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Picture courtesy of Spink

MC GV;
QSA (4) Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg (23933 Cpl: W. J. Ogden. R.E.);
KSA (2) (23933 Serjt: W. J. Ogden. R.E.);
1914-15 Star (107476 C. S. Mjr. W. J. Ogden, R.E.);
British War and Victory Medals (107476 W.O.CL.2. W. J. Ogden. R.E.);
Army LS&GC Ed VII (23933 C.Q.M.Sjt: W. J. Ogden. R.E.);
Army MSM GV (107476 C.S.Mjr: W. J. Ogden. M.C. 401/High: Fd: Coy R.E.)

MC London Gazette 27 July 1916:

'For conspicuous and consistent gallantry and good work, notably when, under heavy shell fire, he removed to safety limbers which had explosives in them, and when he collected a party and extricated some men who had been buried during a bombardment'.

MSM London Gazette 17 June 1918.

William James Ogden was born in the district of Madras, India circa February 1870 and enlisted into the Royal Engineers at Portsmouth on 18 October 1889. A steady progression through the ranks occurred. He qualified as a Rough Rider in 1898. In August 1896, he was serving with the 26th Field Company at Curragh, Ireland. By 1899, he was serving at Chatham and married Sarah Jane Tee on 24 August.

On the outbreak of the Boer War in South Africa, Ogden served with the 9th Field Company, leaving for South Africa on 4 January 1900. He served in the numerous operations in Cape Colony and then specific operations concerning Paardeberg (between the 17 - 26 February 1900), Driefontein (10 March 1900) and Johannesburg (31 May 1900). Ogden was promoted Sergeant during the campaign and returned home on 11 September 1902.

He was discharged from the Royal Engineers as Quartermaster Sergeant whilst serving with the 11th Field Company on 17 October 1910 at Chatham, Kent, having served 21 years. His address was given as 2 Brentford Villa, Ash Vale, Surrey and he became a store keeper.

On the outbreak of the Great War, Ogden volunteered for active service and re-joined the Royal Engineers at Aldershot on 2 July 1915, as a Driver, now aged 43 years. His obvious experience was recognised and he was immediately promoted to Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant on 5 July 1915. Receiving a further promotion to Company Sergeant-Major (Warrant Officer Class II) on 1 September 1915, he embarked for France on 18 December, with 156th Field Company, in the 16th (Irish) Division. By April 1916, the Division was in the Hulluch Sector.

Gas Attacks

The Gas Attacks at Hulluch were two German cloud gas attacks on British troops from 27-29 April 1916, near the village of Hulluch, 1 mile (1.6 km) north of Loos in northern France. The gas attacks were part of an engagement between divisions of the II Royal Bavarian Corps and divisions of the British I Corps.

Just before dawn on 27 April, the 16th (Irish) Division and part of the 15th (Scottish) Division were subjected to a cloud gas attack near Hulluch. The gas cloud and artillery bombardment were followed by raiding parties, which made temporary lodgements in the British lines. Two days later the Germans began another gas attack but the wind turned and blew the gas back over the German lines. A large number of German casualties were caused by the change in the wind direction and the decision to go ahead despite protests by local officers. German casualties were increased by the British, who fired on German soldiers as they fled in the open.

The German attack near Hulluch began with the release of smoke, followed by a mixture of chlorine and phosgene gas 90 minutes later, from 3,800 cylinders, on the fronts of Bavarian Infantry Regiment 5 (BIR 5) and Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment 5 (BRIR 5). The discharge on the front of Bavarian Infantry Regiment 9 (BIR 9) was cancelled, as the direction of the wind risked enveloping the 3rd Bavarian Division on the right flank, in the Hohenzollern Redoubt sector. At 0500hrs, German artillery began a high-explosive, shrapnel and trench-mortar bombardment, on the front of the 16th (Irish) Division and the right flank of the 15th (Scottish) Division to the north, laid a barrage on communication trenches and fired lachrymatory shells into villages and British rear positions. Ten minutes later, gas and smoke clouds rose from the German trenches and moved towards the British trenches, blown by a south-easterly wind. The gas cloud was so thick at the beginning, that visibility was reduced to several yards; wearing gas helmets was necessary over three miles behind the front line and the smell was noticed fifteen miles away.

