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A very unusual QSA to 18th H. My Cavalry CD shows Graves as being severely wounded 16/2/1900; servant to Gen. Knox, Cdr., 13th BDE.
Very few if any other lads from 18H entitled to Relief of Kimberley clasp.
IL.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

IGS 1895 (1) Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (3267 Corpl. R. P. Cooney, 11th Hussars);
QSA (3) Orange Free State, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (4985 Pte H. [sic] Cooney. 18th Hussars.) 1st clasp facing slightly buckled;
KSA (2) (4955 [sic] R. Cooney. 18th Hussars);
1914-15 Star (40156 Gnr: R. P. Cooney. Can: Fd: Art:);
British War and Victory Medals (40156 Gnr. R. P. Cooney. C.F.A.)

Robert Patrick Cooney was born in Kenagh, Longford, Ireland in June 1870. He attested for the 11th Hussars at Dublin in April 1891, and advanced to Corporal in February 1897. Cooney served with the regiment in India, October 1892 - March 1899. He was tried by district court martial and reduced to Private in August 1899, and transferred to the 18th Hussars in November of the same year. Cooney served with the regiment in South Africa, November 1899 - September 1902, and was discharged in April 1903.

Cooney, travelled to Canada, and joined the Royal North West Mounted Police in April 1904. He served with the latter in the Yukon Territory until he was invalided out of the service in February 1907 - having been found mentally and physically unfit. Despite the latter findings, Cooney joined the Royal Canadian Garrison Artillery in September of the same year. He advanced to Sergeant, and was discharged in August 1912. Cooney re-engaged for service in the CEF in August 1914, advanced to Sergeant, and served with the 1st Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery in France. He was injured, when his horse fell on top of him, whilst carrying a despatch to a battery at Ploegsteert, 20 February 1916.

Cooney was discharged in Canada in December 1919. He attested for the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps at Victoria, British Columbia in October 1920. Cooney died of TB related to previous service in France, 24 July 1925. He is buried in Victoria (Ross Bay) Cemetery.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (4) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Laing’s Nek, Belfast, first clasp a tailor’s copy (Lieut. G. V. Webster. 18/Hrs.) engraved naming;
KSA (2) (Lt. G. V. Webster. 18/Hrs.) engraved naming.

Gerald Vere Webster was born in London on 6 December 1879, the son of R G W Webster, MP, and was educated at Eton.

He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 18th Hussars from the 7th (Militia) Battalion, Rifle Brigade on 28 October 1899, and was promoted Lieutenant on 3 October 1900.

He resigned his commission on 4 July 1903 and died in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on 23 February 1975.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (1) Transvaal (4958 Pte. C. Carter. 18th. Hussars.);
KSA (2) (4958 Pte. C. Carter. 18th. Hussars.)

Charles Cornelius Carter was born in Hackney, London, in 1881 and attested for the 18th Hussars in London on 1 November 1899. He served with them in South Africa during the Boer War from 26 November 1900 to 31 October 1902, with the rest of his service being at home. He transferred to the Army Reserve on 1 November 1907, and was discharged on 19 August 1914, ‘having been found medically unfit for military service on mobilisation’, after 24 years and 290 days’ service.

I am delighted to welcome this medal group into my collection that honour a remarkably brave man who, as a member of the Maxim Gun Detachment, was severely wounded whilst disabling the gun at Talana.

Taken prisoner, he survived his wounds and later rejoined his regiment, going on to be mentioned in dispatches twice more.

He was promoted in the field for gallantry by the Commander in Chief after charging under fire across Boer lines to stop a train from being captured.

He served throughout the entire Boer War — from the first set piece battle to the very end.

At the outbreak of the First World War he was sent to France in early August 1914, patrolling in the very area where the first shots of the conflict were fired. Once again, he served his country for the full duration of the war, from its opening moments to its conclusion.

Between the wars he worked as a Post Master, and during the Second World War he continued to serve his community as a Special Constable.

Tragically, he was killed in 1941 while riding his bicycle on his way to a Talana Royal Observer Corps meeting; turning to wave to ladies on the roadside, he accidentally veered into the path of oncoming traffic.

This is his remarkable story.




Early Life

William Ashley Sexton was born on 18 September 1873 in Monasterevin, Kildare, Ireland to James and Ellen (nee Hunter).

William enlisted with the 18th Hussars on 2 January 1895 at Naas, Ireland, and was promoted to Corporal shortly afterwards.

The 18th Hussars were in South Africa at the outbreak of the Anglo Boer War and were present at the first set battle at Talana on the 20th October 1899.

Anglo Boer War - Talana

Fortunately, thanks to the book “18th Hussars in South Africa” by Major Charles Burnett we know the exact circumstances that befell William and his comrades at the Battle of Talana:

“The following is an account of the disaster which befell the maxim gun and the detachment with it, consisting of the under mentioned :-Lieutenant H. A. Cape, in charge; Sergeant Batten, Corporal Sexton, Private Waterson, Private Lock, and Private Wolfe :-

' To relate again the events of October 20th, 1899, in detail would be labour in vain, so I commence my narrative from the time when Colonel Moller began his retirement, which eventually led to such disastrous results.

