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Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (5) Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal (3336 Pte. M. Hegarty. 1st Connaught Rang:), repair to left hand rivet between second and third clasps

These 5 clasps on WO100/205p294. SA01 on WO100/204p379.

There was a lot of interest in the medal to Private Hegarty. It hammered at GBP 400.

3336 Pte Michael Hegarty, E Coy 1st Bn Connaught Rangers, wounded in action at Battle of Harts Hill (probably Pieters Hill) 23 Feb 1900. Regards Mark

According to his attestation papers 3336 of the 1st Connaught Rangers was named Michael Frank Haggarty/Haggerty. Perhaps the second is the most reliable because that is how he signed his name:



He was a Reservist and his father (NoK) is named as Haggerty:

MarkGD wrote: 3336 Pte Michael Hegarty, E Coy 1st Bn Connaught Rangers, wounded in action at Battle of Harts Hill (probably Pieters Hill) 23 Feb 1900. Regards Mark

What's the source please? Natal Field Force Roll (aka newspapers) show him "missing - released". I found a report 7th April, 1900 (Western Morning News) saying that he was posted missing but "found in hospital". Another report 15th June 1901 Army and Navy Gazette states he rejoined after being missing 15th December 1899, i.e. Colenso.

Very confused. No mention of a wound on service papers or evidence he was actually a POW.

Meurig - Using all the possibilities for his surname coupled with 3336 I have scanned the newspapers of the day and come up with the following hits:

Haggarty 1, Heggarty 10, Heggerty 1 & Hegarty 1 – all the other variations scored zero. The Heggarty ones include those you quote.

The Haggarty one is the earliest – The Scotsman 8 March 1900. Firstly the scanner has misread Heggarty for Haggarty. The 1st Connaught Rangers appear at the end of a very long casualty list headed “The Casualties in the Advance to Ladysmith”. The date “February 22, 23 and 24” is written against the Connaught Rangers sub-title and then listed are the names and numbers of 19 “Killed”, 107 “Wounded” and 8 “Missing”. 3336 M Heggarty is listed amongst the missing.

Regards, David.

PS I may have miscounted the "Wounded".