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This photograph of the nine midshipmen that were landed at Durban on 8 November 1899 was reproduced in Navy and Army Illustrated with the caption “SNOTTIES” IN KHAKI - Midshipmen of the “Terrible” at Durban.

Accompanying the image is this short description: There is something at once pathetic and humouous in our illustration, which shows nine midshipmen of the “Terrible” going forth to war. The “poor little snotties” have donned for the first time their khaki kit, and each is as eager for a brush with the Boers at the most hardened campaigner in the field. (Navy & Army Illustrated, 23rd Dec 1899).

In Royal Navy slang, midshipmen are sometimes referred to as "snotties", and a somewhat dubious legend states that the three buttons formerly on the jacket cuffs of the midshipman were placed there to prevent him wiping his nose on his sleeve (Wikipedia).




Photograph taken on the deck of H.M.S. Terrible, in front of one of the ship's two 9.2-inch guns. Taking age, date of promotion and clasp entitlement into account (see below), I believe these men are probably Midshipmen Ackland, Boldero, Down, Hallwright, Hutchinson, Sherrin, Troup, Whyte and Willoughby.


I was struck by the youth of some of these naval officers and wondered whether this had been commented on by correspondents at the front. A quick trawl through newspapers of the time shows that the smallest "middy", pictured standing in the centre of the photograph above, did indeed catch the attention of the press. 16-year-old Midshipman Richard Thornton Down is described as the smallest officer serving in South Africa, but it is noted that what he lacked in stature, he made up for with his "big voice" and the ability to work his gun with remarkable coolness. During the Tugela operations, Down was attached to Lieutenant Richard's unit of two 12-pounders.


Hull Daily News, 23rd January 1900

A Fine Young Middy.

The special correspondent of the Press Association, writing from Chieveley Camp, on December 28th, says: – There is not a family of the established residents of Durban which is not represented at the front. For this statement I have the authority of Mr David Hunter, the able manager of the Natal Railways. Their Natal Volunteers are in force at the front, helping the crews of H.M. Ships Terrible and Forte in the management of the big guns.
This reminds me of the worthy conduct of one of the midshipmen, who is quite a marvel in some respects. His name is Down, and he is 17 years of age, but in appearance he is quite a boy. He managed a gun during the engagement at Colenso, and his coolness was remarkable. He gave his orders to the big seamen in a big voice, and was successful in the direction of his gun. He was wonderfully active, and to use a term of one of his superior officers, not a hair of his head turned during the engagement. He is a worthy descendent of Nelson, and will worthily wear his decorations.
The young gentleman to whom the correspondent refers will be Richard Thornton Down, a midshipman on H.M.S. Terrible.


Kentish Express, 27th January 1900

A PLUCKY MIDDY.

The dash which immortalised our bluejackets and their officers at Trafalgar still characterises the personnel of our navy, notwithstanding the radical change in the conditions of warfare. The fighting in South Africa has already proved that even our smallest “Middies” are animated by the spirit which carried Nelson’s seadogs to victory. It is our pleasing duty to call attention to a signal act of coolness performed at the Tugela battle by Midshipman Richard Thornton Down, a son of Captain Thornton Down, R.N., of Spearpoint, near Ashford. Although only 17 years of age this young Middy managed a gun during the battle, “and”, a war correspondent writes, “his coolness was remarkable. He gave the orders to the big seamen in a big voice, and was very successful in the direction of his gun”.
Another account of the incident describes Midshipman Down as being “quite a marvel in some respects”. After describing the cool manner in which he worked his gun, the correspondent adds: – “He was wonderfully active and to use a term of one of his ship officers ‘not a hair of his head turned during the engagement’. He is a worthy descendent of Nelson, and will worthily wear his decorations”.
Midshipman Down was 17 years of age on December 11th 1899. He left Britannia in May 1898. He belongs to H.M.S. Terrible and joined the Naval Brigade from Durban early in November.


Army and Navy Gazette, 27th January 1900

Midshipman R.T. Down, of the Terrible, attached to the naval brigade with General Sir Redvers Buller, appears by a report from South Africa to have also shown that the youngster of the present day is in no way inferior to his predecessors in courage, dash, and ability while under fire. Mr Down was in charge of a gun and its crew during recent operations at Colenso, and his coolness, as well as the precision of fire he maintained, were admirable. This young gentleman has only been seventeen months from the Britannia. Probably some of the croakers will again object to a mere boy being placed in front of the enemy. Unfortunately for their arguments the fighting qualities of the British midshipman are inherent, and nothing would hurt his feelings more than refusing to let him join the most perilous expedition. Such youngsters make the Nowell Salmons, Charley Beresfords, and others of our Navy, who cared neither for dog nor demon when they drew their swords in defence of their country. When that spirit dies out we may turn our guns into lamp-posts.


