TOPIC:

(From Gunner, RGA to the ranks of the City Imperial Volunteers)
Forum members
Having had an eye for interesting medal combinations including the Queens' South Africa medal, IL's attention was taken some time ago by the following trio:
(a) India General Service medal '54 with clasp "Hazara 1891" engraved to "55921 Gnr. J.McFadden No.1 Mn.Bty RA"
(b) India General Service medal '95 with clasp "Punjab Frontier, 1897-98" engraved as above
(c) QSA medal with clasps "Cape Colony',"Orange Free State", "Johannesburg" and "Diamond Hill", impressed to 1541 Pte. J.McFadden, C.I.V."



At first, the combination looked to be rather unlikely; however a quick on-line check of the CIV's Journal revealed the recipient had indeed served with the CIV - thus matters proceeded.
Aged 18 years and nine months, young James McFadden of County Donegal, Ireland (occupation, labourer, status single) enlisted for service with the Royal Artillery in Londonderry on 27th July, 1886 and was posted to 10/1st Western Div., RA. The new recruit had disclosed previous, part time service service with the 3rd Brigade, North Irish Div. of the RA; thus his choice of Corps was probably not accidental.
Reference to "The Late Victorian Army" by Edward M.Spiers (ISBN 0 7190 2659 8) shows that - during the book's. review period - the British army had considerable difficulty in finding men of superior physique to handle the heavy ordnance of the field and garrison artillery. Having at least some previous part time service, being six feet and one inch in height and with above-average chest expansion, our young volunteer would have ben warmly welcomed - and the "bringers in" would have shared an easy twenty-five shillings between them.
Gunner McFadden was quickly posted for Garrison duty to Gibraltar in Nov., 1886 and then back to the UK almost a year later for service with the 10th Mountain Battery in Jan., 1890. In Fedruary of that year, he was posted to India for duty with the 1st MB. The Mountain Batteries of the RGA were a highly versatile body; able to be quickly deployed to sensitive areas of the Empire (i.e., the NW Frontier of India) for service in the "small wars" of the day.
The British Mbs of the period were equipped with jointed, muzzle loading, rifled guns of 2.5" calibre, throwing a seven pound shell out to three thousand yards or more by means of a black powder charge. Types of shell used in RML guns were "common" (explosive filled), "Shrapnel" (having a bursting charge plus nearly a hundred lead balls and buck shot), "Star shell" (for signalling and illumination) and "case shot" (being tin bodied, filled with metal balls packed in clay and - when fired, acting like a large shot gun out to 200y). The guns themselves were transported in dismantled form on mules; breech, barrel, frame, axle, wheels, etc. It was a proud boast of the British and Indian MBs that "they could take their guns anywhere a man could go".

(photo credit A&N Illustrated).

