TOPIC:

Soldiers liked to keep the bullets that had been extracted from their limbs at field hospitals. Mounted as pendants or put away in drawers for safekeeping, these were treasured as mementos of active service and a close shave with death.

Here are a few examples.



Cpl. J. Bigland, 2nd Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers, wounded at Venter's Spruit, 20 Jan 1900.

Gold presentation pendant.

Obverse with applied Mauser bullet.
Reverse: "PRESENTED BY / CAPT. R. RIGG, M.P. / H COMPANY 2 V.B.B.R. / To Jos Bigland / who was wounded / by this Bullet / AT SPION KOP 1900".

With 18-carat gold hallmarks for Birmingham 1900, and maker's initials "A.F" (for Arthur Fenwick).

4734 Corporal Joseph Bigland, "A" Company, 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, was wounded at Venter's Spruit on 20 January 1900, during the Spion Kop operations.

Presentation made by Captain Richard Rigg, M.P. for Appleby, at Applegarth Villa, Windermere, on 4 June 1901.














Joseph Bigland was a career soldier, joining the 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers on 14 Feb 1894, aged 21. He served in the East Indies (3 yrs), Egypt (1 yr) and South Africa (1 yr, 4 months).

Invalided home after being wounded at Venter’s Spruit, he returned to his regiment in South Africa after a year and five months’ convalescence.

Subsequent to his transfer to the Reserve in Nov 1902, he was eventually discharged as medically unfit on 20 Jan 1906. The reason for his discharge was cited as “caries of the bone”, resulting from the wound received at Venter’s Spruit.

After discharge he worked as a caretaker at the Windermere Liberal Club, and, in later life, held the position of Publican of the Globe Inn (now The Principal), Market Place, Kendal. He died in 1924, aged 52. With regard to his employment with the Liberal Club, it may be relevant that Captain Rigg, the officer who presented the pendant, was a Liberal M.P. As a well-known supporter of the local volunteer movement, and with considerable wealth and influence, Rigg may have gone out of his way to find work for Bigland, now that the latter was medically unfit for further duty.





This letter from Bigland was published in the Lakes Chronicle, 14 Feb 1900. It was written just seven days before he was wounded.

Lakes Chronicle and Reporter, 14th February 1900

Mrs H. Bigland, 19, Havelock Terrace, Windermere, has also received a letter from her son, Pvt. J. BIGLAND, “A” Company, 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers, from which we take the following: –

Springfield, nr. Ladysmith, 13, 1, 1900.

Dear Mother,

By the time these words reach you I think we shall have relieved those poor soldiers in Ladysmith. We are only twelve miles off them, but there are about 30,000 Boers between us and them. They are about five miles from us, and we are expecting a battle either tomorrow (Sunday) or Monday. Our Division (5th Division) is for the relief of Ladysmith. We have got provisions for them, and a convoy of wagons, about seven miles long, drawn by bullocks, so you see it is a dreary job marching by the side of them. We have had it pretty rough since I last wrote to you from Estcourt. We left Estcourt on Sunday and it was raining. We had not been on the road more than an hour before we were wringing wet through, shirt and everything, and we had also four big rivers to cross, and it took us over the waist. What was worse, we had not a change of clothing. When we got into camp we rested for eight hours, and then set off again and kept it up for twenty-eight hours, when we had another rest all night, and then marched to here. I can tell you there wasn’t a man but was completely knocked up. We are getting to rest today, expecting a big battle tomorrow or Monday, so by the time you get this the account will have been published in the papers, and I hope that we will be successful, as those in Ladysmith have been holding out now for ten weeks, but we are all hoping to relieve them by Tuesday. I think we will beat them as our troops are all round them, and I think that they will give in after this battle if we win the day. They are coming into camp every day and giving themselves up. The General gave us all great praise for the way we did the marching. We are longing to have a rub at Kruger and his forces.

[The writer of the above was subsequently reported as wounded – ED. L.C.]





Following his return to England as an invalid, these articles appeared in the same newspaper, the third covering the presentation of the above pendant.


Lakes Chronicle and Reporter, 20th June 1900

WELCOME HOME TO INVALIDED SOLDIERS.

