TOPIC:

My bad - he died in 1900 Not 1899,,,,,,

Rory

Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

QSA (4) Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (137 Corpl: F.O. Howes. Border M.R.);
Natal (1) 1906 (S.I.M: F.O. Howes, Border Mtd. Rifles.);
1914-15 Star (Lt. F.O. Howes 1st Infantry.);
British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (Mjr. F.O. Howes.)

Described as:

Frank Oswald Howes of Durban, South Africa, served in the Boer War with the Border Mounted Rifles (the medal roll confirms the Queen’s South Africa Medal but not the Orange Free State clasp). Roll also confirms the Natal Rebellion medal with clasp. This was considered by Dennis Trotter to be a ‘magnificent and most interesting three-campaign group’

The following incident took place in the Battle of Rietfontein, a hamlet just north of Ladysmith, according to Lt. B. W. Martin, Durban Volunteers, part of the B.M.R. (personal diary, Siege Museum, Ladysmith), 'Orders to retire from our position were received at 4.00pm. When we reached the place where our horses had been linked I found that my mount had broken away from the rest, when the linked animals were shelled by the Boer artillery, and had galloped back to town. I was, however, carried from the battlefield, pick-a-back on the horse of Corporal (later Major) F. O. Howes. To get clear and out of rifle range we had to gallop across terrain without cover of any sort and during that dash Howes' horse was hit in its tail but was not seriously hurt’. (taken from John Hawkesbury, ‘Witness to Rietfontein’ Part 2, South Africa Military History Society Journal, Volume 15 no. 5, June 2o12).

Serving in the Natal Rebellion with the BMR, he returned to service during the Great War, attesting for service on 16 October 1914, and receiving a promotion to Lieutenant on 1 January 1915. He served as O.C. of ‘F’ Company of the 2nd Battalion of the Durban Light Infantry (1st Infantry) during the campaign in German South West Africa. A few months later, in preparation for the campaign in German East Africa, Captain Howes was appointed O.C. of ‘B’ Company of the 6th S.A.I., but soon after its formation he was offered a further promotion to serve as Major in the 10th S.A.I. as a Company Commander. Owing to the weakening of the South African Regiments through action and disease, various units were amalgamated into the 10th Composite Infantry Regiment, which Howes joined as Major. Regrettably, he too succumbed to disease in the months that followed, contracting Malaria which led to his being invalided from Dar-Es-Salaam on 8 April, 1917, and subsequent discharge on 19 November that year.

Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

QSA (3) Defence of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (134 Tpr: H. H. Clark. Border M.R.)

MYE say H H Clark of the Border Mounted Rifles is confirmed on the medal roll. He was apparently accidentally injured on 14 May 1900, but this is not in ‘The Boer War Casualty Roll’ by Palmer.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Defence of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (25 Serjt: A. Ringo. Border M.R.), possible correction to second digit of service number.

M&E say 'A Ringo of the Border Mounted Rifles is confirmed on the medal roll (although he appears to be entitled to a clasp for Natal, rather than for Laing’s Nek), and served in 4 Squadron, No 2 (Maxim) Troop.'

Served in the BMR from 29 September 1899 to 31 May 1902.

Tr, DoL and Natal listed on WO100/260p55. The medal is correct. The men on this page from A Ringo downwards have Natal rather than LN marked for issue.