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Thanks for the details. I am only just getting into Anglo Boer War medals. My interest is predominantly Bedfordshire related.

Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

QSA (2) Cape Colony Orange Free State (Lieut. St. J. C. Bowen. K.R.R.C.), engraved;
KSA (2) (Capt: St. J.C. Bowen. K.R.R.C.)

St. John Cole Bowen (1872-1952) was born at Bowen’s Court, County Cork, Ireland, on 20 September 1872, the son of Robert St. John Cole Bowen, and Elizabeth Jane Clarke. According to ‘Men of the Times’ (1906), he obtained a thorough classical training at St. Columba College and the Dublin University, where he graduated in the year 1895. Receiving a commission with the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, he had intended to embark on a full career in the army, but in the year 1897 he decided to travel out to South Africa, where, on landing he joined the Zululand Police (afterwards called the Natal Police), serving as a trooper at the time of the outbreak of the Boer War. He later rejoined the KRRC and served with them during the late campaign, eventually resigning his commission with the rank of Captain.In the year 1900 he received the appointment of Magistrate at Senekal, Orange River Colony, and on the evacuation of the town he was appointed Superintendent in charge of Norvalspont on 25 February 1901 - taking over the command from Captain Du Plat Taylor of the Grenadier Guards. At this point, the Concentration Camps were no longer under the management of the British Army, but were under civil administration. The Norvalspont concentration camp had been established in November 1900 to relieve the Bloemfontein concentration camp after it experienced an acute water shortage. The camp, initially housing Afrikaner women and children, was situated in the Cape Colony but formed part of the concentration camp complex of the Orange River Colony, later accepting significant numbers of Boer soldiers. On that account, it is reported in various articles that Bowen, being of ‘of Irish extraction… may have given him some sympathy for the Boers. His ability ensured that he did not remain at Norvals Pont and Cole Bowen was later appointed as a travelling inspector. Almost everyone who encountered him commented on his calm efficiency’. Equally, not being ‘English’ almost certainly helped him to develop a rapport with the internees.Emily Hobhouse, the daughter of the Vicar of Bodmin, Cornwall in England (and noted Boer sympathizer), who visited Norvalspont in 1901, described the conditions at the camp as ‘one of the best in the network’ of Concentration Camps in the Orange River Colony, and that Cole Bowen possessed ‘marked administrative powers; his rule was firm, just and kind and he seemed possessed of unlimited resources’. However, given the harsh conditions and the unnatural circumstances in which the internees were forced to live, the death of many soon became unavoidable. Lieutenant Bowen worked tirelessly to make every family as comfortable as possible, but the overcrowding of the camp made it impossible to provide for every person’s needs.Emily Hobhouse wrote in her report on the camp that, even though she slept in a marquee tent with a double layer of canvas for shelter, her bedding was always soaking wet in the morning from the dew. During the day the temperature rose to 40° Celsius, and she mentioned that in the tents the temperature rose as high as 43° Celsius. Despite these challenges, and a fractious relationship with his camp medical officer, Bowen maintained a friendly and respectful disposition towards the internees, and saw that all were treated fairly, while ensuring that the camp ran efficiently – so much so that it was regarded as a ‘model camp’. The camp was eventually closed on 2 October 1902, and after more than a century the position of the tents used to accommodate the internees is still visible, according to certain online articles, given the incorporation of empty milk and food tins in the original paving.

Leaving Norvalspont in late 1901, in 1902 he was appointed Magistrate at Winburg, and in July 1904 Resident Magistrate for the Fauresmith District.

In 1903 he married Winifred, eldest daughter of Mr. Rosslieu, of Winburg. He died in 1952 at Sea Point, Cape Province.

IGS 1895 (1) Relief of Chitral 1895 (5286 Pte. E. Pemberton, 1st Bn. K. R. Rifle Corps), engraved;
QSA (6) Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (5286 Pte E. Pemberton, K.R.R.C.);
KSA (2) (5286 Pte E. Pemberton, K.R.R.C.).

E Pemberton served with the 1st Battalion, KRRC during the Relief of Chitral campaign of 1895. He left Mauritius in late 1896. Not listed on the Warren Hasings roll by Irvin Mortenson.

Picture courtesy of Spink

IGS 1854 (1)  Lushai 1889-92 (5282 Cpl. G. H. Thomas. 4th Bn Kings Ryl Rifles.);
IGS 1895 (1) Relief of Chitral 1895 (5282 Sgt. G. H. Thomas 1st Bn K.R. Rifles. Corps.);
QSA (5) Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal (5282 Sgt. G. Thomas, K.R.R.C.);
KSA (2) (5282 Clr:-Serjt: G. Thomas. K.R.R.C.);
Army LS&GC Ed VII (5282 C.Sjt: G. H. Thomas. K.R.R.C.)

George Henry Thomas was born at Lydney, Gloucestershire in 1867 and served with the Yorkshire Dragoons and Royal Artillery prior to enlisting with the King's Royal Rifles Corps on 1 July 1889. He was posted to the 2nd Battalion while serving at home and was advanced Corporal in 1890. The next year he was posted to Burma on 18 September 1891 with the 4th Battalion under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Chalmer.

Transferring to the 1st Battalion in India in 1892, Thomas served on the expedition to relieve Chitral. During this expedition they served with distinction in the Battle of the Malakand and the action at Khar. Thomas must have proved himself reliable during these early actions as he was advanced Sergeant in October 1895.

After their service in India came to an end they were posted to South Africa in 1896, four companies remained there while the other four were ordered to Mauritius. Thomas was fortunate to be stationed with one of the former companies as the latter four were aboard the troopship Warren Hastings when she sank in 1897.

Returning to Britain on 8 February 1899 with the 3rd Battalion Thomas was soon back in South Africa on 4 November 1899. They were present for the earliest actions on the Tugela Heights before the final forcing of the river in February 1900. It was during this push that Thomas was wounded on 22 February, his service papers note it was at Colenso which was to the extreme south of the British line. When the Regiment arrived at Ladysmith it is notably that the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions met in Ladysmith as they were all either with the relief column or the garrison.

Continuing to serve, Thomas was advanced Colour Sergeant on 14 May 1902 and returned to Britain on 22 March 1903. There he remained, transferring to the 5th City of London Regiment on 1 December 1908 until he was discharged in 1910.

Together with:
1914-15 Star (S-12005 Pte. G. E. Thomas. Rif:Brig:);
British War and Victory Medals (S-12005 Pte. G. E. Thomas. Rif.Brig.)

George Ernest Thomas was born at Jelunda, Punjab on 23 October 1896 and enlisted with the 7th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry on 6 September 1914. Transferring to the Rifle Brigade on 3 June 1915 he entered the war in France on 29 June 1915 with 9th Battalion. Thomas entered the Front Line trenches on 9 July but was killed in action the very next day, on 10 July 1915. He is commemorated upon the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial and these awards would have been sent to his gallant father.