John Martin Blamyrus Zeiss

Bearer, Natal Volunteer Ambulance Corps
Bearer, Imperial Bearer Corps
Guide, Field Intelligence Department – Anglo Boer War

- Queens South Africa Medal (Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith) to BR: J. ZEISS. NATAL VOL: AMB: C.
- Kings South Africa Medal (South Africa 1901 & 1902) to GUIDE J.M.B. ZEISS. F.I.D.



John Zeiss was born in Kimberley, Cape Colony on 28 November 1880 the son of a German-born immigrant, Wilhelm Johan Martin Leopold Zeiss, a Tailor by occupation, and his wife Elizabeth Ann, born Russell. Growing up in the diamond capital of the world must have been a heady experience for the many Zeiss children – all eleven of them – Thomas Julius William Zeiss born 1871; Amelia Sophia Zeiss born 1873; Edward Carroll Zeiss born 1874; Wilhelmina Zeiss born 1875; Joseph George Leopold Zeiss born 1876; Christina Adaeloanda Zeiss born 1885; Frederick William Jacob Zeiss born 1886; Henrietta Augusta Zeiss born 1887; Hannah Rebecca Zeiss born 1890 and William Jesse Zeiss born 1893.

As the end of the 19th century drew near the long simmering tensions between the two Boer Republics of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal spilled over into a declaration of war and the good citizens of both Republics and the Colonies that made up the broader South Africa awoke to war on the morning of 12 October 1899. Without delay the Boer Commandos cantered over their joint borders with the Cape Colony and Natal, laying siege to the towns of Ladysmith, Mafeking and the city of Kimberley.

By the time the Boer juggernaut hit Kimberley, John Zeiss and most of his family were long gone. Wilhelm Zeiss had moved his family to Johannesburg in 1896 and like most “Uitlanders” John and some of his family had made their way to Natal, where he enlisted on 9 December 1899 as a Bearer with the “Body Snatchers”, the Natal Voluntary Ambulance Corps, along with his brother Edward.

To best describe the work done by the N.V.A.C., I turn to an authoritative work by Brett Hendey who wrote on the subject as follows,

“After the earliest set-piece battles of the Natal theatre of operations had taken place during October (Talana, Elandslaagte), and November (near Ladysmith), it was realised that the British army had inadequate medical services in place, and better provision needed to be made for the timely and efficient removal of casualties from the battles that were still to come. Colonel T Gallwey, Principal Medical Officer of Natal, was tasked with raising an ‘Ambulance Corps’ with volunteers drawn from able-bodied men who had thus far not been taken up in Natal’s volunteer regiments (e.g. Natal Carbineers, Durban Light Infantry), and the various irregular units that had been raised locally (e.g. Imperial Light Horse, Thorneycroft’s Mounted Infantry, Imperial Light Infantry).

Although Natal had provided sanctuary to many refugees from the Boer Republics, by December 1899 the number of men who were best suited for military service must have been considerably reduced. While those remaining may have lacked previous military service, and may have been neither skilled horsemen, nor marksmen, there were still enough able-bodied men prepared to aid the war effort. In a matter of days, between one and two thousand had joined the newly-formed non-combatant NVAC. To the refugee volunteers were added some residents of Natal who were without other military obligations. The men came from all walks of life, from gentlemen to labourers. They were commanded by officers who were seconded from Imperial regiments already in Natal.

While the NVAC was charged with removing casualties from the battlefield, the NIAC under Mohandas Gandhi was raised to fill a complementary role in evacuating casualties to places of safety and field hospitals further behind the lines. A report in the Natal Advertiser, gave the numbers involved at the Colenso front as 1200 for the NVAC, and 600 for the NIAC. Soldiers named these men “the Body Snatchers”. They were to save the lives of many wounded men, and they also eased their pain by carrying them on stretchers, which were a more comfortable mode of transport than ambulances.