The Scotsman, 26th February 1900

That little cherub Middy Down has again been distinguishing himself at Chieveley. For so youthful a salt he is full of pluck, and has an inexhaustible store of humour. His criticisms are a matter of camp notoriety. With the bluejackets, after a heavy storm, or rather during it, he was sent out to recover some ammunition from near the naval 12-pounder gun-pit. The place was afloat, and Down scrambling for the ammunition tumbled in, and was nearly drowned. Luckily some loose railway sleepers were about, and upon one of these he swam out. Regaining his legs and solid land, he said, “Ah, this is a gun-pit; is it? I suppose it is a bally army gun-pit”.



Midshipman (later Captain) R.T. Down's medals were sold through Noonan's on 7 December 2005.


.Courtesy of Noonan's













Unfortunately, the nine midshipmen in the photograph are not named, with Down being identifiable simply due to his stature. It seems thirteen "middies" were landed during the period 8 November 1899 to 12 February 1900:

	Born (age)	Clasps	Mid	Unit
Austin Charles Ackland	26/05/1882 (17)	TH; RoL	15/01/99	Lt Wilde’s 12-pdr Unit
Herbert Seymour Webb Boldero	29/08/1882 (17)	RoL	15/07/98	Lt Ogilvy’s 12-pdr Battery	invalided 21/04/00; to Goliath '01
Richard Thornton Down	11/12/1882 (16)	TH; RoL	15/09/98	Lt Richard’s 12-pdr Unit
William Wybrow Hallwright	16/06/1883 (16)	TH; RoL	15/09/99	Lt Ogilvy’s 12-pdr Battery	to Niobe '01; KIA 21 Apr 1917
Gerald Lord Hodson	28/08/1883 (16)	TH; RoL	15/12/99	Lt Ogilvy’s 12-pdr Battery	invalided 21/04/00
Reginald Becher Caldwell Hutchinson	18/08/1882 (17)	TH; RoL	15/09/98	A.D.C. to Captain Jones	C.S.C.; left Terrible bef. May '02
Richard Evan Williams Kirby	01/09/1883 (16)	RoL	15/02/00	Zululand Exped. Force	landed Jan/Feb 1900
Alwyne Edward Sherrin	21/08/1882 (16)	TH; RoL	15/02/99	Lt England’s No. 1 4.7-inch Gun
George Macgregor Skinner	13/05/1883 (16)	TH; RoL	15/02/00	Lt Drummond’s 6-inch Gun	landed Jan/Feb 1900
Charles Geoffrey Coleridge Sumner	08/11/1883 (16)	RoL	15/09/99	no details of service in Crowe
James Andrew Gardiner Troup	07/03/1883 (16)	TH; RoL	15/09/98	Lt Hunt’s No. 2 4.7-inch Gun	to Hannibal '01; Rear-Admiral '35
Herbert Edward Walter Christian Whyte	02/09/1882 (17)	TH; RoL	15/02/99	Lt Burne’s 12-pdr Unit
Percival Francis Willoughby	16/10/1882 (17)	TH; RoL	15/05/98	Lt Ogilvy’s 12-pdr Battery	to Woolwich College bef. May '02

Midshipman Boldero, who was attached to Lieutenant Ogilvy's Battery during the battle of Colenso, was invalided on 21 April 1900 due to "mental disease". As he had been in the thick of it (see Midshipman Hodson's account below), he may have been suffering from PTSD.
Note that three of the men, Kirby & Skinner & Hodson, were not gazetted midshipmen until after the first contingent had landed.





Here are few further articles relating to some of the other men listed above.


Lurgan Mail, 27th January 1900

A Middy at Tugela.

A 16-year old midshipman [Gerald Lord Hodson], of H.M.S. Terrible, writing to his parents in Cheltenham, describes the battle of Colenso, in which he took part. “I tell you frankly”, he says, “I never expected to see any of you again. We were marching along in ‘columns of route’, and had got down into a donga, and just as we got to the other side of it we got a perfect hail of rifle bullets, and shells burst all around us. It was awfully sudden – the bullocks stampeded, the native drivers ran for their lives, and we unlimbered our guns, dragged them out of the donga, where we had been caught as in a trap, and got them into action. A lot of artillery horses were standing near us, which drew the shell fire in our direction”.
“Only three of our men were wounded”, he adds, “but I sea the artillery horses and men knocked over three at a time by shells. It was a horrible sight. Those splendid horses stood like rocks, as if they understood they had to be killed. Presently the fire got so hot that we retired into the donga for cover; there we saw men with bullets through them in several places, and pools of blood everywhere. As the fire slackened we went to our guns again. When General Buller came along and told us we must retire, as we had no oxen, he got some horses. After we had retired some way we tried firing again, but we had no cover, and we should all have been shot in a few minutes, so we ceased firing and retired out of range…. Ogilvy, the First Lieutenant, who is in command of us, said in his report to the General that we (myself and the other midshipmen attached to the battery) had been very useful in attending on him and noting ranges, &c.”


Gloucestershire Echo, 15th March 1900

MIDSHIPMAN HODSON.

Midshipman G.L. Hodson (son of the Rev. T. Hodson, of Charlton Kings, and an O.C.), who was landed in Natal from H.M.S. Terrible with the naval brigade and took part in the operations on the Tugela, but who is ill in hospital and was therefore left behind when H.M.S. Terrible left Durban, has been transferred to H.M.S. Forte.


