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21027 Sjt. C. Jackson, Royal Engineers.
Queen’s South Africa Medal clasps Talana, Defence of Ladysmith.
Killed in action Wagon Hill 6 January 1900.
MID Sir George White 2 December 1900.
Charles Jackson enlisted 7 June 1886. Born Lincoln. Occupation fitter. Left £8 to his widow Florence. He was Lt. Digby Jones’s sergeant and was killed with him in the gun pit on Wagon Hill. Digby Jones was to be awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for this action. Buried on Wagon Hill. Grave marked by a metal cross. Commemorated on panels in All Saints Church, Ladysmith. Served in 23rd Company. Only 47 Talana clasps to the Royal Engineers.

From the next City Coins auction, November 2020

QSA (1) DoL (28797 Sapr. L. Hibberd, R.E.)
Engraved naming.

Sapper Hibberd served under Lt Digby-Jones in 23 Field Company, Royal Engineers and died of wounds after the Surprise Hill sortie.

He is buried in the Ladysmith Town Cemetery.

From the next City Coins auction, November 2020

QSA (3) CC, Witt, Belf (23801 Cpl. T.E. Downard. R.E.)
Usual engraved naming.

Pte Downard served in the 12th Field Company, Royal Engineers. He was wounded in the Frere Bridge skirmish, 11 March 1900, and subsequently Mentioned in Despatches by Lord Roberts (LG 10 September 1901, p5935).

Picture courtesy of DNW

DCM GV (177 Sjt: A. Cowl. 1/S.A. Rif:);
QSA (3) Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Johannesburg (1169. Sapr. A. Cowl. RE);
KSA (2) (1169 Sapr A. Cowl. RE);
1914-15 Star (Cpl A. Cowl S.A.F.T & P.C.);
British War and Bilingual Victory Medals, with loose MID oak leaves (2nd C/W.O. A. Cowl. 1st S.A.R.)

DCM LG 26 May 1917:

‘For conspicuous gallantry in repairing a telegraph line. He constantly worked in close proximity to the enemy and maintained communication with HQ at isolate posts with enemy all round.’

MID LG 25 September 1917 and 31 January 1919.

Alfred Cowl was born in Newcastle upon Tyne in May 1874. He served with the 1st Telegraph Division, Royal Engineers during the Second Boer War, and stayed in South Africa after the war. Cowl attested for the Transvaal Signals in August 1914, and was subsequently transferred to the South African Telegraph and Postal Corps. He advanced to Corporal and served in German South West Africa, before re-attesting with the Nyasaland Imperial Service Contingent (Signals Section). Cowl served in East Africa proceeding on Special Duty to Florence Bay per SS Chauncey Maples in January 1916. He advanced to Company Sergeant Major in May 1917, and was immediately transferred to the Nyasaland Rhodesia Field Force (Telegraphic Section).

Cowl transferred as Sergeant Major to the South African Signal Service in January 1918. He contracted Malaria, and was discharged in December 1919. He died in Johannesburg in June 1946.

Last seen in 2013


Picture courtesy of Spink

OBE (Military, 1st);
QSA (4) Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg (23703 Q.M. Sjt: J. A. Kellett R.E.);
France, Fourth Republic, Legion of Honour, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver, silver-gilt and ename

OBE London Gazette 3 June 1919.

French Legion of Honour London Gazette 10 October 1918 (War Office).

James Albert Kellett entered the Royal Engineers in 1891. He served in the Orange Free State, February-May 1900, including operations at Paardeberg, and actions at Poplar Grove, Driefontein, Vet River and Zand River. Also operations in Transvaal, May-June 1900, including the actions near Johannesburg and Pretoria; and operations east of Pretoria, July-October 1900. For his services he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 10 September 1901, refers) and promoted to Warrant Officer.

Commissioned Lieutenant (Quartermaster) in April 1905 he was appointed Head Clerk in the Military Intelligence Department. Remaining in this field, he served the Great War '...running the Internal Economy of the Military Intelligence Department' and would surely have had a hand in all major intelligence operations during the War.

Retired in the rank of Major (Quartermaster), he died in January 1940

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (5) Belmont, Modder River, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Johannesburg (26730. Sapr. S. Tyler. RE), attempted obliteration of rank;
Natal 1906, (1) 1906 (...F. Tyler, Royston's Horse.), rank and first initial removed;
1914-15 Star (1104 Pte. S. F. Tyler. 2-Rhodesia Regt.);
BWM and VM (Pte. S. F. Tyler, 1st S.A.I.).