TOPIC:

This thread does not bear the likeness of Sir Edward - herewith corrective action in triplicate:



In this one he does not seem to have yet been awarded his KCMG, despite the annotation, but in the next two, which appear to have been taken at the same time, he has.



Wikipedia has this to say about his honours:
Abyssinian War Medal (1868), Ashanti War Medal (1873–4) and bar, Zulu War Campaign Medal (1879) and bar. He was invested as a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in May 1896 and Knight Commander in Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in January 1900.


So based on the Wikipedia info being correct he was awarded the KCMG less than a month before he was wounded at Spion Kop and presumably the photos were taken at the same time.

Thank you for posting these David,

Although the portraits appear to be from the same sitting, the first was photographed by Lafayette, Dublin, while the other two are by the great Alexander Bassano, London.
It is odd that the Bassano images show Woodgate wearing the K.C.M.G., as the order was not officially gazetted until 8 January 1900. By this date Woodgate had already embarked for South Africa, leaving Liverpool on 30 November on board Transport Ship No. 69 "Canada". Perhaps he received the medal ahead of the official announcement as it was known that he was about to proceed to the front.

Sources/credits for the above images:
1. Robinson, Commander C.N., R.N., "Celebrities of the Army" (1900), pp. 47 & 48
2. © National Portrait Gallery, London, NPG x96493
3. © National Portrait Gallery, London, NPG x39348


Below is the 9 January 1900 edition of the London Gazette, appointing General Woodgate to the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and St George (K.C.M.G.).
Also two images of the "pendant" on the litany desk in All Saints Anglican Church, Murchison Street, Ladysmith, made from one of General Woodgate's tunics, as worn by him in the above portraits. This has now been placed under glass and hangs above the ABW memorial in the church. SEE: General Woodgate's Tunic





London Gazette, 9 Jan 1900, showing the date of the granting of the K.C.M.G.
thegazette.co.uk








The "pendant" on the litany desk in All Saints Anglican Church, Murchison Street, Ladysmith, made from one of General Woodgate's tunics. The pendant was a gift from the general's sister and is embroidered "E.R.P.W. / SPION KOP" (Gildea 1911, p. 378).


...

Neville - I think this explains the apparent mystery contained in the photos:



So, in the Queen's Birthday Honours List of June 1899 he was made an "Ordinary Member of the Third Class, or Companions of the said Most Distinguished
Order of St Michael and St George. This allowed him to put C.M.G. after his name and wear the Medal of the Order of St Michael & St George. In January he was promoted to the "Second Class or Knight Commanders" of the Order and could then put K.C.M.G. after his name and "Sir" before it. (So possibly one of the shortest lived knights of the realm). I think as a Knight commander he might have been able to hang something under the medal but I guess he never had the opportunity to do that.

Consequently I think the two b&w photos can be dated quite accurately to having been taken between June & November (inclusive). They worry me slightly - the emptiness of the eyes - had he already seen too much death or did did he have a premonition of what was to come?

I have also found him on Find a grave which provided another "likeness" although I wonder if it is a romanticised version of his portrait. Also his grave in St John's Anglican Church Cemetery, Mooirivier (as spelt on the FaG entry).





I am still trying to decipher some of the wording on the gravestone.

You have cracked it. The K.C.M.G. came as a neck badge with accompanying breast star, which Woodgate is not wearing in the photographs. I should have noticed this earlier as I have my great grandfather’s K.C.M.G.
It was unusual to be elevated from C.M.G. to K.C.M.G. in such a short period of time.

The inscription on the ledger stone reads:



..

Major-General Woodgate was “gazetted” after his death in the July 13, 1900 edition. Note the prefix and suffixes to his name.

Major-General Sir EDWARD ROBERT PREVOST WOODGATE, K.C.M.G., C.B., Deceased.

NOTICE is hereby given, that all persons having any claims against the estate of Major-General Sir Edward Robert Prevost Woodgate, K.C.M.G., C.B., late of the United Service Club, Pall Mall, London, deceased who died at Mooi River, Natal, South Africa, on the 23rd day of March, 1900, and whose will was proved in the Principal Registry of the Probate Division of Her Majesty's High Court of Justice on the 30th day of June 1900, by Lieutenant-Colonel Edward De Barry Barnett of 32, Cambridge Square, Hyde Park, London, and George Nicholas Hardinge, of 17, Lower Berkeley-street, London

Esquire, two of the executors therein named, are required to send particulars of their claims to the undersigned Francis and Johnson, on or before the 11th day of August 1900, after which date the executors will distribute the assets of the deceased amongst the persons entitled thereto, having regard only to the claims of which they shall then have had notice; and they will not be liable for the assets so distributed to any person or persons of whose, claims or demands they shall not then have had notice.—Dated this 11th day of July, 1900.

FRANCIS and JOHNSON, 19 Great Winchester Street, London, B.C., Solicitors for the said Executors.

His probate shows he left an estate valued at £5,517 which I think equates to about three quarters of a million today.

He never married but as he had 10 siblings there should have been a good number of nieces & nephews to benefit. His military genes appear to have come from his mother rather than his father.

Neville – I am impressed by your deciphering and your use of the term "ledger stone" has added to my vocabulary. Final point - are you or I going to inform the NPG that they are a significant number of years out in dating their photos of ERPW as “early 1890’s”. As I just found them on Ancestry, whereas you knew their true home, I think you should have the honour.

The civil surgeon Frederick Treves quite publicly reported General Woodgate's progress, in three issues of the British Medical Journal. [The dates are those of publication].

3 March 1900:
General Woodgate received a very severe wound of the head from a fragment of shell. [Note: other sources indicate a close range bullet] The piece entered at the outer angle of the right orbit, and ploughed along the skull as far as the pinna. It made a linear ragged gap in the bone. Much brain matter was escaping, and the sight in the right eye was lost. I opened up the wound, and removed all depressed and loose fragments of bone with a relief to the patient which is, I am afraid, only temporary.

10 March 1900:
I am sorry to say that General Woodgate is not progressing favourably, and is indeed losing strength. I had to remove the damaged eye. The General is free from pain, but is seldom really conscious, although he recognises his friends and answers a few questions.

24 March 1900:
General Woodgate, whose case is assuming a little more favourable aspect, and who was more at ease after I removed the damaged eye, was among those who travelled down on the 9th [Feb 1900 from Spearman's to Chieveley by stretcher]. He was accompanied by his brother, who has nursed him with the utmost devotion since the day he was wounded.