TOPIC:

Interestingly, I note John Beattie was permitted to extend his service upon the 1st of April 1904 to complete twelve years with the Colours rather than serve as a Reservist., a hard earned and very pleasing medal.

djb wrote: From the next City Coins auction, November 2020

QSA (1) DoL (5109 Pte. J. Beattie, Manchester Regt.)
Rim dent on reverse at 5 o’clock

Pte Beattie was wounded in the Boer attack on Wagon Hill and was invalided to England.

Hello David,
I forgot to ask, where does the information actually come from that Beattie was wounded upon Wagon Hill, it would be rather odd that any of Curran's lads were wounded at that end of the Platrand Ridge?
Regards Frank

djb wrote: From the next City Coins auction, November 2020

QSA (1) DoL (5109 Pte. J. Beattie, Manchester Regt.)
Rim dent on reverse at 5 o’clock

Pte Beattie was wounded in the Boer attack on Wagon Hill and was invalided to England.

Frank,

The Natal FF roll has a page and a bit on the 1st Manchester casualties for 6th January. It does not state the location more precisely than Ladysmith.

Stirling notes 'In repelling the great assault on 6th January (see 1st Devons) the Manchesters played a very important part. The battalion, under Colonel Curran, along with the 42nd Battery, some of the Naval Brigade, with a 12-pounder and some Natal Volunteers, formed the garrison of Caesar's Camp.

From what I understand of the geography, the Manchester's post was at the base of a 'V' with Caesar's Camp on the left and Wagon Hill to the right.

From today's City Coins auction, 27 November 2020

Elandspruit, 19 December 1901

In December 1901, when news reached Kitchener that the ZAR Government had crossed the railway into the Roos Senekal district, he sent Col Urmston from Belfast to co-operate with Col Parkin an attempt to capture the Government party. The British hoped to surprise the enemy at Windhoek, west of Dullstroom, but Gen Chris Muller interposed at the right moment and attacked Col Park on the 19th at Elandspruit. The Boers were repulsed after several hours fighting, in which the British had 37 casualties and the Boers 25. The ZAR Government escaped under cover of the action.

According to “Oorlogsherinneringe”, the Memoirs of General Muller, p154-56, it was a night attack with the sole purpose to kill the maximum number of troops, horses and oxen. Storming the British Camp was ruled out as being much too dangerous. Muller’s Commandant Groenewald and his men were positioned on the high ground on the east, Trichard and his men from Middelburg Commando on the high ground on the west (looking down into the British camp) while the Boer Vickers-Maxim was positioned to the south.

However, when Muller/Groenewald started firing, Trichard’s men charged the camp. Being dark, Muller/Groenewald did not realise it and they kept on firing. The next morning, they found out that 9 Middelburg men were killed, the majority probably through “friendly fire”.

QSA (2) RoL, Belf (3521 Pte. H. Hulmes. Manch. Reg)

Pte Hulmes (Holmes on SAFF Casualty Roll and “In Memoriam”) was wounded in the attack and died the next day. The SA01 clasp awarded on the supplementary QSA roll was returned to Woolwich in April 1908.

Provenance: Hayward Gazette Aug 1973 p21 £17.50.

Well, that is certainly my understanding of the Platrand Ridge too, I just wondered why Wagon Hill was quoted.

djb wrote: Frank,

The Natal FF roll has a page and a bit on the 1st Manchester casualties for 6th January. It does not state the location more precisely than Ladysmith.

Stirling notes 'In repelling the great assault on 6th January (see 1st Devons) the Manchesters played a very important part. The battalion, under Colonel Curran, along with the 42nd Battery, some of the Naval Brigade, with a 12-pounder and some Natal Volunteers, formed the garrison of Caesar's Camp.

From what I understand of the geography, the Manchester's post was at the base of a 'V' with Caesar's Camp on the left and Wagon Hill to the right.

Pictures courtesy of Maxwells

Described as:

3807 WILLIAM KEPPIE 1st Battalion, Manchester Regiment, Group of 4; QSA, 3 clasps Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Belfast, KSA 2 clasps, LSGC and Delhi Durbar medal with copy paperwork and photograph

Maxwells are to be applauded for including pictures of the naming