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This medal was a purchase at the most recent City Coins Auction and I had quite forgotten about it! The Relief (and the Defence) of Ladysmith has always fascinated me hence my predilection when it comes to clasps relating to that theatre of the war.

Michael McBride

Private, 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers – Anglo Boer War

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony and Relief of Ladysmith to 5093 Pte. M McBride, 1st Rl. Innis. Fus.

Michael McBride was born in the Parish of Ballyshannon in County Donegal, Ireland in about 1877 the son of George McBride a local Chimney Sweep and his wife. The family lived in the Westport area and a young Michael was not averse to the odd brush with the law as he was growing up.

His first brush with authority came on 2 June 1892 when he was 15 years of age. A John Shiel of nearby Carrickboy was the complainant in a case where McBride was accused of “unlawfully cruelly ill-treat, overdrive and abuse a calf the property of the complainant. This was on 23 May 1892 and the record indicated that there was “no appearance” insinuating that the matter had been resolved and carried no penalty.

Two years later, on 3 May 1894 a lively 17 year old McBride was in hot water again – on this occasion the complainant was Constable Charles Connolly of the Irish Constabulary the charge reading thus “on the 28th April 1894 in Bishop Street in the town of Ballyshannon in South County the accused did unlawfully cause an obstruction of the public street by playing at a game of ball thereon contrary to Vict. Chap. 92, section 10” – one can only imagine that this offence, petty in nature by today’s standards, was probably a big issue in the Ballyshannon of 1894 where the local Constable had to have something to do to relieve his boredom.

With his brother Robert already a serving member of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers since 1892, Michael was probably regaled by him with tales of adventure and the attractions of life far away from the small town mind set of Ballyshannon. With this as a backdrop and his recent frustrations with the law in mind he must have decided on a life in uniform. On 27 September 1895, at the age of 18 years and 2 months he completed the Attestation forms at Donegal for Short Service – 7 years with the Colours and 5 years with the Reserve.

A Labourer by occupation he was physically 5 feet 6 inches in height with a fresh complexion. Grey eyes and brown hair. A Roman Catholic he had a scar of a burn on the front of his chest by way of distinguishing characteristics. Having been found Fit for the army by Dr Flood Michael McBride was assigned the rank of Private and no. 5093. Initially attached to the Depot he was posted to the 1st Battalion on 7 January 1896 and was to remain in Ireland from 27 September 1895 until 4 November 1899, a period of 4 years and 39 days, before being despatched to South Africa.

Why South Africa? Well the long threatened war between the two Boer Republics on the one side and the might of the British Empire on the other had finally erupted into full scale conflict on 12 October 1899 and McBride’s outfit was one of the first to set sail to sort the Boers out.

The 1st Battalion sailed on the Catalonia on 5th November 1899, arrived at the Cape about the 30th, and was sent to Durban. Along with the 1st Border Regiment, 1st Connaught Rangers, and 1st Dublin Fusiliers, they formed the 5th Brigade under Major General Fitzroy Hart. This Brigade with McBride among there number, was almost immediately plunged into the action.

They were on the extreme left of General Buller's force at Colenso, 15th December 1899 and it was intended that they should cross the Tugela at a place called Bridle Drift, but that drift was never found— possibly the river was dammed back, as General Buller had suggested. It is possible that the Irish Brigade were kept too long in close order; certainly they suffered severely before getting extended, and also while advancing at a point where the river forms a loop to the north or Boer side, where they came under awful fire from either flank as well as from the front. It has been said that some men actually forced their way across the river and could not get back, but this is uncertain. The brigade was extricated from its difficult position, every one behaving most nobly. The entanglement with the guns near the right flank put an end to all thoughts of attempting a crossing elsewhere, and the army retired to Chieveley.

At Venter's Spruit the brigade was very heavily engaged on the 20th January. Several of the Boer positions were carried; but beyond those was a plateau, on the farther side of which was still another ridge scored with trenches and sangars. Farther than the outer edge of the plateau the men could not advance. The Inniskilling Fusiliers were not so closely engaged, and their casualties were trifling in relation to the losses suffered by others. The troops in the centre and on the left hung on to the positions gained until Spion Kop had been taken and evacuated, but they were never able to make any substantial step forward.

