TOPIC:

Picture courtesy of Spink

IGS 1895 (1) Relief of Chitral 1895 (5621 Pte. F. G. Hutchings 1st Bn K.R. Rifle Corps), suspension slack;
QSA (5) Cape Colony, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Laing's Nek, Belfast (5621 Pte F. G. Hutchings. K.R.R.C.);
KSA (2) (5621 Pte F. G. Hutchings. K.R.R.C.),

Frederick George Hutchings was born at Aldershot in 1874, the son of Colour Sergeant Robert Hutchings, Military Staff Corps. Attesting on 20 March 1890 at Aldershot as a Boy, being posted to India later that same year on 25 November 1890. There he took part in the Isazai Expedition of 1892 for which he received no medal, before coming of age and being advanced Private on 20 November 1892.

It was in that rank that Hutchings took part in the Relief of Chitral in 1895 before he was ordered to Mauritius in 1897. One wing of the Battalion was posted to the Indian Army troopship Warren Hastings along with a wing of the York and Lancaster Regiment and detachment of the Middlesex Regiment. The report of the Colonel Forestier-Walker of the KRRC gives further detail of what happened next:

'At 2.20 a.m. on the night of the 13th and 14th instant, I was awakened by a shock and realizing from the grating sound what had occurred, I dressed hurriedly and went up to the bridge to report myself for orders to the Captain of the ship, Commander G E Holland, DSO, RLM. All this time drenching rain was falling in torrents, and making a great noise, pouring on the awnings and decks, and the night was so intensely dark that it was impossible to distinguish anything more than a few feet away, and impossible to make out where the vessel had struck on the coast of the Island of Reunion.'

Despite the peril of the situation the men stood to in good order and remained in that state for the duration of the emergency, standing as it were to the Birkenhead Drill. Army Order 40 of April 1897 commends them for their coolness stating:

'Commander Holland reports the behaviour of the troops throughout as beyond praise. Discipline was twice very severely tested; first, when after the vessel struck, the men were ordered to fall in between the main and the troop decks, secondly, when the disembarkment was suspended to enable women and children to be landed. Had there been attempts to crash or struggle forward there would have been great loss of life, and owing to the position of the vessel, it was impossible to walk on the deck without holding onto the rails or ropes and any struggle or pushing would have resulted in many being drowned. From first to last perfect discipline was maintained and all orders were instantly obeyed without noise, hesitation or confusion. The Commander-in-Chief is proud of the behaviour of our troops during this trying time. He regards it as a good example of the advantages of subordination and strict discipline for this alone under God's Providence, that the heavy loss of life was prevented.'

These reports give limited details into the desperate circumstances the regiment found themselves in. Indeed a number of stories come out of the wreck of soldiers performing acts of remarkable bravery to save comrades stranded in the water. Despite this the entire unit was disembarked safely with Hutchings listed as arrived in Mauritius on 18 January 1897.

They were posted from there to South Africa on 22 August 1899, as such being present for the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War. Here they were present for the Siege of Ladysmith and were one of the units present on Wagon Hill for the major Boer attack on 6 January 1900. After further service he was posted to Malta on 22 September 1902 and from thence home on 18 March 1903. Discharged on 5 August 1903 Hitching's re-enlisted on 1 November 1915 with the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, seeing home service until he was discharged on 16 February 1919.

Pictures courtesy of Aubrey's

QSA (5) Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing's Nek (7027 Pte. N. Horner, K.R.R.C.);
KSA (2) (7027 Pte. H. Horner, K.R.R.C.).

QSA naming



KSA naming



Sold for a hammer price of GBP 170. Totals (VAT UK only): GBP 231. R5,100. Au$450. Can$410. US$300.