Atkins (1900) described the NVAC as an “oddly assorted body of men”, wearing an assortment of clothes, including “canvas shoes”, “yawning boots and clothes that must have seen service in the streets of a town”. Pakenham (1979) added that they “dressed in tattered khaki tunics, and a strange assortment of hats, helmets, bowlers and tam-o’shanters.”

Most of the NVAC enlistments took place in Durban on 9 December 1899, with other men joining up until 13 December. The first to join soon left for General Buller’s camp at Frere, arriving there on Monday, 11 December. At noon on Tuesday, the NVAC joined Buller’s advance on Colenso by way of Chieveley. The Natal Advertiser correspondent reported that at “sundown, at a picturesque spot, where a beautiful stream ran through a large, tolerably level, grassy expanse, we rested for the night.” This was the calm before the storm that was to give men of the NVAC their first experience of the tasks they had undertaken to fulfil.

On Friday, 15 December, the long-awaited assault on the entrenched Boer line along the north bank of the Tugela River took place, and the Battle of Colenso was fought. The attack soon ran into fierce opposition, casualties mounted, and Buller’s army was effectively routed in a matter of hours.

The Natal Advertiser carried the following report on the activities of the NVAC:

“Now our work began in earnest. At 10 o’clock the first ambulance arrived from the battlefield with wounded men, and shortly afterwards the sections of [the NVAC’s] different Ambulance Companies were ordered to advance, with their stretchers. It was a long walk, varying from three to four miles to the firing line. I went out four times to the front, superintending the removal of the wounded. Some of these were badly hurt, but the majority of those who fell to my lot to bring in were shot through the extremities, the arms and legs …..”

“My section carried off a number of Thorneycroft’s men, and a pluckier set of fellows it would be difficult to imagine. Although wounded badly, they never uttered a sound, and one splendid fellow, badly shot through the liver, insisted on sharing his water with the bearers. Thorneycroft’s wounded behaved with great fortitude.”

The defeated troops began to retire at 2 pm, “but it was not until far into the night that the ambulance and stretcher parties left off work.” Amongst the last to return was Lord Robert Manners, who commanded one of the NVAC companies.

In his account of the events of the following day, the Natal Advertiser correspondent wrote:

“I was instructed to take charge of a party to go to the field to bury the dead. A guide took us the shortest way to do our gruesome work. While we were busy at one spot a party of four from the other side rode up, comprised of a clean-shaven Englishman from Johannesburg, two Boers, and a doctor. I asked about the Boer loss, which he told me was very small, only four killed and twenty wounded.” These figures were later revised to eight killed and 30 wounded. By contrast, the British lost 143 men killed, 756 wounded, and 240 captured and missing.”

The Natal Advertiser later reported that the NVAC, “justified its existence at the battle of Colenso. Not only was it specially thanked by General Buller, but various military officers expressed their admiration at the courage and coolness displayed by the corps under fire.”

The NVAC returned to Durban, where it undertook a re-organisation of its ranks, and much of the equipping that had not been possible in the frantic week between its first enlistments and its first battle. Their commanding officer, Major Montague Stuart Wortley CMG DSO, “procured what looked almost like a pyramid of boots, from which any size from 6’s to 11’s could be selected by those needing them.” Time was also occupied “in the supplying of knives, forks, water bottles, etc.”

A smaller and better equipped NVAC returned to Frere, where their camp was “situated a few yards away from the scene of the armoured train incident, where Winston Churchill showed his bravery.” The men were kept busy with long marches, regular drills and stretcher exercises. They were told that in future battles each stretcher was to be accompanied by eight men, rather than the 12 used during the Battle of Colenso. Another innovation was to be the creation of a mounted ambulance corps to accompany mounted infantry and cavalry regiments. There were many volunteers for this unit. Recreation included games of football. A promise of a ration of beer disappointingly turned out to be two barrels to be divided between 1 000 men. The end of the 19th Century was celebrated relatively quietly, and the 20th Century started with stretcher drills at 6 am and 11 am.”

