TOPIC:

After researching the battle of Elandslaagte, I have always had a soft spot for the NFA. The appearance of the QSA at DNW prompted me to bring some of the available information on the NFA into one thread.

There is detailed information on the NFA in the unit section.

The QSA to 211 Gnr. W. Wainwright, Natal F. Arty

Picture courtesy of DNW

Here's the roll from the Natal Volunteer Record.

Strength on mobilisation: 123
Strength on disbandment: 118

Major D W G Taylor, Commanding
Lieutenant A M Ritchie
Lieutenant J Livingston
Lieutenant H H C Puntan
Quartermaster T Adams
Sergeant-Major J W Field
Quartermaster-Sergeant J Loutit
Farrier-Sergeant J Milne
Orderly Room-Sergeant J Wiles

Sergt W J Black
Sergt C H Knowler
Sergt W Pascod
Sergt K Rich
Sergt E Shackleton
Sergt W A Stamp
Sergt W J York, died, res
Sergt E, Norman, res
Sergt V Farringdon, res
Corpl C J Butler
Corpl C Cain
Corpl R Horner
Corpl J W Mercer, injured
Corpl G Suttie
Bombardier F Brown
Bombardier J H Dove
Bombardier T Horner
Bombardier J C McGrearey
Bombardier W S Ponsford
Bombardier J Robertson
Bombardier A Rose
Bombardier W H Smith
Saddler Driver H Scott
Trumpeter F Taylor
Trumpeter W York
Gunner H S Adlam
Gunner W Austen
Gunner C Atkinson
Gunner T Bailey
Gunner A Blunden
Gunner D Brown
Gunner W H Cain
Gunner B T Carson
Gunner W J Cockle
Gunner W H Cooke
Gunner J C Cowell
Gunner H Croshaw
Gunner A E Cunningham
Gunner A M Davidson
Gunner P Donaldson
Gunner T H Downward
Gunner J W Duckham
Gunner C S P Edwards
Gunner R H Ewan
Gunner W Exall
Gunner J A Fleming
Gunner P Gascoyne
Gunner W J Green
Gunner H Gutridge
Gunner O Hancock
Gunner P R Harris
Gunner F Holt, sub
Gunner H J Henderson, sub
Gunner J A Hunt
Gunner A S Hurford
Gunner E H Hutchings
Gunner B Irvin
Gunner G Jaye
Gunner E Jones
Gunner E Kearns
Gunner C Kilmister
Gunner C Lawson
Gunner C Leverett
Gunner A M May
Gunner W H Major
Gunner J McCarthy, sub
Gunner J McCoy
Gunner J H Newton
Gunner J P Ogilvie
Gunner W F O'Brien, sub
Gunner A E Povall
Gunner A Ritchie
Gunner T E Simms
Gunner G Sinclair
Gunner A E Slack
Gunner E C Smith
Gunner J E Leslie Smith
Gunner G S Spindler
Gunner A Stupple
Gunner W Sturrock
Gunner W Thompson
Gunner C G Turton
Gunner W Wainwright
Gunner H Warmback
Gunner J Watson
Gunner R Whyham
Gunner A F Willmot
Gunner W Wilson
Gunner G Wolff
Gunner B Young
Driver J Berry
Driver R Berry
Driver A Burger
Driver J M Burnett
Driver C J Butler
Driver C Chapman
Driver J O Chalsty
Driver H C Cox
Driver A Exell
Driver H Easterbrook
Driver C P L Flood
Driver W Gove
Driver J W Griffiths
Driver P Honeywell
Driver J C Malcolm
Driver T McBain
Driver A W Meyer
Driver J Munroe
Driver C W Norriss
Driver F Reen
Driver L Spratt
Driver J Smith, died
Driver J H L Tomlin
Driver A G Vowden
Driver J W Wray
Driver J W Wishart
Driver E G Young

Casualties

Sergt York, died through injury, Dundee
Driver J Smith, died of sickness, Dundee
Corporal J W Mercer, injured

Joined Composite Regiment

Sergeant W Pascoe
Bombardier F Brown
Gunners J C Cowell. R H Evans, J A Fleming, N Holt, H J Henderson, C Lawson, W H Major, J McCarthy, W F O'Brien, A Ritchie, A E Slack, C G Turton, R Whyham, B Young,
Drivers A Burger and J W Wray.

Here is the QSA and Supplementary rolls from WO100/260 from the National Archives.

File size 4.9 mb.

This is the first time I have added a PDF from the NA to the forum.

NFA QSAs from DNW

Mar 2011. QSA (1) Natal (20 Serjt. J. W. Wiles, Natal F. Arty.). £130

Mar 2008. QSA (4) Eland TH RoL Tr (211 Gnr. W. Wainwright, Natal F. Arty.). £340

Mar 2008. QSA (4) Eland RoL Tr SA01 (97 Dvr. T. McBain, Natal F. Arty.). £210

April 2004. Group to Major W. S. Ponsford, 10th Battalion, Tank Corps, and Royal Field Artillery, formerly Natal Field Artillery. MC GV reverse inscribed ‘W.S.P., Achiet-le-Grand, 21.3.18’; QSA (4) Eland TH RoK Tr (144 Corpl., Natal F. Arty.); BWM; VM (Major). MC LG 15 February 1919. The recommendation states ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty near Achiet-le-Grand on 21 August 1918. While in command of a section of tanks he showed great initiative and resource at a difficult period in the fight and had a complete grasp of the situation as far as it affected his command. The tanks of his section had proceeded into action when Captain Ponsford was informed by an infantry officer that the infantry were held up by heavy fire from the cemetery. At great personal risk he reconnoitred the area and collected some whippet tanks, and with these and the last tank of his section, which had not been into action, launched an attack on the enemy strong point at the cemetery, dislodging the enemy and enabling the infantry to gain their objective. His total disregard of personal danger and coolness throughout were an example to all ranks.’ £1,850.

There is an interesting note in WO100/363p170 about the issue of the KSA to the NFA (and NMR and Umvoti MR):

Two PDFs of the KSA roll for the NFA, from WO100/363.