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Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith, Belfast (3832 Pte W. Fildes, Manchester Regt)

QSA verified on WO100/198p27.

William Fildes. Born in Manchester in 1875.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (2) Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith (4386 Pte. W. Brockett, Devon: Regt.)

Private W. Brockett was killed in action at Ladysmith on 21 November 1899, the circumstances of his death being described in The Record of a Regiment of the Line:

‘On November 20th the Boers mounted some more guns on Bulwana and also on Umbrella Tree Hill, which lay in the Nek between Bulwana and Gun Hill. Colonel Knox ordered a dummy battery to be made at night on the further side of the Klip River and out in the open. Wooden imitation guns and imitation gunners were erected, and these were worked with a string by a gunner concealed in the bank of the river. Captain Kincaid-Smith, with the two Maxim-Nordenfeldt guns captured at Elandslaagte, of which he was now in charge, was to open fire from Devon Post on to the Boer guns newly placed on Umbrella Tree Hill, and as he was perfectly concealed and fired smokeless powder, it was supposed that the Boers would imagine that the firing came from the new dummy battery just erected. Kincaid-Smith began firing at about six o'clock on the following morning. He fired some five shells in perfect silence unanswered by the Boers. He was then suddenly located by them, and shells were hurled on to him from all sides and from all descriptions of guns. This continued for a quarter of an hour and then slackened off. The Boers burst their shrapnel better than usual, and in the evening just before dark one shrapnel got into a working party on Devon Post, killing one man and severely wounding another.’

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith, Belfast (91347 Gnr: H. Roberts, 42nd. Bty: R.F.A.);
KSA (2) (91347 Gnr: H. Roberts. R.F.A.)

Picture courtesy of Spink

IGS (0) (4156 Pte. P. Wade 1st Bn Gord Hrs);
[ QSA (4) Eland DoL LN Belf) ];
[ KSA (2) ]

Patrick Wade was born at Jarrow, Durham. He enlisted on 17 March 1892. He served in the East Indies between 5 February 1895-23 September 1899 and is entitled to the clasps Punjab Frontier 1897-98 and Tirah 1897-98. From there he travels to South Africa and serves between 24 September 1899-1 January 1902.

He returns to the East Indies on 2 January 1902 until 15 December 1905 when he returned home and completed his service, being discharged at Colchester on 16 March 1913.

Spink say he does not appear to earn an LS&GC medal despite his length of service and no bad conduct.

Catalogued as an Elandslaagte participant by Spink but this is in error.


Picture courtesy of Spink

Spink say:

IGS 1854 (1) Samana 1891 (4985 Pte. J. Astle 1st Bn. K. R. Rif. C.). Further entitled to a Clasp for Hazara 1891.

James Astle was born at Heanar, Derbyshire in 1868 and enlisted with the King's Royal Rifle Corps in Derby on 23 February 1889. Posted to the 1st Battalion in India in 1890 he was still there for the expeditions in 1891 against the Hazra tribes and the Iazai (Samana) expedition that same year. Later he was also present for the Relief of Chitral in 1895 (medal and clasp).

Returning to Britain after over six years in India it was not long before Astle was posted to South Africa. Here he saw Boer War service although strangely - while his name appears on a QSA medal roll with clasps for Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith and Belfast - there is no mention of this on his service records. Invalided from South Africa on 30 July 1901, he was discharged from the Regimental Depot on 5 December of that year. Astle appears in the Royal Hospital Chelsea discharge book, suggesting he was later a Chelsea Pensioner.

This is the QSA roll (WO100/196p5):



SA01 is listed on WO100/196p109.

Hi,
This belonged to my Great Grand uncle Frank Goddard
265 Trooper Imperial Light Horse
He served with his brother (whose medals I do not have)
267 Trooper Malcolm Goddard , also Imp Lt Horse
There was also a 3rd Brother known as "Gibbs" and I believe his name was William , it is possible he died in mid November 1899