The NVAC went on to perform similar feats of endurance in the skirmishes that led up to the battle of Spionkop, and the battle itself on 24 January 1900. On this occasion they had the “kop” to climb and then descend, stretchers groaning under the weight of the wounded and the dying.

Having acquitted themselves well of their work the Natal Volunteer Ambulance Corps and the Indian Ambulance Corps were disbanded a month later at the end of February 1900 – the final relief of Ladysmith on 28 February 1900 indicating that the need for their services had come to an end. Most of the men, Zeiss included, were officially discharged on 12 March 1900.


The circled section shows where Zeiss was operational, both as a Bearer and a Guide

Whereto now for Zeiss? The war showed no signs of abating and there was still much work to be done. He now parted company with Edward who went off to join Steinaecker’s Horse and, at Pietermaritzburg on 21 March 1900, joined the Imperial Bearer Corps. Confirming that he was 20 years of age, he provided his mother, Mrs W Zeiss of Durban as his next of kin. Mustered as a Bearer once more, Zeiss and his comrades were called upon to mirror their previous efforts but, on this occasion, with Buller’s Natal Army as it worked its ponderous way from Ladysmith, across the Biggarsberg Mountain range to Dundee and then on to Newcastle and the invasion of the Transvaal via Newcastle and Wakkerstroom.

Despite much skirmishing with the retreating Boers the only actions of any considerable size were the battle of Laing’s Nek and Alleman’s Nek, fought in June 1900. Zeiss took his leave of the I.B.C. on 29 April 1901 and, once again, found himself at a loose end with the war still raging.

Not one to stand idly by, his next move was to join the ranks of the little-known Volksrust Civil Police. There is almost nothing written about this body save for a report dated 3 December 1901 from the clearly miffed Resident Magistrate, Volksrust to the Secretary of the Law Department, Pretoria. The report appears to have been in answer to a query from the Law Department and reads as follows:

“Regarding your query as to Civil Police here. There are 10 white Civil Police and one Sergeant in charge here at Volksrust, and 2 at Wakkerstroom. These were civilians before they joined the Police – none were on military pay when they joined though many had been in Colonial Corps.

At Wakkerstroom there are 24 soldiers, mostly Bandsmen and Drummers of the N. Staffordshire Regiment and on full military pay now, under military discipline and under the orders entirely of the military whom I pointed out as being paid by the Civil Government for doing entirely military work. There is absolutely nothing to do with these men beyond paying them monthly. They are changed when the military authorities desire for other men without any reference to me.”

Precisely how long Zeiss’s sojourn with the Volksrust Civil Police was is unknown but, being of an adventurous nature, he craved more action than that small body was able to provide and, before long, ended up as a Guide with the Field Intelligence Department. Guides were recruited (or appointed) from many of the Colonial regiments, specifically because of their local knowledge and, in many cases, because they were able to speak a black language or even Dutch, which came in very handy for intelligence gathering on the one hand and interrogation of prisoners on the other. Zeiss, having gathered local knowledge through his time with the Volksrust Civil Police and the Imperial Bearer Corps, would have been fit for purpose in the South Eastern Transvaal where he was deployed.

The war over on 31 May 1902 he was awarded the Queens Medal off the NVAC roll and the Kings Medal off the Field Intelligence Department roll.

Out of uniform and looking for employment he headed to the Witwatersrand and the City of Gold, Johannesburg, where he obtained employment with the Porges Gold Mining Company in the Randfontein district of Krugersdorp. It was whilst thus employed that he wed 29 year old Sarah Jane Adams. Sarah came from Cumberland in England and was living at the North Randfontein G.M.C. at the time of their nuptials in Krugersdorp on 22 January 1906. Zeiss, at 25, was four years younger than his bride.

