TOPIC:

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum and I am mainly here to seek medals belonging to my great-great grandfather, but also to find out more information about what he might have got up to in the 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade. I will post in the appropriate places soon enough.

To cut a long story short, we knew nothing of the man (other than an estimated year of death, his surname and his children) prior to me starting some ancestry work (like many others here). Many brick walls were hit and smashed through and I'm now in the process of creating a diary of as many days and events as I can using as many sources as possible. Forums like these, the Rifle Brigade Chronicles and his military papers have been a helpful start. I'm also plotting pins on Google Earth to document his various engagements, so it's really starting to grow legs!

I see that there is a wealth of information and a lot of good people on this forum and look forward to getting stuck in.

Best regards,
Joe

Hello JP89
Welcome to the Forum.
Your Great,Great Grandfather certainly filled his 20 plus years in the Rifle Brigade.
Serving in Malta twice, ,Egypt, Crete,South Africa as well as serving at home.
Looks like his family were all born during his time in the regiment. His medal roll for his KSA states he was Invalided. Medal roll Wo100/348 Dated 25th February 1903 Cairo.
I could only find his roll for the Defence of Ladysmith, no tick against Transvaal. But his papers do mention Transvaal along with his other medal entitlement.
There are accounts of the Rifle Brigade on this site. 1st and 2nd battalion along with the 4th and Composite Rifle Battalion. As for the medals, I wish you luck and hope you get reunited with them one day. It seems as well as being a rifleman, your Great Great Grandfather was a dab hand in the kitchen. He was a cook in the officers mess 2nd battalion rifle brigade throughout Sudan and South Africa, also a company storeman for 3 years - with 4 good conduct badges and his medals it states he was a thoroughly sober, hardworking reliable man.

2nd Battalion
The 2nd Battalion sailed from Crete on the Jelunga on 2nd October 1899, and reached Durban on the 26th. At 3 am on the 30th the battalion got into Ladysmith by rail, and after a hasty meal set out to join the 1st Devon, 1st Manchester, and 2nd Gordons under Ian Hamilton at Limit Hill, north of the town, where Sir George's centre was that day (see 1st Liverpool). The brigade did not have much to do beyond sending help to Colonel Grimwood's brigade on the right or east. During the forenoon the battalion and the 2nd Gordons deployed and lined the crest of Limit Hill, from which they covered the retreat of Grimwood's brigade, they themselves eventually retiring about 3 pm.

From the commencement of the siege the battalion held King's Post and Leicester Post on the north of the town, and, unlike some other battalions, they strained every nerve for weeks to make these posts absolutely unassailable. The rocky nature of the ground, the want of suitable tools, and the fact that many of the diggers had to be on duty in the trenches all night, made the task superlatively difficult Observation Post, about a mile in advance of King's Post, was till 9th November held by a weak detachment of the 5th Lancers, who were attacked on that day, and the Rifle Brigade had to reinforce them. The attack was repulsed. The battalion's losses were 1 officer and 1 man mortally wounded and 4 men wounded. They had now to garrison this post and to set about making it impregnable. One very remarkable piece of work done by the battalion was the keeping down by the Lee-Metford fire of 'sharpshooters, many of whom were officers', of the Boer artillery-fire at ranges between 2000 and 2800 yards. On the morning of 8th December it became known that General Hunter with 600 men of the Imperial Light Horse and Natal Carabiniers had blown up two big guns on Lombard's Kop and captured a maxim. This fired Colonel Metcalfe to do something similar, and he got Sir George's sanction to endeavour to destroy the howitzer on Surprise Hill. On the night of the 9th he reconnoitred the route, and on the 10th at 10 pm started with five companies 2nd Rifle Brigade and a few Engineers under the ever-ready Lieutenant Digby-Jones. The hill-top was reached; after some delay the howitzer was found, not in its emplacement; the explosive was inserted; a fuse was lit, but no explosion happened; another had to be set. This time the gun was destroyed; but meanwhile the Boers had gathered in force on the hillside, and our men had to charge with fixed bayonets, never firing a shot. Many Boers were bayoneted. Colonel Metcalfe lost 1 officer and 11 men killed, 36 wounded, and 10 prisoners or missing, but a bit of good work had been boldly and skilfully executed. Sir George White in his despatch of 23rd March 1900 remarks that "the companies were, on the way back, admirably handled by their captains ... The affair reflects great credit on Lieutenant Colonel C T E Metcalfe and his battalion".

