TOPIC:

I picked up a couple as I hadn't got a CIV QSA. I was after QSAs with the clasps Johannesburg (for Doornkop) and Diamond Hill as the unit distinguished themselves at both battles.

My package arrived about 20 minutes ago which represents extraordinary service by DNW.

David

Great purchases and great service!

Picture courtesy of DNW

A magnificent example of cylindrical form highly decorated overall, the top mounted with a kneeling figure of a Boer War soldier, slouch hat, bandolier, rifle at the ready. The figure supported on two sides with richly enamelled shields, that of the Carpenters’ Company and that of Albemarle’s Family (Keppel). Below the shields the mottoes of the Company and Keppel engraved in the silver. Both ends of the casket with swing handles, one end only opens and contains the original vellum scrolls admitting the recipient ‘Free’ of the Company. The casket is supported by four lion’s paw feet. An engraved panel below the Carpenters’ Company shield, ‘The Honorary Freedom Of The Worshipful Company Of Carpenters Was Presented To Coll. The Rt. Honle. The Earl Of Albemarle In This Casket On April 23rd 1901’. Hall Marked Sheffield 1900/01 by William Hutton & Sons Ltd, (approx. 34 ounces). Contained in its original silk and velvet lined case; together with the recipient’s National Rifle Association, Life Members Pass dated 1891, 44mm, bone, issued to Earl of Albemarle, and signed by Colonel W. Mackinnon, Secretary N.R.A., in red leather case.

Arnold Allan Cecil Keppel, 8th Earl of Albemarle, was born in 1858, the eldest son of William Keppel, 7th Earl of Albemarle and his wife Sophia Mary, and was educated at Eton College. Commissioned Sub-Lieutenant into the Dorset Militia on 7 April 1877, he transferred and was promoted Lieutenant in the Scots Guards on 19 October 1878, resigning his commission in 1883. He was promoted Major of the 12th Middlesex (Civil Service) Rifles on 9 January 1884 and commanded them with the rank of Colonel from 1892 to 1901. Styled by his courtesy title Viscount Bury, he was returned to Parliament for Birkenhead in 1892, a seat he held until 1894 when he succeeded his father to the earldom and took his seat in the House of Lords.

After the formation of the City of London Imperial Volunteers in December 1899, Lord Albemarle was appointed in charge of the Infantry Battalion on 3 January 1900 and served with them, in the honorary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, in South Africa during the Boer War until the Corps was disbanded in November 1900. For his services in South Africa he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 10 September 1901), was created a Companion of the Order of the Bath, and was awarded the QSA with 4 clasps.

Lord Albemarle served as an Aide-de-Camp to both Edward VII and George V, and was appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order in July 1901, being advanced to a Knight Commander of the same Order in 1909, and promoted to a Knight Grand Cross of the Order in 1931. Remaining active in politics, he served in the Conservative administrations of Bonar Law and Stanley Baldwin as a Lord-in-waiting (government whip in the House of Lords) between 1922 and 1924. He died in 1942.

£11,000.

A list of members of HAC who joined from the HAC. From Williams and Childers The HAC in South Africa. The source unit is shown in brackets.

Officers

Major G. McMicking (HAC)
Captain C. E. Budworth, Adj. (HAC and RFA)
Lieutenant A. C. Lowe (HAC)
Lieutenant H. Bayley (HAC)
Lieutenant J. F. Duncan (HAC)
Surgeon-Captain A. Thome (2nd Middlesex Artillery Volunteers)
Veterinary Surgeon Lieut. E. Morgan (N/A)

NCOs and Men

A. Sub-division

Sergeant W. Dixon (HAC)
Coll-Maker Sergt. B. W. Goodwin (Late RHA)
Corporal H. W. T. Elam (HAC)
Bombardier B. L. Nelson (Late RHA)
Bombardier G. W. Gutridge (HAC)
Bombardier C. Wright (HAC)
Shoeing-Smith M. B. Milne (HAC)
Trumpeter G. E. Mager (HAC)
Gunner C. W. Geddes (1st Lanark Artillery Volunteers)
Gunner W. S. Herbert (HAC)
Gunner J. O. Whittome (HAC)
Gunner W. Tetley Jones (HAC)
Gunner J. P. F. Syrnes (Late HAC)
Gunner C. J. Allen (HAC)
Gunner D. Martin (1st Sussex Artillery Volunteers)
Gunner A. Raisbeck (1st Sussex Artillery Volunteers)
Gunner S. A. Keell (7th Middlesex R Volunteers)
Gunner J. F. O’Regan (Late RGA)
Gunner F. J. Clatworthy (3rd Middlesex Artillery Volunteers)
Gunner G. W. Lee (1st City of London Artillery Volunteers)
Driver (Acting Bombardier) E. Chambers (HAC)
Driver E. M. A. Clough (HAC)
Driver E. R. Walton (HAC)
Driver A. J. Mordin (HAC)
Driver W. Baker (HAC)
Driver G. H. M. Vine (Late 3rd Middlesex Artillery Volunteers)
Driver F. K. Vigor (HAC)
Driver H. M’Dougall (HAC)
Driver A. Hanks (1st City of London Artillery Volunteers)
Driver G. Hoare (HAC)
Driver H. Savage (1st Sussex Artillery Volunteers)
Driver G. O. Ritchie (HAC)
Driver H. Mackney (1st Sussex Artillery Volunteers)
Driver J. Sullivan (Late 1st Royal Dragoon Guards)

