TOPIC:

Hi I've got some extraordinary original photos of the rifles at spion kop during the battle and would love to get some information on the officers involved and the battalion make up ie company commanders for my research project.
Any help would be amazing.

I've got 4 officers on my list.


Captain Fergus Murray, Scottish Rifles, was killed in action at Spion Kop, on the Upper Tugela, on 24th January 1900. He was the younger son of the late Commander John Murray, R.X., of Murraythwaite, Dumfriesshire and was born in February 1868, and educated at Clifton College. He entered the Scottish Rifles in March 1889, and was promoted Lieutenant in March 1892, and Captain in October 1897. At Spion Kop he was wounded in five places, but he still continued to command his company, staggering amongst his men till killed. Captain Murray's name was brought to notice by his commanding officer for having rendered special valuable assistance 24th January and he is mentioned in the despatch of Lieutenant-Gen. Sir Charles Warren, of 1st February 1900, for initiating an advance in the face of a heavy fire.
Dooner, p280-281


Lieutenant John Woodburne Osborne, Scottish Rifles (Camerions), was killed in action at Spion Kop, in the operations on the Upper Tugela, 24th Jan. 24th, 1900. He was born in June, 1873, and educated at the Collegiate Institute, Brantford ; Trinity School, Port Hope and the Royal Military College, Kingston, Canada. He entered the Scottish Rifles, in November 1895, being promoted Lieutenant in November 1897. He was assistant-adjutant to his battalion, and in 1899 was appointed A.D.C. to the Lieutenant- Governor of Bengal, but rejoined his battalion in order to serve in South Africa.
Dooner, p294


Major Sydney Philip Strong, second in command, 2nd Battalion Scottish Rifles, died of wounds received in action at Spion Kop, in the operations on the Upper Tugela, on 24th January 1900. He was born in February 1858, educated at Winchester, and entered the 90th Foot in January 1878, being promoted Lieutenant in August 1878, Captain in September 1883, and major in October 1892. He saw active service with the 90th Light Infantry in the South African War, 1877-78 in the Kaffir Campaign, and the operations against the Galekas. He also served throughout the Zulu War of 1879, and was present at the engagements at Zungen Nek, Kambula, and Ulundi, and was mentioned in despatches, L.G., 7th May 1879, and received the medal with clasp. Major Strong was adjutant of volunteers from Nov. 1887-92. His death is mentioned in the despatch of Lieutenant-Gen. Sir C. Warren of 1st February 1900.

Dooner, p368-369


Captain Charles Walter, 1st Battalion The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), was killed in action at Spion Kop, in the operations on the Upper Tugela, 24th January 1900. He was the son of Gen. J. M. Walter, C.B., was born in November 1872, and educated at Wellington (where he was in the Hopetoun), 1885 to 1890, whence he passed direct into the Royal Military College. He entered the Scottish Rifles in October 1892, being promoted Lieutenant in December 1894, Captain in February 1899, and was serving with his battalion in India. Captain Walter volunteered for active service, and was sent to Natal at the commencement of the war, and served there until killed.
Dooner, p403

Thank you so much for the information it's greatly appreciated. I have some names like capt. A.C. Northey, Dutton Bramwell and Colchester-wenge but have no idea as to which companies they belonged to. Any idea?

I am sorry I did not mention I am busy with research on the soldiers who had died during the ABW. I am afraid I cannot help you with the other names you did mention. Maybe you must try The National Archives of the UK
Kew, Richmond Surrey.

Regards
Elmarie

I had an old newspaper that was around 1900-1902 of which now all on my pc with names and photos of the Boer War. This is part of the list and incomplete as I have been slowly going through the names to find anything of interest.

Captains -

F Murray (2nd Cameronians) killed at Spion Kop Jan 24th.
B A Newbury (2nd Duke Of Cornwall's L. I.) killed at Paardeberg Feb 18th.
Hon W H Petre (Thorneycroft's Mid. Inf.) killed at Spion Koop Jan 24th.
A D Raitt (2nd West Surrey) killed at Spearman's Camp Jan 27th.
C Ryall (2nd West Yorkshire) killed at Tugela Jan 21st.
G M Stewart (2nd Lancashire Fusillers) killed at Spion Kop Jan 24th
H S Sykes (2nd Royal Scots) killed at Pieter's Hill Feb 27th. (Photo)
B H Thomas (2nd Worcester) killed at Rensburg Feb 20th.
W L Thurburn (2nd Royal Fusillers) killed at Tugela Feb19th.
N H Vertue (2nd Lancashire Fusillers) killed at Spion Kop Jan24th.
R W Waldy (2nd Bedfordshire) killed at Paardeburg Feb 22nd.
A F Wallis (1st West Riding) killed at Arundel Feb 22nd.
C Walter (2nd Cameronians) killed at Spion Kop Jan 24th.
E P Wardlaw (2nd Duke Of Cornwall's L. I.) killed at Paardeberg Feb 18th.

