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Picture courtesy of City Coins

Graspan (Near Reitz) 6 June 1901

On the evening of 5 June Colonel Elliott was informed that a Boer convoy was about 15 miles away from his own convoy and he detached Major Sladen, the Commander of the 6th Mounted Infantry with a force of 200 and some Australians to intercept it. The convoy of 120 wagons and carts was duly captured at dawn on 6 June, but the majority of prisoners were women and children with only about 100 armed Boers as guards.

What should have been a routine, albeit large, capture was rapidly altered by a thundering counterattack by de Wet and De la Rey who had been informed about it over breakfast. Fighting raged amongst the captured wagons and Sladen’s advance line was driven back to a cluster of native huts in a kraal.

The fight lasted for four hours and ascendancy swung backwards and forwards between British and Boer. Sladen held off the counterattack until relieved by De Lisle in the afternoon but casualties had been heavy on both sides: 26 British and 17 Boers killed, 25 British and 20 Boers wounded.

The brutal hand-to-hand fighting at Graspan gave rise to accusations of atrocities on both sides. The Boers claimed that the British had fired on unarmed women and children in the wagons and the British accused the Boers of murdering prisoners.

Afghan (0) (2nd Lieut. J.R.F. Sladen. 2/15th Foot)
IGS 1854 (2) Burma 1885-7, Burma 1887-89 (Lieut. J.R.F. Sladen E. York. R.);
QSA (3) CC, OFS, Tvl (Lt. Col. F.R.R. Sladen, 2nd E. Yorkshire Regt.);
KSA (2) (Lt. Col. J.R.F. Sladen. E. York. R.)

The last two with minor official corrections, also some edge bruising and slight contact wear.

The QSA roll yields no explanation for incorrect initials.

Colonel John Ramsey Frederick Sladen was awarded the Brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel and Mentioned in Despatches for his capture of De Wet’s convoy at Graspan near Reitz where by (his) courage and example prevented the desperate attack of the Boers from succeeding (LG 2 July 1901, p4401 and 20 August 1901, p5484).

Earlier in the War he had served on General Gatacre’s Staff and was part of the General’s small party which headed the night march to Stormberg, which debacle he survived.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen (2176 Pte. C. Parrott, 2nd. E. Yorkshire Regt.);
KSA (2) (2176 Pte. C. Parrott. E. York: Regt.);
Army LS&GC EdVII (2176 Pte. C. Parrott. E. York: Regt.)

Charles Parrott was born in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, in 1865, and attested for the East Yorkshire Regiment in London on 14 July 1896, having previously served in the 4th (Reserve) Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Posted to the 1st Battalion, he served with the Regiment overseas in the West Indies, November 1886 to October 1888; in South Africa, October 1888 to May 1893; in Egypt, May 1893 to November 1895; and in India, November 1895 to January 1898. Transferring to the 2nd Battalion, he served with them in South Africa during the Boer War from 14 March 1900 to 2 January 1903, and was discharged on 13 July 1907, after 21 years’ service.

Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen (3350 Sgt J. Horrocks, 2nd E. Yorkshire Regt);
KSA (2) (3350 Clr:-Sjt: J. Horrocks. E. York: Regt);
[ 1914 Star trio ];
Army LS&GC Ed VII (3450 S. Mjr: J. Horrocks. E. York: Regt)

With Great War riband bar (apparently original as worn) mounted above, minor edge bruise to first, generally good very fine (3) £300-400 Lieutenant and Quartermaster John Horrocks (1873-1915) was born in 1873, the son of John Redford Horrocks, and Lydia Horrocks, of Bolton, Lancashire. He spent a portion of his childhood abroad in Russia, where his father conducted business as an Engineer, before enlisting for service in the East Yorkshire Regiment at Manchester on 10 August 1891. Promoted quickly to Corporal, and then to Sergeant in 1895, he served for three years in India before being transferred to the Reserve upon his return. Joining the Salford Constabulary, he was nearly killed ‘on duty’ near the Manchester Ship Canal, where he disturbed a burglary at a dockside warehouse and was stabbed in the back of the neck.

Recovering from this wound, he was recalled for service in the Boer War, where he was one of 23 men who served continuously throughout from disembarkation to re-embarkation at Durban. During this time, he was promoted to Colour-Sergeant in ‘H’ Company, and was twice mentioned in despatches for ‘special and meritorious service in the field’.

Continuing to serve afterwards, he was promoted to RSM of the 2nd Battalion, and remained with it until he was commissioned as Lieutenant and Quartermaster of the 1st Battalion, which he joined at York in early 1912.

He embarked for France on 8 September 1914 as Quartermaster, and later took on the additional role of Transport Officer, receiving another M.I.D. The following year, however, the strains of frontline service took their toll and he was discovered dead in his bivouac, having died of heart failure. As recorded in the Regimental History, his C.O. wrote of him: ‘He was an irreparable loss to the Battalion, for not only was he a first rate Quartermaster, but also an exceedingly able Officer all round, endowed with marvellous energy and a supreme faculty for getting a move on; his courage and calm self-control were unsurpassed.’ He received a posthumous M.I.D. in the London Gazette of 1 January 1916, and was buried in Poperinghe New Military Cemetery, Belgium. His Medal Index Card lists the name of his widow, at an address in Kelburn, Wellington, New Zealand.