The Irish Brigade were not engaged in the attack on Vaal Krantz, and they were chiefly occupied as garrison of the rail-head during the first few of the fourteen days' fighting, which culminated in the defeat of the Boers and the relief of Ladysmith. On 20th February after Monte Cristo and Hlangwane had been captured—General Hart's brigade moved down to Colenso, occupying the village and ground about it. On the 22nd they went nearer the front and on the afternoon of the 23rd a high steep hill, strongly fortified and held, on the eastern side of the Langerwachte, was attacked by General Hart.

The Inniskilling Fusiliers were the front line, supported by the Connaught Bangers and part of the Dublins, and later by the Imperial Light Infantry, who had taken the place of the Border Regiment in the brigade; but soon the lines were to be all mixed. The first tier of the defensive works was carried out in the face of an awful fire from the front and flanks. An attempt was made to press in with the bayonet to the next line of trenches on the crest, but this failed. The attackers were mown down like grass, and as darkness set in those left had to retire to a position near the hill-foot.

It was impossible to bring in all the dead and wounded, and throughout the next day wretched men had to lie in the open writhing with pain and thirst, and mercilessly fired on if they made an attempt to wriggle down the hill. To these the armistice of the 25th came as a godsend. Some of the positions taken were held, and were to be of use on the 27th. The losses in the attack were appalling. The Inniskilling Fusiliers lost the gallant Colonel Thackeray, Major Sanders, and Lieutenant Stuart killed, 8 officers wounded, and about 54 men killed and 165 wounded.

Ladysmith being relieved at the end of February, the battalion got some time to recuperate and gather strength from the drafts it so badly needed but it is doubtful that McBride was still with them – according to the medal roll dated November 1901 from which his Queens Medal was issued – he had been invalided back to England and did not earn the Tugela Heights clasp to go with the Cape Colony and Relief of Ladysmith ones he was awarded.
Back in the United Kingdom McBride from 28 August 1900 he was transferred to the Army Reserve on 27 September 1902 and returned home to Ballyshannon. Time and his war experience had not dimmed his capacity for mischief and, on 23 July 1903 he was back in the spotlight. On this occasion he was accused by one Sarah McGowan of “assault on 29 June 1903 at Ballyshannon in that defendant unlawfully assaulted the plaintiff” Possibly as a result of a lack of evidence or the charge being withdrawn, there was “no appearance” and thus no punishment meted out.

McBride topped this latest escapade on 8 October 1903 when he was found guilty of being “Drunk on the public street at Ballyshannon on the 5th day of October 1903. One previous conviction” for his troubles he was fined One Shilling and the costs of the Court action.

Little is known of McBride hereafter save for the fact that, on 5 May 1906 he was a witness to his brother, Robert’s marriage to Maggie Dempsey. A year later, on 26 September 1907 he was discharged – time expired – from the army and not heard from again.

Very nice, the struggle to get into Ladysmith is so often underrated by many collectors these days, moreover, wretched Hart could often be a very hard hard task master, a good medal, in good condition and complete with it's original ribbon, again, I like it very much.

Thanks Rory.....

Another great piece of research......

As a temporary custodian of a couple of 1st Inniskilling's (one wounded and sent home) it is interesting to read an account of the units campaigns.....

Mike

Sorry for jumping on an old post. This site and your post came up whilst I was looking for some family history. I believe Michael McBride to be my great great grandfather. I notice you have managed to obtain a lot of information about him which has been really interesting to read. Particularly the description of him. I wonder if you might be able to advise how you located this so I can have a little look myself.

Michael moved to Glasgow, Scotland sometime between 1911-1921 which is maybe why you were not able to find any more information about him.

Many thanks,
Lynsey

Hello Lynsey

His physical description would have come from his service papers which are online. The rest from Find My Past or suchlike.

Please send me a Private Message with your email address and I will see what I can find for you.

Regards

Rory