TOPIC:

This is the account of how Lt Carlisle and 6 men recovered the ferry at Potgeiter's Drift:





In Sep 2013, DNW sold the QSA to Pte C Godden who was one of these 6 men:

The Boer War medal awarded to Trooper Charles Godden, South African Light Horse, who died of wounds following the capture of Bastion Hill and who was posthumously mentioned in despatches for the capture of the ferry at Potgeiter’s Drift in January 1900

QSA (2) CC RoL (1015 Tpr: C. Godden. S.A. Lt. Horse.).



Charles Godden enlisted into Major Childe’s Squadron of the South African Light Horse in November 1899, the month in which the unit was raised by Lieutenant-Colonel Byng. Subsequently attached to General Buller’s Natal Field Force in the second attempt to relieve Ladysmith, the S.A.L.H. arrived at the heights on the southern bank of the Tugela river on 11 January 1900. Before a crossing could be attempted, however, the Boers had to be dislodged from the heights on the opposing bank.

Lord Dundonald, commanding the Cavalry Brigade, seized the initiative and decided to capture the ferry boat at Potgeiter’s Drift and send an attacking force across the Tugela. ‘On his calling for volunteers to swim the swollen river and bring over the ferry boat,’ wrote Bennet Burleigh, ‘a party of “G” Squadron (Major Childe) South African Light Horse readily took upon themselves the task. Lieutenant Carlisle was in command, and down into the Tugela went with him Sergeant Turner, Corporals Cox and Barkley, and Troopers Howell, Godden and Collingwood’. Winston Churchill, then a Lieutenant in the S.A.L.H., later described how the swimmers, ‘... protected by a covering party of twenty men, swam the flooded Tugela and began to haul the punt back, whereat the Boers concealed in the kopjes opened a brisk fire at long range on the naked figures, but did not hit anyone nor prevent them from bringing the punt safely to our side; a dashing exploit, of which their regiment - the ‘Cockyolibirds’, as the Army, with its customary irrelevance, calls us on account of the cock’s feather cockades we wear in or hats (miserable jealousy!) - are immensely proud.’

Following the crossing of the river and in the days prior to the battle of Spion Kop, the S.A.L.H. were involved in a number of clashes with the Boers. On 20 January 1900 General Sir Charles Warren advanced his whole force to the attack. Part of the Boer forces occupied Bastion Hill, a high feature from which they could observe the advancing forces and bring down a devastating fire. Major Childe decided to seize it and led his Squadron in a charge up the hill. The Boers bolted and Trooper Tobin rushed to the top and waved his hat to signify to the rest of the Army that Bastion Hill had been taken.

The Boers promptly directed artillery fire onto the hill and Churchill, who had delivered a message to Major Childe, wrote that ‘two percussion shells burst on the exposed side of the hill, and then a well-exploded shrapnel searched its summit and found what it sought. Major Childe was instantly killed by a fragment that entered his brain, and half a dozen Troopers were more or less seriously wounded.’ Creswicke records that several ‘were slain, among them Godden, who had been one of the seven who distinguished themselves in the punt exploit’. Godden had, in fact, been seriously wounded and died of wounds on 16 February.

Lieutenant Carlisle and his six gallant swimmers, including Godden (posthumously), were mentioned in despatches by General Buller in his despatch dated 30 March 1900.

The MID appeared in The Times, 13 Feb 01.

One of those 6 clasp QSAs that Frank mentioned:


Picture courtesy of DNW

To Lieutenant & Quartermaster T. Collins, SALH & 2nd Battalion Derbyshire Regiment

Egypt (0) (305 Cr. Sergt., 2/Derby. R.); IGS 1854 (1) Sikkim 1888 (1956 .... ergt., 2nd Bn. De....); QSA (6) CC TH OFS RoL Tr LN (Lieut., S.A. Lt. Horse); KSA (2) (Lt. & Qr. Mr., S.A. Lt. Hrs.); Khedive’s Star.

Thomas Collins attested for the Derbyshire Regiment on 23 July 1875. Served with the 2nd Battalion in Egypt 1882 and in Sikkim 1888. Appointed Sergeant-Major in March 1889 and discharged to a pension at Sitapur, 18 September 1896. On the outbreak of the Second Boer War he joined the South African Light Horse at Cape Town on 13 November 1899 and retired on the termination of the war. During the Great War he served with the North Staffordshire Regiment, 22 March 1915-21 February 1920. On 20 August 1920 he was appointed Coroner’s Officer at Derby, a post he held until his retirement in 1931.

And one more ..


Picture courtesy of DNW

A Boer War DCM group of seven awarded to Captain F W Stringer, 7th Battalion Hampshire Regiment, late SALH and Corps of Cattle Rangers

DCM Ed VII (Tpr., S.A. Lt. Horse); QSA (6) CC TH OFS RoL LN Belf (1169 L. Corpl., S.A. Lt. Horse); KSA (2) (Guide, F.I.D.); Natal 1906, 1 clasp, 1906 (Cpl., Transvaal Mtd. Rifles); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-18 (Capt., Hamps. R.)

DCM LG 31 Oct 1902. Details 25 April 1902.

Frederick William Stringer was born in Horton, Dorset on 13 July 1873, the son of the Rev. Thomas Stringer of Purbrook, Cosham, Hampshire. He applied for a commission in the 7th Battalion Hampshire Regiment on 23 December 1911, stating that he had previously served 7 years in the South African Light Horse; 1 year in the Imperial Light Horse; 3 years in the Hants Volunteers and 1 year in the Canadian Artillery. Whilst serving with the SALH he was awarded the DCM. Papers with the lot show that he also served with the Corps of Cattle Rangers during the Boer War. During the Great War he served with the 7th Battalion Hampshire Regiment in India, November 1914-January 1918 and Aden, January 1918-January 1919.

The details for Stringer's DCM were given in The Times on 26 Apr 02:

Gentlemen
Herewith my contribution - small though the contribution is - to this topic: Very deeply toned medal impressed to "181 Tpr. F.Walker, S.A.L.H." Bars confirmed and the only additional info on the roll has forename "Frank".
Regards
IL.

Here is the QSA of 1000 Cpl (later Sgt) W J Cox, SALH, one of the men 'mentioned' for retrieving the ferry at Potgieter's Drift. Cox was a Canadian who later settled in South Africa.

Brett

Here are two more SALH QSA's. Although I have a great deal of information on Sgt Cox of the previous post, Streeter and Wensley are unresearched, except for confirmation of their medals and clasps.

Brett