B. Sub-division

Sergeant-Major G. E. Pilbrow (RHA)
Sergeant P. S. Taylor (HAC)
Farrier-Sergeant J. Hammond (Late RHA)
Corporal H. Attneave (HAC)
Bombardier H. S. Law (12th Middlesex R Volunteers)
Bombardier F. G. Valentine (1st Sussex Artillery Volunteers)
Bombardier C. J. Chapman (3rd Kent Artillery Volunteers)
Gunner G. C. J. Brady (HAC)
Gunner A. H. Shearman (Late RMA)
Gunner A. E. Herbert (HAC)
Gunner L. M. Murdock (HAC)
Gunner W. Sawle (1st Sussex Artillery Volunteers)
Gunner W. F. Palles (HAC)
Gunner D. Flanigan (Late RFA)
Gunner F. C. Hepburn (HAC)
Gunner W. G. Mumford (HAC)
Gunner D de V Bates (HAC)
Driver (Acting Bombardier) W. H. Gutmann (HAC)
Driver J. A. Dobree (HAC)
Driver A. S. Joseph (HAC)
Driver R. H. Whitehead (HAC)
Driver E. J. Cooper Smith (HAC)
Driver R. J. Hutchinson (12th Middlesex R Volunteers)
Driver R. Burgess (12th Middlesex R Volunteers)
Driver E. J. Page (HAC)
Driver H. Blacklin (HAC)
Driver F. C. Whitehead (HAC)
Shoeing-Smith C. Baker (3rd Batt Suffolk Regiment)
Wheeler H. W. Prendergast (HAC)

C. Sub-division

Sergeant F. Abraham (HAC)
Pay-Sergeant G. R. Barnett Smith (HAC)
Gorporal H. B. Clifford (HAC)
Bombardier W. O. Gridley (HAC)
Bombardier Shoeing-Smith T. B. Goodall (HAC)
Bombardier Collar-Maker J. O. Kendall (HAC)
Bombardier G. Lorimer (HAC)
Gunner T. P. H. Armstrong (2nd Middlesex Artillery Volunteers.)
Gunner P. H. Tacey (1st Sussex Artillery Volunteers.)
Gunner J. J. Bailey (Queen’s Westminsters)
Gunner S. W. Sulman (HAC)
Gunner H. L. Robinson (HAC)
Gunner B. D. W. Archer (HAC)
Gunner J. S. Dyson (1st City of London Volunteers Artillery)
Gunner D. Belmont (Queen’s Westminst’rs)
Gunner C. A. Tebay (3rd Middlesex Artillery Volunteers)
Gunner W. A. Shultz (3rd Middlesex Artillery Volunteers)
Driver (Acting Bombardier) T. M. Brown (HAC)
Driver (Acting Bombardier) H. H. Ward (HAC)
Driver L. B. Major (HAC)
Driver W. O. Walker (HAC)
Driver E. S. Halford (HAC)
Driver J. W. Chambers (HAC)
Driver R. H. Glover (HAC)
Driver A. C. Standen (HAC)
Driver A. Wensley (1st Tower Hamlets Engineer Volunteers)
Driver P. F. Lucas (HAC)

