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The 18th Hussars were in South Africa when war broke out and many served in the engagement at Talana.


Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (3) Natal, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 (3945. Pte. R. Harling. 18/Hrs.)

Robert Harling was born at Bury St Edmunds in 1873 and was a pawnbroker by trade upon his enlistment in the 18th Hussars on 19 October 1892. Having seen active service in South Africa, he was discharged to the Army Reserve on 13 January 1903

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (5) Orange Free State, Laing’s Nek, Belfast, Cape Colony, South Africa 1901, last two clasps loose as issued from supplementary roll (3216. Pte. L. Plews. 18/Hrs.);
City of York Life-Saving Society Medal, silver and enamel, hallmarks for Birmingham 1901, the reverse engraved ‘Awarded to Lawrence Plews for the gallant rescue of a boy from drowning in the River Ouse July 20 1896’, with top ribbon bar inscribed ‘For Bravery’;

Together with two silver Total Abstinence Association medals, one for India, named, the other in Memory of Queen Victoria 1901, unnamed.

Lawrance/Lawrence Plews was born in the Parish of Thames Ditton, Surrey, and enlisted into the 18th Hussars in London on 17 February 1888. He served in India from November 1889 to December 1895, and in South Africa from February 1900 to February 1901. He was discharged on termination of his first period of engagement on 27 February 1901.

The illustrated, deeply toned pair came into IL's custody many years ago - during that period of QSA collecting many go through - "when one wants all the bars". While both Stirling's entry for the 18th Hussars and Maj. Burnett's regimental history promised good research possibilities, the pair sat stored away until recently; when Kevin Asplin was asked to carry out a search and did so with his usual thoroughness.
QSA with clasps "Talana", "Defence of Ladysmith", "Orange Free State", "Laing's Nek" and "Belfast" (engraved to "4748.Pte. T.J.Roach, 18/Hrs.)
KSA with South Africa 1901 and 1902 clasps (impressed to "4748 Pte. J.Roach, 18th Hussars".


Thomas James Roach, aged just 18 years and six months (from East London, calling "French Polisher"), attested for short service with the Scottish Rifles on 21/9/1893 and cited previous service with the Militia. After basic training, "4848 Pte Thomas Roach" was posted to the 1st. Bn. of his Regiment on 11/1/1894 and he saw garrison duty on the Indian sub-Continent from the end of November 1894 to 4th October, 1898.
Towards the end of that service, something happened to induce a perhaps older and wiser Thomas James Roach to apply for transfer to the cavalry. Whatever occurred, it was not due to any apparent character failings - he had attained a Good Conduct badge, had no "crime sheet" and became Lance Cpl; even though he reverted six months later. It could have been heat and boredom or lack of action and, whatever the reason, his transfer to the 18th Hussars was approved (authority, D.A.G. Bengal, dated 12/7/1898) when he became No. 4748 in that regiment.
The 18th Hussars, 623 all ranks and commanded by Lt/Col. Moller, arrived in SA on 28/10/1898and a month later was quartered at Ladysmith. Evidently not a choice location according to a description of the campsite mentioned in Burnett's "The 18th Hussars in South Africa". Nevertheless, during the twelve months remaining of peace-time soldiering, 4748 Private Roach, T of B Sqn. was able to better himself and attained a 3rd Class Certificate of Education. However, storm clouds to the North were gathering and, should adventure be what Thomas James Roach sought, he was to get a big dose of it - commencing with the battle of Talana Hill.
As an aside, it must be mentioned that our host's recent book "TALANA, Account and Medal Roll" examines the background, actuality and aftermath of the battle for Talana Hill in great detail - and it is not proposed to re-examine those aspects here. Rather, as far as Pte. roach of B sqn. is concerned, it can be said with certainty that he was with Maj. Knox on 2010/1899 and was NOT taken captive with Col. Moller at Adelaide farm. A quite good account of the activities of Knox's part of B Sqn. on that day may be found in pages 11-12 of the regimental history.
In the aftermath of Talana Hill, 18th Hussars were involved at Lombard's Kop during the retreat to Ladysmith and were active during the skirmish near Middle Hill on 2/11/1899. The next day they were involved in the Lancer's Nek affair. Patrol work during the siege continued, with B Sqn. taking its full share until the very early morning of 6th January; when those awake in 18H's lines heard heavy musketry in the direction of Waggon Hill and Caesar's Camp. At 1000 hrs, 18H was ordered to the foot of Waggon Hill to support the ILH; with their B and C Sqns held back in reserve. by 1330, B and C Sqns. were ordered forward to reinforce the Gordons at Caesar's Camp and 18H now occupied the right of the firing line. There they remained, taking casualties and spending most of the night throwing up urgently needed head cover. The next morning, the three squadrons were ordered back to their camp - with a diligent unnamed officer recording that 18H had expended exactly 6,731 rounds during the fight.

