TOPIC:

DNW sold a nice example of Q Battery group awarded to Major C. Harris, Royal Artillery back in 1993 when the hammer price was £1,450

MC GV (Capt., R.A.); DCM VR (2481 Serjt., R.H.A.); QSA (7) RoK Paar Drie Joh DH Witt 01 (2481 Sejt., Q.B.R.H.A.); 1914 Star (Lieut., R.F.A.); BWM & VM with MID (Major); Coronation 1911 (Regl. Sgt. Major, R.H.A.); ALS&GC (S.Mjr., R.H.A.); Defence Medal

MC LG 3 June 1916.

DCM, London Gazette, 27 September 1901, details London Gazette 20 August 1901 (Army Order 15/02) 'For conspicuous gallantry and good service during a Boer attack on a convoy near Mooifontein south of Bethel on 25 May 1901.’

‘Q' Battery was ambushed near Sanna's Post and remained in action for 4 hours under a terrific fire from the Boers under De Wet's command. All the N.C.O's were casualties and only six unwounded gunners remained. Eventually four guns were successfully withdrawn, cheered by the infantry they had so gallantly supported. Four Victoria Crosses were awarded to the Battery. On 23 May, 1901, a convoy consisting of 150 wagons containing sick, wounded, prisoners and Boer families, left Bethel for Standerton. It was escorted by 400 of the Somerset L.I., 250 Munster Fusiliers, 60 troopers of the 10th Hussars and 12th Lancers, 40 New Zealanders of the sixth contingent, and two guns of 'Q' Battery. Colonel Gallwey of the Somerset L.I. commanded. For two days Boer commandos harassed the convoy until, on the 25th, they attacked in force at Mooifontein, falling on front and rear simultaneously. For nine miles Gallwey sustained a running fight with great coolness and skill, repulsing repeated charges. At one time the Boers used the same tactics as at Vlakfontein, firing the long grass and galloping up under cover of the smoke, only to fall back again under the steady fire of the infantry. Casualties amounted to 43 but the convoy was saved. Harris was again mentioned in despatches, London Gazette, 10 September, 1901. He served in France and Belgium during the Great War from 10 November 1914 until 11 November 1918, again being mentioned in despatches on 14 December, 1917.

A more recent example from Sep 2011 awarded to Gunner W H Watkins. The paid refflect the premium paid for Q Battery medals. These two sold for a hammer price of £1,200

QSA (6) RoK Paar Drie Joh DH Witt (33655 Gnr. W. H. Watkins, Q.B., R.H.A.), KSA (2) (33655 Gnr. W. H. Watkiss, R.H.A.)



Resulting from De Wet’s ambush of General Broadwood’s Brigade at Korn Spruit (Sannah’s Post), “Q” Battery Royal Horse Artillery behaved with great gallantry and managed to save four of its guns from an apparently hopeless situation. The conduct of the battery was praised by Brigadier-General Broadwood in his report on the action. As a result of this report, Lord Roberts took the unusual step of ordering the battery to ballot for the Victoria Cross, to choose one officer, one non commissioned officer, one gunner and one driver to receive the coveted award, there being no other fair way to choose four from so many who performed so heroically on that day. As a result, Major Edmund John Phipps-Hornby, Sergeant Charles Edward Haydon Parker, Gunner Isaac Lodge, and Driver Horace Henry Glasock were each awarded the Victoria Cross. Gunner W. H. Watkin’s name would have been in the ballot for the Victoria Cross to the ‘Gunner’. With copied roll extracts.

Very interesting. I must look into this as the Q Battery list Henk reproduced on the previous thread and which Mike refers to has my father's hand writing on it not Frank Mitchell's.

Mike - have all the men on your list got the Driefontein clasp?

Justin

Hi Justin.....

I will not be home until Wed..... Will check copy of medal roll then.....

Mike

JustinLDavies wrote: Very interesting. I must look into this as the Q Battery list Henk reproduced on the previous thread and which Mike refers to has my father's hand writing on it not Frank Mitchell's.

Mike - have all the men on your list got the Driefontein clasp?

Justin

Hi everybody

Allcock's QSA was one of my better purchases in 1984, even though it cost me all of £90!

His Military History Sheet confirms that he was "Wounded at Koorn Spruit 31.3.00"

Henk

Good Morning Justin.....

I went through the Medal Roll and have updated the list and made some changes.... I have found three names that are on the list but do not have the Driefontein bar and many many more who do but are not on the lists that I have.....

I went through the newspaper clippings that David posted and found that some of the names that were on the medal roll but did not have the bar.....

