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Medals to Major A C Little.


Picture courtesy of Jager Medals

Egypt (1) Suakin 1885 (CAPT A.C. LITTLE 5th LANCERS
QSA (2) Nat Tr (MAJOR A.C. LITTLE 5/LCRS)
Khedive Star
1897 Jubilee Medal

Major A. C. Little served with the expedition to the Soudan in 1885 as Staff Officer to Brigadier General Ewart, Commanding Cavalry Brigade, and was present in the engagements at Hasheen and the Tofrek Zereba, and at the destruction of Tamai (mentioned in despatches, Brevet of Major, Medal with two Clasps, and Khedive’s Star).

£2,285

From the next City Coins auction, November 2020

Zeekoei River, 6-7 April 1901

Captain Bretherton, with 100 men (5th Lancers, Nesbitt’s Horse & 32nd Coy, IY) was ordered to Probart’s Farm (Nieuwelanden/Zeekoei River), 16 km north of Aberdeen, to block the mountain passes in the vicinity.

“Reached farm at 5:20 pm on 6th, in pouring rain. Only an hour of daylight left, in which he built schanzes and occupied both sides of the dry riverbed, every officer and man being on duty that night. Attacked in early morning by force under Scheepers and Malan. The fire was heaviest against the Lancers’ position, and they, under Lieutenant Jones (who was wounded), were compelled to surrender at 8am Captain Bretherton retired with the Imperial Yeomanry to a sheep shed, upon which all the enemy’s fire was concentrated, and, after twice refusing to surrender, gave in at 11am on the third summons, as the enemy were preparing to use dynamite, and were firing in at the open door of the building. Lieutenant Fletcher escaped capture”.
Boer War Surrenders, WO108-372.

British losses were 1 man killed, 1 Officer and 5 men wounded and 2 Officers and 76 men surrendering. The Boers also took the waggons, supplies, 50 civilian coats and all the horses.

QSA (1) CC (5429 Pte E. Gatfield, 5th Lancers)
edge knocks.

Pte Gatfield was one of the 5 men wounded in the Boer attack. He died of his wounds at Aberdeen on 15 April and is buried in the Dutch Reformed Church Section of the Aberdeen Cemetery.

His name was not found on the supplementary QSA rolls for the SA’01 clasp.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Natal, Belfast, South Africa 1902 (3412 Pte. A. J. Woodhouse, 5th Lancers)

A day of rest
5th Lancers on Church Parade during the siege of Ladysmith

Source: www.angloboerwar.com/forum/19-ephemera/3...-jack?start=42#91486

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal (4732. Pte A. H. Sowerby. 5/Lcrs.) engraved naming;
KSA (2) (4732. Pte. H. Sowerby. 5th. Lancers.);
1914 Star, with clasp (1282 Tptr: A. H. Sowerby. 12/Lrs.);
British War and Victory Medals (L-1282 Pte. A. H. Sowerby. 12-Lrs.)

Alex H. Sowerby attested for the 5th Lancers and served with them in South Africa during the Boer War. Transferring to the 12th Lancers, he saw further service during the Great War on the Western Front from 21 August 1914, and is recorded as having been wounded by gun shot to the face and right leg on 10 April 1917.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (2) Defence of Ladysmith, Belfast (4354 Pte. F. G. Bates. 5/Lcrs.) engraved naming;
KSA (2) (4354 Pte. F. G. Bates. 5th Lancers.)

Frederick George Bates was born in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, around February 1874. An engine cleaner, he attested into the 5th Lancers on 6 March 1894 and served in India from 13 September 1894 to 4 March 1898 before arriving in South Africa the following day. He served during the Boer War and transferred into the Army Reserve on 4 November 1902.

He rejoined the colours on 9 June 1915, for service during the Great War. Attesting into the Remount Squadron of the Army Service Corps, he served at home and was discharged medically unfit on 26 July 1917. He died aged 72, in Buckinghamshire in July 1946.