It wasn’t long before the pitter patter of tiny feet were heard with Eric Adams Zeiss coming along on 30 October 1909 – at which time Zeiss was described as being a Tube Mill Foreman on the mines. The Krugersdorp Voters Rolls for the years 1925, 1927, 1929 and 1931 all place him at 69 Millsite Married Quarters, Randfontein Gold Mining Company where he was described as being a Tube Mill Foreman.

Sadly, as the years went by his wife’s health began to deteriorate and on 27 October 1949 at the Germiston Hospital, she passed away at the age of 72. Their address at the time of her death was “Kalkheuwel,” P.O. Broederstroom, District Pretoria.

Zeiss remarried on 7 June 1950 – exchanging vows with widow Madge Knott (born Talbot) at Germiston. He was 69 years of age and living at 38 Haley Close, Parkhill Gardens, Germiston whereas his wife was 50 years old. He soldiered on until he passing away in Pretoria on 7 December 1962 at the age of 82.

Acknowledgements:

- Data on NVAC from the Anglo Boer War Forum
- Volksrust Civil Police from Transvaal Archives ref: 1829/1901
- Familysearch and Ancestry for birth, marriage and death reports

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (6) Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek, South Africa 1901, unofficial rivets between fifth and sixth clasps (81439 Sejt. J. Woods, 69: B, R.F.A.)

Listed on WO100/142p213 and WO100/142p221.

The Great War DSO group to Colonel Cape sold for a hammer price of GBP 3,000. Totals (VAT UK only): GBP 3,720. R81,000. Au$7,270. Can$6,620. US$4,720.

The single QSA to Pte J Murphy, Royal Irish Fusiliers, sold for a hammer price of GBP 450. Totals (VAT UK only): GBP 558. R12,200. Au$1,090. Can$990. US$710.

Yes, the Talana is definitely a copy. P-C.

Am I correct in saying that the Talana here is a copy? The spacing appears off to me.

Early Life and Family

Richard Watts was born on 12 May 1872 in Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland, the son of George Watts (1816–1883) and Ellen Coleman (1843–1916). His father died when Richard was eleven, leaving Ellen to raise a large family. Richard grew up alongside siblings George, Joseph, William, and Patrick.

Military Service: Boer War (1894–1902)

Enlistment and Overseas Service
Richard enlisted in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers on 3 August 1894 (Regimental No. 4498). His attestation papers describe him as 5 ft 4 in tall, 126 lbs, with grey eyes and dark brown hair. His service record shows:

• East Indies: 9 February 1894 – 17 May 1897
• South Africa: 18 May 1897 – 12 September 1902
• Returned home later in 1902.

This extended South African service—over five years—placed Richard in nearly every phase of the war.

Battle of Talana (20 October 1899)

The Battle of Talana, near Dundee in Natal, was the first major clash of the Second Boer War. British forces under Major General Sir William Penn Symons attacked Boer positions on Talana Hill. Richard was serving with the Mounted Infantry detachment of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers.

At dawn, Boer artillery opened fire on the British camp. Amid the chaos, the Mounted Infantry moved forward to scout and harass the enemy. But Boer commandos swept around the flanks, cutting off Richard and his comrades. Outnumbered and under accurate rifle fire, they surrendered. Richard became a prisoner of war on 20 October 1899 and was interned at Waterval Camp near Pretoria until 6 June 1900.



Return to Service: Mounted Infantry Operations (July 1900–May 1902)

After release, Richard rejoined the Royal Dublin Fusiliers Mounted Infantry during the guerrilla phase of the war. Their duties included:

• Sweeps in Eastern Transvaal and Orange Free State to capture Boer commandos and destroy supply lines.
• Reconnaissance and raids as part of Colonel E.C. Knox’s column in early 1901.
• Defence of Fort Itala (Sept 1901) against Botha’s forces, a celebrated MI action.
• Blockhouse patrols and convoy protection during the final drives of 1902.

Richard earned the Queen’s South Africa Medal with clasps Talana, Orange Free State, Transvaal and the King’s South Africa Medal with clasps South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, confirming continuous service through the war’s end.

