TOPIC:

Good Afternoon Everyone.....

Am trying to find out anything I can on the following soldier.....
I have run into a dead end in the books that I have available......

I understand that the Gloucestershire's had some men a Company or 1/2 a Company in Ladysmith during the siege.....

I am looking into: 4964 Private E. Box, Gloucestershire Regt. - Defence of Ladysmith and Orange Free State

Do not have access to Ancestry just FMP and he is not listed there.....

Mike

He is very clearly shown on the 1st Battalions main roll, page 301 of WO100/183 and his clasps are verified there.

Hello Mike

At the start of the siege 1/Gloucesters had 6 officers and 446 men effective plus 1 officer and 29 men sick or wounded. At the end of the siege they had 5 officers and 371 men effective plus 2 officers and 72 men sick or wounded. The battalion lost a lot of men KIA or taken POW at Nicholson's Nek just before Ladysmith was besieged which accounts for the relatively small number present during the siege.

Regards

David

Good Morning Frank and David......

Thank you for the additional information......

Mike

Hello Mike,
A brief glance at their main roll suggests that their were certainly in excess of three hundred and fifty men who served in Ladysmith during the siege and are clearly entitled to the clasp, I think, certainly from memory, at least, there had been around nine hundred and fifty prisoners taken on that wretched Nek, but, it is important to bare in mind that there was another battalion present, which had more casualties on the day in question, as well as part of a battery.
So I would say the numbers of Natal and Defence of Ladysmith are fairly even, without actually doing a full head count.
I have certainly never regarded them as scarce and I would also add, the Natal clasp to a recipient who was captured would command a slightly higher price, notwithstanding, a very nice medal to have.
Regards Frank

Thanks again Frank......

For the page from the medal roll......

Mike