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QSA medal to Pte. James Bartlett, 1st NSW MR. 5 years 1 week ago #62868

  • LinneyI
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Some time ago, a situation arose where an on-the-spot decision had to be made about the following -
Queens' South Africa medal, slightly polished, "F" reverse, bearing the clasps "Cape Colony" and "Dreifontein" and impressed to "469 Pte. J. Bartlett, N.S.Wales M.R.".




It was not a hard decision. A reasonable assumption about the unit was made, the rivets looked good and the asking was not too bad.
At home, Murray confirmed the basic service details of 469 Pte. J.Bartlett. As a member of D Squadron of 1st NSWMR, he had been "invalided to Australia 30/7/00". The medal roll confirmed the two clasps - it should be mentioned that many QSA medals issued to members of Colonial Australian contingents initially came without a full (or even partial) clasp entitlement. Clasps were often forwarded later - and either slipped on the ribbon, tied on with string or wire, or simply lost.
As background, the circumstances of the despatch of the 1st NSWMR to South Africa unfolded as the 19th Century was set to roll into the 20th. The Australian Colonies were agog with news of Black Week as well as the developing sieges of Mafeking, Kimberley and Ladysmith. Many in the antipodes had relatives or friends in South Africa and, blood being thicker than water, public interest was keen. And then there was General Buller's post-Black-Week appeal for "eight thousand mounted riflemen" to increase his mobility. Could the Colonies help?
New South Wales had already made something of a piecemeal contribution to the South African campaign; some Lancers, one squadron of MR and an infantry company later converted to MR. The next contribution, however, was to include an artillery battery and a half-field Hospital - but the main effort was to form three full squadrons of MR; the idea being to combine them with the two squadrons already in the field to form a full mounted Regiment.
Volunteers for the three squadrons were called for - and by 11th January, 1900 - the required medical, marksmanship and riding tests had reduced the initial 1297 aspirants to just 405 all-ranks. It is rather surprising to learn that the three squadrons set sail from Sydney just six days later on 17th January, 1900.Public acclaim notwithstanding, it meant less than a week to issue kit, gather and ship the horses and begin welding the men into some form of disciplined shape. Fortunately, the contingent did include a leavening of men with previous service in the Volunteers. The three squadrons of 1st NSWMR disembarked at Cape Town on 19/2/1900.
Once in the field, 1st NSWMR joined Col. Le Gallais' Brigade, Lord Roberts' main column, moving from Modder River to Bloemfontein between 1-14th March, 1900. On the way, Murray records that 1st NSWMR saw action at Poplar Grove (7/3/00), Dreifontein (10/3/00), Bloemfontein (14/3/00) - then Karee Siding (29/3/00), Brandfort (3/5/00), Vet River (5/5/00), Zand River (10/5/00), Kroonstad (12/5/00), Lindley (20/5/00) and "near Johannesburg" on 29/5/00. Then, it was on to Pretoria, Diamond Hill, and a host of other creditable if less well known actions.
Creswicke in Vol. IV of his "SA and the Transvaal War" records that, at Dreifontein, "The Australians came in for a heavy share of the fighting" - specifically "The New South Wales Mounted Infantry under Col. Knight .... engaged in animated pursuit of the enemy as they fled towards the North, their fleet horses showing a marked contrast in condition to the jaded steeds of the English cavalry".
After the taking of Bloemfontein, reorganisation was in the wind. Lord Roberts wanted to build a Division of mounted Riflemen with individual Regiments comprised of both regular MI and colonial volunteers. April, 1900 saw Major General Hutton commanding the 1st M.I.Brigade; with 1st NSWMR serving with Col. De Lisle in the 2nd M.I.Corps alongside the 6th M.I. and the 1st WA MI.
Hutton was a previous Imperial Commandant in NSW and had a certain reforming zeal. One of his first orders was that all Australians under his command wore a stylised "A" on their helmets - colour coded to indicate the contingent.