Three German mines were exploded at 0555hrs, another artillery bombardment was fired and a second gas cloud was discharged. Several raiding parties of about 20 men each, followed the gas and three managed to get into the British trenches. One party entered the British front line at Chalk Pit Wood for about fifteen minutes; the second was quickly expelled from the lines north of Posen Alley and caught by Lewis-gun fire in no man's land. The third party got into the trenches on the right flank of the 15th (Scottish) Division, just north of the Vermelles-Hulluch road and was promptly bombed out; by 0730hrs the raiding parties had withdrawn.

At 0510hrs on 27 April, a gas alert was raised in the 16th (Irish) Division area and the divisional and corps artillery began a bombardment on the rear of the German lines, from whence the gas was being discharged. After thirty minutes, groups of German infantry about 20-30 strong, equipped with pistols and hand grenades, were seen heading for gaps in the British wire and were repulsed by rifle and machine-gun fire. Three mines were sprung and another bombardment was fired, before sending another gas cloud, which caused many casualties to a Black Watch company, whose commander had ordered them to remove their gas helmets after the first gas cloud, under the impression that the helmets were useless after one exposure to gas. Behind the second gas cloud, larger parties of German infantry advanced and managed to get into the British trenches for brief periods at three points. At Chalk Pit Wood the British had a howitzer, which had been brought up in September 1915, to fire in support of an attack on Hulluch. Since the Lone How was only 40 yards (37 m) behind the British front line, orders had been given to destroy it, in the event of a German raid and a demolition charge had been left on the gun with a lit fuse.

On 29 April, the German infantry sent up a green then a red flare and at 0345hrs, German artillery began to bombard the reserve and communication trenches of the 16th (Irish) Division. A gas cloud was released, followed by white smoke from Chalk Pit Wood to Hulluch, after BIR 9 had been ordered to discharge the gas by higher authority, despite unfavourable winds. German raiding parties advanced, as the gas moved very slowly and then veered about, as it reached the British third line; the German raiders were then engaged by British infantry with small-arms fire. The gas suddenly blew back towards the German lines and in the area of BIR 9 and BIR 5 the troops of Pioneer Regiment 36 (PR 36) were not able to stop the discharge straight away. Many German troops were caught without gas masks on and had about 1,500 gas casualties. On the right flank, the 3rd Bavarian Division recorded 34 more casualties. The German bombardment abruptly ended, as the gas dispersed southwards.

The 48th Brigade recaptured the wood and a few hours later the Lone How was discovered intact, the fuse having gone out. The howitzer was so well camouflaged, that the German raiders had not noticed it. British artillery-fire was believed to have destroyed some German gas cylinders, when German troops were seen to climb out of their front trenches and run to the rear, amid British small-arms fire. Eighty dead German soldiers were counted later, in and around the British front trenches. By 0730hrs, the German raid was over and during the night, two British battalions were relieved; the rest of 28 April was quiet, except for a raid by the 1st Division, at the Double Crassier near Loos. At 0345hrs, a German artillery bombardment and gas discharge began on the 16th (Irish) Division front but the expected attack did not occur. German troops were seen massing in the trenches near Hulluch at 0410hrs and small numbers advanced towards the British trenches, where they were engaged by small-arms fire. The German gas then reversed course and German infantry on a half-mile front ran to the rear through the gas and British artillery-fire, leaving about 120 dead on the front of the 16th (Irish) Division.

It seems most likely that Ogden was awarded his MC as a result of his gallantry during this action. By August 1916, the 156th Field Company were in the Somme area and took part in the operations of Guillemont and Ginchy, between 3-9 September. Ogden was given a period of home service between 10 November 1916-26 April 1917, whereupon he returned to France. At some point during this second deployment to France, he was posted to the 401st (2nd Highland) Field Company of the 51st (Highland) Division.