The small force of Boers which came against the two troops of ' B ' Squadron, the Mounted Infantry and the machine gun, under command of Colonel Moller, was evidently an off shoot from the main body under Lucas Meyer, and they had viewed us in the open plain after ' A ' and ' C ' Squadrons had been detached under Major Knox.

As they approached us I was ordered to take up a position in the open with the Mounted Infantry, and this I did. I opened fire at about 1,700 yards range, and remained in position some time.

As far as I could see there was little to fire at, and it was almost impossible to watch the effects of the shots. I then received an order from Colonel Moller to retire, the Mounted Infantry doing likewise, and I again took up another position, but before I had time to come into action yet another order reached me to retire again, the Mounted Infantry already having done so.

Naturally by the time we had got the horses up and hooked on we were the last to leave, and I saw the Mounted Infantry on my left, and the two troops of ' B ' Squadron in front, fast disappearing over the crest of a slight rise.

We then saw Captain Pollok on our left endeavouring to get Trumpeter Salmon on to his own saddle, he evidently having lost his horse, but almost immediately the trumpeter fell off again, so we stopped the gun and took him up, and on we went again, bullets flying around like hailstones, and the squadron and Mounted Infantry still going on farther and farther away.

After going about two miles, as near as one could judge, I saw a deep spruit in front, and as the horses were by now completely done and one had been shot in about four places, we knew all was up.

As we approached I turned round and emptied my revolver at the fast approaching Boers, and as by some extraordinary piece of good luck I managed to knock one man over, it had the effect of checking them for an instant. The last words I heard poor Trumpeter Salmon shout out were ' Well done’.

Down into the Spruit we all plunged and then they were all around us, so I shouted to the men to save themselves, but I knew it to be too late.

Sergeant Batten, before he was killed, and Corporal Sexton, before he was wounded, succeeded in disabling the gun, and Private Waterston, ' C ' Squadron, behaved most gallantly. He seized Sergeant Batten's revolver after he had been hit, shot one Boer's horse, and then knocked him on the head with the empty revolver.

Private Waterson himself was hit in three places, but managed, by lying perfectly still, to escape detection, and made his way back into camp that same evening.

Out of the gun detachment Sergeant Batten, Private Lock the driver, and Trumpeter Salmon were killed; Corporal Sexton, Private Waterston, and myself were wounded; Private Wolfe, whose horse was shot, was taken prisoner at the same time.

On seeing the Maxim gun in their hands, the Boers almost at once gave up the pursuit of Colonel Moller and his force, and came crowding round, stripping' us of everything we possessed.

They then took out the horse that was so badly shot and harnessed in a pony, and so we were taken back, picking up one wounded man of the King's Royal Rifles, whom we placed on the gun, into the midst of the now retreating Boer forces, to whom we were a great object of interest.

Whilst we were in amongst the Boers we saw our own batteries of Artillery come up into the nek at Talana Hill, over which the main Vryheid road ran, unlimber and whip round their guns. Every moment we expected to have shells hurtling over our heads, but not a shot was fired.

It was a magnificent opportunity lost, as the Boers were crowding in masses, and the whole of the Staats Artillery was standing there, the men off the horses and wandering about with their hands in their pockets.

We were not kept long here, but we were sent off in a Cape cart to the farm at the base of Talana Hill on the Vryheid side, which had been turned into a Boer Hospital. I was put into a room eventually, which was crowded to suffocation with about twenty-five wounded Boers, and the sights, sounds, and smells were truly awful.

Captain Hardy came out from camp and did what he could for us. After a night, the like of which I never wish repeated, and during which several of the Boers had died, we awoke with hopes of ambulances or doolies coming for us from camp, but it was long past one o'clock before eventually we got off, and were taken back to our own Field Hospital through a most appalling thunderstorm.

The journey back in hospital tongas was a very severe trial, and caused excruciating agony to some poor chaps who were badly wounded.

On arrival in camp we met with a distinctly cold reception from our own people, as we were placed on the wringing wet ground in tents through which the rain poured. Our friends the enemy, however, gave us a warm enough one to make up for it, for no sooner had we reached camp than they commenced shelling the Hospital Camp, about which they could see the Doolie bearers moving, from Impati Mountain.

Their shells were, however, more alarming than harmful, but, I fear, sadly tried the already too highly strung nerves of the wounded. Here I found McLachlan shot in the leg, and from him gleaned much welcome news.

Besides being at times full of shells, the air was full of rumours too of reinforcements coming from Ladysmith and also of our success at Elandslaagte. At daybreak, on the 22nd October, the Boers commenced shelling the hospital again, and continued doing so throughout most of the day whenever they saw any movement of any sort.

