Anglo Boer War

Surname

Forename

Rank

Notes

Unit

Atherton

T C

2nd Battalion
Source: QSA and KSA medal rolls

Cheshire Regiment

Atherton

T C

2nd Battalion
Source: Medal rolls

Cheshire Regiment

Atherton

T J

Lieutenant Colonel

MID LG: 10 September 1901, page: 5929. Source: Field Marshal Roberts. 4 September 1901. Re: General mentions
This page contains all the London Gazette pages for the Boer War

12th (The Prince of Wales's Royal) Lancers

Atherton

Thomas James

Lieutenant Colonel

Thomas James Atherton was born on 19 August 1856, and educated at Charterhouse. He entered the 12th Lancers in 1880, and succeeded to the command of the regiment in South Africa, during the Boer War, after the death in action of Lieutenant-Colonel The Earl of Airlie. The 12th Lancers were heavily engaged at Magersfontein where, with the 9th Lancers, they fought dismounted on the right flank. After taking part in the Relief of Kimberley they fought conspicuously at Diamond Hill, where they charged to save the guns of “Q” Battery, Royal Horse Artillery. It was during this charge that the Earl of Airlie was killed and Atherton was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel and assumed command. Atherton led the regiment in the sweeps around Rustenburg and Magliesberg that took place at the end of 1900, including the actions at Eland's River and Wittebergen. At the end of November 1900, Atherton handed over command of the regiment and, in July 1901, was given command of a cavalry column, comprising 480 12th Lancers and two guns of “Q” Battery RHA, newly formed by General French to combat the menace of Kritzinger who had re-invaded Cape Colony in May 1901. The sweep by the eleven columns along a line of 150 miles was reasonably successful and, once they had turned round and gone back on themselves, even more so. By the end of August 80 Boers had been killed, and on 12 August Kritzinger was driven out of Cape Colony. In the following three months Atherton's column was one of five that ceaselessly chased and harried Gideon Scheepers over Cape Colony. Scheepers was eventually captured, condemned and executed as a rebel. The remnants of Scheepers' men headed west to join up with Smuts, and Atherton's column was broken up in November 1901. Atherton was created a Companion of the Bath on 27 September 1901, and mentioned in Lord Roberts' despatch of 29 November 1900, London Gazette 10 September 1901. During the Great War he served in the rank of Colonel with the Reserve Regiment of Cavalry and with the Labour Corps in France. He was twice mentioned in despatches, London Gazette 4 January and 11 December 1917, and created a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, London Gazette 1 January 1918.
CB n/b, CMG n/b cr 1 Jan 18, QSA (6) RofK Paar Drie Joh DH Witt (Lt Col CB 12/R Lcrs), KSA (2) (Lt Col CB 12/Lancers), 1914-15 Star (Bt Col CB), BWM, VM + MID (Bt Col). Sotheby's Feb 85. Spinks Oct 99 £2,500. DNW Mar 02 £2,100.
Source: List of CB recipients. Various sources

12th (The Prince of Wales's Royal) Lancers

Atherton

Thomas James

Lieutenant Colonel

QSA (6).
Source: QSA medal rolls

12th (The Prince of Wales's Royal) Lancers

Atherton

2nd Battalion
Source: QSA and KSA medal rolls

(King's Own) Royal Lancaster Regiment

Atherton

W S

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