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Two Elandslaagte QSAs under the hammer today.

Private Bowmar, 5L, sold for a hammer price of GBP 500. Totals (VAT UK only): GBP 644. R14,400. Au$1,260. Can$1,160. US$830.

The campaign group to Captain Graham, Devonshire Regiment, sold for a hammer price of GBP 1,700. Totals (VAT UK only): GBP 2,190. R49,100. Au$4,300. Can$3,940. US$2,820.

The celebrate the anniversary of the battle on 21 October


Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith, Belfast (4905 Pte. C. Burns, Devon: Regt.);
[ KSA (2) ]

Christopher Burns was born in London in 1877 and attested for the Royal Artillery at Woolwich on 9 August 1897. He transferred to the Devonshire Regiment on 23 November 1897, and served with the 1st Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War from 21 September 1899 to 18 January 1902.

He was severely wounded by gun shot at the Battle of Rietfontein on 24 October 1899, one of six casualties the Regiment suffered that day.

He saw further service in India from 19 January 1902 to 6 January 1905, and was discharged on 28 February 1905, medically unfit, after 7 years and 204 days’ service.

QSA listed on WO100/174p11. LSA on WO100/322p126

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (4) Elandslaagte, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal (111 Dvr: R. C. Berry. Natal F. Arty:)

Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

DSO VR;
iQSA (4) Relief of Mafeking, Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith, Transvaal (Capt. P. H. Normand, D.S.O., Imp Lt. Horse.), engraved;
KSA (2) (Capt: P. H. Normand. Imp. L.H.), official correction to rank;
British War and Bi-Lingual Victory Medals (Capt. P. H. Normand.

DSO London Gazette: 19 April 1901 – ‘in recognition of services during the operations in South Africa’
MiD London Gazette: 16 April, 1901; 9 July 1901 (‘brought to notice for excellent services rendered by them (joint citation) in capture of Delarey’s [sic] guns and convoy on 24th March’);

Patrick Hill Normand (1876-1943), was born on 21 February 1876 at Ivy Lodge, Dysart, Fife, Scotland, the son of James Normand and Eliza Normand (nee Hill). Educated at Fettes College, Edinburgh, he took part in the ill-fated Jameson Raid of late 1895-6, serving as a Corporal with ‘A’ Troop of the Mashonaland Mounted Police under Captain Martin Straker, and riding 140 miles from Mafeking into the Transvaal in an attempt to spark a Uitlander uprising against the Boers. Jameson’s 500 men (including Normand, at the age of 20) were later captured at Doornkop on 2 January 1896, and returned to the British government, however the incident caused a further decline in Anglo-Boer relations, which was only to continue in the years to follow.

Normand joined the Imperial Light Horse as a Lieutenant in 1899 at Maritzburg, and helped to raise the regiment, soon after seeing a great deal of action during the Second Boer War in South Africa. He was present at the hard-fought Battle of Elandslaagte on 21 October 1899 in which he was wounded (left arm), at the Defence of Ladysmith, where he was wounded again, and then during the action at Waggon Hill when he was wounded once more. M&E say printed research with the lot states that at Waggon Hill, Normand received an early message from a Trooper Frank Rogers that a number of Boers could be heard at the foot of the hill. Springing into action, Normand, without instruction, went back to the main squadron sangar to obtain and lead reinforcements to the outposts, while also sending for further reinforcements nearby. Despite receiving 30 men from the Gordons and 3 men of the 60th, with whom they directed a concentrated fire at the enemy, they were still forced to retire, under heavy fire in return, to the main sangar of ‘C’ Squadron. As dawn broke Normand took 4 or 5 men to occupy a strategic outcrop overlooking the enemy position, and soon after saw the Colonel arriving with reinforcements. When the Colonel and ‘E’ Squadron arrived, Normand met them with much relief, and was explaining the situation to the Colonel when he was wounded again, this time in the right arm. Later that day, when a violent storm afforded the Boers cover for a final assault, Normand and his fellow Captain Matthias with the battered remnants of ‘C’ squadron (and some men from ‘F’ Squadron) maintained a resolute defence and held the position. For his gallantry in the day’s action, Normand was recommended for the DSO.