Interwar Period

Following the war on 4 April 1904, Richard married Edith Marchant Brownhill (1884–1959) in Birmingham. They had five children:

• George (b. 1905)
• Richard (b. 1906)
• Mary (b. 1908)
• John Thomas (b. 1910)
• Edith Dorothy (b. 1914)

By 1911, the family lived in Ferrybridge, Yorkshire, where Richard worked as a labourer.

Military Service: World War I (1915–1918)

First Attempt to Enlist
In August 1915, Richard attempted to enlist at Woolwich for the Army Service Corps, but was discharged soon after, likely for medical reasons. His papers note “not being medically fit.”

Final Enlistment and Service Timeline
Richard successfully enlisted later with the York & Lancaster Regiment, 6th Battalion, as Private No. 23092. His service record shows:

• Home Service: 14 August 1915 – 24 October 1915
• Mediterranean Service: 25 October 1915 – 26 June 1916
• France: From 27 June 1916 until his death.

Gallipoli Campaign (1915)
The 6th Battalion was part of the 32nd Brigade, 11th (Northern) Division, which landed at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli, in August 1915. Richard joined during this period and endured the harsh conditions of the Dardanelles campaign.

• The battalion fought in the Battle of Scimitar Hill on 21 August 1915, one of the largest British assaults at Gallipoli. The attack aimed to seize high ground overlooking Suvla Bay but met fierce resistance and heavy casualties.
• Life at Gallipoli was brutal: intense heat, disease, poor sanitation, and constant shellfire.
• After the failed offensives, the battalion remained in the trenches until the evacuation in December 1915, then moved to Egypt for reorganization before transferring to France in mid-1916.

Service in France
• 1916: Fought in the Battle of the Somme, including actions at Wundt-Werk, Flers-Courcelette, and Thiepval Ridge.
• 1917: Served in the Battle of Messines and the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele).
• 1918: Faced the German Spring Offensive and subsequent rearguard actions near Pernes.

Death
Richard Watts died on 20 May 1918, aged 46, during the aftermath of the German advance. He is buried at Pernes British Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France (Grave I.F.25).

Without a doubt a dedicated soldier who fought for his country and saw significant service in South Africa, Gallipoli and the trenches of France and Flanders. RIP.

Provenance
Courtesy of Medal News 2000:

Picture courtesy of Spink

DSO GV:
The Most Venerable Order of St. John, Officer's (O. St. J.) breast badge, silvered-metal and enamel;
QSA (1) Talana (Lieut. H. A. Cape, 18/Hrs.);
1914-15 Star (Major H. A. Cape, 5/Lrs.);
British War and Victory Medals with MID (Lt. Col. H. A. Cape);
IGS 1908 (1) Waziristan 1919-21 (Lt. Col. H. A. Cape, 5 Lcrs.);
Defence and War Medals 1939-45, these two inscribed 'Boots-style', 'Colonel H. A. Cape'

DSO London Gazette 26 July 1918: 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. At a critical time he displayed remarkable coolness and skill in organising defences. His fine example stimulated all ranks.'
O. St. J. London Gazette 21 June 1940.

Herbert Anderson Cape was born on 18 July 1872, the son of George Cape of Abbey Wood, Kent, and was educated at Charterhouse. Commissioned direct from the Militia as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 18th Hussars in December 1894, he was appointed an ADC to Lord Elgin, the Viceroy of India, in 1897.

Talana - Maxim detachment - wounded

Subsequently embarked for South Africa, Cape was present at the battle of Talana on 20 October 1899, when a squadron of the 18th Hussars tried to cut off a force of Boers under General Lukas Meyer, but ended up straying onto the slopes of Impati mountain, where they received a hot reception from Boers under General Erasmus.

