TOPIC:

Hi. I am a new member. I mainly research the 71st Fraser Highland Regt 1775-1784, book written, but as I live in "Gordon" countryside I take an interest in The Gordon Highlanders. I have inherited the Service book of Private William Carter, Gordon Highlanders Regt. No. 3675 and am researching him. I am pleased your site confirms his medals and wounds. He was mentioned in Kitcheners dispatches Sept 1901 according to his records. I can find some dispatches but not one with him mentioned. Any ideas? He was from Shropshire. Were there recruiting officers in that area in 1895.

Ed
Welcome to the Forum.
He is shown as "2675" in my Palmer Casualty list; attached to the M.I. and slightly wounded at Graspan, near Reitz, 6.6.1901. There was a convoy fight near Reitz, ORC on that day. Lord Kitchener's Mentions (NCOs and men) of July 28 1901 for the Gordons at that convoy action has four names - none of them Carter.
Regards
IL.

Hi Ed,

I have copied and pasted some information for you from this link on this site of the - Gordon Highlanders . The action below covers the period in which I can imagine that Private William Carter has earned his Mention in Dispatches.

"On 5th June Major Sladen (East Yorkshire Regiment) marched to Graspan, near Reitz, to intercept a convoy. The laager was found in the early morning of the 6th and captured, 45 prisoners being taken. Major Sladen sent back 40 men to inform Colonel De Lisle. About noon 500 Boers under Fourie, Delarey, and De Wet made a determined attempt to recapture the convoy. "During the close fighting which ensued the Boers succeeded in removing some of the captured waggons, which were parked outside the position, but failed to make any impression on the defence". In his telegram of 15th June Lord Kitchener said the Mounted Infantry "behaved with great gallantry". Reinforcements arrived at three, and the enemy retired in haste, and were pursued, the waggons being taken again. The Gordons lost Lieutenant Cameron and 10 men killed and 10 wounded. Lieutenant Cameron was mentioned in despatches. Lieutenant White got the DSO for "having been taken prisoner, and stripped, escaped, ran six miles, and brought up reinforcements". Sergeant Sutherland got the distinguished conduct medal for preventing the escape of 40 prisoners, although the enemy was within ten yards and he severely wounded in bringing in a comrade. Four others of the little band were mentioned for great courage and example. The sorrows of horsemanship had not affected the Highlanders' pluck. A few other mentions were picked up in the latter phases of the war. In the supplementary or final despatch 7 officers and 6 non-commissioned officers of the Gordons were mentioned, but these embraced both battalions."

As you can read from above, the names and awards for Officer and senior NCO's are mentioned, but unfortunately not common soldiers.

Thanks to you both. I am trying to attach the image of his record book but will have to reduce the picture size. It shows the officers name that added the note re the dispatch but I can't decipher it. Are these Indian and Boer War soldiers books common?
Am I posting in the correct part of this forum? More later.
This is a great forum. My brother used to live in S Africa and took an interest in the Boer War. He is sending me a dum dum bullet case with the details of where he found it.

Here is part of his records book Soldiers book p3 100dpi[attachment=29186]Soldiers book p3 100dpi

Hi Ian,

You must have posted your reply while I was typing up mine. I did a search on this site of the Mention in Despatches - Army, and located under Mounted Infantry: NCO's and Men, a W. Carter and J. T. Hammond of the Gordon Highlanders which is on the third line from the bottom.

Could this be the soldier in question, otherwise I see there are at least three others W. Carter's on the medal roll of the Gordon Highlanders.


Ed,
I have attached for you your Soldier's Record Book for W. Carter.