Gloucestershire Echo, 31st March 1900

GALLANT CHELTONIANS.

Lieutenant Ogilvy gives a graphic account of the battle of Colenso, and says the conduct of the naval men, without exception, was particularly fine, the day being a very hot one, and the work very hard. He specially mentions Mr Boldero and Mr Hodson, midshipmen, and Mr Hollins, clerk, who were attending on him, noting ranges and carrying messages between the guns during the four hours they were working at


Glasgow Herald, 21st April 1900

The Admiralty reports that Midshipmen H.S.W. Boldero and G.L. Hodson, late of the Terrible, have left Durban for England in the Lismore Castle.


Cheltenham Chronicle, 28th April 1900

The Lismore Castle left for England on April 21. She had on board the following sick and wounded: – Midshipmen Boldero and Hodson.


Dundee Courier, 8th September 1900

Broughty Ferry Officer Distinguishes Himself.
A military contemporary contains the following: – Midshipmen J.A.G. Troup and H.W. Hallwright, of the cruiser Terrible, who were landed with the naval brigade attached to the Pekin relief force, also served with the naval brigade in Natal. As far as can be gathered these are the only officers from the Terrible who have been landed in both campaigns, and the circumstance is deserving of attention. Midshipman Troup landed in November last for the defence of Durban. On the 26th of that month he went to the front, and was with the two 4.7 guns throughout up to the relief of Ladysmith. Midshipman Hallwright landed about the end of January.
Midshipman Troup is a son of the Rev. G. Emslie Troup, Broughty Ferry.


Guernsey Evening Press and Star, 6th November 1900

HONOURS AND PROMOTIONS IN THE NAVY.

Midshipmen Richard T. Down, James A.G. Troup, Herbert E.W.C. Whyte, Herbert S.W. Boldero and Gerald L. Hodson are noted for early promotion, qualifying for the rank of Lieutenant.




























Group of sever awarded to Commander Herbert Edward Walter Christian Whyte, Royal Navy (Noonan's, 16/12/2003)

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith (Mid., R.N., H.M.S. Terrible); China 1900, no clasp (Midsn., R.N., H.M.S. Terrible); 1914-15 Star (Lt. Commr., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Commr., R.N.); Defence and War Medals, mounted Court style for wear, good very fine and better (7)



...

A most interesting write up; thank you for posting it.

Plucky Midshipman Richard Down, despite being about 17 yrs old when on the Natal front, was only roughly 4 ft 8 inches tall, calculating from Neville's photograph - his Lee Enfeld Mk I rifle is 49.5 inches long.

Below are portraits of twelve of the thirteen midshipmen landed at Durban between 8 November 1899 and 12 February 1900.

Two of the men missing from the November 1899 group photograph will be those who were still naval cadets at the time (Skinner & Kirby). Skinner was landed on about Feb 12 1900, with the 6-inch gun that had been ordered by Buller for the final advance on Ladysmith. Kirby joined the Zululand Expeditionary Force (Jan/Feb 1900).

A report in the Aberdeen Journal, dated 30 Nov 1899, states that "Sub-Lieutenant Stephen Newcombe [sic], Midshipman Herbert S.W. Boldero, and Engineer Alfred E.J. Murray, all of H.M.S. Terrible, landed in Natal". Crowe lists Newcome and Murray as officers of H.M.S. Terrible's Searchlight Train. A photograph of the searchlight, taken at Durban on 30th November, includes the eighth midshipman in the table below, indicating that this must be Boldero. This fits with the fact that the eighth man was absent for the two 1902 group photographs: Boldero was invalided on 21 April 1900 due to "mental disease" and never returned to Terrible, joining H.M.S. Goliath instead.

This leaves a single midshipman who appears in the Nov 1899 photo but not in the two 1902 groups. By a process of elimination this must be William Hallwright, as he is the only other man to have left Terrible in 1901, joining H.M.S. Niobe before 31 March of that year.

Hutchinson was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross on 1 Jul 1901 and promoted Commander. SEE: CSC group to Captain R B C Hutchinson, RN

All the men in the third column are wearing QSA medal ribbons.




















..

Hi Neville,

What an incredible piece of work; well done and thoroughly enjoyable!

Regards,
Sturgy

Another amazing post.

Richard Thornton Down - the link below gives an overview of his naval career:

www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Richard_Thornton_Down

The 2nd April 1911 Census found him aboard HMS Swiftsure (rank Lieutenant) in the Grand Harbour, Malta

On the 10th November 1919 he married his "mother's brother's daughter" (i.e. his cousin) in All Saint's Church, Camden Town. His wife started out life as Pearl Hall Hall but by the time she married Richard she was a widow called Pearl Hall Bishop.Her father was a clergyman.

The 19th June 1921 Census found him, aged 38, living in Sussex, but still in the Royal Navy (rank Commander) and working in the Admiralty in London.

Sorry can't find a photo of him later in life.