Hello Again Niel.....
Here is something that I have on the Durham Light Infantry.....
FLOWERS, C. H. (Charles Henry)
REG. NO.: 3282
RANK: SERGEANT
REGT: DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY
BARS: CAPE COLONY, RELIEF OF LADYSMITH, TRANSVAAL
REMARKS / HISTORY:
1. WOUNDED AT BATTLE OF COLENSO, DECEMBER 15th, 1899.
2. SERVICE DOCUMENTS ON MAIN FILE.
3. COMPLETE WITH DIARY, PHOTO (as School Teacher at Wormwood Scrubs Prison with a number of the Warders he is wearing his medal), CHRISTMAS CARD, CAP AND COLLAR BADGE AND BUTTON.
CHARLES HENRY FLOWERS
Enlisted: Durham Light Infantry, Colcester, October 1888
Parish of St, Mary’s, Warwick, Warwickshire
Age: 20 years, 6 months, Trade: Clerk
Previous Service: 2nd Vol. Bn. Royal Warwick Regt.
Height: 5 Foot, 11 ½ Inches
Weight: 140 Lbs.
Chest: 35 ¼ inches
Complexion: Pale
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown
Religious Denomination: C. of E.
Attested: Private 5th Oct. 1888
Appointed: Lance Corporal, 15th July 1889 (Orderly Room Clerk)
Appointed: Lance Sergeant, 22nd September 1889
Promoted: Sergeant, 1st August, 1893
Discharged to Army Reserve: 5th Oct. 1895
Recalled to Active Service: 9th Oct. 1899
Discharged on Termination of 1st Period of Engagement: 4th Oct. 1901
Received War Gratuity of 10.0.0 Pounds (Sergeant)
HOME: 5 Oct. 1888 to 4 Oct. 1895
ARMY RESERVE: 5 Oct. 1895 to 8 Oct. 1899
HOME: 9 Oct. 1899 to 23 Oct. 1899
SOUTH AFRICA: 24 Oct. 1899 to 25 April 1901
HOME: 26 April 1901 to 4 Oct. 1901
(Note: Spelling as shown in Diary)
DIARY OF SGT. C. H. FLOWERS, 1st. BATTN. DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY, CAPE TOWN 11-18-1899
Under the command of 3282 Sgt. Charles Henry Flowers, DLI while enroute to South Africa.
FLOWERS, C. H., Sgt., 3282
HARDWICK, W., Sgt., 3413
McCARTHY, C., Cpl., 5455
THRUPP, H., Cpl., 5496
CANT, J., L/Cpl., 4007
BACKLER, R., Bugler, 6254
CARTWRIGHT, H. Pte., 4220
CHATTERTON, J., Pte., 3220
CLARKSON, M., Pte., 4856
COULTHARD, J., Pte., 6271
CRITCHLEY, J., Pte., 3099
FOUNTAIN, H., Pte., 3155
FRANKLIN, T., Pte., 5185
GILBANK, J., Pte., 3686
GREY, J., Pte., 6249
HOWARD, W., Pte., 2888
KILLERN, B., Pte., 4209
LAMBERT, C., Pte., 5633
McKAY, J., Pte., 3314
MILLIGAN, B., Pte., 4011
SELLARS, H., Pte., 6261
SPEARS, R., Pte., 6144
STRANGER, J. Pte., 3161
TALBOT, H., Pte., 3962
THIRKILL, J., Pte., 6300
WELCH, T., Pte., 3965
WOODIER, F., Pte., 3169
WOOLMAN, A., Pte., 4204, (See Item 1389 in collection)
YOUNG, C., Pte., 5534
The men of Number 3 Section, H Company under command of Sgt. C. H. Flowers
FLOWERS, C. H., Sgt., 3282
SHILLCOCK, F., Sgt., 4885
SLATER, R., Cpl., 3535
ACRES, J., Pte., 4156
ALCOCK, W., Pte., 5840
BELMONT, C., Pte., 4056
BROWN, W., Pte., 6362
CAMPBELL, R., Pte., 6181
CARPENTER, J., Pte., 3799
CLARKE. R., Pte., 6712
COLTERCLL(?), J., Pte., 3666
DEVONPORT, J., Pte., 6714
EDWARDS, B., Pte., 6435, (Pioneer)
FIDDLER, J., Pte., 3104
FISHER, A., Pte., 4064, (Hospital Aid)
FROSTICK, J., Pte., 4163
HARWOOD, F., Pte., 2991
HATFIELD., W., Pte., 6467
HUSSON, W., Pte., 3340
ISMAY, W., Pte., 6124, (Canteen)
KIMBER, M., Pte., 7004
MARSHALL, G., Pte., 2284
McCLUSKY, M., Pte., 2494
McENTEE(?), P., Pte., 6262
MICKEE, W., Pte., 3004
MULRONEY, N., Pte. 2929
OLSHAM, F., Pte., 3421, (Groom)
PEAT, F., Pte., 5077
PEDDER, H., Pte., 1727
PORTER, F., Pte., 5279, (Signalman)
POTTS, W., Pte., 6421
SESSFORD, D., Pte., 2223
SMITH, G., Pte., 3468, (Pioneer)