D. Sub-division

QMS P. Oakley (RFA)
Sergeant A. E. Wood (HAC)
Wheeler-Sergeant W. Difford (3rd Kent Artillery Volunteers.)
Corporal G. W. Osborn (HAC)
Bombardier H. W. Dollar (HAC)
Bombardier H. P. Applebee (HAC)
Acting Bombardier L. Walter (HAC)
Shoeing-Smith R. W. Stephenson (HAC)
Trumpeter H. H. Sawyer (HAC)
Gunner W. Murrell (1st Sussex Artillery Volunteers)
Gunner W. A. Rich (2nd Wilts Cyclists)
Gunner E. Charleton (Late RHA)
Gunner G. Lemmens (HAC)
Gunner A. F. B. Williams (HAC)
Gunner A. F. Vigor (HAC)
Gunner A. J. M. Brown (HAC)
Gunner W. H. Holt (HAC)
Gunner W. D. Singer (1st City of Lond Artillery Volunteers)
Gunner W. Faizey (Late RHA)
Gunner A. J. Biggs (HAC)
Gunner C. L. Duncan (HAC)
Gunner S. J. Unwin (1st City of London Artillery Volunteers)
Gunner H. W. Leacock (1st City of London Artillery Volunteers)
Driver (Acting Bombardier) A. A. Wink (HAC)
Driver H. B. Ramsey (HAC)
Driver G. W. Colmer (HAC)
Driver J. S. Hills (HAC)
Driver W. A. Scantlebury (HAC)
Driver D. D. Storer (HAC)
Driver R. E. Childers (HAC)
Driver G. W. Butler (HAC)
Driver H. M. Perkins (HAC)
Driver J. Landsberg (HAC)
Driver L. W. Cohen (HAC)

The draft

On August 12 the new draft sent out from England to supply vacancies caused by illness joined the Battery. They came out under the charge of Bombardier Chillingworth. The draft were assigned to the sub-divisions as follows:

A. Sub-divisiion

Gunner H. C. Cowan (3rd Middlesex Artillery Volunteers)
Gunner S. J. Askew (3rd Middlesex Artillery Volunteers)
Driver J. Oppenheim (HAC)
Driver N. D. Forbes (HAC)

B. Sub-division

Gunner E. J. Douglas (3rd Middlesex Artillery Volunteers)
Driver B. Williams (HAC)
J. G. Houghton (HAC)

C. Sub-division

Gunner M. P. Webster (HAC)
Gunner H. G. Trapp (HAC)
Driver R. W. Bradshaw (HAC)
Driver R. H. Tremearne (HAC)

D. Sub-division

Bombardier G. Chillingworth (HAC)
Gunner T. J. Hamp (HAC)
Gunner A. M. Cooper (HAC)
Gunner C. H. Bradshaw (HAC)
Driver H. V. Ramsey (HAC)
Driver W. J. Holm (HAC)

The Knight group (lot 448 in DNW's August auction) hammered for £400 and has now appeared on eBay with a start bid price of £749.99. It already has a bid at that price.

David

From the next City Coins auction, November 2020

Diamond Hill, 11/12 June 1900

After receiving Botha’s negative reply to his offer to negotiate, Roberts attacked Botha’s new position at Donkerhoek on 11 June where Botha had formed a line from south of Donkerhoek, north-eastwards to Doringfontein along the beginning of the Magaliesberg. The Boers were well protected by the sandstone ridge while the British were forced to advance over open veld. The battle was concentrated on the road to the east and went on throughout the day. To the north [Kameelfontein] De la Rey was engaged with Gen. French’s cavalry. Night set in and Roberts returned to Pretoria without much to show for the day.

The fighting continued from 03h00 on 12 June. The British under Pole-Carew waited for Inigo Jones’ guns to arrive while Botha fights them from the crest of the hill. At 15h00 the British forces took the ridge but could not continue over the crest before dark set in. To the north De la Rey nearly encircled French, but Botha could not supply him any aid. British numbers were once more difficult to repulse and during the night of the 12th the Boers withdraw to the east. The two days had come to good use in getting the ZAR government away from Pretoria and to make further plans. Botha’s force also regained much of its pride and the decision was that the war will continue, albeit by smaller groups.

QSA (4) CC, OFS, Jhburg, D Hill (640 Pte A.G. Eatly, C.I.V.)

Pte Eatley (sic) joined the City Imperial Volunteers from the 1st London Royal Engineers. He was one of four men of the CIV who were severely wounded on 12 June, in addition to thirteen men slightly wounded.

On 15 June Major General Mackinnon, C/O of the CIV, visited the Diamond Hill wounded at Botha’s Farm and noted:
“Private Eatley (sic), who has five wounds, one in the head, one in the chest out of which the doctor extracted a fragment of pom-pom two inches long, two middle fingers of his left hand smashed (they will have to be amputated), his right arm broken and his right hand crushed, the arm will have to come off; all these wounds were probably caused by one pom-pom shell.”
Journal of the C.I.V., p104

“All the wounded were transported by ambulance to Pretoria on 15 June. Eatley died on 18 June and was buried the same day.”