Of Cape's fate, who had charge of the Maxim, a fellow officer observed:

'It was at this spruit our casualties began. Our Maxim gun got stuck in the muddy bottom. This I heard afterwards, and also how pluckily Lieutenant Cape and the gun detachment had behaved. But in their endeavour to extricate the gun from its perilous position, all the detachment were either killed or wounded. Lieutenant Cape was himself severely wounded, shot through the throat, and the Boers quickly closing in captured the gun. All this was related to me afterwards. A portion of the Mounted Infantry had been told off as escort to the Maxim, but, for some unaccountable reason, had been removed, by order of the commanding officer, before the gun got into difficulties. Being the only officer with my squadron I had not left it, and so the sad gun episode, which had occurred on the right flank whilst I was on the left, had not attracted my notice.'

Cape's own account of the fate of his gun section appears in the pages of The 18th Hussars in South Africa:

' … After going about two miles, as near as one could judge, I saw a deep spruit in front, and as the horses were by now completely done and one had been shot in about four places, we knew all was up. As we approached, I turned round and emptied my revolver at the fast approaching Boers, and as by some extraordinary piece of good luck I managed to knock one man over, it had the effect of checking them for an instant. The last words I heard poor Trumpeter Salmon shout out were "Well done." Down into the Spruit we all plunged and then they were all around us, so I shouted to the men to save themselves, but I knew it to be too late. Sergeant Batten, before he was killed, and Corporal Sexton, before he was wounded, succeeded in disabling the gun, and Private Waterston, 'C' Squadron, behaved most gallantly. He seized Sergeant Batten's revolver after he had been hit, shot one Boer's horse, and then knocked him on the head with the empty revolver. Private Waterson himself was hit in three places, but managed, by lying perfectly still, to escape detection, and made his way back into camp that same evening.

Out of the gun detachment Sergeant Batten, Private Lock the driver, and Trumpeter Salmon were killed; Corporal Sexton, Private Waterston, and myself were wounded; Private Wolfe, whose horse was shot, was taken prisoner at the same time. On seeing the Maxim gun in their hands, the Boers almost at once gave up the pursuit of Colonel Moller and his force, and came crowding round, stripping us of everything we possessed … '

An unpleasant night having been passed in a makeshift hospital, Cape appears to have been liberated by one of our patrols and was invalided home. And perhaps by way of recognition of his gallantry at Talana, he was appointed Adjutant of the 18th Hussars on his return and advanced to Captain in September 1904.

Having then transferred to the 5th Royal Irish Lancers in November 1907, he was appointed A.D.C. to Field Marshal Sir George White, V.C., at Gibraltar, followed by an appointment as Brigade Major to the Highland Mounted Brigade at Beauly in 1912-15. He therefore avoided direct participation in the famous 'Curragh Incident' in March 1914, when it is said all but two of his fellow regimental officers threatened to resign.

German Spring Offensive - The defence of Jussy - wounded

Embarked for France in July 1915, Cape was promoted to Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel and took command of the 5th Royal Irish in the following month, and he was likewise employed at the time of his D.S.O.-winning exploits in the German Spring Offensive.

The action in question took place at Jussy, where Cape established his H.Q. in an old field ambulance station and was charged with defending several bridge crossings on the Crozat Canal; or, if necessary, demolishing them with high explosive.

The German attack commenced under the cover of 'a thick enveloping mist' at dawn on the 22 March 1918, and Cape's position came under immediate threat from the 1st and 3rd Bavarian Regiments, so much so that he ordered the canal bridges to be blown. The regimental history tells the story:

'The sappers set about their task of blowing the bridges but to the horror of Lieutenant-Colonel Cape the bridges were only partially destroyed, not nearly enough to render then useless. A furious exchange took place between Lieutenant-Colonel Cape and the Royal Engineer officer in charge of the demolition. The Royal Engineer stated that he had only been ordered to render the bridges impassable to road traffic which, in his opinion he had done. Not only were the bridges still usable, to the further exasperation of Lieutenant-Colonel Cape, it was reported that there were two other bridges in the vicinity of the 5th Lancers' positions that had not been touched and were fully intact.

