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Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (2) Belmont, Modder River (28927, Sapr. W. C. Wellerman, R.E.)

William Charles Wellerman was born at Lambeth, London circa 1874 and attested with the Royal Engineers as a 21-year-old iron moulder on 6 March 1895 at Woolwich. He was posted to South Africa on 15 July 1899 and remained there until returning home to England on 9 April 1900. Wellerman was appointed Lance Corporal on 12 September 1901 and advanced to 2nd Corporal on 1 September 1904 ahead of being posted again for overseas service. He was stationed in Egypt from 27 September 1905 until 13 March 1906. While serving in Egypt, Wellerman was reduced to Sapper after a period of imprisonment and trial in February 1906. He transferred to the Army Reserve on 16 March 1906 right after his return to England, and was later discharged upon the termination of his limited period of engagement on 5 March 1907.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (27926. Corpl. W. J. Gilbert. R.E.) engraved naming;
KSA (2) (27926 Corpl: W. J. Gilbert. R. E.);
BWM (149835 W. O. Cl. 1. W. J. Gilbert. R.E.);
[ VM ];
Delhi Durbar 1911, silver (27926 Q.M. Sergt. W. J. Gilbert. Royal Engineers.) contemporarily engraved naming;
Army LS&GC GV (27926 Q. M. Sjt:W. J. Gilbert. R.E.)

William John Gilbert, a Fitter from Phillack, Cornwall, attested into the Royal Engineers on 9 January 1894. He qualified as an Engine Driver and served in South Africa during the Boer War. Later re-engaging for further service to complete his 21 years’ service, he served at Home during the Great War managing the War Department’s Railways at Shoeburyness, Essex and was discharged on 8 January 1916. He possibly re-enlisted for further service during the Great War as his Great War medal entitlement notes him as also being additionally entitled to a Victory Medal, also under service no. 149835, with the Railways Department, Royal Engineers.

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Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

QSA (4) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, South Africa 1901 (Lieut. R. Anderson. R.E.), engraved.

Together with five assorted RE badges.

Lieutenant Rainy Anderson (1873-1901), was born in September 1873, the son of Staff Surgeon James Rainy Anderson. Educated at Neuenheim College and Dr. Northcott’s, Ealing, he entered the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and received a commission as Second Lieutenant with the Royal Engineers on 12 February 1892. Promoted to Lieutenant on 20 November 1895, he embarked for South Africa on 27 October 1899, and served with the 26th (Field) Company, R.E. He took part in the main Army advance from the Cape Colony to Bloemfontein and Pretoria under Lieutenant Generals Sir J D P French and Sir C Tucker, and was for some time charge of the electric lighting in Pretoria. Appointed to General Beaton’s Mobile Column as Staff Captain and Intelligence Officer, he was present at the capture of Jack Hindon's camp, ten miles north of Middelburg, and had his horse shot under him on 9 July 1901. He is stated to have behaved with great gallantry and owing to his dash a large quantity of arms and ammunition were captured.

He was mortally wounded at Zeekogat on 10 July 1901, dying from his wounds at Doornkop the following morning. He received a mention in despatches in the London Gazette of 29 July, 1902, and was buried in the British Army Cemetery at Old Middelburg Municipal Cemetery, Eastern Transvaal. There exists a wall monument to him in the crypt of St Paul’s Cathedral and a memorial.


Picture courtesy of Elmarie

Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

QSA (5) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (8028 Sapr. W.B. Edmunds. Elec: Engrs: R.E.);
1914-15 Star (130990 Sgt. W.B. Edmunds. R.E.);
British War and Victory Medals (2070 S. Sjt. W.B. Edmunds. R.E.);
Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service GV (No. E550 Rfm. Walter Bawcutt Edmunds. Rhodesian Volunteers), engraved .

Together with RE cap badge.

Walter Bawcutt Edmunds, of West Bromwich, England, served as a Sapper in the Boer War with the Electrical Engineers, RE.

His Great War attestation papers confirm prior service with the Southern Rhodesian Volunteers, and that he re-enlisted for Great War service on 8 April 1915, with the Royal Engineers, rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant, and with whom he was at one point wounded in action. He served with the BEF between 22 February 1916 and 30 January 1919, after which he was discharged from further service on 19 May 1919. It is likely that he returned to post-war service with the Southern Rhodesian Volunteers, in order to qualify for his Colonial Forces Long Service (with a 20-year requirement).