TOPIC:

The 3 Talana medals sold this afternoon at DNW:

Private A Fulcher, 18th Hussars, sold for a hammer price of £800. Totals (inc VAT for UK only): £1,030. 1600R19,300. Au$1,750. Can$1,650. US$1,290

Pte J Dunlop, Royal Irish Fusiliers sold for a hammer price of £320. Totals (inc VAT for UK only): £412. 1600R7,700. Au$700. Can$660. US$520

The BSACM to TSM A G Cottrell, BSAP, sold for a hammer price of £550. Totals (inc VAT for UK only): £708. 1600R13,300. Au$1,200. Can$1,130. US$890

Surprisingly, the QSA to Pte J Wood, Royal Lancaster Regiment containing an unearned Talana clasp sold for a hammer price of £320. Totals (inc VAT for UK only): £412. 1600R7,700. Au$700. Can$660. US$520

djb wrote: QSA (3) Talana, Orange Free State, Transvaal (5382 Corl. J. Walker, Rl. Irish Fus:);
KSA (2) (5382 Corpl: J. Walker. Rl: Irish Fus:)

The account by Corporal Padwick, 18th Hussars, says a corporal of the RIF, possibly this man, was made a prisoner of the Boers after he was left behind by the retreating column.

Hello David

31 Cpls of the Royal Irish Fusiliers were POW in October 1899, only three are listed in the Natal Field Force roll - and Walker is not one of them. Can I ask why you identify Walker as the Corporal in Padwick's account?

According to Walker's papers he was promoted Corporal in May 1900 - while a POW.

Meurig,

When men were promoted during the campaign, it can be difficult to know whether to use their final rank in the Boer War for consistency or their actual rank at the time for accuracy. When diaries and accounts are written after the event, it is not always clear which rank is being used, depending on when the account was written. My approach is to be as consistent as I can in this sometimes fluid situation when promotion dates are not always available.

Kind regards
David

Yeah, I get that about promotions. It is very apparent in my work on the casualty lists.

My question was why you picked on Walker as the Corporal in Padwick's account. In your Talana Update 1 pdf you simply put his name in the footnote.

I found the answer later last night - he is named in War Office lists published in the newspapers as missing in the period October 20th - October 23rd, with the rank of Lance-Corporal.

The DCM group to RSM H A Simmonds, 18th Hussars, is here: www.angloboerwar.com/forum/5-medals-and-...-war?start=366#82874

The CMG DSO group to Major General B J Majendie is here: www.angloboerwar.com/forum/5-medals-and-...-krrc?start=36#82877