TOPIC:

Dear IL,

You didn’t confuse at all, this is exactly what I needed! Well done and thanks a million this helps a great deal!! So I will concentrate my efforts on the Mounted Infantry for the period of time you suggest. This would suggest I presume he was on attachment from the Manchesters.

It appears that he was at the Battle of Rhenosterkop on November 29, 1900 - as this is the suggested date of the DCM in the record. Although I didn’t see the Manchesters there, but he may have been there in the capacity of mounted infantry?

Alfred Brookes came to Canada after the SA war, married and had 5 children. He tried several times to enlist in 1914 but was not accepted presumably because of his age. He was eventually successful and served in France and Flanders with the 1st Western Ontario battalion from 1915 as CSM. He was awarded a second Distinguished Conduct Medal at the Somme in September 1916, and was killed in action at Vimy Ridge in April 1917. He was known as ‘Lucky Alf’ as he had never been even slightly wounded through two wars.

Thanks again IL for taking the time to explain all this to me, I’m grateful.

David

Hello David

With regard to the date of the DCM (29th November 1900) and it's correlation to the battle of Rhenosterkop. I have been unable to substantiate the presence of the 14th Mounted Infantry's involvement in that operation. However, it doesn't necessarily mean that they were not in the area at the time of the conflict. It would be prudent to investigate further into the battle order of Paget and Plumers forces. I believe the majority of Plumer's MI were Australian, Tasmanian and New Zealanders. Paget's infantry were West Riding and Munster Fusiliers and sections of Horse Artillery. Further research into Major General Neville Lyttelton's 4th Division may prove useful. Part of 4th division contained the 7th Brigade under the command of Fredrick Walter Kitchener which included the 1st battalion Devonshire and Manchester's.

I have checked the composition of the 14th Mounted Infantry and they were made up from 9 British line Regiments.
2/ West Yorkshire
2/ East Yorkshire
2/ Middlesex
1/ Manchester
2/ Manchester
1/ Devons
2/ Gloucesters
2/ Lancashire Fusiliers
1/ Essex

The commander of the 14th MI was a Major Bridgeford of the Manchester Regiment.

One other line of enquiry you may wish to research? is that on the same day as the Battle of Rhenosterkop 29/11/1900 at a place called Schoemanskloof, the 1st Battalion Manchester regiment suffered a violent thunderstorm. Five of the Battalion were injured by lightning and a Private J Makin was killed by a lightning strike. It is a long shot but it maybe possible that Alfred was back with his regiment and could have carried out some form of action in helping his comrades during the storm. Unfortunately, all supposition on my part.

I wish you well in your quest regarding further information on " Lucky Alf's" DCM. Please keep the forum posted on your progress.

Best wishes

Dave......

This is fantastic — far more than I could have hoped for! Thank you Dave F and IL, I’m truly grateful for the time you’ve taken to lay out the facts so clearly and break everything down for a beginner like myself. You’ve given me a solid foundation to start from.

My ultimate goal is to write an article, as I do with most medal recipients who come into my care, and to share it as a small memorial to a long-forgotten soldier. Thanks to your help, I now have a great head start toward that goal.

I’ll be sure to stay in touch and share my progress along the way.

With my kindest regards — and my sincere thanks once again,

David