The weather had now cleared to reveal blue skies and fine weather. At about 10 a.m. German artillery opened up on the front line around Jussy. To add to this maelstrom, enemy rifle and machine-gun fire opened up on the British front line. German aircraft also put in regular appearances and dropped several payloads of bombs on the positions the 5th Lancers were holding. Luckily the pilots were bad shots and there were no direct hits.

Simultaneously, the Germans continued to mass troops on the northern side of the canal, bringing up limbers and bridging material which confirmed an attempt to cross the canal was imminent. Orders were received that on no account were the Germans to cross the canal which must have infuriated Lieutenant-Colone Cape, still cursing the Royal Engineers for not blowing the bridges properly. To further compound problems, British artillery was falling short of its targets and on many occasions actually fell on British positions despite numerous protests to increase the guns' range. All the time German shells were falling all around, seemingly unmolested by British retaliatory fire.

In the early evening the German bombardment had reached a crescendo with H.E. shells falling all around as well as numerous gas shells which the Germans had just started using. Gasmasks were immediately donned by the 5th Lancers and remained in use for about half an hour until the poisonous gas clouds had passed over. With the slackening off of the bombardment it was obvious the Germans were about to attempt a crossing and shortly after, disturbing news came through from 'A' Squadron that the Germans were attempting a crossing on the right and that a certain infantry regiment had abandoned their trenches, leaving the defence lines somewhat depleted. Lieutenant-Colonel Cape immediately sent 'D' Squadron over to reinforce the evacuated positions. A furious fire fight ensued with the dismounted lancers in the trenches being hard pressed by the advancing Germans. Their months spent training in their billets was paying dividends as they repelled each wave of attack with rapid rifle and machine-gun fire … '

Notwithstanding the gallant stand made by Cape and his men, the Germans managed to cross one of the bridges left intact by the engineers during the night. But they were ousted in a courageous counter-attack launched by 'C' Squadron. Nonetheless, bitter fighting continued over the next day or so, in which Cape was wounded on the 25th. He was awarded the DSO, in addition to twice being mentioned in despatches (London Gazettes 4 January 1917 and 20 December 1918, refer).

Later career

Having recovered from his wounds and resumed command of the regiment in July 1919, Cape was embarked for India, where a period on attachment to the 2/5th Gurkhas qualified him for his regimentally rare India General Service Medal for the Waziristan operations in 1919-21.

Back home, he went on to oversee the amalgamation his regiment with the 16th Lancers in 1922, when it was retitled the 16th/5th The Queen's Royal Lancers. And on being placed on the Retired List in the same year, he found employment in the Remount Department.

Having then suffered the tragic loss of his wife and daughter in a railway accident in August 1937, the Colonel returned to uniform as a Welfare Officer in the Second World War and was appointed an Officer of the Order of St. John in June 1940.

Described as 'a first-class man to hounds', he died in York April 1968.

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (2) Talana, Transvaal (5369 Pte J. Murphy, Rl. Irish Fus;);
[ Great War medals ]

James Murphy was born circa 1877 in Monaghan, Ulster and worked as a labourer before he enlisted into the 5th Battalion, Princess Victoria's Royal Irish Fusiliers. He served at home between August 1895 - February 1898 after which he served in Egypt between February 1898 and September 1899. He was then posted to South Africa, where he served in the Second Boer War. At some time, Murphy likely transferred to the 1st Battalion as this battalion, along with the 1st Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps, made a frontal attack at the Battle of Talana Hill, fighting their way upwards despite heavy rifle fire from above. The Boers abandoned their positions at the top of the hill marking Britain's victory in this first major engagement of the war. Afterwards, Murphy transferred to the Transvaal region but later became injured. In a letter submitted to a court proceeding inquiring about the circumstances in which Murphy became injured, he pens:

"The[re] was a sudden stampede of all the mules, and one of the mules [of] the 10th Mountain Battery R.A. carrying one of the wheels of the guns, made a sudden turn and knocked against my mule, causing the wheel to fall off, and [kn]ocked my right foot wounding me very severely... preventing me from walking. I managed to [cr]awl up the hill, eventually rejoined my [company] by daylight.

