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Good Evening Everyone......

There have been a number of questions re the Durham Light Infantry..... I thought that I might throw the following into the pot, the diary of a Sergeant in the 1st Battalion from my collection which contains a number of names.....

Mike

P.S. After recovering from his wounds he became a teacher at Wormwood Scrubs Prison...


1091

FLOWERS, C. H. (Charles Henry)

REG. NO.: 3282
RANK: SERGEANT

REGT: DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY, 1st BATTALION
BARS: CAPE COLONY, RELIEF OF LADYSMITH, TRANSVAAL

REMARKS / HISTORY:

1. WOUNDED AT BATTLE OF COLENSO, DECEMBER 15th, 1899.
2. SERVICE DOCUMENTS ON MAIN FILE.
3. COMPLETE WITH DIARY, PHOTO, CHRISTMAS CARD, CAP AND COLLAR BADGE AND BUTTON.

CHARLES HENRY FLOWERS

Enlisted: Durham Light Infantry, Colcester, October 1888
Parish of St, Mary’s, Warwick, Warwickshire
Age: 20 years, 6 months, Trade: Clerk
Previous Service: 2nd Vol. Bn. Royal Warwick Regt.
Height: 5 Foot, 11 ½ Inches
Weight: 140 Lbs.
Chest: 35 ¼ inches
Complexion: Pale
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown
Religious Denomination: C. of E.
Attested: Private 5th Oct. 1888
Appointed: Lance Corporal, 15th July 1889 (Orderly Room Clerk)
Appointed: Lance Sergeant, 22nd September 1889
Promoted: Sergeant, 1st August, 1893
Discharged to Army Reserve: 5th Oct. 1895
Recalled to Active Service: 9th Oct. 1899
Discharged on Termination of 1st Period of Engagement: 4th Oct. 1901
Received War Gratuity of 10.0.0 Pounds (Sergeant)
HOME: 5 Oct. 1888 to 4 Oct. 1895
ARMY RESERVE: 5 Oct. 1895 to 8 Oct. 1899
HOME: 9 Oct. 1899 to 23 Oct. 1899
SOUTH AFRICA: 24 Oct. 1899 to 25 April 1901
HOME: 26 April 1901 to 4 Oct. 1901
　
(Note: Spelling as shown in Diary)

DIARY OF SGT. C. H. FLOWERS, 1st. BATTN. DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY, CAPE TOWN 11-18-1899

Under the command of 3282 Sgt. Charles Henry Flowers, DLI while enroute to South Africa.

FLOWERS, C. H., Sgt., 3282
HARDWICK, W., Sgt., 3413
McCARTHY, C., Cpl., 5455
THRUPP, H., Cpl., 5496
CANT, J., L/Cpl., 4007
BACKLER, R., Bugler, 6254
CARTWRIGHT, H. Pte., 4220
CHATTERTON, J., Pte., 3220
CLARKSON, M., Pte., 4856
COULTHARD, J., Pte., 6271
CRITCHLEY, J., Pte., 3099
FOUNTAIN, H., Pte., 3155
FRANKLIN, T., Pte., 5185
GILBANK, J., Pte., 3686
GREY, J., Pte., 6249
HOWARD, W., Pte., 2888
KILLERN, B., Pte., 4209
LAMBERT, C., Pte., 5633
McKAY, J., Pte., 3314
MILLIGAN, B., Pte., 4011
SELLARS, H., Pte., 6261
SPEARS, R., Pte., 6144
STRANGER, J. Pte., 3161
TALBOT, H., Pte., 3962
THIRKILL, J., Pte., 6300
WELCH, T., Pte., 3965
WOODIER, F., Pte., 3169
WOOLMAN, A., Pte., 4204,
YOUNG, C., Pte., 5534
　
The men of Number 3 Section, H Company under command of Sgt. C. H. Flowers