SMITH, J., Pte., 2051
WATSON, J., Pte., 3454
WINTER, J., Pte., 2800
WOOLEY, J., Pte., 3441
ORDER MOOI RIVER CAMP
1. No one is to go over bridge without permission.
2. No one is to wash or bathe above sentry.
3. All men are to be in the lines by 6 pm Tuesday for any emergency.
REJOINED D.L.I. FROM RESERVE 17th OCT. 1899, LEFT N/CL ON TYNE FOR ALDERSHOT 18 OCT. 1899 LEFT ASHOT. & EMBARKED AT SOUTHAMPTON ON STEAM SHIP CEPHALONIA 24th OCT. 1899. ARRIVED AT CAPE ST. VINCENT, CAPE VERDE ISLANDS 2nd NOVEMBER 99, COALED AND SAILED ON MORNING OF 3rd ARRIVED IN TABLE BAY CAPE TOWN ON 18th NOV 1899 COALED ON 19th. HAD LEAVE WENT ON SHORE AND HAD A WALK AROUND. SAILED FOR CAPE TOWN MIDNIGHT 19th SUNDAY. S.S. DRONNATTAR ARRIVED AT CAPE TOWN 5p.m., 19th WITH REFUGEES FROM DURBAN. PASSED PORT ELIZABETH ABOUT 10.30 AM TUESDAY 21st AND EAST LONDON AT 8pm. TOWN LIGHTED UP BY ELECTRICITY AND LOOKED WELL FROM THE SHIP. ARRIVED AT DURBAN 4.30 ON WEDNESDAY 22nd NOV. 1899. 2 MEN OF WAR AND 5 TROOPERS AT ANCHOR. DISEMBARKED ON THURSDAY 24th AND LEFT BY 3 SPECIAL TRAINS FOR NOTTINGHAM ROAD WHERE WE INCOMMODE WITH THE SCOTTISH RIFLES.
HAD A MOST ENTHUSIASTIC SEND OFF PEOPLE GIVING BREAD, TOBACCO, CIGARS AND FRUIT ALL ALONG THE LINE.
TERRIBLE THUNDER STORM NEARLY ALL NIGHT. THE WILD FLOWERS ON THE RAILSIDE WERE LOVELY, THOUSANDS OF ANSON LILLIES GROWING WILD.