Last night an enthusiastic gathering assembled at Windermere Railway Station, for the purpose of welcoming two local soldiers invalided home from South Africa, but only one – Private Edwin Shelton, of the Border Regiment, whose parents reside at Heathwaite – arrived. The platform was crowded, and the home-comer was hoisted shoulder high and carried through the streets, his escort singing patriotic songs en route. This morning, Corporal Joseph BIGLAND, of the Lancashire Fusiliers, came home to Windermere by the 8 o’clock train. He was one of those wounded at Spion Kop. There was no special demonstration, but a warm welcome was given the returned soldier by many friends who were on the station platform.


Lakes Chronicle and Reporter, 22nd August 1900

WINDERMERE PRESENTATION.

On Friday, Colonel Reade, on behalf of numerous friends in Windermere, presented the sum of £8 2s to Corporal J. Bigland, of the Lancashire Fusiliers, and Private E. Shelton, of the Border Regiment, who have been here on furlough, after serving in the Transvaal War. The men returned to their regiments on Saturday.


Lakes Chronicle and Reporter, 5th June 1901

PRESENTATION TO A SOLDIER AT WINDERMERE.

Last night, Private Joseph BIGLAND, 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers (son of Mr H. Bigland, Windermere), who has had a lengthy service in the army, and was one of those wounded at Spion Kop, being now on sick furlough at Windermere, was the recipient of a unique present which will be long treasured by him, this being the bullet extracted from a wound in his leg, mounted on a shield of gold, with suitable inscription. The presentation took place at Applegarth.
Captain Rigg, M.P., addressing the recipient, said it gave him great pleasure indeed to make that presentation to a Windermere lad of whom they were all extremely proud – to one who was an honour to their village. He wished him good health, long life, and prosperity. He hoped the memento would remind Private Bigland of the many friends and of the hearty good wishes he had from the people of Windermere. He had gone through dangers and difficulties for the sake of his country unflinchingly and ungrudgingly, and merited and received from every loyal subject of our king their very warm appreciation and sincere gratitude.
Mr F. Whitley Thomson, M.P. for the Skipton Division of Yorkshire, also warmly congratulated Private Bigland, and expressed his pleasure at being present when Captain Rigg gave him that memorial. Whilst not a man of war himself, he had seen war and all its horrors, with its difficulties and dangers, for they were glad to welcome Private Bigland back again, and wished him long life and prosperity.
Private BIGLAND said he found it difficult to give expression to his feelings of thankfulness, but he could truly say that he was very pleased with the memento. He should treasure it, and when he went back to his regiment and shewed it to his comrades and officers they would share in the pleasure that one of their number had been so respected by the people of Windermere.














This medical report, written by Rob. W. Leeming, M.D., Hon. Surg. Kendal Hospital, outlines the reasons for Bigland's discharge.

Medical Records, 11th December 1905

This is to certify that Bigland of the Lancashire Fusiliers is now under my care at the Kendal Hospital; that I have recently operated on him for trouble in connection with the femur following on fracture by bullet at Spion Kop; that I have found caries of the bone and that in my opinion he is rendered permanently incapable of further active service.

December 11, 1905
Rob. W. Leeming, M.D.
Hon. Surg. Kendal Hospital






Two definitions of "caries of the bone":

This is death and decay of bone.
Symptoms: The pain is usually deep-seated and intense. There may be swelling of the overlying tissue. In many cases suppuration takes place and the abscess points on the surface. Often particles of bone will be expelled along with the pus.

This is an affection of the periosteum, or covering of the bone, which corresponds to an indolent or inactive ulcer of the skin. The tissues of the affected parts are tender and swollen, and the patient suffers with severe boring and tearing pains at night. Improving the patient's general condition by careful diet and correct hygiene, constitute the means of treatment. Bad cases require a surgical operation for removal of dead bone (J.H. Kellogg, M.D., 1881).






