FLOWERS, C. H., Sgt., 3282
SHILLCOCK, F., Sgt., 4885
SLATER, R., Cpl., 3535
ACRES, J., Pte., 4156
ALCOCK, W., Pte., 5840
BELMONT, C., Pte., 4056
BROWN, W., Pte., 6362
CAMPBELL, R., Pte., 6181
CARPENTER, J., Pte., 3799
CLARKE. R., Pte., 6712
COLTERCILL(?), J., Pte., 3666
DEVONPORT, J., Pte., 6714
EDWARDS, B., Pte., 6435, (Pioneer)
FIDDLER, J., Pte., 3104
FISHER, A., Pte., 4064, (Hospital Aid)
FROSTICK, J., Pte., 4163
HARWOOD, F., Pte., 2991
HATFIELD., W., Pte., 6467
HUSSON, W., Pte., 3340
ISMAY, W., Pte., 6124, (Canteen)
KIMBER, M., Pte., 7004
MARSHALL, G., Pte., 2284
McCLUSKY, M., Pte., 2494
McENTEE(?), P., Pte., 6262
MICKEE, W., Pte., 3004
MULRONEY, N., Pte. 2929
OLSHAM, F., Pte., 3421, (Groom)
PEAT, F., Pte., 5077
PEDDER, H., Pte., 1727
PORTER, F., Pte., 5279, (Signalman)
POTTS, W., Pte., 6421
SESSFORD, D., Pte., 2223
SMITH, G., Pte., 3468, (Pioneer)
SMITH, J., Pte., 2051
WATSON, J., Pte., 3454
WINTER, J., Pte., 2800
WOOLEY, J., Pte., 3441
　
ORDER MOOI RIVER CAMP

1. No one is to go over bridge without permission.
2. No one is to wash or bathe above sentry.
3. All men are to be in the lines by 6 pm Tuesday for any emergency.
　
REJOINED D.L.I. FROM RESERVE 17th OCT. 1899, LEFT N/CL ON TYNE FOR ALDERSHOT 18 OCT. 1899 LEFT ASHOT. & EMBARKED AT SOUTHAMPTON ON STEAM SHIP CEPHALONIA 24th OCT. 1899. ARRIVED AT CAPE ST. VINCENT, CAPE VERDE ISLANDS 2nd NOVEMBER 99, COALED AND SAILED ON MORNING OF 3rd ARRIVED IN TABLE BAY CAPE TOWN ON 18th NOV 1899 COALED ON 19th. HAD LEAVE WENT ON SHORE AND HAD A WALK AROUND. SAILED FOR CAPE TOWN MIDNIGHT 19th SUNDAY. S.S. DRONNATTAR ARRIVED AT CAPE TOWN 5p.m., 19th WITH REFUGEES FROM DURBAN. PASSED PORT ELIZABETH ABOUT 10.30 AM TUESDAY 21st AND EAST LONDON AT 8pm. TOWN LIGHTED UP BY ELECTRICITY AND LOOKED WELL FROM THE SHIP. ARRIVED AT DURBAN 4.30 ON WEDNESDAY 22nd NOV. 1899. 2 MEN OF WAR AND 5 TROOPERS AT ANCHOR. DISEMBARKED ON THURSDAY 24th AND LEFT BY 3 SPECIAL TRAINS FOR NOTTINGHAM ROAD WHERE WE INCOMMODE WITH THE SCOTTISH RIFLES.

HAD A MOST ENTHUSIASTIC SEND OFF PEOPLE GIVING BREAD, TOBACCO, CIGARS AND FRUIT ALL ALONG THE LINE.

TERRIBLE THUNDER STORM NEARLY ALL NIGHT. THE WILD FLOWERS ON THE RAILSIDE WERE LOVELY, THOUSANDS OF ANSON LILLIES GROWING WILD.