Mike


Q BATTERY, R.H.A.

Officers and Men Present at Sanna’s Post (Korn Spruit)
Updated from Medal Roll – Driefontein Bar

Allcock, C., 71119 Driver, “B”, (Missing / Wounded)
Armstrong, E. 53722 Sergeant, “D”, (Killed)
Ashdown, H., 23667 Driver, “A”
Ashmore, R. Lieutenant, (Wounded)
Averal, T., 92933 Shoeing Smith, “F”
Avery, W., 69855 Gunner, “C”, (Wounded / Prisoner / Released)
Baker, F.A., 86693 Driver, “D”, (Wounded)
Baker, J., 62250 Corporal, “E”
Balderstone, C., 2831 Gunner, “A”, (Wounded)
Barber, J.H., 29597 Gunner, “A”
Barber, A.J., 82614 Driver, “D”, (Wounded)
Baker, F.A., 86593 Gunner, “E”, (Prisoner / Released)
Bevan, O.C., 24305 Acting-Bombardier, “F”
Birch, W., 8497 Corporal, “D”, (Wounded)
Blunden, J., 73685 Driver, “B”
Booth, J.W., 73036 Driver, “A”, (Missing)
Bostock, F., 32720 Driver, “B”
Bragg, T., 85446 Driver, “E”
Brockway, F., 76284 Driver, “B”
Brown, G.W., 73261 Driver, “A”
Carragher, J., 69871 Driver, “E”
Cattell, J., 70287 Driver, “B”
Charter, G., 14812 Driver, “F”
Clarke, W., 65299 Driver, “F”
Claxton, J., 15080 Driver, “E”
Cleaver, F., 75530 Gunner, “D”
Collins, F.E., 32722 Driver, “A”, (Wounded)
Connor, T., 79910 Gunner, “A”
Cook, W., 56654 Battery Sergeant Major, (Prisoner/Released)
Cotton, C.G., 69592 Gunner, “E”
Cresswell, T. 25519 Trumpeter, “A”
Cullick, C., Gunner, “D” (Cannot find on Medal Roll)
Darling, W.J., 78913 Bombardier, “B”
Dart, S., 82849 Driver, “D”, (Wounded)
Davidson, R., 74464 Gunner, “E”
Delooze, A., 15103 Driver, (Wounded) (On casualty list but cannot find Sub-Division) Is on Medal Roll with Dreifontein Bar.
Dickenson, J., 31998 Driver, “D”
Dicker, J., 69159 Gunner, “C”, (Wounded and Missing)
Diver, G., 61630 Driver, “B”
Dobbs, W., 33395 Gunner, “E”, (Killed)
Duffy, J., 69843 Gunner, “B”
Dunn, J., 77494 Driver, “C” (Wounded)
Dyson, H., 30756 Gunner, “B”, (Prisoner / Released)
Etheridge, T.L., 98574 Driver, “D”, (Prisoner / Released)
Finney, W., 72280 Gunner, “B”
Fogarty, E., 98095 Gunner, “C”
Franks, C., 31905 Gunner, “B”, (Killed)
Freeman, R., 5655 Corporal Shoeing Smith, “A”
Frost, R., 4976 Corporal Collar Maker, “C”, (Prisoner/Released)
Fullerton, E., 529 Corporal, “A” (Wounded)
Galpin, J. 63279 Sergeant, “F”, (Wounded)
Gascogne, J., 33328 Driver, “B”, (Wounded)
Gatehouse, G., 11482 Driver, “F”, (Wounded)
Gennans, J., Gunner, “D” (? Name Spelling? )
Gibbs, F., 33654 Gunner, “F”
Gillinder, R., 31990 Driver, “C”
Glasock, H., V.C., 33286 Driver, “E”, (Wounded)
Green, H.Y., 66160 Shoeing Smith Farrier, “B”
Greenhill, J., 69941 Gunner, “E”
Grey, F.C., 69812 Gunner, “C” (Wounded)
Grey, G., 65367 Driver, “C”
Grocsh, C., 69508 Gunner, “D”, (Wounded)
Gudgeon, J. S., 32246 Gunner, “F”
Hale, T., 81973 Gunner, “A”
Hannan, A.E., 10372 Bombardier, “D”, (Prisoner/Released)
Harper, W., 32723 Driver, “B”, (Killed)
Harwood, R., 50353 Battery Quartermaster Sergeant
Harwood, A.E., 11577 Driver, “A”
Hek, W., 32719 Gunner, (Wounded), (On casualty list but cannot find Sub-Division), (Cannot find on Medal Roll)
