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Nor is he mentioned for Wagon Hill in Gibson's book; was just re-reading the chapter on that action when Crypt's excellent pic of the monument came on!
Frank
The Apps QSA lies very snug in my little collection. I ran across it perhaps eight or nine years ago on Liverpool Medal Co.'s site and it certainly was rather more than two hundred and fifty quid. However, it was the first of my ILH QSAs and such are VERY VERY seldom encountered here. The only real chance is in a UniK Dealer's list. Sometimes the price of admission has to be paid. Praise cannot be too high for the officers and men of the ILH.
IL.

Thought you would like it, Brett, very impressive isn't it, Gorton springs to mind here!

Brett Hendey wrote: Berenice

Frank is right about this memorial. I am interested in all your posts, but this one being about an ILH soldier is even better than most others. Thank you for recording it.

Steve Watt in his book 'In Memoriam' records Shortt as a Wagon Hill (6/1/1900) casualty, and his date of death as 22/01/1900. His initials are given as A O. I will check later to see if there is any mention of him in Gibson's history of the ILH. The inconsistencies with both the memorial and IL's records are not surprising given the time and the place.

Regards
Brett

He does indeed, Frank, although it seems Shortt was not on Wagon Hill. He did die of his wounds after Wagon Hill, so that is how the mix-up arose. The date of death would have been in late January 1900, not November, by which time Intombi Camp was no more.

As IL stated, an ILH Lancer's Nek casualty is remarkable, being rarer than Wagon Hill. Also the Lancer's Hill debacle marked the end of Karri-Davies' brief command of the regiment, and the accession to that role of the professional soldier, Colonel Edwards. It was Edwards who built on Colonel Scott-Chisholm's foundation and further burnished the reputation of the regiment.

Regards
Brett

Brett
Thanks for the remarks; you got in a bit ahead of me regarding Lancer's Nek!!!! I was going to do a post on Sgt.Apps' QSA and what is recorded as happening at Lancer's Nek - with reference to K-D's being replaced by a professional soldier. There is no doubt that the Regiment benefited. With Brett's forbearance, I will put the post on Sgt. Apps' QSA a little further up the list.
Best regards
IL.

Hello Ian,
There is no doubt that the centre of the world, when it comes to British campaign medals is here, in particular within the London salerooms and no where else comes close, I do feel a little sorry for collectors overseas, unless, they are buying here, they simply miss out.
Alfred Albert Apps medal is a really superb example of it's type, the years before the centenary of the Anglo Boer War were certainly the best time to collect, with good medals in abundance and very cheap, QSA's were seen as poor mans collecting in some peoples eyes back then too.
Very happy days indeed, I think that people who started to collect after the centenary had sadly missed the bus, certainly, as far as prices are concerned.
I'm glad that Alfred Apps medal has found a good home.
Regards Frank

LinneyI wrote: Nor is he mentioned for Wagon Hill in Gibson's book; was just re-reading the chapter on that action when Crypt's excellent pic of the monument came on!
Frank
The Apps QSA lies very snug in my little collection. I ran across it perhaps eight or nine years ago on Liverpool Medal Co.'s site and it certainly was rather more than two hundred and fifty quid. However, it was the first of my ILH QSAs and such are VERY VERY seldom encountered here. The only real chance is in a UniK Dealer's list. Sometimes the price of admission has to be paid. Praise cannot be too high for the officers and men of the ILH.
IL.

I am so sorry, IL! The story of the Lancer's Nek action needs retelling in full, so I hope we will see your account soon. It was not only the ILH that were set back by events of that day. The Natal Carbineers had Major C E Taunton killed, the most senior officer to die that day, and a great loss to the Colony of Natal and its senior regiment. I have the QSA to another of the NC's casualties, Sergeant Frederick Mapstone, who died of wounds later. With Mapstone's medal came the last letter he had written home. It was dated 30 October 1899 and addressed to his brother William. In it he refers to his squadron's commander, Major G J MacFarlane, who told his men that they "shant draw fire if [the enemy] is left alone so we feel very safe with such a man". A sadly ironic comment in view of what transpired a few days later.
Regards
Brett