He assisted during the Relief of Mafeking with General Mahon’s Column, and also took part in the brilliant action on 24 March 1901 which resulted in the capture of De La Rey’s guns and convoy, for which he received a mention in General Babington’s dispatch and was awarded the DSO by War Office telegram No. 7179, 23rd April, 1901. In the latter stages of the war, he also took part in the advance upon Barberton with General French’s column.

After the culmination of the Second Boer War, he was appointed Deputy Governor of the Transvaal Prison Department in 1903, rising later to the position of Governor in 1908.

Recalled to service in the Great War, he took up the position of Deputy Assistant Provost Marshal between 1917-19 (entering France and Flanders on 5 May 1917) at the rank of Captain. Relinquishing his commission upon completion of service on 27 May 1919, after the war he returned to the Prison Service, finally retiring in 1931.

He died in Epsom, Surrey, on 23 March, 1943

Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

MC GV;
QSA (5) Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (281 Tpr: P. Addison. Natal M.R.);
Natal, 1906 (1) (2nd Lt. P. Addison, Natal Mtd Rifles.);
1914-15 Star (Lt. P. Addison 3rd M.R.);
British War and Bi-Lingual Victory Medals with MID (Mjr. P. Addison.);
Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medall GV (Lieut. P. Addison. R. Of. O. Att. 3rd M.R. (N.M.R.).

MC London Gazette: 13 February, 1917 – ‘for conspicuous gallantry in action. He commanded and led the firing line with great courage and determination. He set a splendid example throughout.’ (the original citation reads ‘Commanded and led the firing line in the successful assault on the ridge, inspiring his men with confidence by his cool indifference to the enemy [sic] heavy fire. Is at all times a gallant leader, whose cheery courage in danger is an incentive to all ranks. [Mediombo 10.8.16]’
MID London Gazette: 8 February, 1917; 6 August, 1918
Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service: 16 March, 1921



Patrick Addison was born on 18 July 1880 at Addington, Durban, the son of Colonel Friend Addison, an important military officer and sugar plantation owner in Natal (who amongst many other achievements, was the first commanding officer of the Natal Mounted Rifles when it was formed in 1888), and Eliza Anna Addison. Raised on the Addington family farm, he was educated at Hilton College and played an active part in running the family estate.

He served as a Trooper in the Second Boer War with the Natal Mounted Rifles, was present at the Battle of Elandslaagte, and took part in the Siege of Ladysmith as part of General Sir George White’s personal bodyguard. He was also wounded in action at Ntombi while serving with this small bodyguard, under the command of Captain F. S. Tatham, and later received the personal thanks of White himself.

During the Zulu Rebellion of 1906, and now at the rank of Corporal with the Natal Mounted Rifles, he was part of a small force which was tasked with carrying despatches through the ‘rebel infested’ country from Mpumalo to Stanger and Kranzkop, which stopped to repair the telephone wire which had been cut by the enemy. As one of this party, two of whom received medals for meritorious service (Sergeants Wadman and Sjoblom), Addison received a commission for this gallant conduct to Second Lieutenant. Addison also played an important part in the engagement at Peyana (or Hlonono), as recorded in ‘…two troops [of the] N.M.R. were sent forward to scout before the column proceeded further towards the decoys. One troop advanced to within 100 yards of the crest of Peyana, the other halted in support, about 150 yards in rear. Lieut. P. Addison, in command of the advanced troop, then went forward alone mounted, accompanied by his dog. He rode to a neck near the crest and to within thirty yards of the enemy, who were about 400 strong, lying concealed in a slight depression out of sight... In the immediate rear of the enemy, was a bushy krantz. On seeing the rebels, Addison shouted Here they are, and, turning immediately, rode back to rejoin his troop, and then on to the main position… As Addison was turning, the enemy rose en masse, then crouched, only to rise again in an instant, crying Usutu ! Usutu ! as they charged down the steep, grassy slopes in open order at the retiring troops. …In the meantime, however, the two 15-pounders on higher ground opened with shrapnel at about 1,800 yards, over the troops at [position] A, as well as those retiring. One of the two or three shells fired struck right in the middle of the swiftly-moving mass, but, failing to burst, did no harm. In a few seconds, heavy rifle and machine fire broke from the N.M.R., who were reinforced at the same moment by a squadron of their own regiment, up till then kept in reserve, but which, on seeing the charge, was at once pushed forward to assist on the left. The combined fire had the effect of checking the rush and breaking the rebels into three bodies.’