Gunner McFadden's first IGS was earned between 12/3/1891 and 16/5/1891 as a member of the Hazara Field Force against the local tribes in the Black Mountains of the NWF. One source says that the FF "had no serious fighting" (always a matter of opinion!), but conceded that the FF was engaged in more protracted operations than troops previously operating in the same area. It seems that repelling raids on the column on the march and during road -making - not to mention chasing and capturing insurgents - was really enough for an IGS and clasp.
Interestingly, a glance at the relevant medal roll for the IGS '54 (WO 100/42) shows "55921 Gunner McFadden, J" as entitled to two claps on that medal. This is thought to be an error on the roll; no second clasp is mentioned on his History sheet or elsewhere in his papers.
Gunner McFadden remained on service in India for another seven-odd years; regularly forfeiting his GC pay, having it restored, losing it again and having it restored - all between March 1891 and January 1894. His next campaign medal came about due to service with the Malakand FF between 10th June 1897 and 8th April 1898; a punitive expedition to deal with the rising of the Swat Valley tribes after the Relief of Malakand. Our man served with both the 7th and 1st MBs in that campaign. He re-engaged for service in Feb., 1898.
Posted back to the UK, Gunner McFadden went to the 4th MB (where he likely served alongside a certain Gunner Curran - that man's QSA/KSA also residing in IL's collection). His next move, however, took him well away from the RGA. Probably as much ink has been spilt about the City Imperial Volunteers as any other unit serving in South Africa; lavishly equipped as it was and in the Public Eye. For those interested, Stirling's "Our Regiments" - included on this site - gives a good account of the raising and exploits of the C.I.V. No doubt proudly wearing his two IGS medals, Gunner McFadden was serving with 2nd WD Depot when he suddenly appears as embarking at Southampton on 20th January, 1900 as an Officer's servant.
Perhaps he volunteered, was asked or was just sent. Such a tasking appears menial to modern eyes, however a veteran with very recent fighting experience would have been a valuable retainer for any officer on service. Now known officially as "1541 Pte. J.McFadden'" , our man earned the clasps normally associated with the CIV's in SA. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to associate Gunner McFadden with any particular event or person during his CIV time; save for his claps entitlement.
One amusing anecdote concerning the calling of "officer's servant" may be found in the pages of "In The Ranks of the CIV" by Erskine Childers. As forum members might be aware, active service causes the rumour mill to work overtime - and Childers comments that "officers' servants' rumours had rather more substance ("respectable mendacity") than the cook-shop type; both always false". Further, "officer's servants were always able to pick up scraps of information from their masters' tents - with wide variation" Apparent examples being: THE BOERS HAVE GOT BEHIND ROBERTS! RE-TAKEN KROONSTAD! CUT THE RAILWAY! MASSACRED XYZ REGIMENT! (details change hourly). Of course, no evidence our man did anything of the sort; though an old soldier on his third campaign might have indulged himself a little.
Private McFadden embarked for home on 26th Sept., 1900 and WO100/231 records he was "now in No.2 Depot, Rl.G.Artillery". Subsequent to a further brush with authority, he was finally posted to 35th Heavy Battery, RGA on 31st May 1902. There, wearing is QSA in addition to two IGSs, he displayed a perhaps uncommon characteristic in a Gunner; serving as unit librarian for the last two years of service. He was discharged at Aldershot on 26th July, 1907 after 21 years with the Colours. His various brushes with authority precluded a LSGC medal. Nor is it thought he was issued with one of the 600 CIV medallions.
James McFadden passed away in October of 1946 aged seventy-one years. By then, the world had moved on from the "small wars" of the Victorian era, had endured economic chaos, suffered the social disruption of two World wars and developed far more lethal armaments than mountain guns. Nevertheless, looking at the trio of campaign medals on his desk, this writer feels sure that some of James McFadden's memories during a long life included the tang of smoky powder on the crags and in the valleys of the North West Frontier - as well as the hubbub and dust of the sweeping movements to Johannesburg and then on to Diamond Hill.
Thanks to all who have indulged IL by reading this far.

Very much enjoyed reading that account IL.

It is great to have such notable story tellers amongst our members.

IL, with reference to your comment below, the tradition in the British Army has always been that an officer's servant or 'batman' ('orderly' in the Guards), comes from the same Regiment as the officer.

It might be worth looking at the five officers of the C.I.V. Battery and seeing if any of them were R.G.A. regular officer's or R.G.A. militia and departing from Southampton on the same date (same goes for the return from S.A. unless either officer or batman of them were invalided). If you can find the officer, then your can trace Gunner McFadden's movements during the war given the well-chronicled exploits of the C.I.V.

Lastly, McFadden's clasps should normally be the same as his officer's.

All best wishes,

Justin

"Perhaps he volunteered, was asked or was just sent. Such a tasking appears menial to modern eyes, however a veteran with very recent fighting experience would have been a valuable retainer for any officer on service. Now known officially as "1541 Pte. J.McFadden'" , our man earned the clasps normally associated with the CIV's in SA. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to associate Gunner McFadden with any particular event or person during his CIV time; save for his claps entitlement."

A very interesting story Ian - illustrates the the wonder of the QSA, all sorts of odd combinations.

Have you checked the officers of the CIV battery to see if any regular officers served with the CIV or perhaps a former officer of the RGA who knew McFadden from previous service.

Otherwise he may just have been employed for his knowledge and campaign experience as a "stiffener" for the citizen soldiers.

Gentlemen
Thanks for the comments. Jason and Meurig, I was quite unaware of the British army tradition that a "batman"/servant/orderly to an officer came from the same unit as the officer. When I get some suitable time, that aspect would be worth examining as far as Gunner McFadden is concerned.
Best regards
IL.

LinneyI wrote: Gentlemen
Thanks for the comments. Jason and Meurig, I was quite unaware of the British army tradition that a "batman"/servant/orderly to an officer came from the same unit as the officer. When I get some suitable time, that aspect would be worth examining as far as Gunner McFadden is concerned.
Best regards
IL.

This man was the "Orderly" to Major Belcher who was the Strathcona's Horse Medical Officer..... He states in one of his letters home that he used to ride for exercise Major Belcher's horse and lead his second horse..... The horse was a distinctive colour and was recognized by British Troops in Green Point Camp and he states that the British Troops thinking he was an officer would come to attention and salute when he went buy but he would have a good chuckle over it..... He also states that he was called and "Orderly".....

www.angloboerwar.com/forum/5-medals-and-...thcona-s-horse#20470

Mike