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Sgt. "Bobbie" Dale of Lumsden's Horse. 7 years 1 month ago #52229

  • Frank Kelley
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I have to say, Ian, life does not seem very fair, you have this, as well as that really superb and rather scarce QSA to that Cheesemonger you showed recently and doubtless, a whole plethora of others, yet, all I have to look forward to, is a cheap bottle of third rate Australian white wine from Tesco!:sick:
(£3.95 although other wines are available!)




LinneyI wrote: Forum members
A number of years ago, IL became the custodian of a long-service medal grouping to a soldier of the Empress of India; a man who progressed from seeing action in the Second Afghan war with the Royal Artillery, to putting in many years part-time in the East India Railways Volunteer Rifles, then answering the call to serve in Lumsden's Horse during the Boer War. His final duty was to represent the EIRVR at the Coronation of Edward VII. With no more ado:





(1) Bronze 1902 Coronation medal (dated 26 June, 1902), unnamed
(2) Afghanistan medal, 1878-80, clasp "Ahmed Khel" engraved to "6622 Bomb. R.E.Dale, G/4th, R.A."
(3) Queen's South Africa medal, clasps "Cape Colony", "Orange Free State" and "Johannesburg", impressed to "Sgt. E.R.Dale, Lumsden's Horse" - with added unofficial naming to show a later promotion.
(4) Volunteer Long Service and Good Conduct medal (EVII Kaisar-I-Hind) engraved to "Quarter Master Sergt. E.R.Dale, E.I.Voltr.Rifles"

