TOPIC:

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (25357 Tpr: R. Rafferty. Kitchener’s Horse.)

R. Rafferty attested for Kitchener’s Horse and served with them during the Boer War, prior to being discharged on 12 June 1901.

Clasps verified on WO100/256p68. SA01 on WO100/256p163

3293 TROOPER EDGAR PULLI(E)N: KITCHENER'S HORSE

Medals to this colonial unit are always pleasing to acquire as they saw a great deal of action during the conflict (please see the unit information on this forum for greater detail).
Kitchener's Horse, along with Robert's Horse were originally intended to be raised as the second and third regiments of the South African Light Horse. The SALH were one of the creme of the colonial mounted units, and so it was quite befitting that the two newly raised regiments be named in honour of Lord Roberts and his deputy Lord Kitchener.
The fighting qualities of the men of Kitchener's Horse certainly lived up to this honour.

Edgar Pullen, sometimes misspelled as Pullin as on his QSA, was considered a suitable recruit for Kitchener's Horse and saw action at the Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg and Driefontein (WO100/256) as evidenced by the clasps to his QSA. He was discharged as medically unfit on 27th August 1900.

His next military service was with the Duke of Edinburgh's Own Volunteer Rifles, with whom he was entitled to the clasp Cape Colony (WO100/246). Unusually, the medal roll remarks that he was discharged in England on 23rd October 1900. That seems a bit odd, perhaps he had an urgent family matter to attend to back in his homeland?

Whatever the reason, he found his way back out to South Africa and the ongoing conflict as he enlisted as regimental number 23883 with the Cape Colony Cyclist Corps at Cape Town on 14th January 1901. His attestation document states that he declared his year of birth as 1875 making him 26 years of age, his nationality English. He was single and a Hosier by occupation.
His next of kin was his brother Walter Pullen of Brixton Hill, Brixton, London SW, England.
He was discharged from the CCCC on 26th July 1901 time expired.


QSA awarded to Trooper Pullin. The clasp SA1901 as detailed on WO100/239 medal roll for Cape Colony Cyclist Corps.




Impressed naming to the rim of the medal.


Regimental naming to the rim of the medal.

Following the Anglo Boer War, Edgar stayed in South Africa and married Emily Gertrude Bailey on 9th March 1904 at the Wesley Church in Pretoria. The union was blessed with two children namely John Syret Pullen and Mavis Gertrude Pullen. So I think safe for us to say that the correct spelling of his surname was indeed Pullen!

Edgar Pullen died aged 70 on 2nd December 1945, survived by his wife Gertrude and both children
He died of a carcinoma of the gall bladder and suffered for six months before it finally claimed his life at the Arcadia Nursing Home in Pretoria.
Probate for Edgar was documented on 18th December 1945 and revealed that his estate was in excess of £300.

He had previously lived nearby at 569 Pretorius Street, Arcadia, Pretoria prior to his hospital admission.

Another old soldier, gone but not forgotten.

Steve,

A hard-earned medal that has been very well researched.

Many thanks
David

Picture courtesy of Noble Numismatics

QSA (5) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (25369 Pte C.J.Tdd [sic] Kitchener's Horse)

Discharged 12 June 1901. Clasps verified on WO100/256p16.

SA01 on WO100/256p190. Linked to an address in Wellington, NZ.

23462 TROOPER WILLIAM MITCHELL: KITCHENER'S HORSE. KILLED IN ACTION AT HEILBRON ON 24TH SEPTEMBER 1900.

William Mitchell enlisted into Kitchener's Horse at Port Elizabeth on 10th August 1900 receiving the regimental number 23462.
Kitchener's Horse, raised along with Robert's Horse to be the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the South African Light Horse but named in honour of both commander in chiefs of this stage of the conflict experienced much action during the war against the Boer republics sustaining their fair share of men killed or wounded. Unfortunately, William Mitchell was one of those killed in action whilst serving with this fine unit.

As often found in the ABW there are conflicting records of his demise which I will now attempt to arrive at the correct version of events!

Using the available online resources:

1---Nominal Roll on the relevant page on this forum states a Trooper William Mitchell was killed at Vredefort on 23/09/1900.

2---Watt (2000) gives a Trooper W Mitchell (no number recorded) as killed in action at Heilbron on 24/09/1900 and interred at Heilbron Town Cemetery. Commemorated on panel 1 of the monument there. Please see images below.




3---Palmer (1999) also lists Trooper William Mitchell (no number) as KIA at Heilbron on 24/09/1900.

4---Hayward (1982) has the same information as Palmer. But from this record for Kitchener's Horse we see that Mitchell was the only casualty for the regiment on this date at that location. So can we surmise that he was perhaps involved in a small running skirmish, or perhaps the victim of a well aimed sniper's bullet?

5---Findagrave has no image of his individual grave, but acknowledges Trooper William Mitchell having died on 24/09/1900.

6---The real clincher connecting 23462 Trooper William Mitchell with the man recorded as killed in action comes courtesy of the Medal Roll WO100/256 where the regimental number, rank ,name, casualty status and date are all in the same place. Please see the image below and the second name down.






Queen's South Africa Medal


The posthumously awarded medal following just 45 days active service before his death.


Number, rank and name officially impressed to the rim.


Officially impressed regimental naming.

I hope that my fellow forummers will agree with the results of my research into the death in action of William Mitchell so that it sets the record straight for his memory.

As always, any input or further information regarding the lead up to his demise would be very gratefully received.

Moranthorse
You have used the available resources in a commendable manner. The only extra resource I would have keyed in would have been good old Stirling's chapter on KH found in "The Colonials in South Africa".
I have attached a cut of p. 172 from that estimable volume. As your man paid the price of Empire on 24/9/1900, it is most likely that he was a new recruit to KH and he served in one of the two portions mentioned by Stirling; one operating in the district North of the Vaal and West of JHB and the other in the Eastern Tvaal about Brugsburg. Due to his clasp entitlement, more likely the former?
Isolated casualties can be difficult to tie down to location, I fear.
Would it not be very useful for some kind soul to do an "Unbuttoned" (i.e., history of TMI) for such as the SALH, KH and others of that intriguing ilk?


Regards
IL.