At three on the morning of 6th January the battalion heard the furious rattle of musketry round the southern defences, and about 5.30 they were ordered to send six companies to Caesar's Camp, four miles off, arriving there about seven. Five companies were pushed into the firing line, which was distant from the enemy only 80 yards. "For nearly the whole day the fight raged fiercely, first one side then the other gaining a slight advantage, but we could not succeed in dislodging the Boers" from the south-east of the hill. At 3.30 the enemy tried to rush forward, but were driven back, and shortly afterwards retreated under a heavy fire, "some companies firing their last round". The battalion this day lost 1 officer killed and 1 mortally wounded, and 20 men killed, 5 officers and 32 men wounded. That night officers and men lay on the stricken field soaked and physically wretched, but knowing that another big bit of work had been done. Five officers and 8 non-commissioned officers and men were mentioned in Sir George White's despatch of 23rd March 1900.

On 7th January the battalion was ordered to take over Waggon Hill from the 1st King's Royal Rifles. The Honourable A Dawnay, adjutant of the 2nd battalion, in the account which he gives of the siege, already quoted from, says: "On arriving at Waggon Hill we were not best pleased at our change of quarters; we found none of those snug burrows or palatial residences that we had built with so much care in our old habitation, and the defensive works were few and far between. All the weary digging had to be started afresh, only under more trying conditions, as it all had to be done by night, it being quite impossible to attempt anything of the sort by day, since we were continually exposed to shrapnel at the convenient range of 3200 yards. Quite two miles of front had to be fortified, but in a very short time a complete set of works made their appearance, continuous sangars occupied a large portion of our front, wire entanglements were laid down all round the front of our position, and abattis made in places".

Perhaps the King's Royal Rifles thought that they did all the digging desirable, but various writers support the statements contained in the quotation. General Ian Hamilton has almost a faultless record in the campaign. He added to his reputation on the 6th January, but it does seem almost a fault that he allowed the battalions occupying Waggon Hill and Caesar's Camp to sit there without working at their defences as their brethren on the north side of Ladysmith were doing.

After the relief of Ladysmith the garrison was given a period to rest and recuperate, and never did men deserve that more. They were ready to go forward when General Buller moved north, and the 2nd Rifle Brigade were brigaded under General Walter Kitchener with the 1st Devon, 1st Manchester, and 2nd Gordons. In the fighting at Rooi Kopjes, 24th July, and Amersfoort, 7th August, the battalion took no prominent part, but they were to get a great opportunity in good time. When the force arrived at Geluk, 23rd August, it was evident the Boers were about to make a stand. On the 26th, at a conference between Lord Roberts and General Buller, it was arranged that the troops of the latter, being the old Ladysmith garrison, should attack the enemy's position on the 27th.

The position was an extremely strong one, stretching for miles on either side of the Belfast-Koomati Poort Railway. Bergendal, by which name the battle has become known, is the name of a farm, the house and buildings of which are situated on, or rather a little to the east of, a kopje. This kopje and the buildings, which were seen to be strongly held, lie to the south of the railway and to the west of a long ridge or series of kopjes running roughly north and south. These ridges seem to have been the Boer main position. They had guns on these as well as on the hills north of the railway. Sir Redvers decided that Bergendal kopje must be the first point attacked. It was slightly isolated, and formed a definite objective. He placed the Manchester Regiment, four naval 12-pounders, two 4'7 guns, two 5-inch guns, the 61st Howitzer Battery, and the 21st Battery on a ridge lying south of, and roughly parallel to, a line drawn from Bergendal to the Boer main positions. The 42nd Battery was farther to the right of the Manchesters. A Battery RHA and the 53rd RFA fired from a point about one and a half mile north of the other artillery and close to the railway. For three hours these guns kept up a furious fire on the buildings and kopje, but the Boers would not shift. The infantry were then ordered to assault, the 2nd Rifle Brigade to attack from near where the A Battery was—that is, from the west—the 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers from near the main artillery position, or the south. Between these battalions were the 1st Bevon and 2nd Gordons in support. The Rifle Brigade being extended to about ten paces, had reached a point 800 yards west of the kopje when there opened a terrific rifle-fire both from the kopje and from hills north of the railway. The attackers lay down, then after a great effort by our artillery the Rifle Brigade again advanced by rushes, and "there never was a waver from start to finish". The Boers of course bolted, but a pom-pom complete and 19 prisoners were taken: 14 of their dead were found. The Rifle Brigade lost 3 officers killed or mortally wounded, and 21 riflemen killed or died of wounds; 7 officers and 63 men were wounded. The losses of the other battalions were very slight. Many heroic deeds were done in the assault. Rifleman Durrant for carrying Corporal Weller a distance of 200 yards under a very heavy fire got the VC.