After the incident, Murphy spent four months in hospital before being released on the 6 June 1900 and returning to Armagh, still with considerable pain in his right foot. In September he was furloughed for two months on the capitation that he joined the battalion at Dublin. He served with them until February 1901 before he got another month's sick leave, again due to his injury to his right foot. He spent several months in the Royal Infirmary Hospital until the 3 September 1901, the day he wrote the letter. The court proceedings were settled with Colonel J. R. Jameson concluding that:

"I am of opinion (1) that 5369 J Murphy RIF was on duty at the time the accident occurred; (2) that the injury was the result of circumstances beyond his own control; and (3) that the injury is not likely to interfere with his future efficiency as a soldier. (4) I therefore recommend the permission of the whole of the Hospital stoppages."

Murphy was later declared medically unfit of service on 15 November 1901. However, upon the outbreak of the Great War, Murphy enlisted into the Labour Corps on 30 November 1914, aged circa 39 years old. Before enlisting, he had been working in Nottingham, England as a town labourer. Murphy served throughout the war and finally discharged from service on 11 December 1918 having been declared medically unfit.

Of the Talana QSAs sold today, the individual medals to the Dundee TG and Dundee Rifle Association sold particularly well.

122 - 4394 Pte T. Murray, Rl: Irish Fus: Sold for a hammer price of GBP 260. Totals (VAT UK only): GBP 322. R7,000. Au$630. Can$570. US$410
143 - Serjt: A. B. Allison. Natal Guides. Sold for a hammer price of GBP 1,900. Totals (VAT UK only): GBP 2,356. R51,300. Au$4,610. Can$4,200. US$2,990
144 - 284 Med:-Serjt: A. C. Wearner. Umvoti M.R. Sold for a hammer price of GBP 1,300. Totals (VAT UK only): GBP 1,612. R35,100. Au$3,150. Can$2,870. US$2,040
248 - H. Riley. Dundee Tn: Gd: Sold for a hammer price of GBP 600. Totals (VAT UK only): GBP 744. R16,200. Au$1,450. Can$1,320. US$940
249 - E. N. Hughes. Dundee Rifle Assctn: Sold for a hammer price of GBP 900. Totals (VAT UK only): GBP 1,116. R24,300. Au$2,180. Can$1,990. US$1,410
271 - Gaoler R. Mahon. Natal Police. Sold for a hammer price of GBP 550. Totals (VAT UK only): GBP 682. R14,900. Au$1,330. Can$1,210. US$860
317 - 599 Tpr: W. A. Hall. Natal Carbnrs: Sold for a hammer price of GBP 420. Totals (VAT UK only): GBP 521. R11,300. Au$1,020. Can$930. US$660

Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

QSA (5) Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek, South Africa 1901 (599 Tpr: W. A. Hall. Natal Carbnrs:);
Natal (1) 1906 (Sgt: W. A. Hall, Natal Carbineers.)

M&E say ' W. A. Hall of the Natal Carbineers is confirmed on the medal rolls. According to a note from the original collector, Hall was one of just 37 Natal Carbineers to receive the Talana clasp.'

Hall, 599 Trooper William Ashborne, Natal Carbineers. Born in 1881. Farmed at Thornville, Dundee. Enlisted 16 Mar 1899 and served 29 Sep 99 to 31 May 02. Transferred to the Northern District Mounted Rifles 31 Mar 1904 and rejoined the Natal
Carbineers, serving in the Natal Rebellion, 1906. QSA (5), Natal (1) 1906 (Sgt Natal Carb).

Ref: QSA: WO100/260p86 Suppl: WO100/260p111.

37 is a good estimate to the number of Talana clasps to the Natal Carbineers.