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Evening All

Further to my previous post on Nesbitt's Horse and their role during the siege at Philippolis I found a first hansd account that puts it into perspective.
Also, I was confused by the SAFF casualty roll and their date of November when clearly the siege took place from 18th - 24th October, thus Trooper O. Porsh was indeed killed during the siege.


Regards
Jon

Hi All, Attached please find a photo of a very youthful looking Trooper George Water Hill, Number ??? Who fibbed his age to join Nesbitts Horse in Grahams Town, (he lived in Salem at the time) He was one of the 34 Nesbitt Horse under Lieut Hannah, who galloped to Phillipolis to relieve the siege. He ended up on Tomkin's Kopje for a few days. While the shooting went on, one shot went very close to his head, as he turned to say to his mate next to him, "that was close", the bullet had hit his mate straight between the eyes. His mate was Oscar Porch, whose grave is a few hundred metres away in the Phillipolis grave yard. Grand dad recounted that he never looked over the rocks again.
While going over the Kopje a few year's ago, I picked up a spent cartridge, with head stamp "K" for Kynoch, British for sure. GDad had been guarding the bridge at Norval's Pont before.
Can anyone give more info about my GDad's enlistment details?

Photo.......

Walter

The details in the nominal roll on this website and another online resource for your grandfather show no details as to dates of service or indeed service number. The medal roll is similar with Tpr W.G. Hill earning the Cape Colony and Orange Free State clasps. The medal was returned 05/09.


Regards
Jon

Grave of Trooper OW Porch in Philippolis Cemetery.