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Henry ‘Bogey’ Boag was born on 2 August 1863 in Netherwitton and enlisted in the 5th Dragoon Guards on 2 August 1882, his 19th birthday. He was promoted Lance Corporal 20 May 1884, Corporal 31 May 1885, Sergeant 26 October 1886, Troop Sergeant Major 1891, and Squadron Sergeant Major 25 October 1892. Boag became the 5DG’s Regimental Sergeant Major on 12 January 1898 and fought with the regiment at Lombard’s Kop and during the Defence of Ladysmith.

Boag was promoted to lieutenant & quartermaster in the Remount Depot on 27 February 1901 and was seconded to the South African Constabulary, HQ Division. He remained with the S.A.C. until transferring to the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen’s Bays) on 17 January 1906. Boag was granted the honorary rank of Captain on 27 February 1911. Boag was one of four soldiers from the Queen’s Bays to receive the 1911 Coronation Medal.

During World War I, Boag served continuously with the Queen’s Bay in France & Flanders from the 15 August 1914 until 22 May 1917, when he was seconded for service as an Assistant Military Landing Officer. For his World War I service, Boag was granted the honorary rank of Major on 27 February 1916, was twice mentioned in despatches, and awarded the O.B.E.

Having reached the age limit, Boag retired on 21 January 1920 and settled in Durrington Hill, Worthing. He died on died on 2 January 1937. Boag served under Lord Baden-Powell twice: first as his RSM in the 5DG when Baden-Powell commanded the regiment from 1897 to 1899, and later in the SAC when Boag served in HQ Division. Baden-Powell sent a wreath to Boag’s funeral, inscribed “With affectionate memories of an old comrade, Lord Baden-Powell.”

Here are a few more......

3575 Private Shattell, W.
3999 Private Preece, Albert John, (KSA, 7th D.G.)
4688 Private Cox, H.J.
4563 Private Carrick, J. (John)
3881 Private Greaves, T.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal (3200 Sq. S. Major. R.R. H. Coleman [sic], 5th. Dragoon Guards.);
KSA (2) (3200 S. Serjt:- Maj: H. Colman. 5th. Drgn: Gds:);
BWM and VM (Lieut. H. Colman.);
Army MSM GVI 1st issue (Sq-S. Mjr. R.R. H. Colman. 5-D. Gds.);
Army LS&GC EdVII (3200 S. Sjt. Mjr. R. Rider H. Coleman [sic]. 5/Dgn. Gds.)

Harry Colman was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in October 1906; and his Meritorious Service Medal per Army Order 49 of 1939. He served as a Lieutenant with the Army Service Corps during the Great War on the Western Front from 5 February 1917.

Together with two bronze Royal Naval and Military Tournament prize medals, the reverses engraved ‘1st. S.V.L. Curragh 1912, S.S.M.R.R. Colman 5.D.G.’ and ‘1st. S.V.S. Curragh 1912, S.S.M.R.R. Colman 5.D.G.’

Group to Private John Berry, 5th Dragoon Guards & 7th Dragoon Guards.

QSA with bars Natal/OFS/Trans (4301 Pte J Berry 5th Dragoon Guards), KSA with bars SA01/SA02 (4310 Pte J Berry 7th Drgn Gds), 1915 Star Trio (GS-9197 Pte J Berry 5-D.Gds).

The 5DG shipped to India in early 1902, so soldiers who were nearing the end of their service were transferred to the 7DG for discharge in England. It appears that Berry then re-enlisted for WW1 as regimental records indicate he proceeded to the front to join the 5DG on 23 October 1915.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (4) Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (4325 Pte. J. Ward. 5th. Dragoon Guards);
KSA (2) (4325 Pte. J. Ward. 5th. Drgn: Gds:)