ON SATURDAY LEFT NOTTINGHAM ROAD CAMP BY TRAIN FOR A CAMP AT MODI RIVER WHERE THE FIRST BDE WAS ENCAMPED WITH ARTILLERY AND THORNEYCROFTS LIGHT HORSE. A LARGE FORCE LEFT ON SATURDAY NIGHT FOR ESCORDT (?) AND THE REMAINDER LEFT ON MONDAY MORNING. 3KRR ARRIVED FROM KILKENNY ON WEDNESDAY 29th NOVEMBER. THE BRIGADE CONSISTING OF D.L.I., K.R.R., SCOTTISH RIFLES AND RIFLE BRIGADE. LEFT MOOI RIVER ON THE 6th DEC. UNDER COMMAND OF GENERAL LITTLETON AND MARCHED ABOUT 15 MILES TO THE WILLOW GROVE WHERE THE BRIGADE WAS ENCAMPED. THE BRIGADE WAS PARADED AT 7am LEFT BY MARCH ROUTE TO ESCOURT. THE BRIGADE LEFT ESCOURT AT 6am ON FRIDAY DECEMBER 8th 1899 AND MARCHED TO FRERE AND THE HEAT BEING TERRIFIC A LOT OF MEN FALLING OUT. THE GARRISON AT FRERE BEING NEARLY 20,000 STRONG. GENERAL BUTLER BEING IN CAMP. MONDAY 11th DEC. ON OUTPOST DUTY/WE WERE SHOT AT BUT DID NOT KNOW WHO AND FROM WHERE, OFFICER RETURNED TO CAMP INTOXICATED/ FROM 3pm TO 3pm ON TUESDAY. A LARGE FORCE MOVED OUT TOWARD COLENSO BEFORE DAYBREAK 12th DEC. NEARLY ALL TROOPS IN FRERE PARADED AT 130pm AND MARCHED TO A CAMP 2 MILES PAST CHIEVERLEY ON WEDNESDAY 13-13-99. ON FRIDAY 15th THE WHOLE OF THE TROOPS IN CAMP MARCHED OFF TO ATTACK THE BOERS POSITION CLOSE TO COLENSO AND THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TUGELA RIVER. THE NAVAL GUNS SHELLED THE BOER POSITION WITHOUT ANY RESPONSE. DURING THE FIGHT ON FRIDAY OUR SIDE LOST 1149 KILLED WOUNDED AND PRISONER.
I WAS WOUNDED BY A SHELL IN THE LOWER JAW, CHEEK AND ARM WHILE IN RESERVES ON SUNDAY.
LEFT CHIEVELEY CAMP HOSPITAL FOR GENERAL HOSPITAL AT MARITZBURG.
ON TUESDAY 19th DEC. LEFT MARITZBURG FOR HOSPITAL SHIP SPARTAN AT DURBAN ON THURSDAY 21st. LEFT DURBAN EN ROUTE TO CAPE TOWN AND ARRIVED TABLE BAY 8 pm 23rd DECEMBER
DISEMBARKED 4pm 24th DECEMBER (XMAS LEAVE) AND PROCEEDED BY TRAIN FOR RODENBOSCH HOSPITAL. HAD A DECENT XMAS DAY. DURING OUR STAY AT RODEBOSCH (?) I WAS VISITED BY SIR. A. MILNER, SIR. WM. McCORMACK, FIELD MARSHALL LORD ROBERTS AND VARIOUS OTHER OFFICERS WHO ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
JANUARY 13th DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL AND PROCEEDED GREEN POINT. APPOINTED TEMPORARY CLERK IN C BRANCH STATION PAY OFFICE CAPE TOWN FEB. 3rd 00 TILL 14th SEPT. 1900. EMBARKED ON ENGLISHMAN 15th SEPT. AND PROCEEDED TO NATAL ARRIVED AT DURBAN ABOUT MIDDAY TUES 16th SEPT. AND DISEMBARKED AND PROCEEDED TO P M P. ARRIVING THERE (?) LEFT P M P TO JOIN H Q ON WEDNESDAY 26th AT 6 pm ARRIVING AT STANDERTON ABOUT 5 PM ON THURSDAY 28th SEPTEMBER
TWO PAGES MISSING
MOUNTED ON GUARD 29th SEPTEMBER.
GOAL GUARD 1 OCTOBER.
GOAL GUARD 3 OCTOBER.
TREASURY GUARD 6
OCTOBER
MOVED TO RAILWAY HILL TO RELIEVE VOL. SERVICE CORP WHO LEFT ENROUTE FOR P M B,
TUESDAY 9th OCTOBER OUTPOST DUTY AND MOVED TO ABATOINE HILL (?) ON FRIDAY
12th OCTOBER, TREASURY GUARD FRIDAY NIGHT AND OFTEN AFTER......
NO FURTHER FORMAL ENTRIES IN DIARY A NUMBER OF NAMES AND
FIGURES AS TO WHO IS ISSUED PICKS AND SHOVELS.
NO OTHER ENTRIES IN DIARY.
Hope this is of some interest Niel.....
Mike
