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Picture courtesy of DNW

CGHGSM (1) Bechuanaland (16 Serg. J. White. C. Pce.)
[ QSA (1) DoK ]

John White was born in Tipperary, Ireland, in c.1859 and having emigrated to South Africa enlisted in the Cape Police (District 2, headquartered in Kimberley) as a Third Class Private on 3 September 1883. Advanced Third Class Sergeant on 23 July 1889, he served with the Bechuanaland Field Force 1896-97, and saw further served during the Boer War, at the Defence of Kimberley, where he suffered from enteric fever in October 1900. Advanced Lieutenant in the Dismounted Section, Cape Police, on 27 June 1902, he died of melancholia at Cape Town on 11 January 1911.

Name crossed through on the KSA roll.

A confirmed no clasp QSA.


Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (0) (Pte. W. Berry, Kimb: Town Gd:) officially re-impressed

William Berry was employed by De Beers in Kimberley as Chief Works Engineers in charge of the mine workshops. He served with the Kimberley Town Guard during the Boer War - the roll states ‘gun construction, repairs to maxims and rifles’, whilst confirming that he was not entitled to the Defence of Kimberly clasp as ‘not enrolled, being constantly employed on maintenance and construction.’ Berry was the workshop foreman when the famous siege gun ‘Long Cecil’ was manufactured.

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (1) Defence of Kimberley (Pte. A. Nash. Kimberley Town Gd:)

ex Spink November 1994

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (1) Defence of Kimberley (Lt: A. W. B. Tidd-Pratt, Diamond Fields A:);
KSA (2) (Lt. A. W. B. Tidd-Pratt. Diamd. Fld. Arty.);
Kimberley Star ‘a’, reverse engraved 'A. Tidd Pratt. Diamond Fields Arty.', lacking integral top riband bar

Arthur Tidd-Pratt is confirmed on the Medal Roll with this unit and clasp entitlement and was one of seven Lieutenants to serve with the Battery. During the siege of Kimberley their six guns were initially hopelessly outmatched by those of the Boers, until the De Beers workshops created the 4.1in. breech-loader 'Long Cecil', which was then manned to good effect by members of the unit.

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (1) Defence of Kimberley (Mr. G. J. Watt. Post Office Corps.)

Maurice's History of the War in South Africa, Vol 4 gives some detail on this unit:

'At the beginning of the campaign the strength of this Corps was three Officers, eighty-nine other ranks, composing one Company of the 24th Middlesex (Post Office) Volunteers. These men, like all the 24th Middlesex, were drawn from the London Post Offices, and were those who had been specially enlisted for a period of six years in the Army Reserve to render them available for foreign service. This original force, which proceeded to the seat of War in October, 1899, soon became totally inadequate to the growing needs of the Army. Reinforcing drafts followed rapidly, drawn at first from the 24th Middlesex, but later from the postal services of all the provinces of Great Britain, and even to a small extent from those of Canada, Australia, Cape Colony and India. The greatest strength attained at the height of the campaign was ten Officers, a Warrant Officer, and 396 other ranks, with, in addition, twenty civilian clerks and 100 soldiers attached for orderly duties.'

Sold for a hammer price of £420. Totals (inc VAT on the commission for the UK only): £521. R9,800. Au$890. Can$840. US$660

The trio to Lt Tidd-Pratt sold for a hammer price of £850. Totals (inc VAT on the commission for the UK only): £1,054. R19,900. Au$1,800. Can$1,690. US$1,330

Bugler Teare's pair sold for a hammer price of £480. Totals (inc VAT on the commission for the UK only): £595. R11,200. Au$1,010. Can$960. US$750