TOPIC:

I wonder if someone can find for me any details, e.g. the identity, of a soldier in the 13th Hussars who drowned in the Tugela River on 17 January 1900?
many thanks in advance
Rob

He was Private J Guiler. The accident happened during the crossing of the Tugela by men of the Mounted Brigade, elements of which made it as far as Acton Homes, before retreating to face the Boers who held the high ground west of Spioenkop. The opportunity for opening a new front on the western approaches to Ladysmith was lost and the series of British defeats in their frontal assaults on the high ground led Buller to withdraw to his original line facing Colenso.
Brett

Brett and Rob
My useful "Cavalry" CD shows Pte. J. Guiler's Regimental number as "2862" and clasp RofL. Marginal note "Drowned Chievley (Tugela River) 17/1".
regards
il.

Guiler appears to have drowned at Tritchardt's Drift, he is remembered at the Royal Garrison church Aldersot and All Saints church Ladysmith, I'd certainly be interested to know if his body was recovered and buried for my Lillywhite's register.

This memorial is self-explanatory, It is taken from Mark Coghlan's 2000 history of the Natal Carbineers, Pro Patria.
Brett

NC[attachment=24263]NC

As another aside to the drowning of Private Guiler, shown below is the QSA awarded to 1000 Sgt W J Cox, South African Light Horse, who was Mentioned in Despatches for helping to retrieve the ferry from the north bank of the Tugela River while under fire, and so expediting the river crossing by the Mounted Brigade, a mission that the Royal Engineers had failed to accomplish.

In the previous post, I mentioned the gallant act of Trooper Sclanders, Natal Carbineers, a Natalian, and in this post Sergeant Cox, a Canadian, as successful examples of Colonial mounted infantrymen early in a war against a similarly equipped enemy. Some British officers were slow to learn and it cost a lot in time and casualties.

Brett