A few years later in 1910, while the South African Test Team were preparing for their Australian Tour starting in November, they played two ‘warm-up’ games against home teams, in which Addison was to make his first and only first-class cricket appearance. Some players selected for the tour could not get to these and for the first of these, against Western Province at Newlands, Cape Town, during 6-7th October, Patrick Addison was taken on as a substitute. In his one innings he scored five runs, did not bowl and took no catches.

During the Great War, Addison served with the 3rd Mounted Rifles in the South West Africa Campaign, at the rank of Lieutenant, and later saw further service on attachment to the 6th South African Infantry Battalion during the East Africa Campaign, being promoted to Captain on 13 December 1915. Placed in command of ‘A’ Company, and then later with ‘B’ Company, he was present in action at Matamondo Hill, near the Mdjonga River. After an initial attack by Hannygton’s Brigade (involving the 57th (Wilde’s) Rifles and the 3rd KAR) upon the position had been forced to withdraw after brutal hand-to-hand fighting, order were given for Addison’s ‘B’ Company to lead the assault ‘with the bayonet’ and to take this position, leading the 5th and 6th Infantry Battalions. Crossing an extended slope in full view of the enemy, making their way across the river, and then closing 1000 yards up a rugged and wooded hill; with some useful machine gun support Addison led the assault successfully and was able to complete most of the approach unseen – his men being spotted only upon the final ridge of the steep hill (drawing comparisons with the assault upon Majuba Hill). At just 80 yards range a heavy fire fight broke out, but the men of ‘B’ Company were able to drive the enemy from this bloody and hard-won position. For these actions, Addison would later receive the Military Cross.On a more humorous note, Addison was also involved in the ‘procurement’ of a particular Brigadier’s case of whiskey, which was buried ‘with the intention of recovering it at a later date’ after a particularly urgent order to withdraw. The now Major Addison, of course, committed the location to memory. As recorded in the notes offered with this group, ‘Pat was as keen on whiskey as the Brigadier, perhaps a little keener. The result was that when ‘B’ company was all alone, Pat had the whiskey dug up and, in accordance with a code which sometimes operates amongst soldiers, regarded it as his lawful prize. He got away with it and his mess had reason to be in better spirits than others for a time.’ At a later point, records note, a halt was called for a full hour and a half in which a certain brigade staff was employed in ‘digging for lost whiskey’. As the story goes, ‘it is doubtful that Pat Addison ever relented sufficiently to present the Brigadier with a bottle of his own whiskey’.

Pat Addison remained a bachelor throughout his life, and after the sale of the family farm after the Great War, he spent some time farming at Empangeni, Zululand, where he died on 29 October 1952, at the age of 72.

There were two Elandslaagte QSAs in the Noonan's auction yesterday.

Pte C Burns, Devons, sold for a hammer price of GBP 460. Totals (VAT UK only): GBP 592. R13,300. Au$1,160. Can$1,070. US$760

Dvr R C Berry,, NFA, sold for a hammer price of GBP 500. Totals (VAT UK only): GBP 644. R14,400. Au$1,260. Can$1,160. US$830