I have finally cross-checked Appendix 11 from BB&M '21st Lancers who qualified for the Khartoum clasp, 2 September 1898' against the QSA roll.
Here is the list of the men who appear on both rolls:
3463 Pte G B Ayton. DCM
3652 Tpr J Barrow
3757 Pte W/R Binns
2998 Pte T Byrne. VC for Omdurman
3289 Pte J Carter
3419 Pte A Cole
Capt RHLJ de Montmorency. VC. KIA 23 Feb 00
3132 Sgt A Eadie
4135 Sgt T H Farr
Maj J Fowle
2726 SSF J Haines
Capt P A Kenna. VC
3536 Pte A Martin (see below)
Col R H Martin
4126/4128 L/Col W J Mitchell
3368 Pte H Mulligan
Lt A M Pirie. DSO
Lt H B Protheroe-Smith
4048 Pte W Robbins/Robins
3205 Pte H Rowlett (see below)
3967 Pte W/R Skelton
3510 Pte J Smith
Capt R N Smyth. DSO 1902
3681 Tpr B Stace
3805 Sgt W/J Sykes
3361 L/Cpl C Wiggins
A few of these medals have appeared on the market.
DNW 27 Jun 2012
A unique group of three medals to Private Alfred John Martin, ‘A’ Squadron, 21st Lancers, a ‘Charger’ at Omdurman, 2 September 1898
Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (3536 Pte., 21/Lancers) suspension refitted and damaged; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3536 Pte., 21st Lancers) last two clasps loose on ribbon; Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 1 clasp, Khartoum (3536 Pte., 21st Lcrs.) engraved naming, minor contact marks and edge bruising, very fine (3) £2000-2500. Actual £2,300
Alfred Martin was born in the Parish of St. Mary’s, Ashford, Kent in October 1873. At the time of his enlistment on 28 November 1892, Alfred Martin was living with his mother, step-father and several siblings at 1 East Mountain Cottages, Kennington, Ashford, and was a Bricklayer by occupation. Travelling to nearby Canterbury, Martin joined the 21st Lancers. He remained in England until 9 March 1894 when he was part of a draft that sailed to India to join the 21st Lancers at Secunderabad. Despite the many temptations of the East, the regimental magazine for 28 November 1894 reported that he had been awarded one penny a day extra for ‘good conduct’. In October 1896 he sailed with his regiment to Egypt. Initially based at Cairo, Martin was posted to ‘A’ Squadron commanded by Captain W. M. Doyne.
On 2 September 1898 the 21st Lancers took a historic part in the bloody Battle of Omdurman. Under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel R. H. Martin, the 21st were taken by General Kitchener to move forward on the left to ‘Annoy the enemy and prevent any withdrawal to Omdurman’. As they moved forward they saw what appeared to be a relatively small number of enemy firing at them, and so from canter to trot to charge the whole regiment advanced; ‘A’ Squadron on the extreme left. What soon became apparent was that behind this line of enemy skirmishers, hidden in a dry riverbed, were several thousand dervishes not prepared for flight but determined to fight.
Winston Churchill, a supernumerary Lieutenant attached to the 21st Lancers wrote: ‘In all, out of 310 officers and men, the Regiment had lost in the space of about two or three minutes five officers and 65 men killed and wounded and 120 horses. Nearly a quarter of its strength’. Two officers were awarded the Victoria Cross for the action: Lieutenant The Hon. R. H. L. J. de Montmorency and Captain P. A. Kenna. For their part in the battle the Regiment was awarded the Battle Honour ‘Khartoum’. Alfred Martin was lucky to emerge unscathed from the charge. His name is on a list signed by Colonel R. H. Martin the day after the battle as being present at or south of Kerreri Ridge. On 19 October 1898, at a garrison parade in Cairo, Alfred Martin was presented with his Khedive’s Sudan Medal. Four weeks later he sailed home, to be stationed in Ireland, firstly at the Curragh and then at New Bridge. On 1 April 1900 at the Curragh he was presented with Queen’s Sudan Medal.
In the meantime the South African War had broken out. The 21st Lancers did not take part in the war although some officers did go. Only three officers and three soldiers are on the 21st Lancers medal roll for South Africa - 3536 Private Alfred John Martin being one of them. Martin and one officer are on the roll for the three state bars; Martin’s discharge papers additionally list his entitlement to the two date bars - his Q.S.A. and hence his group being unique to the 21st Lancers. Other soldiers from the 21st Lancers did go to South Africa on detachment from their parent regiment and were attached to other cavalry regiments but the medals they received were named to those other regiments.
Martin returned to England on 7 July 1902 and on 14 March 1903 he was discharged to the Reserve. He re-enlisted under Section ‘D’ for a further four years in the Reserve on 24 December 1904.
DNW 6 Dec 2006. Sgt Kelly was at Omdurman and served in the Boer War with the 16th Lancers.
Five: Sergeant W. Kelly, 16th Lancers, late 21st Lancers, who rode in ‘A’ Squadron, alongside Winston Churchill, in the charge at Omdurman
Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (3554 Pte., 21/Lcrs.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Johannesburg (4412 Pte., 16th Lancers); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4412 Corpl., 16th Lancers); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (4412 Sjt., 16/Lrs.); Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 1 clasp, Khartoum (3554 Pte., 21st Lrs.), possible correction to initial on the last, contact marks and edge bruising, nearly very fine and better (5) £1800-2000. Actual £3,600
Walter Kelly was born at Shirley, Southampton in December 1873 and enlisted in the 21st Hussars from the Hampshire Militia in December 1892. Having participated in the charge at Omdurman as a member of ‘A’ Squadron, he transferred to the 16th Lancers in September 1899, with whom he witnessed further action in South Africa, where he won entitlement to the above described Medals and clasps.
Kelly was advanced to Corporal in April 1903 and to Sergeant in March 1907, and was awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in April 1911.
He was finally discharged at Curragh Camp in December 1913.
DNW 17 Sep 1999
A fine Omdurman group of three awarded to Trooper W. H. Rowlett, 21st Lancers, severely wounded in the famous charge
Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (3205 Pte., 21/L/cers.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein (3205 Pte., 21st Lancers); Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 1 clasp, Khartoum (3205 Pte., 21st Lcrs.) contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine and better (3) £1400-1800. Actual £2,700
The following extract is taken from The Egyptian Soudan by Alford and Sword: ‘.. Seeing one of his comrades, Trooper Varley, dismounted and surrounded by Dervishes, Brown, though badly wounded himself, reined up just beyond the khor, and dragged Varley to a place of safety. He then turned again to rescue Trooper Rowlett, who, wounded in both arms and unhorsed, stood on the edge of the khor with a crowd of swordsmen rushing upon him. Brown galloped up in time, lifted Rowlett on to his horse, carried him into safety, then dressed his comrade’s wounds.’ For his gallantry Trooper W. Brown was awarded the D.C.M. All three men mentioned above served in “B” Squadron which suffered more casualties in the charge than any other, and ended the day winning no less than three Victoria Crosses and three Distinguished Conduct Medals.