WO97

Name: Joseph BIGLAND
Number: 4734
Born: Ambleside, Westmorland
Age on 14/02/1894: 21 years, 0 months
Born: mid-Feb 1873 [baptised 13 Apr 1873]

Calling: Labourer

Address: 19 Havelock Terrace, Windermere, Westmorland

Transferred from: n/a

Corps: 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers

Attested, Wigan[?], for 12 yrs’ service: 14/02/1894
Discharged (Medically Unfit): 20/01/1906

Home: 14/02/1894 to 08/01/1895
East India: 09/01/1895 to 10/01/1898
Egypt: 11/01/1898 to 11/03/1899
Malta: 12/03/1899 to 14/09/1899
Home: 15/09/1899 to 01/12/1899
South Africa: 02/12/1899 to 06/06/1900
Home: 07/06/1900 to 07/11/1901
South Africa: 08/11/1901 to 10/09/1902
Home: 11/09/1902 to 31/10/1902
Army Reserve: 01/11/1902 to 20/01/1906

Wounded: Venter’s Spruit, 17 to 20/01/1900

Next of kin: Henry Bigland (father), 19 Havelock Terrace, Windermere, Westmorland


Medals: Khedive’s Sudan Medal 1898; Queen’s Sudan Medal 1898; QSA with clasps for Transvaal & Relief of Ladysmith; KSA with clasps for South Africa 1901 & South Africa 1902



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Hi Neville,

What a wonderful write-up; I really liked the way you tied the historical threads together and presented it to us for a great morning read.

Thanks.

Regards,
Sturgy

About Maj Moir's 11th Brigade field hospital at Fairview farm:
Fairview farm was actually two farms, Fairview and Rangeworthy, the houses being about 100m apart. John and Harry Coventry farmed them then and Barry Coventry does today. At some point they were merged into a single farm called Rangeworthy. At 3.5 km from the Boer lines, both farm houses were withiin Boer artillery range, but outside rifle range.
Here is the hospital building (Fairview farmhouse) as it looks today, almost unchanged since the ABW. Operating took place in tents, the wounded were nursed in tents, and the house would have been for staff etc. The hospital tents were about 100m to the left (west) of this building, and 100m further to the left were the ambulance wagons to which the man on the stretcher is being carried. After a day at Fairview, the wounded were taken by ambulance wagon to No 4 Stationary Hospital at Springfield, 8 km south.


This is Rangeworthy farm. During the ABW it was a single-storey house. I think it was used as officers' accommodation, but I could be wrong.


Put the GPS coordinates -28.65099, 29.46845 into Google maps and you'll be there!

Thank you Rob,

Great to see photographs of where it all happened.

Here is another example from your neck of the woods. Unfortunately it is unattributed. The Mauser bullet was wrapped in a paper note, inside a very battered Cadbury's Queen's chocolate tin. As you can see the pencil inscription is very faded, and only really legible with the help of UV light.

"Don't loose [sic] this bullet whatever you do. It is the one that went through my arm at Spion Kop".

A separate note reads "Dearest Mamma, I want to know if I may get a coat in Bath of coarser material, to save my blacks, which do not stand knocking about in hedge & ditch".








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Wonderful objects!
Interesting how "Spion Kop"was used at the time to describe the actions from 17-27 Jan 1900 on the upper Tugela, not just on the Kop on 24 Jan.
Both are long-range wounds, the first one we know hit bone but the second must have been almost spent of energy. As Sir Frederick Treves observed: "The Mauser bullet at long range acts more like a fine-pointed instrument, going through bone without splintering it, and dividing nerve and arteries with remarkable neatness."

The brooch below was made from a bullet fired from a Lee Metford.



The text on the gold plate is a bit unusual. “Billet” is defined as lodgings/military quarters. In the context it obviously meant “mark” or “target” something that was confirmed by a newspaper exert dug up by Neville.


Although the Lee Metford was a standard-issue weapon of the British, it is safe to assume that this bullet ended up in one of Queen Vic’s own boys, either fired in anger by a Boer or as a stray from friendly fire. (Some American statistics put the percentage of deaths from friendly fire at a thought-provoking 10-15%). By 1901 ammunition for the Mauser had all but run out and the Boers were at that stage already widely using guns and ammunition liberated from the enemy. Another reason for why I believe the man taking the bullet was not a Boer is the fact that a Boer probably would not have kept it and, if he did, he would not have used a text like this or anything written in English for that matter.