Queen’s South Africa Medal, 3 clasps, NATAL, ORANGE FREE STATE, BELFAST (impressed ‘4616 CPL F. BURDETT. 5TH DRAGOON GUARDS’); King's South Africa Medal, 2 clasps, SOUTH AFRICA 1901, SOUTH AFRICA 1902 (impressed ‘4616 CORPL: T. BURDETT. 5TH DRGN. GDS.’, note different initial); 1914 Star (impressed ‘6699 SQ.S.MJR. F. BURDETT. 1/D.GDS.’); British War Medal (impressed ‘D-6699 W.O.Cl.1. F. BURDETT. 1-D.GDS.’); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (impressed ‘6699 R.S.MJR: F. BURDETT. 1/D.GDS:’); Victory Medal (impressed ‘D-6699 W.O.Cl.I. F. BURDETT. 1-D.GDS.’) with unofficial oak leaf; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, AFGHANISTAN N.W.F. 1919 (impressed ‘6699 R.S.M. F. BURDETT. 1 K.D.GUARDS.’); General Service Medal 1918-62, 1 clasp, IRAQ (impressed ‘D-6699 W.O.Cl.1 F. BURDETT. 1-D. GDS.’); Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (impressed ‘6699 R.S.MJR. F. BURDETT. 1/D.GDS.’).

Regimental Sergeant Major F. Burdett, 1st King’s Dragoon Guards, late 4th and 5th Dragoon Guards

Frederick Burdett was born in Liverpool in 1879, the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Burdett. A butcher by trade, Burdett enlisted with the 4th Dragoon Guards in Liverpool on 30 June 1899. He quickly demonstrated an aptitude for soldiering and was promoted Corporal on 14 March 1900.

The Boer War officially started on 11 October 1899. However, it was apparent for some weeks before that war was inevitable and the 5th Dragoon Guards were order to depart from India to South Africa on 8 September 1899. The regiment suffered considerable losses during the early phases of the Boer War. Conversely, the 4th Dragoon Guards were one of the few cavalry regiments destined never to serve at a unit in South Africa during the Boer War. As a result, Burdett was transferred from the 4th to the 5th Dragoon Guards and arrived in South Africa on 15 June 1900.

A number of 5th Dragoon Guards troops were loaned out to assist other units during the Boer War. Burdett was in charge of a contingent of three soldiers from the regiment who served with the Naval 12 Pounders during the Battle of Belfast, 27-28 August 1900. As described in the Spink’s 21 October 1999 Boer War auction catalog:

Belfast, sometimes referred to as Bergendaal, was the last set-piece battle of the War. It was an attack by combined elements of both Roberts’ and Buller’s forces on the weak part of Botha’s Army. As the British skirmished around the Boers, who numbered around 7,000, the Johannesburg Police (Z.A.R.Ps) made a stand on a large, red kopje near the farm called Bergendaal. After a fearsome artillery barrage, it was assaulted by General Lyttleton and the result of the attack was the destruction of the Z.A.R.Ps and the fragmentation of Botha’s Army. No Boer force in the field later would come close to being 7,000 strong and this fragmentation, along with the captures of Bloemfontein and Pretoria, led Roberts to announce the annexation of the South Africa Republic.

One officer, one sergeant, two corporals, and ten privates from the 5th Dragoon Guards received the clasp for Belfast.

The 5th Dragoon Guards spent the rest of the Boer War on patrol and chasing down scattered elements of the Boer field force. Burdett remained in South Africa until the 5th Dragoon Guards were transferred back to India, disembarking at Bombay on 6 April 1902. On 25 February 1904, the regiment left India to return to South Africa. They remained until 2 December 1908. Burdett finally returned to England with the 5th Dragoon Guards on 28 December 1908. The regiment was stationed in Dublin from January 1908 to September 1910, and the Curragh from September 1910 to October 1912.

During this period, Burdett was promoted sergeant, passed instructor courses in gymnastics, swordsmanship, and swimming. He traveled back to India, arriving there on 21 March 1912. Burdett was one of 236 Other Ranks transferred from the 5th Dragoon Guards to the King’s Dragoon Guards between January 1913 and February 1914. Burdett was promoted Squadron Sergeant Major on 8 January 1914 and was with the King’s Dragoon Guards in Lucknow when war broke out in Europe.

Although the Great War started in August 1914, it was not until 23 October 1914 that the King’s Dragoon Guards departed India, arriving in France on 12 and 17 November 1914. His Medal Index Card confirms that Burdett qualified for the 1914 Star, without clasp. In France, the King’s Dragoon Guards formed part of the Lucknow Brigade, Indian Cavalry.