Ogden returned home again on 16 March 1918. His second deployment also appears to have seen his services appreciated and he was awarded the M.S.M, which waspresented at a ceremony at Portsmouth Dockyard on 1 September 1918, from Major General Douglas Smith CB.

Ogden did not return to France and was transferred to the 2nd Reserve Battalion, on 15 January 1919, eventually being discharged with a 20% disability pension, (exact nature unknown). Ogden died in Surrey in Spring 1939.

Men of all work
Engineers repairing the line at Modder River Station

Source: www.angloboerwar.com/forum/19-ephemera/3...-jack?start=78#96445

Two photographs of my great grandfather's troop (3rd F.T., R.E.) doing similar work at Vlakfontein.





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Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (6) Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (2385 Sapr. H. Johnson R.E.);
KSA (2) (2385 Sapr: H. Johnson. R.E.);
[ Great War trio ];
Army LS&GC GV (2385 Cpl. H. Johnson. R.E.)

Henry Johnson was born in Byker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in 1878 and attested for the Royal Engineers at Newcastle on 11 October 1898. He served in South Africa during the Boer War from 21 October 1899 to 21 October 1901, and again from 9 April 1902 to 15 April 1905. Promoted Corporal on 1 April 1915, he saw further service during the Great War on the Western Front from 18 May to 15 October 1915, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with gratuity on 1 October 1918. He was finally discharged on 22 April 1920, after 21 years and 195 days’ service.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (29517. Sapr. J. Bergan. R.E.) engraved naming;
KSA (2) (29517 Sapr: J. Bergan. R.E.)

Joseph Bergan, a tailor by profession, was born in Accrington in 1875 and attested for the Royal Engineers as Sapper on 10 October 1895. In contrast to the experiences of many soldiers during the Boer War which are now lost to history, Bergan made sure to write religiously to his brother Mr. Harry Bergan, publican of the King's Arms in Accrington. These letters were subsequently passed to the local press, an excerpt from The Gazette of 20 September 1902 noting:
‘Mr. Bergan served right through the war in South Africa in the 11th Field Service Corps, Royal Engineers. He went out three years ago next month in the “Aurania,” the first ship that took troops out to South Africa. He was in many engagements with Generals Methuen, Smith-Dorrien, Rundle and French. He was the only one of his company who went right through the campaign. He once had a very narrow escape from being killed. He and seven of his company were left to bury the dead. They missed the company, were lost about six weeks, and marched 150 miles. They were fired on by the Boers. They had a desperate encounter, and six of them were killed. Only Sapper Bergan and the sergeant escaped alive, and after a long and dangerous march they reached Pretoria. One morning he was in a tent with two comrades when the camp was attacked by the Boers. His two companions were shot dead by his side, but he escaped unhurt…’

Having survived the best efforts of the Boers to kill him, Bergan had a second particularly close call on the night of 25 May 1902 when a fellow Royal Engineer ran amok with his gun amongst the rows of neatly arranged tents in camp. Bergan's account was subsequently published in The Haslington Gazette on 26 July 1902: ‘I regret much to say that one of my company was murdered in the tent next to me the Sunday before peace was proclaimed. It was very hard lines, seeing that the murdered man had been all through the war right from the commencement. The murderer has been found insane, and that is no doubt a proper verdict.’

The most likely suspect proved to be 27854 Sapper R. Roe of the 11th Field Company; medal roll entries for this man note ‘Lunatic to Prov. Co. R.E. 22/8/02’ and ‘discharged’. His medals were later returned. Second Corporal C. Jackson - the victim - rests in an unmarked grave in the Vryburg Cemetery. Having survived the entire campaign apparently unscathed, Bergan travelled to Cape Town and waited to be allocated a ship in which to return to England. It was in these days between the cessation of hostilities and the embarkation for home that his health began to fail him; struck down by an abscess on the liver and pleurisy he was sent to Wynberg Hospital where he died on 22 August 1902 at the age of 27 years.

Thank you David
What an eventful and very Fortunate life during service and a great and detailed background to the medal.
having survived several very close encounters, only to meet his end during peace time.
Clive