General Buller said: "The honours of the assault belong to the Rifle Brigade, as they had to attack that part of the kopje which had been most protected from our artillery-fire; but all the troops did splendidly, and the carrying of such a position, held as it was by resolute men (the famous Johannesburg Zarps), will always remain present to the minds of those who witnessed it as a most gallant feat of arms". After referring to the excellent way the maxims were handled and other dispositions made, Sir Redvers remarks: "The loss of the post at Bergendal led to the enemy abandoning in great haste the whole of their immensely strong position about Dalmanutha, and forced them to withdraw in great confusion beyond Machadodorp. In fact the capture of Bergendal by the Rifle Brigade and Inniskilling Fusiliers cleared the whole of the high veldt of the enemy".

Six officers and 8 non-commissioned officers and men of the 2nd Rifle Brigade were mentioned in General Buller's despatch of 13th September. Four officers and 3 non-commissioned officers were also mentioned in his final despatch.

The battalion crossed the railway along with General Buller and moved north towards Lydenburg, which, after some fighting, they reached on 7th September, and in that district they remained for a considerable time. Henceforth they were to have plenty of work and a fair amount of hardship, but they were to see no fighting to be compared with Bergendal. During the remainder of the campaign they were employed in the Eastern Transvaal. In March 1901 three companies accompanied Colonel Park on a night raid on Kruger's Post, which was entirely successful. In April the battalion was put into a column under General W Kitchener, and for the next three months did much hard marching, chiefly north of the Delagoa Railway. About the end of July 1901 the battalion took over a number of posts about Middelburg and garrisoned these for a long period.

For notes as to commendations by Lord Roberts, and also those earned under Lord Kitchener, see 1st Battalion.

Hi Dave
What a fantastic story and a very happy Great Great Grandson
Whilst not expecting this amount of detail, are you able to locate or let me know where I can find similar information on my grandfather Trooper Richard Morton Stone Natal Carbineers service number 1609. Served in the 1906 Native Rebellion, on strength 18 4 1906, off strength 31 7 1909
I know he worked for the Public Works Department in Maritzberg on roads and bridges and after leaving them he was a maize? farmer before returning to England where he became County Surveyor for North and West Devon
Thanks
Clive

Hello Dave,

Many many thanks for that treasure trove of information! I do have access to his military record so I knew a lot of your first post, but it was news to me that he was invalided. I'm intrigued by this and have since found the medal roll you alluded to. Hopefully there are records out there for me to find which might shed some light on his injury or illness.

He died about 5 years after his discharge (1913) towards the end of 1918 of as-yet-unknown circumstances. I believe I know where he might be buried and will try to see if there is any other information at the cemetery when I next go.

I'll be sure to include your excerpts in my write-up of him and also use the 'On This Day' part of this website.

Dave F wrote: Hello JP89
It seems as well as being a rifleman, your Great Great Grandfather was a dab hand in the kitchen. He was a cook in the officers mess 2nd battalion rifle brigade throughout Sudan and South Africa, also a company storeman for 3 years - with 4 good conduct badges and his medals it states he was a thoroughly sober, hardworking reliable man.

Do we know much about what sort of life the cooks would have led? I assume they would still fight and do all the other soldierly actions (rather than being kept behind the lines) but prioritising culinary work whilst at camp (instead of building defences etc.?). Additionally, would the officers mess be just for his company or for the whole battalion? I'm trying to work out which company he may have been in by comparing the officers' names in the Rifle Brigade Chronicles to those who have signed his military papers but entries are sometimes years apart and therefore miss out quite a lot of key dates.

Good luck to you, Clive in your search on your grandfather! It may be worth putting your request in a new thread so that others can see it and help you directly as not everyone who chooses to read this post will know it's got stuff about Richard Morton Stone.

Thanks again.

Joe