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From the next City Coins auction, November 2020


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DCM Ed VII (787 Clr.-Serjt. W. Ewer. 2nd Rl. W. Surrey Regt.);
QSA (5) TugH, OFS, RoL, Tvl, L Nek (787 Clr.-Serjt. W. Ewer. The Queen’s.);
KSA (2) (787 Clr.-Serjt. W. Ewer. The Queen’s.);
Army LS&GC Ed VII (787 Clr.-Sergt. W. Ewer. Rl. W. Surrey Regt.)

While the drama at Long’s guns enfolded on the outskirts of Colenso, there was some determined fighting inside the village.

“The fire now became intense, but in spite of bursting shells and whistling bullets, the men advanced as steadily as on a Long Valley field day, and no halt was made until the foremost ranks were within 1000 yards of the Tugela. Here a few volleys were fired at the crest of the low hills behind Colenso, and the advance was then continued, first by section, and, as rein¬forcements came up, by half-company rushes, until the men on the left of the line halted in the cover of a small shelter trench 400 yards to the south-west of Colenso. So rapid had been the attack that a gap now appeared between the right of the Queen’s and the left of the Devons, owing to the slower movement of the troops in the donga, and this was at once filled by A and B companies, which crossed the railway line under a storm of bullets.

Soon afterwards, as the men of the Devons advanced, the Queen’s re-crossed the line, and pushing gradually forward portions of A, B, C, D, and E companies succeeded in establishing and maintaining themselves in Colenso, in face of heavy rifle fire, being from time to time reinforced by driblets of men from a hut on the railway about 250 yards in rear, where a consider¬able number of the men of the Battalion had found cover. In the course of one of these forward rushes by a section of Captain Croft’s company, led by Lieutenant Watson, a man fell severely wounded in the village street. Seeing this, and in spite of the heavy fire which swept the roadway, 2nd Lieutenant Wedd at once rushed out of a house, which he was holding with about 5 men, and, with the help of Sergeant Ewer, succeeded in carrying the wounded man to a place of safety.”
Regimental History: The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment, p225.

Sgt Ewer’s name was among those specially brought to notice by LtCol Hamilton for service at Colenso and he was awarded the DCM in the London Gazette, 27 September 1901, p6311. According to Ewer’s Service Papers he enlisted on 2 November 1883 and saw service in Burma and India between 1885 and 1894 (India Medal with clasp Burma 1885-87). He received a gunshot wound to the head at Colenso and received the LS&GC Medal on 3 November 1902.

He was finally discharged in England on 1 November 1904.

From the next City Coins auction, November 2020


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DCM VR (77668 Dvr. W.T. Bodill, R.F.A.);
QSA (3) OFS, RoL, Tvl (77668 Dvr. W.T. Bodill, 14th Bty, R.F.A.);
KSA (2) (77668 Dvr. W.T. Bodill, R.F.A.)

WO 132/16 contains important correspondence regarding acts of gallantry during the attempts to save the guns at Colenso. In a memo from Col Downing, dated 9 March 1900, he noted:

“Drivers Bodill & Parmenter appear to have been one of two parties that tried to get the guns away & I understand that their names had not been previously noted for the D.S. Medal…”

On 16 March 1900 Lt Grylls, 66th Bty. RFA clarified the two Drivers’ involvement:

“These two Drivers Bodill & Parmenter belongs to 14th Bty and came up with a limber from their Battery to try and rescue the guns. Their horses were shot & Dr Bodill was wounded and taken prisoner.

Dr Parmenter was wounded…”

Both Drivers were awarded the DCM in the London Gazette of 8 February 1901 (p938): ‘Conspicuous gallantry in attempting to rescue the guns of their battery on 15th December at Colenso’.

Dvr Bodill was wounded and taken prisoner at Colenso and then held at the Waterval Camp, north of Pretoria. He was released on 6 June 1900.

From the next City Coins auction, November 2020


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DCM VR (Driver E.W. Lucas. R.A.);
QSA (5) CC, TugH, OFS, RoL, Tvl (6473 Br. E.W. Lucas, 66th Bty. R.F.A.);
KSA (2) (6473 Bomb. E.W. Lucas. R.F.A.);
1914/15 Star (7705 Cpl. E.W. Lucas. R.F.A.);
BWM & AVM (17705 Cpl. E.W. Lucas. R.A.)

DCM impressed in serif capitals.

The day after the Colenso disaster General Redvers Buller wrote to the Under Secretary of State, War Office, London to report ‘cases of Distinguished Service in the Field’. After recommending Congreve, Roberts and Nurse for the Victoria Cross, he stated ‘Drivers H Taylor, Young, Petts, Rockall, Lucas and 30661 F Williams, all of the 66th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, rode the teams, each team brought in a gun. I recommend all six for the Medal for Distinguished Conduct in the Field.’

The award of Lucas’ DCM was published in the London Gazette of 2 February 1900 (p689).