In the evening General Symons received a message from General Yule, saying that he was sorry he could not come into camp to bid him goodbye, and that the column was leaving that night for Helpmakaar.

Unfortunately this news was kept so secret that no one knew of it until the following morning, when it was too late to make a bold bid for liberty. Had we known this on the Sunday night I am convinced that there would have been a few absentees from the Hospital Camp on the Monday morning. "

Wounds & Prisoner of War

Shortly after the battle The Times reported that William had suffered severe gunshot wounds to his shoulder and arm.

By 3 January 1900 it was reported that William was at the Swedish Mission Hospital at Dundee and was nearly convalescent. Shortly afterwards he was transferred to the Waterval POW camp in Pretoria and was later liberated on 6 June 1900.

From The Times June 1900 (list of released POW’s):

Promoted in the Field for Distinguished Gallantry

Following his release from Waterval POW camp William rejoined his unit and continued the war efort. On 25 January 1901 Corporal Sexton and Kidd were promoted for distinguished gallantry when they galloped through a party of Boers to prevent a train from falling into Boer hands.

The account was recorded as follows by The Times:

William served out the remainder of the war and was promoted to the rank of Seargent and was twice mentioned in dispatches:

• LORD KITCHENER'S MENTIONS, March 8th, 1901
From Lord Kitchener's despatch, March 8th, 1901; the promotions of NCO's and men are by the Commander-in-Chief.

• LORD ROBERTS' MENTIONS, September 4, 1901
Lord Roberts' despatch, dated London, September 4, is in continuation of that of April 2, and contains a further list of Regulars, Militia, Yeomanry, and Volunteers, together with a few Irregulars and Civilians, who have rendered special and meritorious service

After the Boer War

William extended his service with the Hussars on 14 November 1902 and re-engaed with them on 29 September 1906. During this time he was assigned a new regimanetal number; namely 5622.

During this time he married Lizzie Nevitte at Kilmeague, Naas, on 13 May 1903.

Following the birth of both their daughters, Hilda and Ashley, in Ireland they moved to Scalby, Yorkshire North Riding, and then to Andover where William worked as an assistant Post Master.

World War 1

At the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, the 18th Hussars mobilised as part of the 4th Cavalry Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division, and deployed to France with the original British Expeditionary Force (BEF). As a regular cavalry regiment, they were among the first British units to reach the continent.

William landed with his regiment on 15 August 1914:

The first shots fired by British forces on French soil during the First World War occurred on 22 August 1914, near Casteau, just outside Mons. This was the first contact between the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and the advancing German Army.

According to the historical marker at Casteau, Corporal E. Thomas of C Squadron, 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards, fired the first shot for the BEF at 7 a.m. during a skirmish with German cavalry.

The Retreat From Mons (August 1914):
The regiment played a classic cavalry role during the early mobile phase of the war—screening, reconnaissance, and delaying actions. During the Retreat from Mons, the 18th Hussars were heavily engaged in covering the withdrawal of British infantry, often fighting dismounted and under intense pressure from advancing German forces.

The Marne and the Aisne (September 1914)
They took part in the Battle of the Marne, helping to probe German positions and exploit gaps as the BEF and French armies counter‑attacked. At the Aisne, the regiment again fought largely on foot as the front began to solidify, marking the end of open manoeuvre warfare.

The Race to the Sea (October 1914)
As both sides attempted to outflank one another, the 18th Hussars were constantly on the move—scouting, screening, and conducting sharp local engagements. Their mobility was vital in the chaotic shifting of forces northwards.

First Battle of Ypres (October–November 1914)
The regiment saw some of its hardest fighting of the year during First Ypres, where cavalry units were repeatedly thrown into the line as improvised infantry to stem German assaults. The 18th Hussars suffered significant casualties but helped hold the line during the critical defence of the Ypres Salient.

Winter Trench Warfare (December 1914)
By December, the Western Front had settled into entrenched stalemate. The 18th Hussars, like other cavalry regiments, spent the winter alternating between reserve, dismounted trench duty, and short‑range patrol work. Their horses were increasingly held back, as the conditions made mounted action impossible.

William was promoted to Regimental Sergeant Major on 2 Dec 1914 and then to WO Class II on 29 January 1915. He would later revert to SSM with both the XI and VI Reserve Cavalry Regiment.

He was finally discharge on 29 December 1919 after serving his country for 25 years.

World War 2

At the time of the 1939 Census William was living with his wife of 36 years Lizzie and his two daughters Hilda & Ashley at Painswick Road, Talana, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England.

He was a retired Postmaster and serving with the Royal Observer Corps.

Death

Williams life tragically ended when he was involved in a road accident whilst riding his bicycle to a Royal Observer Corps meeting.

The events of his death was summarised by The Gloucester Journal:

And so ends a remarkable life of service. RIP.

A super addition to the collection Shaun.
And a wonderful write up too, thank you for sharing.

Best wishes

Dave.......