Hewitt, F., 68397 Gunner, (Wounded), (On casualty list but cannot find Sub-Division)
Howard, H., 60912 Gunner, “D” (Wounded)
Howarth, J., 75895 Gunner, “C”, (Wounded)
Huggins, W., 66878 Gunner, “E”
Humphreys, G., Captain, (Wounded)
Hunter, S.R., 23467 Driver, “B”, Deserted, (Cannot find on Medal Roll)
Hurley, T.G., 18070 Acting-Bombardier, “F”
James, G., 61915 Shoeing Smith, “B”, (Wounded)
Jarman, T., 12828 Acting-Bombardier, “C”, (Wounded)
Knibbs, H., 70829 Gunner, “E”
Langridge, W., 38336 Driver, “B”, (Wounded)
Lloyd, W., 14551 Driver, “C”, (Missing)
Lodge, I., 70062 Gunner, V.C., “E”
Mannion, T., 14444 Driver, “A”
Marrington, T., 24138 Acting-Bombardier, “B” (Wounded), (Died 16th May)
Mayhew, G. 33396 Driver, “C”
McDonnell, J., 13026 Gunner, “A” (Wounded)
Mitchell, W., Gunner, “F”, (Cannot find on Medal Roll)
Murch, D.J., Lieutenant (Wounded), (Died April 4th 1900)
Murden, W., 14585 Acting-Bombardier, “D” (Wounded)
Murray, J., 60609 Sergeant, “B”, (Wounded)
Nolan, P., 85588 Gunner, D.C.M., “A”
Nolan, P., 33428 Driver, “A”
Palmer, J., 14455 Gunner, “B”
Palpin, J., 63729 Sergt, (Wounded), (On casualty list but cannot find Sub-Division), (Cannot find on Medal Roll)
Parker, C.E., 47511 Corporal, V.C., “C”
Pavey, F., 67353 Sergeant, “A”
Peek, H.R., Lieutenant, (Wounded)
Peters, J.B., 50235 Gunner, “F”
Phipps-Hornby, F.J., V.C., Major, Bt. Lieutenant Colonel
Poole, E.T., 12697 Driver, “C”
Porter, H., 23873 Driver, “A”
Portlock, F., 74759 Gunner, “B”
Prior, G., 79380 Driver, “C”
Purdy, J., 70207 Gunner, “C”
Rand, J., 73587 Driver, “D”
Randall, F., 10278 Gunner, “F”
Robins, G., 31182 Gunner, “F”
Robinson, G., 84890 Gunner, “F”
Royal, T., 83724 Driver, “C”
Royal, W.H., 70043 Gunner, “E”
Saw, G.W., 14270 Driver, “F”
Shepperd, E., 33340 Driver, “F”
Shimmans, R. 63690 Sergeant, “E”, (Wounded)
Shore, S., 70583 Driver, “E”
Smith, J., 76198 Gunner, “A”, (Wounded)
Smith, J., 9373 Gunner, (Prisoner / Released) (On casualty list but cannot find Sub-Division), (Cannot find on Medal Roll)
Smith, B., 79058 14872 Driver, “A”
Smith, G., 25105 Driver, “C”
Smith, F.J., 9373 Driver, “D”
Smith, A.E., 77566 Corporal Wheeler, “E”
Spencer, H., 11198 Driver, “B”, (Wounded)
Steele, W., 33356 Driver, “A”
Stoddart, J.E., 10038 Bombardier, “A” (Wounded)
Swallow, F., 76494 Gunner, “E”
Tagg, T., 73100 Driver, “D”, (Missing)
Taylor, W., 11107 Driver, “F”
Thomas, G.F., 14578 Shoeing Smith, “E”
Tompkins, E., 15126 Shoeing Smith, “D”
Topliff, T., 69762 Gunner, “F”
Triggs, W.E., 72589 Driver, “C”, (Wounded)
Tuck, E., 33302 Driver, “D”
Tyler, A.H., 81743 Driver, “C”
Type, A., 57025 Driver, “D:
Warren, C., 33021 Driver, “E”
Watkins, W., 33655 Gunner, “A”
Webb, A., 32810 Driver, “E”
Weskett, F., 84511 Gunner, “C”
Whitney, F.C., 5160 Bombardier, “C”
Whitten, J., 26139 Gunner, “B”
Williams, R., 25694 Gunner, “C”. (Prisoner / Released), Deserted
Williams, J., 26192 Driver, “E”
Winstone, C., 34119 Driver, “B”
Woodham, C., 67396 Gunner, “D”