TOPIC:

A very interesting item from the estate of the late Peter Digby is this signaller's flag that was previously in the possession of Dr A Bensusan (civilian doctor attached to the TMI).

Does anyone know more about the history of this flag?






A picture of the officers of the TMI taken before Spion Kop. Dr Bensusan is no 7

Semaphore flags were used on Spioenkop, though I think it improbable that the small contingent of TMI (18 officers and 180 men) would have had their own signaller. The battlefield is so small that messages were carried by runners across the summit, and bugles or flags were not used on the summit, though whistles would have been heard frequently to control fire.
There was only one signal station to communicate with the rest of the Army. Signalling from Spioenkop was intended to be heliographic, and the signal station was set up directly facing Warren's HQ at Three Tree Hill, (approx. GPS -28.64866, 29.51533).
At 8.43 am. General Woodgate was hit in the head, but he was still conscious and able to dictate a heliogram to General Warren: “We are between a terrible cross-fire, and can barely hold our own. Water is badly needed. Help us.” As this message was being sent the heliograph was struck by a shell and smashed. The signallers moved away from the shell and rifle fire, re-establishing themselves lower down the spur and to the east, approx. GPS -28.65477, 29.51474. In this new position, Warren could no longer see the signal station. The signaller finished sending Woodgate’s message using semaphore flags, which were the sole method of communication thereafter. Woodgate's message was seen from Spearman's Hill by Signalman Large of HMS Terrible.

PS I made an error in the 2nd GPS but I have fixed it. Copy and paste these into Google Maps to go to the spot.

The German militaria collectors have a saying: buy the item not the story.

We don’t know where Digby got it or if tea was used to age it.

Correct, we don't know where Peter got this flag but that is what I'm trying to find out, if there is anyone out there who knew Peter and saw this in his collection and knows the story.

In this case I believe what is written on the label. If anyone would have had access to such an item it would have been Peter. He was the Transvaal Scottish Regimental historian and the honorary curator of the Transvaal Scottish Regimental museum for many years. Was the flag donated to him? Did Peter get it from Dr Bensusan himself ? Dr Bensusans Wife? Dr Bensusans family? Another Boer War collector? All possibilities.

Getting back to the flag I can assure you that it is not tea stained, it is dirt moth eaten and possibly blood on the one side and that label with the info was written on it decades ago. In hand you can see the flag is of that period without a doubt.

David thanks for posting these pictures for me, please feel free to post the other pictures with close ups I sent you.

If you feel the item is too good to be true fair enough but if ever in South Africa and would like to see the flag in hand please contact me I will gladly show it to anyone who wants to see it, I can assure you that you will be convinced that it is period.

Regards
Shaun

I am not in doubt that the flag is a genuine semaphore flag from the Boer War. It is the right size, shape, colour, and age - as far as I can tell.
I accept that the flag very likely belonged to TMI and was in the possession of Dr Bensusan, as those details seem are convincing. Obviously the battle of Spioenkop took place a day earlier than stated on the label, but that leads me think the label was made in good faith.
I just think it is not very likely that this particular flag was used by TMI for signalling on the summit of Spioenkop during the battle.
Incidentally, Owen Coetzer in The Road to Infamy pages 149-150 goes into some detail about the signallers on Spioenkop.

A question.
Have I missed an auction, or is Peter's collection being disposed of privately?