TOPIC:

Charles Philpott

Farrier Shoeing Staff Sergeant, 11th, 41st & 24th Companies, Army Service Corps (A.S.C.) – Anglo Boer War

- Queens South Africa Medal (Cape Colony, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill & Belfast) to 6829 CPL: FARR & CARR: STH. C. PHILPOTT. A.S.C.
- Kings South Africa Medal with clasps South Africa 1901 and 1902 to 6829 S. SERJT: - FAR: C. PHILPOTT. A.S.C.



Charles Philpott was born in Wandsworth, Surrey in December 1868 the son of Thomas Philpott, a Coal Porter by trade, and his wife Eliza.

With 13 year old Charles in the house at No. 1 Mindip Road, Battersea at the time of the 1881 England census was older sister Eliza, aged 16 and younger brother Thomas, aged 9.

Five years later, on 13 April 1886 Charles, aged 18 years and 5 months attested at Chelsea for Short Service with the then Commissariat and Transport Corps (forerunner to the Army Service Corps). Providing his previous occupation as that of a “Hammerman” he was a diminutive 5 feet 4 inches in height with a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and dark brown hair. He had already had time in his short life to amass a number of tattoos – the one was with his initials “C.P.” followed by a pick and shovel to which was added a bracelet on the back of his left forearm. He also had crossed keys on the front of his left forearm all making it easy for him to be identified should the occasion arise.

Dr Edward Hornblower declared him “Fit” for the army and he commenced service with the rank of Private and no. 6829. On 1 February 1889 his mustering changed to Driver and, two years later, according to the 1881 England census, he was still in this capacity at the Aldershot Singles Barracks.

On 13 December 1892 he incurred an injury to his right eyebrow. This led to the inevitable Court of Enquiry which was convened at Station Hospital, Portsmouth on 10 January 1893. Witnesses were called and it was stated by Surgeon Captain McGrath that Philpott was admitted on 13 December suffering from concussion and a slight wound over the eye. Philpott’s own statement provided the most insight. He stated that:-

“At the Gun Wharf, Portsmouth, I was employed in drumming out a piece of iron with Dr. Rundle. The work was nearly finished – he and I were striking the iron with our hammers when both hammers met together.

My hammer flew back and the head of it hit me on my right eyebrow. We had been working some time and Dr. Rundle was tired and he did not withdraw his hammer quickly enough, and mine hit it.”

Rundle, in his statement to the Court said that: -

“I was striking a piece of iron with Dr. Philpott and while so engaged our hammers met, causing Dr. Philpott’s hammer to fly back. The head of it struck him on the right eyebrow. It was an accident.”

The Court, having heard enough, found that Philpott had met with an accident in the performance of his duty and that the accident occurred through no fault or negligence of his own.

The bachelor life for 26 year old Philpott was to come to and end with his marriage, on 1 April 1893, to Catherine Gillon at St John’s Church, London. Officiating was Rev. Drummond and as witnesses were Philpott’s father, Thomas and father-in-law Andrew Gillon. Catherine was a servant (cook) in the employ of the Royal Military Academy.

He was to wait until 16 August 1894 before being taken onto the married establishment at Aldershot.

On 13 March 1893 (some two weeks before tying the knot) Philpott extended his service to 12 years with the colours. This was followed by a re-engagement with the Army Service Corps, on 24 March 1898, for such term as shall complete 21 years. All the while his mustering had changed to that of Shoe and Carriage Smith.

In the meanwhile Philpott’s education was apace – having passed his Fourth Class on 2 June 1885, he had gone on to pass his Third Class on 11 November 1889 followed by his Second Class on 15 June 1898. On 4 December 1896 he passed his Veterinary Class at Aldershot having qualified as a Carriage Smith on 31 October 1893 and as a Shoeing Smith on 26 February 1895.

On 6 May 1899 he was promoted to Corporal Shoe and Carriage Smith. Rapid promotion to the rank of Shoeing Sergeant Farrier came a matter of months later, on 1 September 1899.

At this time rumblings of impending war with the Boer Republics in South Africa would probably have reached the ears of Philpott and his comrades. These rumblings erupted into full scale conflict a month later, in October 1899 and it was in preparation for this that he was sent as part of the contingent that sailed for South Africa on 6 October 1899. Having spent 13 years and 176 days of his military career in the comparative safety of England he was about to be exposed to active combat for the first time.


An A.S.C. Farrier preparing his coals for work

Initially Philpott was attached to No. 11 Company of the A.S.C. probably it was with them that he earned the battle bars of Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill and Belfast. His career can be traced if one looks at the clasps he earned on his Queens Medal and, and it can be gauged from the above that Philpott saw most of his action in the Transvaal but was also awarded the Cape Colony clasp for the time he spent in that area.

The Boer War came to an end on 31 May 1902 allowing Philpott the opportunity to earn the Kings South Africa Medal with clasps SA 1901 and 1902 in the process. The medal roll for the award of the K.S.A. has him assigned to No. 41 Company A.S.C. as well as indicating that he was latterly serving with No. 24 Company at some point.

With life returning to normal he was required to stay on in South Africa with his Corps. Although peace now prevailed, this period of his service was not without incident. A Court of Enquiry was assembled at 24 Coy. A.S.C. headquarters, Roberts Heights, Pretoria on 8 April 1905, the purpose of which was to investigate the cause of an injury sustained by T/6829 Farrier Staff Sergeant C. Philpott.

Philpott’s statement read that:-

“About the end of November 1904 I went to Riding School with the remainder of the A.S.C. Company – An order was given at the conclusion of the ride to gallop our horses round the ground in which the different menages are situated. This order was given by the Rough Riding Sergeant Major, Queens Bays who was conducting the ride. I was leading file and consequently led the ride in this gallop. Whilst galloping I suddenly came on two holes in the ground and whilst trying to avoid one of them my horse put his off forefoot in the other hole, coming down himself and throwing me heavily to the ground.

I did not feel any ill effects from the fall at the time so mounted my horse and continued the ride – About a fortnight afterwards I began to feel pains in my groin – at the same time a large swelling developed there – I reported sick on the 10th February and was told that I was ruptured. I was then sent to the Station Hospital where an operation was performed – the only way in which I could have sustained this injury was through this fall.”

Once more the finding of the Court was that the hernia rupture (injury) occurred through no fault of his own and it was recommended that “the full hospital stoppage be remitted.”

Philpott was discharged from the service on 11 August 1907, after 21 years and 111 days, leaving him free to take up a civilian occupation.

That Philpott chose to remain in South Africa was borne out by the fact that he passed away at the Wentworth Hospital in Durban on 17 June 1950. His Death Notice confirmed that he was 80 years and 7 months old at the time and that he was resident at 483 Bartle Road, Durban. His wife, Catherine who had joined him in South Africa, had predeceased him in 1935.

There were no children of the marriage and his affairs would seem to have been dealt with by one France Bussac. This worthy had been appointed to this role in Philpott’s last will and testament which bequeathed his worldly goods to Percy Bussac and his wife Iris who were “in financial trouble and needed it” here reference was made to a bond of £300 left by Philpott.

A shame in many ways that there was no-one left to remember Charles Philpott.

Acknowledgements:

- Pietermaritzburg Archives for Probate file
- Familysearch for marriage details
- Ancestry & Find My Past for military service papers