Hi
My "Boer War Battle Collection" will be handled by City Coins later this year. This is an extract from the catalogue:
Colenso Artillery
* QSA, 3 clasps OFS, RoL, Tvl: 21305 Gnr. J. Hodgeson. 66th Bty. R.F.A; KSA, 2 clasps SA’01, SA’02: 21305 Gnr. J. Hodgson. R.F.A
Gunner Hodgson was taken Prisoner of War at Colenso and then held at the Waterval Camp, north of Pretoria. He was released on 6 June 1900.
* QSA, 1 clasp RoL: 98453 Cpl. H.J. Feegan, 66th Bty. R.F.A.
Cpl Feegan was killed in action at Colenso
* DCM (VR): 77668 Dvr. W.T. Bodill, R.F.A.; QSA, 3 clasps OFS, RoL, Tvl: 77668 Dvr. W.T. Bodill, 14th Bty, R.F.A.; KSA, 2 clasps SA’01, SA’02: 77668 Dvr. W.T. Bodill, R.F.A.
WO 132/16 contains important correspondence regarding acts of gallantry during the attempts to save the guns at Colenso.
In a memo from Col Downing, dated 9 March 1900, he noted: “Drivers Bodill & Parmenter appear to have been one of two parties that tried to get the guns away & I understand that their names had not been previously noted for the D.S.Medal…”
On 16 March 1900 Lt Grylls, 66th Bty. RFA clarified the two Drivers’ involvement: “These two Drivers Bodill & Parmenter belongs to 14th Bty, and came up with a limber from their Battery to try and rescue the guns. Their horses were shot & Dr Bodill was wounded and taken prisoner.
Dr Parmenter was wounded…”
Both Drivers were awarded the DCM in the London Gazette of 8 February 1901 (p938): ‘Conspicuous gallantry in attempting to rescue the guns of their battery on 15th December at Colenso’.
Dvr Bodill was wounded and taken prisoner at Colenso and then held at the Waterval Camp, north of Pretoria. He was released on 6 June 1900.
*DCM (VR): Driver E.W. Lucas. R.A.; QSA, 5 clasps CC, TugH, OFS, RoL, Tvl: 6473 Br. E.W. Lucas, 66th Bty. R.F.A.; KSA, 2 clasps SA’01, SA’02: 6473 Bomb. E.W. Lucas. R.F.A.; 1914/15 Star: 17705 Cpl. E.W. Lucas. R.F.A.; BWM & AVM: 17705 Cpl. E.W. Lucas. R.A.
The day after the Colenso disaster General Redvers Buller wrote to the Under Secretary of State, War Office, London to report ‘cases of Distinguished Service in the Field’. After recommending Congreve, Roberts and Nurse for the Victoria Cross, he stated ‘Drivers H Taylor, Young, Petts, Rockall, Lucas and 30661 F Williams, all of the 66th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, rode the teams, each team brought in a gun. I recommend all six for the Medal for Distinguished Conduct in the Field.’
The award of Lucas’ DCM was published in the London Gazette of 2 February 1900 (p689). A photo of Lucas and 4 other “Colenso Guns Heroes” appeared in the Black and White Budget of 7 April, 1900. In a letter home to his father he wrote: ‘I saw Lord Roberts’son killed; I was close to him when it happened’
Lucas did WWI service as Corporal in the RGA as well as the RFA, entering the French Theatre of War on 17 June 1915.
Henk