(Caesar's Camp - 18th Hussars Entrenchment, from Burnett)
The Ladysmith siege dragged on and by the end of January, 1900 the supply of forage made it necessary for the entire inventory of cavalry horses to be reduced to just three hundred; with the remainder turned out to graze under guard and "to be daily diminished in number as the requirements of the "Chevril" factory grew more and more exacting. One can imagine what 18H thought of that situation!
Following the eventual raising of the Ladysmith siege, the regiment saw action at Botha's Pass and Alleman's Nek in support of the SALH - than accompanied Gen. Buller to Lydenburg. However, things were changing as far as the tactical employment and armament of the cavalry regiments were concerned and b October 1900, swaords were mostly withdrawn and the short ranged carbines began to be replaced by infantry pattern Lee Enfield rifles. The Marquess of Anglesea, writing in Vol. 4 of "A History of British Cavalry" comments that "The first regiment to actually use rifles instead of carbines was probably the 18th Hussars" and cites an unnamed General who, later in the campaign, described the 18H as "the best mounted infantry in the country".
Between February and April 1901, (under the command of Gen. French) the 18th Hussars took part in a multi-column sweep to "the most Easterly corner of the Transvaal"; intended to force the enemy from their own districts and towards the border of Swaziland. The part taken by 18H is covered in considerable detail in Burnett's history and - while the overall result oft the sweep was seemingly productive, it was especially hard on horse-flesh. It also served to illustrate the ability of a wily enemy to escape through gaps in the columns. To be fair, Stirling credits the operation with capturing most of Gen. Botha's artillery and deterring him from his proposed invasion of Natal.
It should be here noted that, as a member of a patrol during the final stages of the abovementioned operation, Pte. T.J.Roach is listed as one of the casualties from an action at Dul(l)stroom on 16/4/1901; he being "severely wounded". The period of incapacity he subsequently suffered is not known (he was not invalided) and his wounding is not mentioned at all on his service papers. It is assumed that he re-joined his regiment at some stage after convalescence to earn both clasps on his King's medal.
Stirling, in "Our Regiments" has not a lot more to say about 18th Hussars activities after May, 1901; save to comment that they operated in columns commanded by Col. Campbell, the splendidly named Gen. Sir Bindon Blood and Col. Allenby in yet more "cleaning up" of the Eastern Transvaal. However, Maj. Burnett tells us that in July of that year, 18H (together with 19H, West Aust. M.I. and 3rd M.I.) were required to each provide 100 men to an ad hoc formation called The Eastern Transvaal Scouts; tasked with conducting night marches when attached to Col. Benson's column. That particular detachment was fruitful, ending on 2nd September and making many captures including one "Capt" Breytanbach" and "a noted lot of train wreckers' - much to the satisfaction of Gen. Blood.
Those of the 18th Hussars not detached to the ETScouts were quite active elsewhere and on 18/8/1901 were able to "pull the irons out of the fire" for their sister regiment, 19H, at Elandskraal, North Eastern Transvaal. 19H had advanced through thick country without scouts and committed the "cardinal blunder" of breaking ranks to round up cattle. The cattle were bait and Muller's Johannesburg commando quickly took many prisoners - until 18H arrived just in time to drive of the enemy and release the hapless captives.
Column work aside, an interesting aspect of horse-flesh management during the ABW can be found in Burnett's regimental history when - during service with Col. Campbell's column - about eighty horses ofB sqn. had picked up some Tulip Grass whilst grazing. As a result, thirty horses either died or were so ill that they had to be left behind. Burnett comments that "Tulip grass at that time of year (September) was a most dengerous herg, hard to distinguish, without a careful examination, from the early shoots of the young grass ..... and in a few hours its poisonous effect soon told fatally alike on horses, cattle and mules".
To the end of 1901, the 18th Hussars were involved in convoy work and more night marches; one of which involved the recovery of the guns captured at Blood River Poort. Then it was to the Swaziland border and back again and during an operation on 31/12/1901, much satisfaction was expressed by members of 18H when ex-Commandant Erasmus was caught in one of their cordons. It was the very same Commandant who, in 1899, had surrounded Col. Moller and much of B Sqn. at Adelaide farm.
By the end of the year, however, Burnett comments that "the days of successful night marches were already on the wane". Harried beyond measure by night raids, the Boer counter was to adopt a plan of "perpetual motion' - where after their evening meal, they saddled up and moved to a location known only to the leaders and kept a profound secret to the rest of the commando. Before daybreak, a second short march would be made and - if there was no column in the vicinity - a day's halt was called. Then the process began again. Secrecy re the next move would have been essential to prevent "leakage" to pursuing columns via potential hands-uppers or native informants. Nevertheless, the "perpetual motion" tactic had a debilitating effect on Boer morale with the consequence that some refused to obey orders and readily surrendered when opportunity arose.
The war came to a conclusion in May, 1902 following a combination of blockhouse lines and "drives"; 18H taking part in "drives" in the Free State and the Eastern Transvaal. News of the signing of Peace reached the 18th Hussars in the field on 1st June, 1902. It was recorded in the regimental history that little outward enthusiasm was expressed on receipt of the news -Maj. Burnett commenting that "We had won our fight, of that there could be no doubt, and odds though in our favour at the end, had likewise been against us at the start". The regimental history records a Summary of Marches made (start of the war to the finish); 5,331 miles.
Pte. Thomas James Roach remained on duty with his regiment in South Africa until 19/9/1902 and his Military History sheet records he was posted to "home" the very next day. Upon arrival, he was posted to the Army Reserve and upon reaching "his twelve", he marched out to civilian life on 24/9/1903.


In conclusion, IL would recommend the Regimental History of the 18th Hussars to any student of the employment of mounted troops during the ABW. Burnett's narrative is, of course, even more rewarding should a medal or pair to that regiment be at hand. Even if not, however, it is a record of considerable achievement.
Thanks to all who have persevered this far.
Regards
IL

IL,
Thank you for posting your very informative account of Roach and his adventures with 18th Hussars. That is a very nice pair of medals to a cavalry outfit.
I feel inspired to read up on your recommended reading and also to perhaps acquire a QSA (or pair) to the unit. I now feel there is a gap in my collection!!lol!!
Cheers Steve

Steve
Thanks for your comments. Burnett's history of 18H is available in reprinted form from N@MP (with which I have no commercial agreement apart from buying books at retail). Looking at accounts of Waggon Hill and Caesar's Post from the point of view of 18th Hussars is quite interesting.
Best regards
IL.

A fascinating account, IL. Really interesting reading.

Burnett's history is available here: www.angloboerwar.com/books/27-burnett-18...sars-in-south-africa