TOPIC:

Adrian,

Thank you.
Unbelievably I had just copied that same information and was above to paste in my next post!
Yes I knew about the confusion with the service number, medal rolls list him as 504 which also state his demotion from Sgt.
Will look up the cemetery.

Thanks again
Paul

capepolice wrote: Paul,

He is buried in the Petronella Railway Station Cemetery in Water Fall North, Pretoria.

The casualty list that I have has him as 423 Tpr Blurton.G KIA at Klip Drift on the 20th Aug 1900. Serving with the Southtern Rhodesia Volunteers also on the list is Lt Col J.A Speckley CGM.



After Elands River, the Rhodesian Regiment and Volunteers operated east of Rustenburg for a further short period before being disbanded in November 1900, but sadly not before five men of the Rhodesia Regiment were killed in action at Klipdrift.

On 20 August 1900, Lt Colonel John Spreckley of ‘E’ Squadron and his party were surrounded by some Boers, who, being dressed in khaki, were first taken for friends. When the mistake was discovered and Spreckley and his party were called upon to surrender, he replied, “Never give in to them, lads” and was immediately killed. By his death, Rhodesia lost one of its best-known and most popular men. He saw much service during the war, the Rhodesian Regiment to which he belonged having been in many battles and actions. Sergeants George Blurton and Alexander Downis and Corporal Robert Caffyn, all of ‘A’ Squadron, and Trooper Francis Forster of ‘E’ Squadron fell with their Commanding Officer.

Sad end to a few brave men.

Regards
Adrian

A little more documentation.

"The official British history of the South African War records the pursuit by British forces of 246 Free Staters, under the
elusive General de Wet, east through the Magaliesberg Mountains away from the recent battle at Elands River.
Various other Commandos were also present in this large area north of Pretoria, trying to consolidate their forces with
de Wet. Baden-Powell and Colonel TE Hickman, with some eight hundred mounted men and half a battalion of the
West Riding Regiment in ox-wagons, moved north of Hammanskraal on 19 August 1900, in pursuit of a Republican
commando. Included in this force were ‘A’ and ‘E’ Squadrons of the Rhodesia Regiment under Lt Colonel Spreckley.
As Maj General AH Paget’s forces struck out on the northern road close to the railway line, Baden-Powell moved
forward on the right across the Pienaar’s River, with the Rhodesia Regiment covering his advance. Spreckley
suddenly came upon a party of one hundred mounted Republicans of the Waterberg Commando, precipitating a fight
which left Colonel Spreckley and four of his men dead; Sgt George Blurton, Cpl Robert Caffyn, and Cpl Alexander
Downis, all of ‘A’ Squadron, and Tpr Francis Forster of ‘E’ Squadron."

Paul

A fabulous purchase Paul. Well done!

Good morning David,
Paul has assured me that he has not won the lottery!
Regards Frank

Thank you David,

Only DofM to go

Paul

djb wrote: A fabulous purchase Paul. Well done!

Colonel Spreckley killed in the same action as Trooper Blurton.





Paul