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Hi Les

Do you have Major Taunton's medal? If so what a gem. I can't help much but include below and excerpt from a data base of men who served with the NC compiled by Izabel Gerhardt the HQ Sergeant Major stationed at the Drill Hall in Pietermaritzburg:

TAUNTON Charles Edmund , Major. 39
Served Argyll and Pembrookshire Militia 1869 to 1871.
On strength 6/11/1886. Promoted Lieuntenant 6/11/1886 and Captain 17/5/1888.
Served Boer War and Seige of Ladysmith 29/9/1899-3/11/1899. Commander of No. 1 Squadron which patrolled the area between Oliviers Hoek and Tintwa Passes. Killed in action near Ladysmith at Mounted Infantry Hill, Friday 3rd November 1899, on the first day of the Siege. Buried Commercial Road Cemetry, Pietermaritzburg. A Fellow of the Royal Colonial Institute and a director of several gold mining companies in South Africa
He was killed in action on November 3rd, 1899, in a reconnaissance from Ladysmith along the Colenso road, West of Gun Hill. The enemy was in considerable force and the officer in command, finding their numbers increasing, determined on withdrawing. The Free State Commandos were closing in from the west and the Carbineers were dispatched to intercept them. The regiment took up position at End Hill and was immediately in -action. Major Taunton who was in command -, of 'A' Squadron on the extreme right, was killed instantaneously by a bullet whilst using his field glasses, in sublime contempt for danger, to look for snipers. Concerning this reconnaissance, Sir A Conan Doyle writes "the death of Major Taunton, Captain Knapp, and young Brabant, the son of the general who did such good service at a later stage of the war, was a heavy price to pay for the knowledge that the Boers were in considerable strength to the south". Major Taunton, who was the only son of Mrs. Taunton, was a keen man of business, well known in South African finance, and a director of many of the older gold mining companies. He was a Fellow of the Royal Colonial Institute, and his name was inscribed on a memorial tablet in the hall of the building in Northumberland Avenue, London. QUEEN'S SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Defence of Ladysmith He was a Fellow of the Royal Colonial Institute, and his name is inscribed on a memorial tablet in the hall of the building in Northumberland Avenue, London. His name is further commemorated in All Saints Church, Ladysmith, on a stained glass window, by a monument on the spot that he was killed, and on a tablet in Maritzburg Cathedral. QUEEN'S SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Defence of Ladysmith sold by Dix and Noonan
Major Taunton C.E. 29/09/1899 03/11/1899 Killed in action

Hello les,

Just in case you have not seen his grave site, I have attached a picture for you.

Regards
Adrian

Hi Adrian
Great photo of Taunton's memorial thanks. Is this his headstone in the Ladysmith cemetery or a memorial stone on the spot where he fell? I have a couple of grainy old B/W Photostats on file but yours is far superior.
Don't know if you specialize in Boer War headstones but I'll ask anyway. I've just completed a lengthy piece on Major S.P. Strong Scottish Rifles who was killed at Spion Kop (he was also MID as a 2/Lt.at Khambula for 'saving the day'). with a couple of specific entries stating he was buried, with the whole 2nd Bn. attending, under a large tree close by.. I assume he has a headstone somewhere - would it be on your files??

Regards
Les

Hi Rory
Thanks for the prompt reply and the details regarding the action in which Taunton fell (although the names of all these hills are a bit befuddling – I’ll have to get a map)
But the article does create a couple of anomalies as far as I can see.
Was he a Scotsman or a Welshman? Argyll Militia was Scottish – Pembrokeshire Militia was Welsh.
The NC researcher has his age as 39 (DOB 1861) – his headstone states 48 (DOB 1852)
Enlists in whatever Militia 1869 at either age 8 or age 17?

In answer to your question, yes he is one of my men – I bought the medal out of (my very close friends) DNW some years ago but have never done much with it, so I’m playing catch-up with him and a number of others at the moment.
I’m a medal collector and not a researcher – I plagerize shamefully, especially in this age of so much material on the internet. I tend to ‘cadge’ information but hopefully don’t offend, while at the same time, actually bring the medal out into the public domain.

Regards
Les

Les,

This is his actual grave in the Commercial Road Cemetery in Pietermaritzburg, Natal.

These photos can be found on line.

Regards
Adrian

Hi Les,

Here is a picture of Major S.P Strong's actual grave in the Bergville District of Spioenkop. Perhaps the tree in the background is the actual tree that you mention !!



Here is a picture of the memorial stone on a farm in the Klip River District.



Regards
Adrian