TOPIC:

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

Cm mil, s/g;
QSA (1) Cape Colony (Col. A. K. Wyllie, W. Riding Regt.) officially impressed naming;
KSA (2) (Col. A. K. Wyllie, C.B. W. Rid. Rgt.)

Colonel Wyllie commanded 3rd Battalion, West Riding Regiment during embodiment, in South Africa 1900-1902. He was Commandant at Simon's Town from July 1900 to January 1901; at Wynberg from January to March 1901, and was also Commandant of a Prisoner of War Camp for a short period in 1900. He was mentioned in despatches 29 November 1900, and created CB.

He was appointed Hon. Colonel of the 3rd Battalion in 1906 and was Chairman RSPCA from 1926 until his death in 1928.

Although posted earlier in this thread, I've found additional information on Capt./B Major Owen Harris, West Riding Regiment.

QUEEN’S SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1902, 5 CLASPS, RELIEF OF KIMBERLEY, PAARDEBERG, DRIEFONTEIN, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA 1901 ‘CAPT. O. HARRIS. W. RIDING. RGT.’
M.I.D. London Gazette 8 February 1901.
M.I.D. London Gazette 10 September 1901. (Mounted Infantry)
Brevet Major. London Gazette 27 September 1901. (15th Mounted Infantry)

Owen Harris was born in November 1863, and was the son of Francis Harris, M.D., of 24 Cavendish Square, London and the Grange, Lamberhurst. Harris was educated at Winchester, (1877-1882 - F House)
and married Helen Carleton Harris of Tylney Hall on 21 April 1892 at the church of Rotherwick, Hants by Rev. J. Chataway.

He was initially commissioned into the 3rd Battalion, Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment. He transferred to the West Riding Regiment in January 1884, and advanced to Captain in February 1890. Harris served as adjutant of volunteers, February 1892 – February 1898. Captain Harris arrived with the 1st Battalion at the Cape on 21 January 1900, the battalion forming part of the 13th Brigade under Major General O E Knox, 6th Division under Lieutenant General Kelly-Kenny. The whole division distinguished themselves in the advance from Modder River to Bloemfontein. Captain Harris was wounded in action at Klip Kraal, 16 February 1900, during the Relief of Kimberley, where the battalion lost 1 man killed, 2 officers and 27 men wounded. His wounds cannot have been too severe as two days later he took part in the battle of Paardeberg, the battalion suffering heavy casualties of 1 officer and 22 men killed, and 2 officers and 104 men wounded. Harris was given command of the battalions mounted infantry company sometime after its arrival in South Africa, for although he was certainly serving with the 8th Mounted Infantry when wounded for a second time at the battle at Bothaville (Doornkraal), 6 November 1900, he was not a member of the company when it landed in the Cape a short time before the action at Klip Kraal and therefore served with his regiment at this battle. On 22 February 1901, Captain Harris was given command of the 16th Battalion Mounted Infantry (with the local rank of Major) but by September when awarded the Brevet of Major; he was serving with the 15th Battalion Mounted Infantry.

He contracted enteric fever shortly after and was invalided home. Major Harris died of enteric fever and pneumonia, 9 October 1901. He was only 37 years old. He is commemorated on the Duncombe Place Memorial across the street from York Minster, and on the Duke of Wellington's Regimental Plaque in All Saints Chapel within the Minster. He is also commemorated on the wall of the Winchester College Cloister. There is another plaque commemorating him in All Saints Church, Brenchley, Tunbridge Wells, Kent where he's buried in plot 13/33.

A fascinating post and excellent pictures, Azyeomen. Many thanks.

Pictures courtesy of Aubrey's

QSA (4) Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal (2796 Pte. J. R. Rayner, W. Riding Regt.);
KSA (2) (2796 Pte. J. Raynor, W. Riding Regt).

QSA naming



KSA naming



Sold for a hammer price of GBP 140. Totals (VAT UK only): GBP 190. R4,200. Au$370. Can$340. US$240.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (4) Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal (4216 Serjt: R. J. Sly. W. Riding Regt.);
KSA (2) (4216 Serjt: R. Sly. W. Riding Regt.);
[ BWM ]
[ LS&GC ]

Robert James Sly was born in Portsea, Hampshire, on 10 April 1870, the son of a Gunner in Royal Navy, and attested for the West Riding Regiment on 17 July 1894. Advanced Sergeant on 5 September 1899, he served with the 1st Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War, and was appointed Sergeant and Orderly Room Clerk on 19 March 1901.

He saw further service in India from 5 October 1905 to 18 February 1918, and was appointed Quartermaster Sergeant on 25 January 1907. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with Gratuity per Army Order 117 of April 1913, and was promoted Warrant Officer Class II on 29 January 1915. Arriving back in the U.K. on 31 March 1918, he was attached for duty to the Prisoner of War camp at Catterick on 31 May 1918. For his services during the Great War he was also entitled to a British War Medal.

He retired on 30 March 1920, and died due to suicide whilst of unsound mind at Portsmouth on 19 June 1931.