50 casualties.
In Lord Roberts' despatch of 31st March 1900, Colonel Spens, 1 other
officer, and 5 non-commissioned officers and men gained mention.
In the northern advance, which commenced about the end of April, the 19th
Brigade formed part of Ian Hamilton's army of the right flank, and in all
his numerous actions the Shropshire Light Infantry did well when it came to
their turn. In his excellent account of the work of Ian Hamilton's
force, which he accompanied, Mr Winston Churchill, describing the battle of
Thoba Mountain on 1st May, says: "Parties of the Gordons and Canadians
succeeded in gaining possession of the two peaks of Thoba Mountain.
Besides this, half a company of the Shropshires under Colour Sergeant Sconse
managed to seize the nek between them, and though subjected to a severe
crossfire, which caused in this small party ten casualties out of forty,
maintained themselves stubbornly for four hours. The points which
dominate the flat top of the mountain were thus gained".
After Pretoria had been occupied the 19th Brigade guarded the railway for
some distance south of the capital, the headquarters of the Shropshire Light
Infantry being at Rhenoster, in Orange River Colony. On 10th July
Smith-Dorrien was ordered to take the Shropshire Light Infantry and the 1st
Battalion of the Gordons to collect supplies in the Krugersdorp district.;
but on the 11th he found himself opposed by a very strong force of the
enemy, and it was with great difficulty that he could save his guns, which
had been too far pushed forward.
On 16th July the Shropshire Light Infantry formed part of the garrison of
sundry posts, which were very heavily attacked, but the attacks were driven
off.
On 30th July the battalion had the misfortune to lose 13 men killed and
38 wounded through a train being derailed on the line between Krugersdorp
and Klerksdorp.
In a telegraphic despatch dated 13th August 1900 Lord Roberts said, "Smith-Dorrien
reports that the 2nd Shropshire Light Infantry marched forty-three miles in
thirty-two hours and the City Imperial Volunteers thirty miles in seventeen
hours, in the hope of being able to prevent De Wet from crossing the
Krugersdorp - Potchefstroom Railway". The battalion took part in the
pursuit of De Wet's forces to the Megaliesberg, and in the relief of Colonel
Hore at Eland's River.
In August 1900 Lord Roberts moved a great part of his army along the
Delagoa Railway in preparation for his final advance to Koomati Poort.
The Shropshire Light Infantry were taken to Belfast, and had some fighting
in that neighbourhood on several occasions in the latter part of August.
On 6th September the battalion joined General French at Carolina, and
under that general marched to Barberton, where they were stationed for three
weeks. In October the battalion came back to Belfast, and were again
put under Smith-Dorrien, who on 1st November started out with two small
columns to attack the enemy at Witkloof. On account of a very severe
night, with a temperature close on freezing and torrents of rain which
numbed the men and horses, the general decided to retire without attacking,
and during the retirement had to fight a steady rear-guard action. On
the 6th he again essayed the same task and had severe fighting, the
casualties being 6 killed and 20 wounded, "mostly of the Shropshire Light
Infantry, whose conduct was much praised". On the following day the
fighting was still heavier, the enemy being strongly reinforced. On this occasion the Royal Canadian
Dragoons and Canadian Artillery did splendid work. The dragoons
gaining three Victoria Crosses.
In Lord Roberts' final despatch 12 officers and 18 non-commissioned
officers and men of the battalion were mentioned.
The battalion formed part of the garrison of Belfast when it was attacked
on the night of 7th January 1901, and on that occasion they had about 20
casualties. For the remainder of the campaign they were chiefly
employed in the Eastern Transvaal. The headquarters were generally at
Belfast or Carolina, and one-half of the battalion was almost always out on
column work. Many treks were done under Colonels Williams, Park, and
Fortescue, whose columns were constantly engaged.
In the second phase of the war 4 officers and 2 men gained mention in
despatches by Lord Kitchener for excellent work, and in his final despatch
he added the names of 3 officers and 4 non-commissioned officers and men.
Pair: Private J.
Davis, Shropshire Light Infantry. QSA (3) CC Paard Drie (2786
Pte., 2nd Shropshire Lt. Infy.); Special Reserve Long Service Ed VII
(4999 Pte., 3/Shrops. L.I.) surname spelt 'Davies' on last, DNW.
DNW Dec 92 £160.
Pair: Private J.
Andrews, Shropshire Light Infantry. QSA (4) CC Paard Drie Joh
(5630 Pte., 2nd Shrops. Lt. Infy.), KSA (2). DNW Dec 92.
Five: Warrant Officer J.A. Humphries, King's Shropshire Light Infantry.
QSA (4) CC Drie Joh DH (4968 Cpl., 2nd Shrop. Lt. Infy.), KSA (2) (Serjt.),
BWM, VM (W.O. Cl. 2., K.S.L.I.), QArmy LS&GC GV (C. Sjt., Shrops. L.I.).
DNW Dec 92.
Military Cross
group of six awarded to Captain E V T A Spink, Shropshire Light
Infantry. MC GV, QSA (4) CC Paard, Drie Joh (5641 Cpl., 2nd Shrop.
Lt. Infy.), KSA (2) (Serjt.), 1914-15 Star (2. Lieut., Shrops. L.I.),
BWM, VM (Capt.).
M.C., London Gazette, 14th November, 1916. Edward
Victor Thomas Alexander Spink, Shropshire Light Infantry: For
conspicuous gallantry in action. He personally conducted and
posted advanced posts, showing marked courage and initiative. The
information sent in from his personal reconnaissance was of the greatest
value.’ Captain E V T A Spink served in the ranks during the Boer
War. He was promoted 2nd Lieutenant on 15th December, 1914, and
proceeded to France with the 1st battalion at the end of that month.
He was wounded at Bormezeele on the St Eloi front in January, 1915, but
refused to leave his men. He was wounded again in April, 1915, in
an attack near Zonnebeke during the battle of St Julien.
Lieutenant Spink joined the 1st battalion in May 1916, and served with
them on the Somme. He was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry
during the battle of the Transloy Ridges in October, 1916, and was
invalided after the battle of Cambrai in November, 1917, suffering from
shell shock. DNW Dec 92 £380.
Pair to Pte J Barry, QSA (4)
CC Paard Drie Joh, KSA (2).
Lovell collection (Sotheby
Nov 78).
Three to Capt J H Payne QSA
(3) CC OFS Tr (Lt), KSA (2), BWM (Capt).
Lovell collection (Sotheby
Nov 78).
Five to Capt R P Miles, QSA
(4) CC Paard Drie Tr (Lt), KSA (2), 14 Trio (Capt).
Lovell collection (Sotheby Nov 78)
Hong Kong Plague and Boer War pair to Private W Evans, Shropshire Light
Infantry who was the first man of the regiment to die in the Boer War.
Hong Kong Plague 1894, silver (Private, S.L.I.), QSA (1) CC (3031 Pte., 2nd
Shropshire Lt. Infy.).
72 Private W. Evans died of disease at Wynberg on 23 December
1899. He was the first man of the Shropshire Light Infantry to be lost
in the War and it is ironic that having served during the plague in Hong
Kong that he himself should die from disease. DNW Sep 95 £780.
Information on the Hong Kong Plague Medal