---

Lieutenants and Second Lieutenants

V A Ball-Acton (1st Oxford Light Infantry) killed at Paardeberg Feb 18th.
P F Brassey 'lord Brassey's nephew' (9th Lancers) killed at Kimberley Feb 16th.
A R Bright (1st Oxford Light Infantry) killed at Paardeberg Feb 18th.
E G Carbutt (Royal Horse Artillery) killed at Kimberley Feb 16th. (Photo)
Hon. R Cathcart 'Earl Cathcart's son (4th King's Royal Rifles) killed at Tugela Feb 21st.
R H C Coe (2nd Royal Lancaster) killed at Tugela Feb 21st.
G E Courtenay (Argylls) killed at Paardeberg Feb 18th. (Photo)
C P M Craigie-Halkett (1st Highland Light Infantry) killed at Modder Feb 15th.
C J Daly (2nd Royal Irish Fusillers) killed at Pieter's Hill Feb 27th.
F C D Davidson (2nd Lancaster) killed at Tugela 22nd.
H N Field (1st Devons) killed at Ladysmith Jan 6th.
E Fraser (3rd Lancashire Fusillers) killed at Spion Kop Jan 24th
H G French-Brewster (3rd Kings Royal Rifles) killed at Spion Kop Jan 24th.
-- Frieslich (Grahamstown Volunteers) killed at Oxfontein March 7th.
H W Garvey (1st Border Regiment) killed at Spion Kop Jan 24th.
R J Grant (3rd Kings Royal Rifles) killed at Spion Kop Jan 24th.
C G Grenfell (Thorneycroft's Mtd. Inf). killed at Spion Kop Jan 24th.
J G Grieve (New South Wales) killed at Paardeberg Feb 16.
H M A Hankey (2nd Warwickshire) killed at Paardeberg Feb 18th.
B H Hastie (2nd West Surrey) killed at Tugela Feb 23rd.
A E Hesketh (16th Lancers) Killed at Paardeberg Feb 14th.
Hon. N W Hill-Trevor 'Baron Trevor's son' (Thorneycroft's Mtd. Inf) killed at Spion Kop Jan 24th.
C H Hinton (2nd East Surrey) killed at Tugela Feb 23rd.
J C Hylton-Jolliffe (3rd Norfolk Regiment) killed at Paardeberg Feb 20th.
V F A Keith-Falconer (2nd Somerset Light Inf) killed at Tugela Feb 22nd.
D J Keswick (12th Lancers) killed at Oxfontein March 7th.
R McK Kynoch-Shand (Imperial Light Horse) killed at Spion Kop Jan 24th.
W G H Lawley (2nd Middlesex) killed at Spion Kop Jan 24th.
H G Majendie (Roberts's Horse) killed at Dekiel's Drift Feb 13th.
J J R Mallock (2nd Lancashire Fusillers) killed at Spion Kop Jan 24th.
Hon W McClintock-Bunbury 'Baron Rathdonnell's' Heir' (Scots Greys) killed at Paardeberg Feb 14th.
R H McClure (2nd Seaforths) killed at Paardeberg Feb 18th.

---

Lieutenants and Second Lieutenants

H S McCorquodale (Thorneycroft's Mtd Inf) killed at Spion Kop Jan 24th.
H L Mourrilyan (1st Warwickshire) killed at Pieters Hill Feb27th.
D B Monypenny (2nd Seaforths) killed at Paardeberg Feb 20th.
A C Neave (1st Yorkshire) killed at Paardeberg Feb 18th.
P F Newnham (Thorneycroft's Mtd Inf) killed at Spion Kop Jan 24th.
H B Onraet (Army Medical Corps) killed at Pieters Hill Feb27th.
J W Osborne (2nd Cameronians) killed at Spion Kop Jan 24th.
N J Parker (2nd Lancaster) killed at Tugela Feb 23rd.
J C Parr (2nd Somerset Light Inf) killed at Tugela Feb 21st.
E or C Perceval (4th Kings Royal Rifles) killed at Paardeberg Feb 13/15th.
H F Pipe-Wolferstan (2nd Scottish Borderers) killed at Spion Kop Jan 24th.
J Powell (South Australians) killed at Rensburg Feb 6th.
F M Raphael (1st South Lancashire) killed at Spion Kop Jan 24th.
J C Roberts (Victoria Mounted Rifles) killed at Rensburg Feb 1st.
- Rudall (Imperial Light Infantry) killed at Spion Kop Jan 24th.
H D Selous (2nd Bedford) killed at Modder Feb 22nd.
C D Shafto (1st Durham Light Infantry) killed at Potgieter's Drift Feb 6th.
F J T U Simpson (2nd Royal Scots) killed at Pieter's Hill Feb 27th. (Photo)
F J Siordet (1st West Riding Regiment) killed at Paardeberg Feb 18th.
F A Stebbing (2nd Welsh Regiment) killed at Paardeberg Feb 18th.
W G Stuart (1st Inniskilling Fusiliers) killed at Tugela Feb 24th.
F G Tait (2nd Black Watch) killed at Koodoosberg Feb 8th.
A P C H Wade (2nd Lancaster) killed at Spion Kop Jan 24th.
H A C Wilson (2nd Middlesex) killed at Spion Kop Jan 24th.

Winston Churchill fought in the war too.

Hope this was useful.

Adrian

The newspaper in question was The Sphere