TOPIC:

Dear Forum
A recent QSA acquisition to a Pte J Dawson.
I would like to know your thoughts on where he may have been wounded.
He is not mentioned on David's list above, reference the direct action at Allemans Nek.
Were the Cameronians engaged at other locations on the same day as Alleman Nek?





Help much appreciated


Dave.......

Hi David,

Here is a bit more information, I assumed by our host David, on Alleman Nek in the City Coins Postal Auction # 71:

Dave,
Not sure if this will hep, but Alleman's Nek is quite close to Inkwelo mountain (GPS -27.519, 29.833), and it is also near Ingogo (also called Ngogo or Schuinshoogte), Majuba, Botha's Pass, and Laing's Nek. In Natal. I have observed that casualties are frequently assigned the location of the field hospital or of a prominent feature, since the open veld has few names.
Rob

Hi Dave,

I assume the Scottish Rifles were part of the 4th Brigade at the time he was wounded; from the unit information on this website:

The 4th Brigade marched with General Buller in his turning movement via Helpmakaar, and while the 2nd, 10th, and 11th Brigades were turning the Laing's Nek position, 8th to 11th June, the 4th Brigade operated in front of it. At Laing's Nek on 11th June 1900 the battalion's losses were approximately 1 officer and one man killed, and 1 officer and 6 men wounded. After the battle of Alleman's Nek, which completed the success of the turning movement, the 4th Brigade moved over Laing's Nek and along the railway, reaching Heidelberg before the end of June. The headquarters of the Scottish Rifles were for over fourteen months at Greylingstad, and during the second phase of the war they were chiefly employed guarding the railway and doing some fighting on either side of it. The officers of the battalion were sorely struck by the war; 13 were killed or died of wounds, and 10 were wounded.

I think what is also nice about the man behind the medal is that I think he would have seen action earlier at Spion Kop, but I stand to be corrected.

Look like a nice medal to research; good luck.

Regards,
Sturgy

Hi (again) Dave,

You're in luck mate; I had a look at the map my great grandfather surveyed and published just over 120 years ago and located where your man was wounded; highlighted in yellow below (Inkwelo).

The map also shows Bullers movements leading up to the Battle at Alleman's Nek; shown by B-B; I think that's pretty neat; enjoy.





PS: Disclaimer - He surveyed the battlefields using hand tools in 1900/1901 so it may not be as good as todays satellite maps but I think it's pretty neat (but I'm biased)

Hi Sturgy / Rob
Thanks again for the excellent maps.
Yeah the 4th brigade were with Buller.
The Cameronians were certainly in the thick of it. Spion, Colenso, Swartz Kop, Vaal Krantz.Pieters Hill. I think the 4th brigade operated in front of Laings Nek also, whilst the other brigades were trying to turn the position. Lots of research to do on my man. Thanks again Sturgy and Rob for your valued input.

Dave.......