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James Smith

21st Lancers
Imperial Light Horse – Anglo Boer War

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Orange Free State and Transvaal to 2998 Tpr. J. Smith, Imp. Lt. Horse

James Smith, one would suppose from the name, would be a difficult chap to research. Indeed he proved so until his I.L.H. papers were sourced revealing that he had previous service with the 21st Hussars (Lancers) which made tracking him down a lot easier.

Born in the Parish of St. George’s, London, Surrey in 1855 very little is known of Smith’s early years save for the fact that his mother’s name was Eliza. On 1 June 1877 at Hounslow he completed the Attestation forms for enlistment with the 21st Hussars stating that he was 21 years and 1 month old and that he had no previous service in any arm of the forces. A Printer by trade he was 5 feet 6 ½ inches in height and had a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. By way of distinguishing marks about his person he had a contraction of his 2nd right toe.

Found Fit by the Doctor at London he was assigned no. 1567 and became the newest Cavalry recruit for the 21st Hussars from that day on. The 21st Hussars in 1897 became the 21st Lancers and their only Battle Honour was the famous charge at Omdurman in the Sudan. Smith was not destined to be part of that illustrious action, instead he saw nothing but home service and plenty of that too. After his initial stint of 4 years he was placed on the A Reserve with the comments that his habits were Temperate and his conduct Good. He then continued on with the regiment until 18 July 1884 amassing a total of 7 years and 51 days service.

Again being placed on the Reserve he continued from 19 July 1884 until 28 May 1889 – a further 4 years and 314 days service. On 4 April 1889 he had been placed on the 1st Class Army Reserve for seemingly the last time continuing on until 28 May 1893 – a period of 4 years and 4 days before his term of engagement came finally to an end. In total he had over 16 years of service but it is to his medical history that we must turn in order to determine where he was stationed at various stages in his career.

At Hounslow he spent 13 days (from 3 to 15 September 1877) in hospital with Febricula (described as a short fever). He then moved to Shorncliffe and on to Norwich where, between 6 and 10 September 1878 he was hospitalised with Tonsillitis. Almost immediately thereafter he was in hospital with Gonorrhoea from 20 to 30 September 1878. This was followed by various attacks of Syphilis until he moved to Purton where, in March 1879 he was down for 21 days with Febricula again. He was out of action a month later for a lengthy 49 days with Secondary Syphilis.

A move to Edinburgh followed where he contracted Scarlet Fever and was in bed for 46 days over the period July and August 1880. In September 1881 he was at the Curragh in Ireland where over Christmas 1881 and New Year 1882 he was treated for a wound he received to his arm – from there it was to Dublin and Cahir before the trail (his medical records) went cold.

The 1891 England census revealed that he was married to an Ellen Smith and that the couple, resident at 1 Providence Place in Lambeth, London, had three children, James Walter Smith (3), Albert Smith (2) and Alfred Smith (2 months) Smith’s occupation was provided as that of a Carman. One can only assume that his carnal indiscretions ceased with his marriage!

Having been footloose and fancy free since 1893 Smith must have found it difficult to adjust to other pursuits.

The Anglo Boer War which erupted in October 1899 provided him with an ideal opportunity for adventure and he made his way south at some point joining the ranks of the Imperial Light Horse at Durban on 28 December 1901. His Attestation papers confirm that he had prior service with the 21st Lancers and gave his age as 38 which is some 8 years shy of the truth. Physically he was 5 feet 7 inches in height with a size 8 foot. He still had a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair and provided his next of kin as Miss E Smith of 1 College House, Webber Street, Waterloo, London. The “Miss” referred to was of course his wife Ellen.

But what of his family left languishing at home? The 1901 England census showed that Ellen was the Head of the household in Webber Street in his absence. Son James was now 14 and an errand boy; Albert was 13 and there had been a new addition to the Smith clan in the form of Sidney (1)

Smith, in the meanwhile, was deployed with the I.L.H. in very hilly country in the Eastern Orange Free State. Lord Kitchener in his despatch of 8th February 1902 detailed operations in the same district, which took place about the end of January, in which substantial loss was inflicted on the enemy. During these some great marching was done; the 2nd Battalion Mounted Infantry (Regulars) covered 82 miles in thirty four hours, the ILH and other troops performing similar feats of endurance. Between 25th and 29th January 1902 there were some casualties about a place called Newmarket.

