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Interested Forum members
Initially, in the post #81464 I intended to include illustrations of maps depicting the various forces at Rooival/Roodewal on the morning of 11th April 1902. However, that post assumed large proportions and I considered it best to reduce reader-fatigue and add an annex - as it were.
From Vol.V of the Times History, I attach a general pic of the Rooival/Roodewal battlefield; together with a close up illustrating the screen and supports between the two forces:



An interesting aspect of the aftermath of the battle can be found in "Anti-Commando" by Mr. Justice Sampson and General Sir Ian Hamilton (Faber and Faber ltd.,1931). Towards the end of the chapter "Blood will Tell", Gen. Sir Ian Hamilton writes that news of the battle of 11th April 1902 simply never reached the people of England until 1907; when the fifth volume of the Times History was published. He (and I have to assume the writer was Sir Ian Hamilton) comments: "Not that there was anything sinister or calculated in the total eclipse of Roodewal." "Although the finest British fighting force yet seen in South Africa - a force which, whether in fire effect or movement, would have made rings around the slow cumbrous brigades of regular cavalry or infantry of 1900-1901 - although this magnificent body was set upon the war path and South Africa was swarming with war correspondents, not a single one was on the spot at Roodewal." (Doubtless they were all clustered at Vereeniging). "Thus there was never to be a story of Rooiwal until 1907, by which time the world and his wife had been entirely fed up with war books and had decided to scrap the lot for good and all."
Readers interested in this final battle of the Boer War should find "Anti-Commando" an interesting read - and the Times History Vol. 5 also provides a description of events - although IL tends to favour the man-on-the-spot account of Lt. Beeson!
Regards to all.
IL.

An unusually named QSA to the Royal East Kent Mounted Rifles and incomplete group from the next Mowbray auction on Friday


Picture courtesy of Mowbray Auctions

QSA (6) Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, & Belfast (830 TROOPER T.O.ROBINSON. RL.E.KENT M.R. ATTACD S.A.L.H.) (number, rank & 'attacd SALH' re-engraved);
1914-15 Star (23/898 CPL. T.O.ROBINSON. N.Z.E.F.)
BWM (23/898 CPL. T.O.ROBINSON. N.Z.E.F.)
[ VM ]

Thomas Owen Robinson born UK 1873, died NZ 1958, member of "Harris Eleven", presented QSA by King Edw VII. He was attached to the South African Light Horse, one of 11 men who were recruited in this way by Sir George Canning, Lord Harris. This group was labelled the "Harris’ Eleven" (a cricket reference). They arrived in time to assist in the Relief of Ladysmith. The Army Commander, Maj-Gen Sir Redvers Buller, said of them "Among the best irregulars I have here are a party of the East Kent Yeomanry". [The Globe, 21 Dec 1899]

Useful background is provided in Meurig's article theangloboerwars.blogspot.com/2017/06/ro...nted-rifles-and.html

The trio to Trooper Robinson sold for a hammer of price of NZ$ 1,300 last week.

picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (5) Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, South Africa 1901(6119 Pte. R. Gardener. E. Kent Regt.), unofficial rivets between state and date clasps

Served in the 3rd Battalion, East Kent Regiment.

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (6) Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen, South Africa 1901 (3122 Sgt. F. Walsh, East Kent Regt.)

Served with the MI.

5 clasps listed on WO100/167p105. SA01 on WO100/167p170.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (5) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (7488 Pte. W. Waghorne [sic], Vol. Coy. E. Kent Regt.);
British War and Victory Medals (2429 Gnr. W. Waghorn. R.A.)

Together with lid of named card box of issue and torn outer OHMS transmission envelope.

Wilfred Waghorn was born in Hunton, Kent, on 11 July 1881 and served with the Volunteer Company, East Kent Regiment in South Africa during the Boer War, and with the Royal Garrison Artillery and later the Labour Corps during the Great War. He died in Hever, Kent, on 28 January 1943.