Here are Ian's notes on George Ackland.
Forum members,
Previously I posted an item illustrating the DCM/QSA pair named to Pte-Sgt. G.E. ACKLAND of Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry; I wanted to have them illustrated to mark the 114th anniversary of the gallant deed which led to the award of his DCM.
Unfortunately, I ran out of time in completing his bio to my satisfaction and only had time for a short outline. The original post appears to have been well received (thanks, Brett!) and hence I submit this extended version.
In presenting this post, I acknowledge the assistance given by the book "Thorneycroft's Unbuttoned" by Robin Droogleever (ISBN 978-0-9872045-0-9). Some of the small details in what follows are not entirely in accord with that work. I simply recorded what I found in official documents. Nevertheless, "Thorneycroft's Unbuttoned" is a truly monumental work and my copy is well thumbed. By the way, "Unbuttoned" refers to TMI's telegraphic code.
Born in Dublin in 1872 and hailing from Rathmines, Dublin, Ireland, George Edgar ACLKAND had his first encounter with military life in the Victorian era when he attested for the Connaught Rangers on 11th August, 1890; giving his age as eighteen and his calling as "clerk". However, it seemed that life in the Rangers did not suit young ACKLAND at all well - and his discharge was purchased for the considerable sum of ten pounds after some sixty-five days service.
It is assumed that adventure was still on his agenda and that he travelled to South Africa in time to enlist at Queenstown, Cape Colony for Brabant's Horse (C Sqn) on 26th November, 1899. The term of engagement being for three months or longer if required. He gave his age as twenty-six and cited previous service in the 5th Dragoon Gds. He appears on the roll of 1st Brabant's Horse as "281 Trooper G.E.ACKLAND" with entitlement to Cape Colony clasp only. A marginal note comments "to TMI, L/Sgt".
He next appears as enlisting at East London, Cape Colony for TMI on 23rd January, 1900 for three months or longer if required. His application form cites three years' service in the army reserve and/or 5th DG. It should be noted that at the time of his TMI enlistment, ACKLAND'S three months enlistment still had about a month to run. Perhaps life in BH was not lively enough - or more likely ACKLAND exhibited potential for junior NCO rank and there was an opening with Col. Thorneycroft.
As an aside, it should be noted that, apart from the entries on his attestation forms for BH and TMI, there appears to be no record whatsoever of his serving with 5th DG or the army reserve. I would imagine that an interviewing officer would require the sighting of some proof if a recruit claimed previous service. Otherwise the IO may just enter "CLAIMS previous service with ... etc'. A minor mystery likely never to be solved.
George Edgar ACKLAND'S attestation form for TMI is dated 23rd January, 1900 and forum members will recognize that as the day of the ill fated assault on Spion Kop. Given the location of the actual attestation, ACKLAND could not have been on or near the Kop on that fateful day. Of course, the TMI suffered considerable losses on 23rd January, 1900 and would have required immediate reinforcements. ACKLAND was promoted Cpl. on his day of enlistment and served with F Coy of TMI in all other major engagements up to and including Laing's Nek.
George Edgar ACKLAND came to official notice during what is best described as a reconnaissance up to and past Colenso village on 20-21st February, 1900. The forward scouting party was comprised of Capt. Molyneux and two men. Molyneux crossed the drift of the Tugela on foot with one man to see if it was entangled with barbed wire. At the time, the little party was under what was described as "a heavy fire from the Boer trenches". The two men returned safely and a further exploitation of the situation led to a strengthened probe that outflanked the Boer trenches until it was stopped by heavy rifle fire from Grobler's Kloof. A more complete account of this action may be found on pages 108-109 of "Thorneycroft's Unbuttoned".
Capt. Molyneux was awarded the DSO for his actions and the two OR's (7492 G.E.ACKLAND of F Coy and 81 J.B.FISCHER of D Coy) were Mentioned in Gen. Buller's Despatches of 30th March 1900 ("On February 21, crossing the Tugela under heavy fire to see if there were barbed wire in the drift"). Recommendations for DCM's were submitted to the King 18th April 1901, notified in the London Gazette the next day and announced in Army Order 163/01.
The circumstance of the three awards is, I feel, unusual - as I would have expected only the oficer in such a small party to have been commended. One might speculate that there must have been rather more to the recce of 20-21st February, 1900 than was revealed in Gen. Buller's despatch. Interestingly, the summary of Capt. E.M.J. Molyneux's ABW activities on p.124 of "The Distinguished Service Order" book tells us that he actually SWAM the Tugela.
George Edgar ACKLAND attested again for the TMI at Bloemfontein on 21st June, 1901; the basic enlistment form painstakingly laid out in handwriting. ACKLAND is now described as being twenty-eight years and two months of age, with blue eyes and fresh complexion. His bodily weight, chest expansion and critical clothing sizes are now recorded. This time the attestation is for six months (or such less period as required). He is clearly now a highly experienced and recently decorated NCO and it is hardly surprising that he was made-up to Lance Sgt. on the day of his second enlistment.
During an operation around Trommel and Mequatling's Nek in the OFS in July of 1901, L/Sgt. ACKLAND was part of a small patrol when it came under fire and he was shot and killed by a sniper at Marakabi on the road from Brandfort to Mequatling's Nek on 7th July, 1901. A Lieutenant of the 18thy Bn., IY was slightly wounded in the same incident. L/Sgt. ACKLAND'S remains were recovered and he was buried at Zonnebloem. This writer does not intend to be trite when he says that George Edgar ACKLAND ran the risk every soldier on active service must run; he would have known that risk, he continued on very active service when it might have been tempting to take up a well paid civilian position - and he paid the price of Empire. ACKLAND truly upheld the fighting tradition of that magnificent fighting unit - the TMI.
The medal roll of the TMI records that "7492 Lce-Serg. ACKLAND George E" is entitled to clasps CC/OFS/Tvaal/TH/RofL and LN on his QSA. The TMI King's Clasp roll (for that is how it is recorded) shows "1901 clasp issued 12061905 to Mrs. S.ACKLAND, 17 Annesley Park, Rathmines, Dublin. What a great pity it is that George Edgar ACKLAND never got to proudly wear his medals! Nevertheless, someone carefully looked after them and today they remind me of a very brave and dedicated soldier in a crack unit of an Imperial Irregular Corps.
Thanks to all who have read this far.
IL.
