TOPIC:

The was a very good rate of pay for those days. Australian Tprs / Ptes were paid 6/- a day.
Steinaecker's men may have deserved the pay rate due to the environment where the served as malaria was rife.
Other than that the unit would have attracted those with a sense of adventure as well as eye on accumulating the Queen's shilling.

All the best for 2022, hopefully there will be a bargain out there for all of us.

Jim

A chance for a partial re-unite.


Picture courtesy of Spink

Victory Medal (Major J. A. Baillie.)

[D.S.O.] London Gazette 15 November 1901:

'On 4th July 1901, having heard that two despatch riders had crossed the Portuguese border into Swaziland, followed them with one man by moonlight, overtook them, and after a hand-to-hand fight, killed them both and took their despatches.’

Lieutenant Baillie was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, and Corporal W. S. Haines, who accompanied him, was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and promoted Sergeant by the Commander-in-Chief.

John Andrew Baillie was born on 22 October 1876, and educated at Douro House School. Prior to the Boer War he served with the British Foreign Office and with the Bombay Police. Whilst on leave from the Bombay Police he served in South Africa during the Boer War in the South African Constabulary. He was appointed Lieutenant in Steinaecker’s Horse on 18 February 1901.

The weekly edition of the Cape Times, dated 31 July 1901, carried the following report:

‘A very exciting incident occurred on the Swazi-Portuguese frontier on Friday last. Lieutenant Baillie of Steinaecker’s Horse had a suspicion that the Boers were running despatches through Portuguese territory so a few days ago he took Lance-Corporal Harris and two troopers to a point where the three frontiers join. Leaving the two troopers to watch the road, Baillie and Harris went on patrol, and shortly after came across two men in Portuguese soldiers’ uniforms. Baillie called out, “Hands up” when the two men immediately dismounted, and getting behind their horses immediately opened fire on Baillie and Harris. Our men returned fire, and one of the men dropped at the first volley. Harris then rushed the other, and tried to club him with the butt of his carbine. A fierce struggle ensued, and several shots were fired, the result being that the second man was also killed. On searching the two supposed Portuguese soldiers they turned out to be two Boer despatch runners and important documents and papers were found on one of them. On one of them was also found a photograph of himself apparently his wife and three children. Both Baillie and Harris have been recommended for promotion by their commanding officer.’

Lieutenant Baillie was at Bremersdorp in July 1901 when the town was attacked by a Boer commando. He commanded the Steinaecker’s Horse Coronation Contingent to London, comprising himself and 10 other ranks, where they participated in the Coronation parade for King Edward VII. Each received the Coronation medal, in silver or bronze as appropriate. Baillie resigned his commission in Steinaecker’s Horse on 2 January 1903, after the cessation of hostilities but continued to serve in the South African Constabulary until he retired in 1908 and returned to England. He joined the Royal Horse Artillery (Territorials) in 1910 and served with them during the Great War as a Major, being wounded and 'mentioned'.

Further intrigue comes into the story for Baillie was struck from the D.S.O. register in 1920 due to conviction, only to be re-instated in 1931.

His Distinguished Service Order, Queen's South Africa Medal and 1902 Coronation were sold at DNW in 1999 and 2009.

From the next Kaplan auction:

QSA (2) SA01; SA02 (1344 QM SGT G MC DONALD Steinecker's [sic] Horse)

From Bill Woolmore's book:

Born Paisley, Scotland, 19 March 1880. Enlisted in StH in PMB 2 January 1901. Trade: Clerk. 5'4". Blue eyes, dark hair. Served at the depot in PMB. Moved to Komati Poort from where he was discharged 7 February 1903. Last known address: c/w W Robinson, Moorfield House, Drumagh, Omagh, County Tyrone, Ireland.

From the next Noble Numismatics auction.

QSA (3) Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (1288 Tpr: F.Hennessy. Steinaecker's Horse.) Impressed. Toned, good very fine.

1288 Trooper Frank Hennessy confirmed on Steinaecker's Horse nominal roll.

Information from the book titled Steinaecker's Horsemen by William (Bill) Woolmore, p209,

'Hennesy Frank, Trooper No.1288: Born Liverpool, England on 2 February 1870. He had 3 years service in the US Navy and 2 ? years service in the US Army. Enlisted in SH (Steinaecker's Horse) at Durban on 26 February 1901 - age 31, seaman, height 5'7'', blue eyes, fair hair, tattoo on right forearm and 'X' on left arm, address: 28 Duke Street, Southampton (same as Trooper Hanrahan). NOK: mother, Mrs M.Hennessy, Liverpool, England. Slightly wounded (accidentally) at Nomahasha on 30 June 1901.

Together with Trooper D.E.Wilson he was Mentioned in Lord Kitchener's despatches for rescuing a comrade (Trooper No.1110, Trooper G.Gaines) who was taken by a crocodile while bathing in the Usutu River at Usutu Poort in Swaziland on 30 November 1901. Trooper Gaines was dead when recovered. The citation read '...for most plucky rescue of the body of a comrade which had been carried off by a crocodile.'

Discharged time expired at PMB (Pietermaritzburg) on 20 September 1902 after the cessation of hostilities. Qualified for the QSA medal with clasps Transvaal, SA 1901 & SA 1902.'

I noticed that there has been quite a bit of interest in Steinaecker's Horse. My Great Grandfather served with them in the Boer War, with (Sp &Sq) and I was wondering if anyone had any information on him and if anyone knows the whereabouts of his medals. His details are
Trooper William Henry Anfield No. 19368
Trooper No. 20, 1st & 2nd Kitcheners Fighting Scouts,
721 Southern Rhodesia Regiment,
587 E Squadron, Rhodesian Regiment
Steinaecker’s Horse
Qualified for the QSA medal with clasps Cape Colony, Rhodesia, Relief of Mafeking, OFS & Transvaal and his KSA with the two date clasps was issued from the SH roll.

If anyone has any idea it would be great. I have only recently found out about him whilst doing my family tree. He left the family when my Grandfather was quite young and no one spoke about him at all.