TOPIC:

Hi there, I wonder if you can help me find out any information about my great grandfather's brother who served in The Northumberland Fusiliers and was killed in action in the Boer War. His name was John Turnbull and his sevice number was 3846. He was born in Kelso Scotland in 1872 and I think he was killed in action in Elandslaagte Near Klerksdorp, South Africa in 1902. Any information you could give me regarding his war service record, medals awarded and how he died would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.
Tom Laughran

Tom, Welcome to the Forum

Regarding your great-grandfather's brother - are you sitting comfortably?

Using the name search facility on this site (look to the top left of your screen) confirms you are correct about the place he died and adds the date of 25 February 1902.

This document confirms the date but unusually leaves out the place:



He appears in a transcript record on Find My Past which describes the action he was killed in as follows:

"On 24 February 1902 a convoy commanded by Lt-Col W.C. Anderson heading for Klerksdorp bivouacked on the farm Elandslaagte by the Yzer Spruit. Early the following morning it started and after a march of some three kilometres was attacked by a commando under the command of Asst Cmdt-Gen J.H. de la Rey. After very strong resistance, the convoy was forced to surrender. British losses were 187 killed and wounded whilst the Boers lost 51 killed and wounded."

The record also says he was awarded the King's South Africa Medal with the South Africa 1901 & South Africa 1902 clasps.

He is listed as a casualty in the papers of the day - this one, from the Lichfield Mercury 7 March 1902, gives the most detail and is somewhat confusing:



He should be findable on a Queen's and King's South Africa Medal Roll but I cannot find them, so afraid I cannot tell you what clasps his Queen's Medal was adorned with.

However he comes up on the following two medal rolls:




They mean he was part of the forces Kitchener led to sort out the Madhists and exact revenge for the death of General Gordon of Khartoum and he would have fought in the Battle of Omdurman (2 September 1898) and would have received two campaign medals - the Sudan Medal and the Khedive's Sudan Medal - the latter with a clasp bearing the word "Khartoum".

His attestation papers and service records are not extant which is usually the case for a soldier who died in service. However, Find a Grave tells us he was buried in Klerksdorp Old Municipal Cemetery.

Regards, David.

Tom
Regarding your man, his QSA bore the clasps "Belmont","Modder River", "Orange Free State" and "Transvaal". They are on roll WO100/169. His KSA bore the normal clasps SA1901 and SA1902. The only marginal note is the comment "deceased" on the latter roll.
Regards
IL.

IL thanks for helping to complete the picture regarding John Turnbull's time in SA.

Tom - His presence at the Battle of Belmont (23 November 1899) shows he came out with the original tranche of the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers - Shipping Records show they left London aboard the Gaul on 18 September 1899 and arrived at the Cape on 7 October 1899. So 3846 Private John Turnbull spent 2 years 3 months 2 days in SA before meeting his end. More about the 1st Btn NF can be found in the Unit Information on this site.

I forgot to point out that the first document indicates your 2XGreat Grandfather was called John and suggests your Great Grandfather was called either William or James.

Regards, David.

Smethwick
No problem. It always helps to try to complete (as much as we can), the campaign story of a bloke who didn't come back. Unfortunately in most cases, it is not possible. However the newspaper article was a real find. And I like the NF. Some time ago, I researched an NF "wounded at Belmont" chap whose QSA carried seven/possibly more clasps and it seems he was in the MI Coy during that battle. So, whenever I see an NF medal, I spark up.
Regards
IL.

Many Many thanks for this information David. I did try searching in the name search but could not find anything, don't know if I was doing something wrong.
I find this very interesting and can't image what these young men went through. It helps me build up a better picture for my family tree. If you find anything else out please let me know. Many thanks. Tom