TOPIC:

[/u][/b]



Queen's South Africa Medal bronze issue Lascar Mitto, India Ord: Dept.


The transports Henzada with No.3 field medical stores depot, No.11 British field hospital, and Ordnance field park...... left Calcutta, 20th September (1899) and arrive on October 14th 1899 at Durban.
The Indian Ordnance Department consisted of 4 officers, 15 men, 3 horses and 119 attendants and had a weight of 250 tons. It was the only Indian unit to participate as a whole during the war.
The Indian Ordnance Field Park that was established outside Pietermaritzburg, played a critical role in the relief effort. The offloading of munitions arriving by train from Durban and the expeditious dispatch of orders for the Front Line were expertly and efficiently undertaken by Indian Officers and their staff. Another Indian stores camp was located outside of Ladysmith at Convent Hill. This camp came under Boer fire on occasions and several Indians were killed and injured. The siege lasted 119 days and ended in relief on 1st March 1900. The role of the Indian Ordnance Field Park during that siege was particularly noteworthy.
After the siege the Indian Ordnance Field Park returned to India. All members entitled to Defense of Ladysmith bar to the medal if issued
Medals to the Indian Ordnance Department are impressed named.




Sources
The Indian Contingent to South Africa WO108/404

David

I am always pleased to see a new post from you, and I found the one on Lascar Mitto particularly interesting because of his link, and that of his unit, to Natal and the Siege of Ladysmith. I am grateful to you for adding another element to the record of the part played by Colonials in this Siege. I wish I had known about it earlier!

Regards
Brett

Mitto's medal came via City Coins some 5 years ago ( looks like the cost of bronze medals is dropping dramatically if Spink's reserve is much to go on)
As always, Brett, I appreciate your encouragement. If you do find out anything on these medals I would appreciate a heads up. Must admit that the Seige Museum gave me a very tepid reception when I asked to see their achive material.
Happy Easter to you and yours

Just for fun another addition to my "Not the QSA Collection"


2138 L’Dfdr Nawab Khan
1st Central India Horse

Queen’s South Africa Medal clasps OFS; TVL; SA’02 2138 Sowar Nawab Khan 1st CIH
1914-15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal 2138 L’Dfdr Nawab Khan 38/Hrs



“Neither Regiment, of course, took part in the “White Man's War” in South Africa, though both sent out horses for the Mounted Infantry”

David
Thank you for your latest contribution to this thread. It is a great pity about the medals missing from groups in your collection, but I like the way you display the survivor(s).
Regards
Brett

The lovely group to Dafadar (Farrier Major) Kala Khan, Queen’s Own Corps of Guides (Cavalry)


Picture courtesy of DNW

IGS 1895 (2) Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Malakand 1897 (1574 Farrier Kala, Q.O. Corps Guides Cavy)
QSA (1) CC (1574 Farr. Kala, Corps of Guides)
KSA (2) (1574 Farr. Kala, Q.O. Corps of Guides)
Indian MSM GV (1574 Dfdr. (Farr. Maj.) Kala Khan, Corps of Guides Cavy. (F.F.))

Ex Hayward 1972.

M.S.M. wef 25 September 1918: Dafadar (Farrier Major) Kala Khan, Corps of Guides.

Only 3 silver and 8 bronze Q.S.A. medals issued to the Corps of Guides. The regiment did not take part in the Boer War but sent horses accompanied by a skeleton detachment to look after them, including Farrier Kala (Khan a later honorific). Dafadar Kala Khan was pensioned on 12 March 1921.