A photo of Lucas and 4 other “Colenso Guns Heroes” appeared in the Black and White Budget of 7 April 1900. In a letter home to his father he wrote: ‘I saw Lord Roberts’ son killed; I was close to him when it happened’.

Lucas did WWI service as Corporal in the RGA as well as the RFA, entering the French Theatre of War on 17 June 1915.

From the next City Coins auction, November 2020


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DCM Ed VII (2980 Pte McKinnon. 6th Dragoons);
QSA (5) CC, OFS, Jhburg, D Hill, Belf (2980 Pte D. McKinnon 6/Drgns) engraved naming

On the QSA Roll page (dated 9 May 1903) McKinnon was initially shown as entitled to only the SA’01 clasp. This was subsequently altered and the issue of a 2-clasp KSA was authorised on 15 Sept 1905. However, it is noted that the KSA was returned on 5 March 1914.

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DCM VR (4671 Pte. W.L. Savage. York & Lanc Regt.)
[ QSA (2) CC RoL ]
In the London Gazette of 8 February 1901, p950, LtCol W J Kirkpatrick, commanding 1st. Bn. York and Lancaster Regiment reported, with regard to the action of the 20th, that “Lieutenant L Brandreth, 2nd. Bn. Welsh Regiment, attached and 4671 Pte. W Savage, carried a wounded man to a place of safety under a heavy fire”.

Savage’s Military History Sheet notes that he was wounded 4 days later at Acton Homes (the SAFF Casualty Roll incorrectly notes him being wounded on 22 Feb, Natal). He was posted home on 23 May 1900 and the award of his DCM was published in the LG of 27 September 1901, p6318.

According to the relevant Roll, a QSA with 2 clasps CC & RoL was issued on 22 March 1902 for “Presentation”. This probably refers to a ceremony during which he received his DCM and QSA.

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DCM VR (C.Sgt. F. Kingsley, 2nd W. York Regt.);
QSA (5) Tug H, OFS, RoL, Tvl, L Nek (1957 Col Sejt. F. Kingsley, W. York. Regt.);
KSA (2) (Serjt.-Maj. F. Kingsley. W. York. Regt.)

Frank Kingsley was born at Stamford Hill, London in 1865. He enlisted in the West Yorkshire Regt on 22 August 1887, giving his trade as “groom”. After service at home, he was stationed with the 2nd Battalion in India from 1888 to 1896. He was considered to be a good soldier: his fourth promotion, viz. to Colour Sergeant, was in October 1894. In June 1894 he extended his service to 12 years.

Serving at home again from 1896, he immediately re-engaged when his time was up in August 1899.

He arrived with his Regiment at Durban in mid-December 1899. Along with the 2nd Queen’s, 2nd Devons and 2nd East Surreys, they formed the Second Brigade under Major-General Hildyard.

During the Spion Kop operations the 2nd West Yorkshires had some very severe fighting on the left of Warren’s force, particularly at the south eastern slope of Tabanyama on 21 January 1900. One company got so far in advance of the general line that they had to remain isolated till nightfall. During the afternoon Capt Charles Ryall was mortally wounded and brought under cover by C/Sgt Kingsley.

Sir Charles Warren, in his Despatch of 1 February 1900 (LG 8 Feb1900, p950), stated: “Col F W Kitchener, Commanding 2nd Bn West Yorkshire Regiment, reports that: Col Sgt Kingsley, when his company was unexpectedly caught by a very heavy cross fire which wounded both his Officers, showed coolness and intelligence in withdrawing his men steadily to cover, and gallantry in bringing his Captain under cover when mortally wounded. His case is an exceptional one, worthy of recommendation for the Medal for Distinguished Conduct.”

Frank Kingsley was also the recipient of one of the eight scarves crocheted by Queen Victoria as an award of honour from the reigning monarch for gallant conduct in the field.

He received his scarf at Standerton on 7 August 1900 when the following diary entry was made by 2699 Pte W Sykes of C Company, West Yorks: “On the 7th we had a parade at 9 o’clock, this was in clean fatigue dress, when we got on parade the Commanding Officer told us that the Queen had sent four mufflers which she had knitted herself to Prince Christian and she said they was to be given to rank and file and Prince Christian elected to give them to the 2nd Brigade as the most deserving of them, one to each Regt as he had done all his soldiering with the 2nd Brigade and in our Regt C.S. Kingsley was presented with it afterwards, three cheers for the Queen was given and an issue of whisky to drink the Queen’s health with which we did heartily. In the afternoon we were ordered to strike camp at 2.30 as we were for Pretoria, we got all packed up and ready when the order was cancelled till next morning.”

Kingsley’s DCM was gazetted on 19 April 1901 and he was promoted to Sergeant Major on 1 May 1902.

He stayed on in South Africa after the end of the war, only returning to England in June 1904. He took his discharge in September 1906, being assessed as “a very able clerk and a very good manager”.

His final days were spent as a pensioner at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, where he later died on 26 October 1952.