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Ammunition mules of the 4th Mountain Battery, on top of Zwartz Kop, February 1900. Photograph by J.E. Middlebrook, Durban.



"The Burden Bearers of the Mountain Battery - on top of Zwart Kop, Natal".


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Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (2) Natal, Transvaal (8095 Cpl.: R. Markwick, 10th. M.B., R.G.A.) rank officially corrected;
KSA (2) (8095 Corpl: R. Markwick. R.G.A.)

Richard Markwick was born in Hove in 1877. He attested for the Royal Artillery at Brighton on 24 January 1895, noting previous service with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, and went on to witness extensive overseas service in Malta, Crete and South Africa; his Army Service Record adds ‘occupation of Crete ‘97’, and confirms his discharge on 23 January 1907.

N.C.O.'s of the 10th Mountain Battery, photographed in England before the war (Supplement to The Sketch, 13 Dec 1899, p. 10).






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djb wrote:

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (2) Natal, Transvaal (8095 Cpl.: R. Markwick, 10th. M.B., R.G.A.) rank officially corrected;
KSA (2) (8095 Corpl: R. Markwick. R.G.A.)

Richard Markwick was born in Hove in 1877, and was a porter. He attested for the 3rd Bn. Royal Sussex Regt. (Militia) when 18 years old on 26 October 1894. He was 5'8.5" tall and wieghted 152 lbs. He had grey hair and blue eyes. His mother was Caroline Markwick who lived at 55 Washington St. in Brighton. Three months later, while still serving in the militia, Warwick attested for the Royal Artillery at Brighton on 24 January 1895, noting previous service with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, and went on to witness extensive overseas service in Malta, Crete and South Africa; his Army Service Record adds ‘occupation of Crete ‘97’, and confirms his discharge on 23 January 1907.

. He was married to Katie Beard and they lived at 48 College Avenue, Hackney, London.

Richard Markwick was born in Hove, Sussex in 1876 and enlisted on the 24th January 1895, stating he was currently serving in the 8th Royal Sussex Regiment. He was a gunner in the 13th Co. RA until he transferred to the 4th Mountain Artillery on 16 April 1896. He was promoted to Bombr on 17 Sept. 1899, and to Corporal on 27 August 1901. He transferred as corporal to the Army Reserve on 6 February 1903 after having served almost four years. He was discharged as a corporal on 25 January 1907.

He served at home from the 24 January 1895 to 9 April 1897; Malta 10 April 1897 to 22 April 1897; Crete 23 April 1897 to 24 November 1897; Malta to 25 November 1897 to 13 February 1898; home to 27th April 1898; South Africa 28 April 1898 to 28 January 1903, and then home from 29 January 1903 to 25 January 1907. He is listed on the casualty roll as being recorded as missing (P.O.W.) at Nicholson’s Nek, 30th October 1899, later released. He was discharged on the 25th January 1907.

Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

QSA (2) Natal, Transvaal (4883 Gnr: A. Holliday, 10th M.B., R.G.A.).

Amos Holliday was captured at Nicholson’s Nek, 30 October 1899.

QSA (2) listed on WO100/146p70

Charles Henry Wilson was born in July 1871, in Norwich (Norfolk). At the age of 18, he enlisted in the Royal Artillery on 26 September 1889 at Woolwich, beginning a career marked by technical skill and steady advancement.

Military Career and Advancement

Wilson’s early years in the army saw him trained as a Wheeler, a specialist responsible for maintaining artillery wagons and equipment—a vital role in mobile campaigns. His competence and reliability earned him promotions, culminating in his final appointment as Wheeler Quarter Master Sergeant in the 18th Battery, Royal Field Artillery. His service spanned over 16 years, including extended time with the Colours and later in the Reserve.

The Anglo-Boer War: Captured at Nicholson’s Nek

Wilson’s most dramatic chapter unfolded during the Anglo-Boer War, when he was posted to the 10th Mountain Battery following his departure for South Africa on 12 February 1898, serving in the role of Corporal Wheeler.

As tensions with the Boers escalated in 1899, the 10th Mountain Battery—recently re-equipped with six guns—was dispatched from Pietermaritzburg to reinforce the garrison at Ladysmith. Shortly after arriving, the Battery became embroiled in what was initially called the Battle of Farquhar’s Farm, later recognized as the disastrous action at Nicholson’s Nek.

On the night of 29 October 1899, the Battery joined a column led by Colonel Carleton, tasked with supporting a coordinated assault on Boer positions north and northeast of Ladysmith. The plan involved two brigades: one to attack Long Hill, anchoring the Boer left, and the other to strike Pepworth Hill once the first attack succeeded. Carleton’s column was to seize Nicholson’s Nek, a key pass believed to be the Boers’ escape route.

However, in the early hours of 30 October, as Carleton’s men ascended Tchrengula Hill, a sudden disturbance caused the ammunition mules to panic and stampede, dragging many of the Battery’s mules—and with them, vital gun components—into the ranks of the following infantry. The chaos split the Battery, with around 88 men and one officer losing contact and retreating to Ladysmith.

Carleton pressed on and occupied the southern end of Tchrengula, but by dawn, the broader attack had faltered. The Boers had repositioned to stronger ground near the Modder River, forcing the British brigades to withdraw and leaving Carleton’s force isolated.

As daylight broke, Boer forces quickly took control of the surrounding hills and the heights above Nicholson’s Nek. Carleton’s men, now exposed and demoralized, came under intense rifle fire from multiple directions. The Battery, having lost its equipment in the stampede, was unable to bring a single gun into action. By midday, with casualties mounting and no hope of reinforcement, Carleton’s infantry surrendered.

All five Battery officers present, surviving gunners, and remaining mules were captured. The loss was one of the most severe suffered by a Victorian mountain battery since the debacle in Afghanistan in 1842.

Despite this setback, Wilson was released from the Waterval POW camp on 6 June 1900 and returned to service to continue his duties with distinction.
Family and Personal Life

Charles made his way back to England in October 1900, following his release from the Waterval prisoner-of-war camp. Just over two years later, on 22 December 1902, he married Annie Catherine Skinner in Wadsley. Their family grew in early 1904 with the birth of their daughter, Doreen Emily Wilson, in Athlone.

Final Voyage and Death at Sea

Tragically, Wilson’s life ended aboard HMT Sicilia whilst enroute to India.

Extract from a letter from the War Office:

“Certified that it appears from the records of this Office that No. 75025 Wheeler Quarter Master Sergeant C.H Wilson, 18th Battery, Royal Field Artillery died at sea on HMT Sicilia on the 3rd day of December, 1905 of Acute Appendicitis.
signed by C.W. Cooper for the Director of Army Finance”

He left behind his wife, Annie, and their young daughter, Doreen, who was just 20 months old. Charles was only 34 when he died—his life cut tragically short.

Reference:
samilitaryhistory.org/vol144ic.html