TOPIC:

I have 3 x QSAs which are sadly missing their KSAs. 99033 Gnr O’Grady was obviously one of the majority of 10th Mountain Battery who made it back into Ladysmith after some (including most officers) were captured at Nicolsons Nek. Under the Battery 2ic Capt J Hudson, they were key to the defence of the town and used their 7lb screw guns, naval guns and any other pieces available as part of the defence. They also took part in sorties out of Ladysmith on 7th and 11th December to destroy Boer guns. I believe Gnr O’Grady was court martialled for selling stolen goods in Ladysmith. The other two QSAs for 6460 Gnr R Keel and 85327 Gnr W Robinson are from 4th Mountain Battery who were rushed out from the mountain artillery depot at Newport when 10 MB became apparently non-effective after Nicholsons Nek. Both batteries were employed for the rest of the war with mountain screw guns and ad hoc gun equipment in support of the later stages.