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Phil, Bicolboy59,

I have sent you a zip file containing the 49 images from this file.

Best wishes
David

Hi David,

Legendary work there David - much appreciated. Even though I can't see a specific report on Ainsworth (just a quick scan through the files, so I may have missed something), just having the words "I recommend them (referring to Ainsworth et al) for the Victoria Cross" and signed by Roberts is unequivocal proof.

Thanks again

Phil

Thank you David, this was greatly appreciated.

Phil,
Yes evidence for Ainsworth does not appear to be included in the file, however, there is a document sent in reply originating from the C in C which goes on to state that as Koornspruit was basically a "stuff up", that it would be imprudent to make awards over and above those 4 from Q Battery which would then highlight the action and its outcome.

I would suggest that upon receipt of this reply further correspondence on the matter was dropped.
That then leaves the matter of Maxwell, so having his recommendation not proceeded with, and being in a position of having a patron at court pushed the matter and I would suggest that they must have had considerable standing at court to push the matter to its positive conclusion.

Where that correspondence is would be anybody's guess, it would have been a matter handled by Horse guards I suspect.

Regards

Simon

I noted in the reply from NZMR that he was researching Lt W.J. Ainsworth CBE DSO and that someone in NZ had his QAS in his possession. W.J. Ainsworth was the older brother of my Great Grandfather Maj Gen Sir R B Ainsworth of the RAMC . We have a full set of W.J. Ainsworth's medals in a case, including miniatures and other decorations (image attached). I was wondering if it were unusual that a second copy of a service medal would be on the market, or if this were relatively common; I don't have access to the medals at present so can't check for engraving.

As a side note, my uncle has unearthed various family papers and documented some other interesting bits of his life -

He was a highly proficient polo player in India with the DLI. Alongside his fellow officers won the Inter-regimental cup, beating a cavalry team that included one rather young W. Churchill.

During his time in Africa he was captured and taken prisoner by the Boer, his diary captures his frustration at the loss of his luggage and subsequent realisation that one of his captors was wearing his brand new, spare jodhpurs! He later escaped and returned to his lines.

There also appears to be some suggestion that his lack of award or at least the discussions of the surrounding action made it into conversation in the palace of Westminster.
One of the VC recipients, I assume to be Maxell (I don't have the notes to hand) actually wrote to Ainsworth (we have the letter in the family somewhere) and explained how unfair he thought it was, and how bad he felt when he was required to wear his award when Ainsworth had not been recognised for the same action.

WJ Ainsworth had two other brothers, Harry Lawrence, who at the outbreak of WW1 was in the 10th Ghurkha Rifles - but died 30/121915 while returning to India when the SS Persia was sunk of Grete by a German U-boat and Arthur Reginald who served during WW1 as an infantry officer in Gallipoli, returning, rather troubled we think, to civilian life after the war.