ON SATURDAY LEFT NOTTINGHAM ROAD CAMP BY TRAIN FOR A CAMP AT MODI RIVER WHERE THE FIRST BDE WAS ENCAMPED WITH ARTILLERY AND THORNEYCROFTS LIGHT HORSE. A LARGE FORCE LEFT ON SATURDAY NIGHT FOR ESCORDT (?) AND THE REMAINDER LEFT ON MONDAY MORNING. 3KRR ARRIVED FROM KILKENNY ON WEDNESDAY 29th NOVEMBER. THE BRIGADE CONSISTING OF D.L.I., K.R.R., SCOTTISH RIFLES AND RIFLE BRIGADE. LEFT MOOI RIVER ON THE 6th DEC. UNDER COMMAND OF GENERAL LITTLETON AND MARCHED ABOUT 15 MILES TO THE WILLOW GROVE WHERE THE BRIGADE WAS ENCAMPED. THE BRIGADE WAS PARADED AT 7am LEFT BY MARCH ROUTE TO ESCOURT. THE BRIGADE LEFT ESCOURT AT 6am ON FRIDAY DECEMBER 8th 1899 AND MARCHED TO FRERE AND THE HEAT BEING TERRIFIC A LOT OF MEN FALLING OUT. THE GARRISON AT FRERE BEING NEARLY 20,000 STRONG. GENERAL BUTLER BEING IN CAMP. MONDAY 11th DEC. ON OUTPOST DUTY/WE WERE SHOT AT BUT DID NOT KNOW WHO AND FROM WHERE, OFFICER RETURNED TO CAMP INTOXICATED/ FROM 3pm TO 3pm ON TUESDAY. A LARGE FORCE MOVED OUT TOWARD COLENSO BEFORE DAYBREAK 12th DEC. NEARLY ALL TROOPS IN FRERE PARADED AT 130pm AND MARCHED TO A CAMP 2 MILES PAST CHIEVERLEY ON WEDNESDAY 13-13-99. ON FRIDAY 15th THE WHOLE OF THE TROOPS IN CAMP MARCHED OFF TO ATTACK THE BOERS POSITION CLOSE TO COLENSO AND THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TUGELA RIVER. THE NAVAL GUNS SHELLED THE BOER POSITION WITHOUT ANY RESPONSE. DURING THE FIGHT ON FRIDAY OUR SIDE LOST 1149 KILLED WOUNDED AND PRISONER.

I WAS WOUNDED BY A SHELL IN THE LOWER JAW, CHEEK AND ARM WHILE IN RESERVES ON SUNDAY.

LEFT CHIEVELEY CAMP HOSPITAL FOR GENERAL HOSPITAL AT MARITZBURG.

ON TUESDAY 19th DEC. LEFT MARITZBURG FOR HOSPITAL SHIP SPARTAN AT DURBAN ON THURSDAY 21st. LEFT DURBAN EN ROUTE TO CAPE TOWN AND ARRIVED TABLE BAY 8 pm 23rd DECEMBER

DISEMBARKED 4pm 24th DECEMBER (XMAS LEAVE) AND PROCEEDED BY TRAIN FOR RODENBOSCH HOSPITAL. HAD A DECENT XMAS DAY. DURING OUR STAY AT RODEBOSCH (?) I WAS VISITED BY SIR. A. MILNER, SIR. WM. McCORMACK, FIELD MARSHALL LORD ROBERTS AND VARIOUS OTHER OFFICERS WHO ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

JANUARY 13th DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL AND PROCEEDED GREEN POINT. APPOINTED TEMPORARY CLERK IN C BRANCH STATION PAY OFFICE CAPE TOWN FEB. 3rd 00 TILL 14th SEPT. 1900. EMBARKED ON ENGLISHMAN 15th SEPT. AND PROCEEDED TO NATAL ARRIVED AT DURBAN ABOUT MIDDAY TUES 16th SEPT. AND DISEMBARKED AND

PROCEEDED TO P M P. ARRIVING THERE (?) LEFT P M P TO JOIN H Q ON WEDNESDAY 26th AT 6 pm ARRIVING AT STANDERTON ABOUT 5 PM ON THURSDAY 28th SEPTEMBER

TWO PAGES MISSING

MOUNTED ON GUARD 29th SEPTEMBER.

GOAL GUARD 1 OCTOBER.
GOAL GUARD 3 OCTOBER.
TREASURY GUARD 6

OCTOBER

MOVED TO RAILWAY HILL TO RELIEVE VOL. SERVICE CORP WHO LEFT ENROUTE FOR P M B,

TUESDAY 9th OCTOBER OUTPOST DUTY AND MOVED TO ABATOINE HILL (?) ON FRIDAY

12th OCTOBER, TREASURY GUARD FRIDAY NIGHT AND OFTEN AFTER......
NO FURTHER FORMAL ENTRIES IN DIARY A NUMBER OF NAMES AND

FIGURES AS TO WHO IS ISSUED PICKS AND SHOVELS.

That's really interesting Mike. It is always helpful to have diaries and names.