Sold for a hammer price of GBP 260. Totals: GBP 321. R 7,500. AUD 600. NZD 640. CAD 530. USD 390. EUR 360

Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen (5703 Pte. J. White, 2nd E. Yorkshire Regt), note first initial;
KSA (2) (5703 Pte. G. White. E. York: Regt), note differing initials

Picture courtesy of Spink

DSO GV;
QSA (2) Cape Colony, Wittebergen (Lieut: C. L. Estridge, 2nd E. Yorkshire Regt);
KSA (2) (Lieut. C. L. Estridge. E.York.Rgt.);
1914-15 Star (Major C. L. Estridge. E.York.R.);
British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Col. C. L. Estridge.), with MID

DSO London Gazette 1 January 1917.

MID London Gazette 4 January 1917, 27 December 1918, 4 July 1919.

Cecil Loraine Estridge studied at Harrow School before joining Trinity College, Cambridge and matriculating in 1895. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 10 May 1898 into the Militia Battalion of the Yorkshire and Lancashire Regiment he transferred to the East Yorkshire Regiment in 1899. Estridge saw service with this unit during the Anglo-Boer War seeing Operations in the Orange Free State including the action at Houtnek, Thoba Mountain, a battle mentioned in Churchill's history of the war. Further operations were conducted in the Orange River Colony including actions at Biddulphsberg - a notable engagement for the Guards - and Wittebergen.

Promoted Lieutenant on 5 April 1901, in place of Lieutenant J. R. Key who died of wounds, Estridge finished the war in that rank. He was further advanced Captain on 10 May 1910 but resigned his commission not long afterwards on 3 September 1910. Like so many of the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War he returned to the Colours, keeping his rank and re-joining the East Yorkshire Regiment on 19 August 1914. No doubt due to his experience he was advanced Major on 1 February 1915 with an appointment to Adjutant of the 6th Battalion.

Entering the War at Gallipoli on 14 July 1915 he joined the Regiment there in the Suvla Bay landing area. They went into action at Tekke Tepe the next month, in a push that was sadly destined to fail, Estridge was wounded in the arm on the first day, 8 August 1915. He was fortunate however as this saved him from participating in the attack the following day which saw heavy losses including the Battalion Commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Moore.

When Estridge eventually returned from Hospital on 5 November he took command of the Battalion, being advanced Lieutenant-Colonel whilst in the role on 26 October 1915. Following his promotion and the evacuation of the Peninsula it is unclear what path his career followed however he seems to have been given command of a prisoner camp.

His promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel was confirmed on 9 April 1919 however not long later his name was to appear alongside a scandal in the press. It appeared that, whilst only a Lieutenant, Estridge had an affair with a brother officer's wife who had since acknowledged the relationship upon leaving her husband. Perhaps due to this he appears to have maintained a low profile after the war, eventually retiring to Guildford.

Notably during the Second World War Estridge was appointed the ARP Officer for the Guildford Rural District. Eventually in 1942 he appears to have been advanced Chief Warden for the District of Wyke and Normandy.

Sold for a hammer price of GBP 2,200. Totals: GBP 2,728. R 59,590. AUD 5,220. NZD 5,640. CAD 4,660. USD 3,490. EUR 2,970.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

DSO GV, reverse central medallion slightly depressed;
MC GV;
QSA (3) Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen (5949 Cpl. J. Brindley, 2nd. E. Yorkshire Regt.);
KSA (2) (5949 Sergt: J. Brindley. E. York: Regt.);
1914 Star, with clasp (5949 R.Q.M. Sjt. J. Brindley. 1/E. York: R.);
British War and Victory Medals with MID (Capt. J. Brindley.)

DSO London Gazette 14 November 1916:
‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. He led his company in the attack with the greatest courage and initiative, himself accounting for 12 of the enemy. Later, although wounded, he continued to advance, and with a small party captured 61 prisoners. He has previously done very fine work.’

MC London Gazette 23 June 1915.

James Brindley was born at Salford, Lancashire, on 21 December 1879, and attested for service with the East Yorkshire Regiment in 1889. Posted to the 2nd Battalion, he proceeded with them to South Africa where he was attached to the 14th Battalion Mounted Infantry, being promoted Sergeant and Mentioned in Despatches for his conspicuous gallantry at Kafir Spruit on 19 December 1901 (London Gazette 25 April 1902).

Transferring to the 1st Battalion, he was advanced Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant in May 1914 and served with the Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 8 September 1914. Commissioned Second Lieutenant ‘for gallantry in the field’, with effect from 1 October 1914, he was one of the first junior officers of his Battalion to be awarded the Military Cross, almost certainly a retrospective award for his gallant conduct during October and November 1914, whilst serving with ‘C’ Company; his name being also brought to notice in Sir John French’s Despatch of 31 May 1915 (London Gazette 22 June 1915). Promoted Lieutenant in February 1915, he was present at the action at Hooge, 9 August 1915, on which occasion he was ‘wounded five times, but managed to get back to a dressing station in Sanctuary Wood’ (Regimental History refers).

Brindley was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his conspicuous gallantry at Morval on the 25th September 1916, as recounted in the regimental history:

‘Arrived in Gird Trench, Captain Brindley appears to have gone on with the 15th DLI, for there is a message from him amongst the 64th Brigade documents, timed at 12.32 p.m., stating that he had reached the second objective, with about 100 men, and was pushing on. Later, at 1.30 p.m., there is another message from him stating that he had reached the third objective. This gallant officer, with a number of Durham Light Infantry and tanks, apparently followed the retreating enemy far into hostile territory, eventually bringing back 70 prisoners. Captain Brindley was severely wounded in the shoulder and his magnificent exploit necessitated many months in hospital before he was able to rejoin. He was awarded the DSO.’ He was again Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 4 January 1917).

Brindley’s personal diary from the period was subsequently published in part in ‘The Western Front Then and Now’ by John Giles.