The Boer invasion of the British South African colonies commencing 12/10/1899 - and the subsequent reverses of Black Week - threw a deep shadow over the Empire. Col. Lumsden of the Assam Valley L.H. was then on leave, travelling in Australia and - doubtless aware of Colonial Australian contingents either in-theatre or on the way - he decided that the Indian Empire could also contribute. He cabled to Calcutta on 15/12/1899; proposing firstly, the formation of a Corps of Mounted Infantry for service in South Africa and, secondly, a personal cash donation of 50,000 rupees (then equivalent to three thousand, five hundred pounds, Starling) to get things moving.
The proposal was forwarded to the Viceroy and after little delay, it gained War Office acceptance. Recruiting for the "Indian Mounted Infantry Corps (Lumsden's Horse)" - also known as the "Indian Yeomanry Corps" - was announced on 10/1/1900 and immediately heavily over-subscribed. Such was the enthusiasm of Britons living and working in India that the establishment of the sanctioned "two or three hundred" could have been filled several times over.
Quickly termed "The Planter's Corps", indeed about half were involved in managing and harvesting of crops such as indigo, tea and coffee. The remainder were civil servants, clerical workers and the occasional "Gentleman". Certain age limits were specified for rank-and-file and the appointment of officers and senior NCO's came from the C-in-C, India. Colonel Lumsden was appointed C.O., the two squadron commanders were Regulars and the Adjudant had Staff Corps training.
The Maxim gun detachment of L.H. was, however, mainly comprised of men from the Locomotive and Traffic Depts., East India Railway. Commanded by Captain Holmes of the Medical Dept., the men manning and servicing the Maxim were doubtless selected for mechanical knowledge, familiarity with the gun itself in the Volunteers - or both. The be-whiskered acting Sergeant of the detachment had previous active service; he was one Ephraim Robert Dale.
At forty-three years of age, acting Sergt. Dale had served during the Second Afghan war as a Bombardier with G/4 Battery, R.A. Due to space limits, a recounting of that Battery's activities in that campaign must be left for another time. Nevertheless, "Bobby" Dale (as he later became known), was present with that Battery at a critical point during the battle of Ahmed Khel on 19/4/1880. Recorded as a victory for Stewart's Ghazni Field Force, at one point the action came close to being a British disaster of considerable proportions.
As Gen. Stewart's Infantry Brigade deployed to meet a charge of many thousands of sword-wielding Afghan warriors at Ahmed Khel, the 59th Foot was caught changing formation - without having fixed bayonets - and was very nearly over-run. However, supported by the artillery and steady volley fire from the Gurkhas and Sikhs, the 59th rallied and the assault was broken after two hours of close fighting. At a critical point, G/4 (including a doubtless hard-sweating Bombdr. Dale) was pushed forward of the firing line and had the enemy within twenty-five yards of its muzzles. The Battery even ran out of case shot and had to resort to firing reversed shrapnel.
Doubtless, any prospective enlistee for Lumsden's Horse would have mentioned (or at least hinted at) such previous service. The rank of acting Sergeant was conferred on our man and was later confirmed during the journey to the front. Prior to departure, some new concepts had to be dinned into presumably eager volunteers. Any anticipation of dashing cavalry action with sword and the old .45" Martini carbine was plainly at odds with modern Mounted Infantry tactics. Nevertheless, eager or not, ready or not, both squadrons and their Maxim Gun detachment joined Lord Roberts's army at Bloemfontein in April of 1900 - attached to the M.I.Corps commanded by Col. Ross.
On 30/4/1900, L.H. were the advanced scouts for General Tucker's advance upon Houtnek and were duly ordered to "take and hold" some "suspicious looking kopjes" to their front. The enemy reacted vigorously; L.H. coming under heavy fire - but stood firm. Orders to withdraw were given - and the unit's Maxim section came into action at one thousand yards at a critical moment and checked the Boer advance for some time. However, one section of LH did not receive the order to retire and fought until they were over-run, "Take and hold", indeed.
Of the 180 all-ranks present at Houtnek, SAFF shows five killed (including the 2-I-C), three wounded, three wounded in Boer hands, and nine captives. General Tucker complimented LH's performance; however he was concerned about their bravery - which "bordered on rashness". Several days later, the general advance on Pretoria resumed ; with LH scouting and skirmishing ahead of the army's right, centre. Their work at Zand River, Viljoen's Drift on the Vaal and at Elandsfontein was especially noted and the unit suffered several casualties in the process.
Pretoria taken, LH were tasked with outpost and patrol work - with all that entailed - before coming under Generals Mahon and Hamilton in the Rustenberg area. Later there were several severe forced marches (one in company with the esteemed ILH) and LH subsequently served under General French - where they saw some severe fighting on the way to Heidleberg. The LH historian somewhat ruefully comments that from April to November 1900, they never had the shelter of tents.
On the last day of November, 1900, LH left Pretoria for the last time and headed for the docks and India. With Pretoria taken and the British army at Komato Poort and Barberton, Lord Roberts had some cause to feel that the regular phase of the campaign was over. He was, however, aware of a plague of roving guerrilla bands and lacked mounted troops to counter them. Nevertheless, he had been pressured by the Viceroy to let LH and it's many "men of business and affairs" to return home. This despite their initial enlistment ("one year or for the duration of the war") not being met.
Lord Roberts, telegraphing the Viceroy, expressed his appreciation of LH's excellent services during their time in the field. For his valuable services with the Maxim detachment of LH, Sergt. Dale was Mentioned-in-despatches by Lord Roberts and our man duly added a QSA next to his Afghan medal. He was clearly held in some esteem in Lumsden's Horse; popularly being known as "Daddy" or "Bobbie" - and a subscription was raised to present him with a silver flask in recognition of his services.
Sergt. Dale was selected to represent the East India Railway Regiment at the Coronation of King Edward VII - thus adding a bronze 1902 Coronation medal to his display. Returning to India, he continued in the Volunteers and later became a Departmental Inspector in Calcutta. Ephraim Robert Dale finally returned to the land of his birth in 1920 and - after a very full life - passed away three years later. IL must confess that he did find it rather difficult to effectively describe the breadth of this man's service in any summary form.
Much, necessarily, had to be left out and - akin to C.S.Forester's General Curzon (if admittedly on a much lower pay scale!) - "a detailed record of those years would need the same number of years in the telling".
Thanks to all who have read this far.

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Sgt. "Bobbie" Dale of Lumsden's Horse. 7 years 1 month ago #52230

  • LinneyI
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Frank
Thank you for your kind remarks. I am really sorry about your "third rate" OZ via Tesco. You may be interested to learn that with his evening meal, IL has just consumed a proportion of a very nice Hardy's "Stamp of Australia" 2016 Chardonnay - in celebration of actually finishing and posting the Sgt. Dale story. It had been that long in the editing!
Indeed, looking at some of the superb items shown on this site by Rory, Henk and others, I do feel that that life is, indeed, unfair!
Keep yer chin up!
IL.

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Sgt. "Bobbie" Dale of Lumsden's Horse. 7 years 3 weeks ago #52344

  • Frank Kelley
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Only the best at your house, clearly, Ian!:sick:

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