The despatches of 8th March and 8th April describe the great combined drives in the north east of the Orange River Colony, in which a large number of prisoners, over 1500, were captured. The work of the ILH was specially singled out in the account of the Press Association correspondent. They stopped one very determined rush, when the enemy tried, in the darkness, to break through the line at their part. The 1st lost 4 killed. In the drive from the Vaal to Harrismith about 520 prisoners and 1400 horses fell into the hands of the 1st ILH.

In the despatch of 1st June 1902 Lord Kitchener detailed the operations undertaken in the Western Transvaal to clear that district after the disasters suffered by Lord Methuen. Troops were taken from "other districts”, and the ILH re-crossed the Vaal River. On 11th April Colonel Kekewich had heavy fighting. Soon after starting in the morning the advance guard under Von Donop was attacked: the enemy "advanced rapidly to close quarters in very compact formation, the Boers riding knee to knee, and in many places in two ranks, whilst their attack was supported by a heavy fire from skirmishers on both flanks. Many of the men of our advanced screen in forward positions were ridden over by the enemy, who pressed on rapidly to within 700 yards of the main body and convoys, keeping up an incessant magazine-rifle fire from their horses as they approached.

Here, however, they were checked by Lieutenant Colonel Greenfell's troops which were at the head of the main body, the Scottish Horse, 5th IY, and South African Constabulary dismounting and moving forward steadily on foot to meet the coming charge. This was the crisis of the fight, and it was one which terminated quickly with the complete repulse of the Boers and the death of their Commandant, Potgieter, who was conspicuous in leading the attack until he fell, only 90 yards in front of our troops.

So far, however, it was only a repulse, but the arrival of Lieutenant Colonel Briggs with the ILH, detached upon the enemy's right flank from Sir H.Rawlinson's force, turned the repulse into a “rout". Colonel Briggs, hearing the heavy firing, of his own initiative took the ILH to the scene of the action. Fifty-one dead and 40 wounded Boers were found on the ground, and in the subsequent pursuit by the 1st ILH and troops of Colonel Kekewich two 15-pounder guns, one pom-pom, some vehicles, ammunition, and 36 unwounded prisoners were captured.

Further successful drives took place in the south west Transvaal in which the ILH were engaged. Smith would have been involved in these before taking his discharge on 5 May 1902 at Pietermaritzburg. For his efforts he was awarded the Queens Medal with clasps Orange Free State and Transvaal.

Nothing more of his whereabouts is known although he lives on in his son, James Walter, who saw service in WWI

How easy it would be to overlook this pair and fail to notice the history it holds.

Thanks for sharing another good medal and a great story.
Regards
Brett

A very nice medal, there is something about the 21st Lancers, their magnificent uniforms and so on, but, their real fame was based solely upon the events on the 2nd of September 1898, their battle honour , both awarded and carried, was actually Khartoum and not Omdurman, moreover, whilst it certainly was their first, it was not their last either.
Her Majesty made the regiment the Empress of India's Own as a direct result too, but, the regiment was also awarded North West Frontier, India 1915-16 which it did elect to carry, there had been some trouble in the Tochi area in 1914 and 1915, but, operations continued even though there had not been a general rising against Imperial forces by the wretched Mohmands.
Of course, had Smith joined on the same long service engagement sometime later than he actually did, he might well have ended up as a reservist in the 21st Lancers, even without any service in the Sudan, he might have been recalled for service in the Anglo Boer War, had he done so, any medal would have been named to the regiment
Although, nothing wrong with the Imperial Light Horse, moreover, given the choice of a posting to some awful remount depot or being out on the veldt chasing Jonny Boer, certainly I, for one, think the latter to be far more interesting, again, a very nice medal.

Rory wrote:
Found Fit by the Doctor at London he was assigned no. 1567 and became the newest Cavalry recruit for the 21st Hussars from that day on. The 21st Hussars in 1897 became the 21st Lancers and their only Battle Honour was the famous charge at Omdurman in the Sudan. Smith was not destined to be part of that illustrious action, instead he saw nothing but home service and plenty of that too. After his initial stint of 4 years he was placed on the A Reserve with the comments that his habits were Temperate and his conduct Good. He then continued on with the regiment until 18 July 1884 amassing a total of 7 years and 51 days service.

Thank you Brett and Frank

This was a chance purchase with the son's WWI pair mounted together with the QSA. I had my doubts that they were to the same person - later confirmed by a bit of sleuthing. I'm very happy with the medals though.

Regards

Rory

What had his son been doing?