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The illustrated group came into IL's custody many years ago; being comprised of -
(a) DCM (EVII) impressed to "22283 Serjt:Maj: T.Jordan 7th Imp: Yeo"
(b) QSA clasps Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal and Laings Nek, impressed to "2103 Pte. T.Jordan W.Yorkshire Regt."
(c) KSA clasps SA1901 and SA 1902, impressed to "22283 S.Sergt.Maj. T.Jordan, Imp;Yeo"
(d) Yorkshire Tribute medal (version 2), impressed in square caps. to "T.Jordan".



Thomas Jordan, age 19y and two months (occupation, Groom) attested for the West Yorks. Regt. on 29/11/1887; citing three years previous service in the militia. Seeing no overseas service, he nevertheless attained both 3rd class and second class education certificates, was awarded Good Conduct pay and gained the rank of L/Cpl. before being transferred to the Reserve on 27/10/1894. A year prior, he had married and saw the birth of his first child in May, 1894.

Thomas Jordan was recalled from the Reserve on 8/10/1899 and, twelve days later, sailed for South Africa with the 2nd Bn., West Yorks. The record of the West Yorks over the next several months needs no flowery description; Actions at Willow Grange, Venter's Spruit, Vaal Krantz, Monte Cristo and Railway Hill - amongst others - come to mind. For further reading, Stirling's "Our Regiments" is recommended.

At the termination of his engagement, Thomas Jordan was discharged on 29/11/1900. It does appear, however, that civilian life in wartime held no attraction and - after less than two moths as a civilian - he enlisted in the Imperial Yeomanry. As successor to the first IY, the so-called "New Yeomanry" was recruited in a great hurry, recruits received perfunctory medical selection and musketry training was derisory. It appears that Authority did not expect the New Yeomanry to be anything more than a form of Police. The reality was to be far different.

In such rapid mobilisation, a man like Thomas Jordan would have been a God-send. Not only a trained soldier, he had seen and experienced the new form of warfare at first hand. Even if the New Yeomanry were simply tasked with police work, a man who had been under sustained fire in modern conditions would be a steadying influence on recruits and extremely useful. Joining the 48th Coy., West Somerset IY, Thomas Jordan was rapidly promoted from Pte. to Sgt. and finally in the field to Sqn. Sgt. Maj. on 23/05/1901.

S/S/M. Jordan came to official notice during the attempted multi phase Boer attack on the camp at Moedwil by Generals DeLaRey and Kemp on 30/09/1901. The encamped British force was commanded by Col. Kekewich (of Kimberley Siege fame); being comprised of infantry, some artillery, several squadrons of Scottish Horse and two Squadrons of 7th Bn., IY. One being the 48th Coy. In all about 830 all-ranks. The force was a reduced version of that which had, under the command of Col. Dixon, narrowly averted disaster at Vlakfontein some four months earlier. Then, it should be noted, the 48th Coy. had suffered heavy casualties and the behaviour of some IY had attracted much criticism.

The defensive arrangements of Col. Kekewich's encampment have been said - perhaps unfairly - as owing more to convenience than tactical efficiency. They may be seen in the accompanying pic taken from the Times History Vol.5.



Local intelligence had caused Col.Kekewich to think his immediate surroundings were clear; in reality his column had been stalked for a week by Boer scouts and over 1100 men (accounts differ) had been secretly mustered from various commandos to take and plunder the camp. The camp's outpost line had been studied carefully and the Boer plan was to quickly - and if possible, silently - overwhelm the various pickets to the NW of the camp (along the Selons river) just before first light and hopefully induce the remaining defenders to flee into the arms of flanking parties placed to the North and South East.

It was a bold plan, depending on a lot of co-ordination to actually work. Things began to unravel when the Selons river pickets, far from being quickly silenced, opened fire on the enemy and alerted the camp before being overwhelmed. The pickets killed or captured, some few minutes later several hundred Boers had gained the camp-side heights of the river and poured a heavy, converging fire into the tents and horse lines. Alerted by the sacrifice of the pickets, the defenders had only just begun to establish a firing line away from the now easily visible camp site; they were showing no inclination to do anything but fight it out.

Col. Kekewich himself was twice wounded in the defence of the camp - but remained in command. Casualties amongst the officers, rank-and-file and gunners were heavy. Less than thirty minutes after the premature springing of the attack, however, it had gained no ground and the Boers were suffering considerably as well. With reasonable certainty, it is possible to identify S/S/M Jordan's actions during the battle by reference to Lord Kitchener's "mentions" of October 8th, 1901. Under the headings of "Moedwill" (sic) and Imperial Yeomanry 48th (Somerset) is recorded " Sergt.-Major T.Jorden (sic) led his troop to repulse attack, and though twice wounded, continued to lead and repulse attack in the most gallant manner".

For the British, the pivotal moment had come when Maj. Watts of the "Dauntless Derby's" scraped together some details to meet a threatened attack from the East. Encountering no threat, and gathering up IY and SH reinforcements (of which S/S/M Jordan was one), he swung his scratch force back towards the main firing line and, with fixed bayonets, his men drove in the Boer left and threatened to roll-up their main line. Seeing that the attack had failed, the Boers commenced a fighting withdrawal and by 0615 had ridden away to the West. The British were in no state to follow up; having suffered 214 all-ranks killed and wounded and anyway there was "scarcely one unwounded horse in the camp". Boer losses were known with less certainty; about sixty according to one source, another - Boer - source says, unrealistically, eleven.

The close nature of the fighting - and the steady behaviour of the defenders - resulted in many "mentions: and in some cases, decorations. A Victoria Cross was awarded to Pte. Bees of the Derby's and DCMs were awarded to S/S/M Jordan, Gunner Wooding of the 28th Battery, RFA and Sgt. Chambers of the Derby's.

Details of S/S/M Jordan's conduct at Moedwil were duly published in LG of 3/12/1901, the award of the DCM was notified in LG of 31/10/1902 and announced in AO 10/03.Thomas Jordan remained on active service until the end of the war and beyond; being finally discharged on 11/08/1902. Interestingly, his Military History sheet covering 22/1/1901 to 11/08/1902 does mention his wounding and notes his conduct at Moedwil - but no mention of a recommendation is made.
Once again, it seems that civilian life - this time in peace - did not suit Thomas Jordan - for on 8/04/1904 at age 37 yearshe again attested for Short Service in SA with the Royal Garrison Regt. He was finally discharged from the RGR on 17/04/1904 at his own request and upon the reduction of that regiment. He transited to the world of the civilian world with the sum of thirty-one pounds (plus two pounds gratuity) to his credit, plus a hard earned decoration and a character of "Very Good". Thus ends IL's inadequate tribute to a very brave soldier who acted decisively at a critical point to help save the day.

Thanks to all who have read this far.

IL.

A fine fighting DCM group IL - you are to be commended for the post as well as your efforts to provide new and interesting material to the Forum.

There are many members but precious few who are prepared to "show and tell"

Regards

Rory

IL
A wonderful group! Thank you for sharing it with us.
I agree with Rory. I enjoy seeing what other people have in their collections.
Regards
Brett

Good Morning Il......

Fantastic group and great research.....

Well done......

Mike

Rory, Brett and Mike
Thanks for the kind comments. Fortunately, a pretty complete set of paperwork was available (via peterinkent) to assist me.
Regards
IL.

Hi
Magnificent DCM group!
In the words of the late Frank Mitchell "That I could covet".
Henk
PS Excellent write-up.