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Hi to all
let me say my interest in this particular conflict was probably first started by reading "rags of Glory " by stuart cloete then later by "private tuckers boer war diary"
More recently I have aquired a campaign knife belonging to a member of the 12th lancers who at the time was a 2nd lieutenant Thomas Reginald Badger . He was later to be promoted to Major during ww1 the knife is a joseph rodgers and sons campaign/sportsman's knife of 1882. I imagine he would have had this when he was in S.A. He was described as being severely wounded in the cape colony I have since discovered that this was in a skirmish at "wittes Drift" ( December 1901 )I am keen to learn any more that the membership might know of this particular exchange or the major himself. It sounds like his injuries may have influenced his ww1 service as he was seconded to the general staff and later as a military attache . He was later awarded the l'ordre etoile'noir commandeur or order of the dark star a french award and i beleive he was also an M.B.E.

Hello Greenman and welcome to the Forum.

There are a couple of mentions for T R Badger on the site in terms of his movements too and from South Africa.

Your knife sounds very interesting. How is it attributed to him?

I have not come across Wittes Drift before. Do you know if it was known under a different name?

Best wishes
David

Greenman,

I see from the London Gazette that he joined the regular forces from the Leicestershre Miliria, at which time he was described as 'gent'.

Hi djb

His name and regiment are engraved on the handle but no rank yet ? so I imagine it is from the early part of his military service in S.A. and france. It is in excellent condition but is sadly missing the cork screw which because the steel is such a high carbon content at some point has snapped. I think the cork screw may have been well used and was obviously in use when it failed I will try and post some pictures.

Regards

Hi djb

I forgot to mention , I learned of his wounds and S.A. service from the curator at Derby museum and art gallery where the 12th lancers official collection is I believe held . But as to whittling it down to an actual skirmish at " Wittes Drift" I got that info from this website by going to "unit info" Imperial units" click on 12th prince of wales lancers then I did a surname search for Badger and up it popped . I have to say this site is brilliant It's just great that people give up their time like this so all of this history is saved . I wonder what his rank was when he bought it or was it a present from a parent I find it totally fascinating.

Regards

I am still knocked back on my heels, having stumbled across this post as a result of an idle google search.

I have always felt a strong link with Reginald Badger as, after he died in 1957 his widow Betty married my grandfather who was a recent widower himself. My grandparents and the Badgers had been friends together for years, so when each surviving spouse found themselves alone, I think they felt it only made good sense to continue their adventures together and get married.

After my grandfather died, I was lucky enough to stay with Betty at Biddlesden Park many times during my teen years. We discussed all sorts of topics, despite her being in her 80s and me being teenager hitch-hiking to see her. She was a remarkable person, and I always got the impression that Reggie was great company as well.

Betty and Reggie were married in 1923. He was 41 and she was just 23. Of course many of the men closer to her age had been killed in the war, including two of Betty's brothers. Reggie and Betty bought the beautiful Biddlesden Park in about 1932. They never had kids of their own. Given their mutual love of horses, they ran a successful stud at Biddlesden together, and Betty continued after Reggie died. I won't go on about their family history here, but I can at least probably tell you when the knife you have likely started its journey to your hands.

Betty died in 1985. She left her estate to a nephew whom she had apparently seldom seen for 40 years. He evidently didn't have much interest in family history as he ordered the entire contents of the house liquidated at auction, held on the lawns of Biddlesden. My cousin and I went up to Biddlesden for the auction, thinking we should get some momentos of our wonderful times with her. We were totally unprepared for the scene; it was horrific. Despite my being a fairly thick-skinned 19 year old at the time, it was too much to see our step-gran Betty and Reggie's entire lives heaped onto tables, being picked over during the preview. Even their photo albums from the 1910s through 1940s were in a jumbled pile with a lot number on them. The housekeeper and groom, who had been part of the house for over 50 years since Reggie and Betty bought the place, were in a state of shock. They were deferential by training, but seeing the bullet-damaged saddle that Reggie had been wounded on with a lot number on it was too much for them. My cousin and I couldn't take it, and couldn't bear to stay for the auction, so after a cup of tea with the old housekeeper and groom in the quiet of their cottage, we drove away in silence.

There is much more to tell, but I won't clutter up this site any more than I already have with this reply! I am sure you have discovered things about Captain (later Colonel., I believe) Thomas Reginald Badger that I would find very interesting. Hopefully I have done the same for you. Perhaps we can have a further exchange by email, although I am wary about posting my email on a website.

I must add that I am very pleased that someone with such an abiding interest has ended up with Reggie's knife. He would be amazed that almost 100 years after he departed for France, he is being discussed on an invention even more remarkable than a wireless!

Best wishes,
DLSG