Terrific read thank you so much, gives one an insight into just how tough a campaign this was for our men.
Best regards

Hi Everyone.......

I realized that I did not added pictures to the original post.......

Well here are some......

1. Overall full frame.......
2. Diary Cover.....
3. Christmas Card......
4. Picture as a civilian (in center) as school teacher Wormwood Scrubs Prison......

I also have 4204 Private A. WOOLMAN, in my collection.....

Mike

Picture courtesy of DNW

DSO GV;
QSA (4) TH RoL Tr LN (Capt: H. R. Cumming. Durham Lt. Infy.);
1914-15 Star (Major H. R. Cumming.);
BWM and VM (Brig. Gen. H. R. Cumming.);
France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Officer’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with rosette to riband,

DSO London Gazette 4 June 1917.

Hanway Robert Cumming was born on 9 October 1867 and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Durham Light Infantry on 8 June 1889. Promoted Lieutenant on 28 July 1891, and Captain on 24 November 1897, he served in South Africa during the Boer War and was present at the Relief of Ladysmith, including the action at Colenso; and the actions at Vaal Krantz, Pieter’s Hill, and Laing’s Nek. For his services in South Africa he was twice Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 22 February and 10 September 1901), and was awarded the Brevet of Major on 29 November 1900.

He saw further service during the Great War, both with the Durham Light Infantry and on the Staff, firstly in Egypt from December 1915 to February 1916, and then on the Western Front from March 1916 to May 1917, and again from March to November 1918. Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel on 29 March 1916, he commanded the 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, from August to November 1916, and was promoted temporary Brigadier-General on 23 November 1916. For his services during the Great War he was awarded the D.S.O. and the French Legion of Honour 4th Class; was twice Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 15 May 1917 and 20 December 1918); and was awarded the Brevet of Colonel on 1 January 1919.

The Clonbanin Ambush

Proceeding to Ireland, General Cumming was killed in the famous Sinn Fein ambush at Clonbanin, Co. Cork, which was carried out on the afternoon of 5 March 1921; Lieutenant Maligny, Army Service Corps, and two men were also killed, and one officer and five men wounded. Cumming, in a touring car, was in convoy accompanied by three Crossley tenders, containing an escort of the East Lancashire Regiment, together with a Rolls Royce Armoured Car, when it ran into a well planned ambush. The convoy was brought to a sudden halt by a hail of fire from a Hotchkiss gun and rifles:

‘The moans of wounded military were clearly audible above the din of battle. Soldiers taking cover by the roadside answered the shots directed at them from the north and south. A tall officer leapt from the touring car as it careered into the fence. In answer to an I.R.A. call to surrender, he defiantly replied: “Surrender to hell! Give them the lead,” as he dived for cover at the other side of the road. Those were the last words of Brigadier-General H. R. Cumming, D.S.O., for they had scarcely been uttered when he fell, shot through the brain by a bullet from an ambusher’s rifle. He was the first British General in Ireland to take civilian hostages on his lorries and his escort that day at Clonbanin carried a hostage who escaped during the fighting.’

Picture courtesy of DNW

CMG
China (1) Rel. of Pekin;
QSA (5) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902;
1914 Star, with clasp;
British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves;
China, Empire, Order of the Striped Tiger, silver-gilt and enamel;
United States of America, Military Order of the Dragon, with integral top Pagoda suspension bar

Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, June 2002 (when sold alongside his full-sized Military Order of the Dragon)

CMG London Gazette 1 January 1918.

Bryan Charles Fairfax served with the China Expeditionary Force with the 1st Chinese Regiment, and was present at the Relief of Pekin. He subsequently served in South Africa during the latter part of the Boer War from 1901-02, in command of the Durham Light Infantry company of the Burma Mounted Rifles, and was present at the operations in Transvaaal and Cape Colony, December 1901, and in the operations in Orange River Colony, January to May 1902.

Re-employed in the Great War, he served on the Staff on the Western Front as Assistant Quartermaster General and Advisor to the Chinese Labour Corps from August 1914 to February 1915, before being given the command of the 17th Battalion King’s Liverpool Regiment in February 1915. He was wounded, and for his services during the Great War he was twice Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 24 December 1917 and 9 July 1919), was promoted Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel, and was awarded the Chinese Order of the Striped Tiger 3rd Class and created a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George.