(Shown is Norman Hardy's sketch of the charge of the NSWMR at Vet River. The "A" helmet marking is quite visible. It is thought that the various colour codings were painted inside the apex of the "A")
A t an individual level, it is perhaps possible to pin down the period in which Pte. James Bartlett was struck down by disease. A link in the invaluable Oz-Boer database let to the discovery of a letter published in the Newcastle Morning Herald of 1st August, 1900 which identified our man's disease as enteric fever - and the letter-writer comments that Pte. James Bartlett "had taken part in six engagements at the front". Understandably, his family was concerned at his repatriation and the Mayor of Newcastle was requested - apparently by the family - to wire the Imperial NSW Commandant concerning James Bartlett's whereabouts.
Relying on the newspaper report of "six engagements" (each depending on how Pte. Bartlett regarded them!), it appears that he - unlike most of his comrades - was short of qualifying for the "Johannesburg" and later clasps on his medal. Purely speculation - however, thiswriter assumes he was smitten sometime in May, 1900.
It is a matter of record that Colonial Australian contingents suffered considerably from sickness during the campaign; for example, Pte. Bartlett's "D" squadron of 1st NSWMR (134 all-ranks) had no less than forty-eight marked as "invalided". On that very subject, Craig Wilcox - writing in Australia's Boer War - comments that "Most Australians were vaccinated on the way out" and that "some were vaccinated against typhoid (enteric fever) as well. Wilcox further comments that most rural Australians knew of ways to ward off dysentery and typhoid; however, they were not diseases where immunity could be developed.
Pte. Bartlett travelled back to Australia on the steamer "Oonah" along with one hundred and ten other invalids - stopping at Hobart on 28th July 1900 to a rousing reception and docking at Sydney the next day. There, IL assumes he underwent any necessary convalescence before discharge. It appears, however, that the active service life still had some appeal for former Pte.J. Bartlett.
The National Archives of Australia contain not one but two attestation forms dated 13/1/1902 where James Bartlett (policeman, now aged thirty years, from Mudgee< NSW) applied to enlist for service in South Africa with the 1st Bn., (New South Wales) Australian Commonwealth Horse. He cited eleven months' previous service with 1st NSW MR. The two attestation forms are not identical - each subtly different - and show James Bartlett as "Fit".
Any idea of yours truly dipping into the spare clasps box to slip (typical ACH clasps) "Transvaal" and "SA 1902" on to the Bartlett ribbon was quickly dashed by a glance at the relevant medal roll. Murray's "Australian Contingents" definitely shows our man as "1 Bartlett, James, Lance Corporal" on the nominal roll of "A" squadron, ACH. - however the medal rolls contain no corresponding entry.
It is extremely likely that he was missed off the roll. Surely a supplementary would have been created as soon as the anomaly surfaced. Is it possible that something intervened to debar L/Cpl.James Bartlett from further active service? A mention (or discovery) of his being invalided could well have resulted in a second Medical and - while he was considered "Fit" - the ACH considered that a relapse could be on the cards.
IL sincerely trusts that James Bartlett, former "469 Pte., 1st NSWMR" and would-be ACH enlistee, suffered no relapses and returned to his previous calling in the Hunter region of Northern NSW. As the AWM rolls for AIF WW1 enlistments reveal no "James Bartlett" serving in a NSW unit, there matters military appear to rest. From the confusion at Poplar Grove through the pursuit at Dreifontein, from entering an undefended Bloemfontein to later actions in March and May, 1900, James Bartlett doubtless had many memories to share about his "six engagements" and his crowded few weeks at the front.
Thanks to all who have read this far.
Regards
IL.
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QSA medal to Pte. James Bartlett, 1st NSW MR. 5 years 1 week ago #62873

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Very nice indeed, Ian, and very scarce too, I should imagine also rather expensive these days!

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QSA medal to Pte. James Bartlett, 1st NSW MR. 5 years 1 week ago #62879

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Frank
Seemingly, it depends on where they are found. Of course, "Dealers cost" and our favourite on-line auction site, well …… And then there is the research aspect. I like to try and put the medal in some form of context - and with some of the NSW Contingents, on-line digging can be rewarding. In short, I suppose it is "grab 'em while you can". Fortunately, Murray's "Australian Contingents" can be most helpful in terms of movements, battles and engagements.
Best regards
IL.

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QSA medal to Pte. James Bartlett, 1st NSW MR. 5 years 1 week ago #62881

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Hello Ian,
Well, all I can say is that I have never found any medals to Australian recipients that I would describe as being offered at a "bargain" price, good medals do seem very hard to find, despite the global internet aspect that we have these days, I think you have been very fortunate.
Regards Frank

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