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Major Edmund Ricardo CLUTTERBUCK, 4th Queen's Own Hussars (attached to 13th Hussars).

The Queen's Royal Hussars Museum
Transferred from the Glosters to the 4th Hussars as a Cornet on 12 December 1893. He was a room mate with Lieutenant Winston Churchill whilst they served in India and like Winston he sought adventure which war in South Africa would bring. Promoted to Lieutenant, E R CLUTTERBUCK was attached to the 13th Hussars during the Boer War, firstly in Aldershot as one of the Reserve Squadron Troop Leaders and then to the Cape. On returning to the Regiment he was appointed Adjutant of the 4th Queen’s Own Hussars in March 1903. He retired from service but on the outbreak of war with Germany, he rejoined the colours on 15 October 1914.



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Major Charles Hyde VILLIERS, South African Light Horse [Royal Horse Guards]

Villiers was a Raider, and is pictured third from left (with bow tie) in this well-known photograph of Jameson and his officers on their way home.

Villiers group of ten sold through Bonhams, 26/08/2020, for £10,800.



© National Portrait Gallery - NPG P1700(20b)

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Captain Arthur HILL, M.P., South African Light Horse [5th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles]



Berkshire Chronicle, 3rd March 1900

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Here is some information that I have with a group that is in my collection.....

LETTER TO FATHER, ROBERT HAMMOND FROM LIEUTENANT T. RYAN:

Standerton

February 17th, 1901

Dear Mr. Hammond

I arrived here from Ermelo Friday. We started for Belfast with four hundred sick and wounded and got within twenty miles and had to turn back. Had had to fight every mile to within five miles of here. The escort was very small and we had we had twenty-five hundred head of cattle and horses (unable to read) and hundred Boer families.

I suppose you have heard I was captured by the Boers and lost one Colt gun, two men killed, (Hammond and McGregor) and one very badly wounded on 27th January. It was not far from where Borden was killed, between Whitpoort and Diamond Hill. I was sent with the advance line of Scouts of Gen. Alderson's column with our Colt gun and five men, Gen. Knox on our right and Campbell on the left and it was twelve miles between them that we had to cover. Our Canadian Scouts, only seventy-five, had to keep in touch with both columns in order to do this, leaving a gap in the center of about one mile and a half where I was ordered to go which was the main road, another great mistake.

We got four miles in advance of the support, which was no fault of mine. After going about fifteen miles and I found no one in front of me I sent two men in advance. I could see Scouts on the left flank. On seeing a small kopje on my right front I sent another of my men to see if it was unoccupied, leaving only two men and myself with the gun. The two already out went to a farm house which was about four hundred yards to the right of the kopje and straight to my front as the roas (unable to read) close by. The one man went over the small kopje all right. When within a few hundred yards of the farm house I could see two men, as I thought the men I had sent ahead. One waved his hand. I told the Sergt. Major (McGregor) in charge of the gun to remain where he was until I went to see if everything was clear. So I put the spurs to my horse - when within one hundred yards of the house a Boer dressed in khaki with a felt hat like ours waved his hand and then walk [sic] around the corner of the house. I bolted down around the corner of the house and into the arms of seventy-five Boers with their rifles looking me in the face. Of course I dismounted. I found one of my men wounded and the others prisoners. The wounded man tried to escape and they shot him but it was back of the house and I was ahead (unable to read) hundred yards away I did not hear the shot. The same Boer they decoyed me walked to the front and waved his hand again. The next thing I saw was the gun coming and they got within sixty yards when they saw that something was wrong and Sergt Major McGregor dismounted, unlimbered the gun but the Boers opened fire killing both the men with the gun. (Hammond and McGregor)

In about seven (unable to read) Prinsloo allowed he was in command of the Boers. I had a long talk with him (unable to read). He asked me lots of questions. Well he says, where are you going? I'm going with you I suppose. He laughed and said ok, I mean where were you going? Of course I did not know very much about things. After about three quarters of an hour he said I could send my man for an ambulance and that I could go with him as our column had halted. He was not (unable to read). Prinsloo had his staff with him, they were all dressed in khaki. Some had helmets, others had felt hats turned up at the side with a badge - the Transvaal coat of arms. When the gun was well away, he said where is your horse? I told him I did not know as they took him away. Some Boers went off with (unable to read). Well he said, as that man is badly wounded you had better remain with him as it may be some time before the ambulance arrives, and away he went. It was about three hours before the ambulance arrived.

When I reported to the Gen. He said that it was no place for the gun and I should have had an escort so I got clear of everything.

Letter ends here, looks like there was more but this is all that survived.

Mike

I forgot I had these two pictures from the Canadian Scouts.......

One of the Colts shown was the one captured by the Boers as described below......

Mike