The King’s Dragoon Guards spent most of 1914 and 1915 in reserve. They did see their first action on 9 January 1915, serving in the trenches near Festubert until relieved by the Inniskilling Dragoons on the evening of the 11th. Only 7 men were wounded but 82 were evacuated sick, mainly due to frostbite. The King’s Dragoon Guards again served in the trenches on 31 May 1915, relieving the 3rd Dragoon Guards at the Chateau Hooge at 11 p.m. The regiment was heavily shelled on 1 and 2 June by the Germans. During this battle, Burdett was squadron sergeant major for C Squadron. The Germans finally attacked the chateau from the north and east on the evening of the 2nd. The King’s Dragoon Guards drove off several attacks although they suffered casualties of 34 killed and 45 wounded.

Burdett was commended for his gallantry during this battle, and eventually was mentioned in General Sir Douglas Haig’s dispatch of 13 November 1916. Regimental Sergeant Major J. Brewer was wounded during the battle and, as a result, Burdett was promoted temporary R.S.M. Burdett’s appointment to R.S.M. was made permanent on 2 December 1915 when Brewer was commissioned.

Over the next 2 ½ years, the King’s Dragoon Guards saw no major action but served nine brief stints in the trenches, until they received orders on 1 October 1917 to transfer to India. They embarked from Marseilles in October 1917, arrived at Bombay on 20 November 1917, and posted to Meerut. Burdett received the Meritorious Service Medal in the 1 January 1918 London Gazette “in recognition of valuable services rendered with the Armies in the Field during the present war.” Burdett’s Medal Index Card indicates that Burdett received the M.S.M. for devotion to duty. Burdett also received his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on the same day.

Although Great War was over for Burdett, he campaigned twice more as Regimental Sergeant Major before retiring.

The Afghan army invaded India on 2 May 1919. The 17 officers and 360 other ranks of the King’s Dragoon Guard mobilized on 6 May 1919, arriving in Peshawar on the morning on the 8th. Discovering a potential uprising in the making, the regiment seized the city’s gates and organized mounted patrols to protect the walls between gates. They occupied the city until the regiment received orders to march into Afghanistan on 11 May through the Kyber Pass along with the 1st Cavalry Brigade. The brigade repeatedly skirmished with the enemy until ordered to withdraw on the 16th. They continued to skirmished with the enemy during this withdrawal, sustaining casualties of one officer killed and one wounded, three other ranks killed, five died of wounds and twenty-five wounded during the 16th and 17th. The King’s Dragoon Guards conducted patrols throughout June and July, until a peace treaty was signed on 8 August 1919. For this service, Burdett received the India General Service Medal with Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 clasp.

The King’s Dragoon Guards departed India, landed in Iraq on 26 January, and arrived at their camp in Baghdad on 4 February 1920. The regiment departed for their summer camp on 21 April but were ordered back to Baghdad on 12 July to quell an Arab rebellion. The regiment conducted numerous patrols from July to October, although they saw only minor action. They were ordered home on 5 November and arrived in Southampton on 28 December 1920 with a strength of only 16 officers and 146 other ranks. For this service, Burdett received the General Service Medal with Iraq clasp.

Burdett was discharged from active service on 9 November 1920 although he most likely traveled home with the regiment. Burdett enlisted in the Cheshire Yeomanry as a Squadron Sergeant Major on 16 March 1921 and was discharged on 15 March 1923.

Burdett continued to demonstrate his courage after leaving active service and on at least three separate occasions was commended for bravery.

On 29 October 1921, the Liverpool Chief Constable, F. Caldwell, thanked Burdett for having “rendered valuable assistance to a Constable of this Force who was struggling with a violent prisoner in Sir Thomas Street” on 18 October 1921.

On 12 June 1924, the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society awarded Burdett a certificate “for courageously stopping a runaway horse attached to a lorry in Great Howard Street on the fifth of June 1924”.

The Ministry of Works and Buildings, the County Court, Liverpool, and the House of Lords commended Burdett, his wife, and her sister for their assistance during a Liverpool air raid. On 12 March 1941, the County Court Building was struck by numerous incendiary bombs. A team of Fire Watchers began to extinguish the blaze. Due to their efforts, the building avoided serious damage. The team was greatly assisted in their effort by Burdett. As stated in the official report:

It would be unfair to differentiate between the members of the team all of whom worked so bravely, but it should be recorded that Mr Burdett whose services as guide to difficult places in the building and his unflagging energy certainly helped to save the situation.

Burdett was 62 years-old at the time of this last incident.



Photo of R.S.M. Burdett courtesy of 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards regimental museum.