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Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (4) RoK Paar Drie Tr (18070 Bomb. T. G. Hurley, Q, B., R.H.A.);
KSA (2) (18070 Gnr: T. G. Hurley. R.H.A.);
1914-15 Star (Pte. T. G. Hurley 7th. Infantry.);
BWM & VM (Cpl. T. G. Hurley. S.A.H.A.);
Defence Medal

Thomas George Hurley was born at Dorchester and attested for the Royal Artillery on 13 January 1897, after brief service with the Kent Militia. He initially served at home where he was twice injured, firstly to the finger of his right hand whilst on duty, and secondly a contusion of his left ankle whilst off duty on 19 February 1898.

Posted to South Africa on 19 December 1899, he served as Acting Bombardier in 'F' Section of 'Q' Battery at Sanna's Post. At a time when the artillery pieces had no shields, he was fortunate to survive the encounter, in particular the Boer rifle fire.

It has been suggested that every man of 'Q' Battery was killed or wounded during the action, however this was not the case. What is agreed is that very few men were finally able to limber up and withdraw the guns following the 4 hours of artillery action. This is testament to the physical and mental exhaustion associated with very little, if any, sleep the previous night, and the intensity of the Battle. 'Q' Battery lost 4 officers wounded, 3 other ranks killed and 27 wounded, with a further 9 captured. One or two of those wounded later died from their injuries.

Hurley remained in South Africa following the cessation of hostilities and later served with the 2nd Kimberley Regiment and the South African Heavy Artillery during the Great War.

Harry Knibbs of 'Q' Battery was in fact born in Quainton Bucks. Having researched his family history quite carefully I can find no connection with Akeley.
The Harry Knibbs of Akeley referred to in the Buckingham Advertiser is Philip Henry Knibbs who was born in Akeley in 1886. He served in WW1 as a private in 7th Oxf & Bks L.I. He was always known in the village as Harry. Harry never married, was a devout churchgoer and indeed an accomplished violinist. He captained the cricket team in 1929 and was earlier 1921 recorded as playing soccer for the village team. In 1939 he was still living at home on Church Hill with his aging parents Philip Henry senior and Mary aged 86 and 89 respectively. Harry was 53. He died in Akeley in 1970 aged 84.
Much of the foregoing was confirmed in a conversation with an elderly villager who lived opposite Harry and his parents.
Hope this clarifies the situation a little.
John Norman

Thank you John for a very informative first post on the site.

I have compiled a fairly detailed record of Harry Knibbs' life story. Is it appropriate to post it here?

John,

Yes please!

THE STORY OF HARRY KNIBBS

Henry “Harry” Knibbs of “Q” Battery was born in Quainton Bucks in May 1868 the youngest of the six sons of Henry Knibb and Mary Cannon. Henry senior's line of the Knibbs family had been in Quainton since the early 1700s. Henry snr and Mary both died before Harry reached the age of ten and in 1881 he was living in Quainton in the care of his oldest brother John who was twenty nine years old and unmarried. In 1891 John was still in Quainton with two of his young sisters but Harry had left home.
On 5th Feb 1889 he had enlisted as a gunner with the Royal Artillery London Division later to become the Royal Horse Artillery. In September of the following year he was posted to India where he served until Feb 1892. After a period of service at home he was transferred to the reserve list in August 1894.
In March 1895 he married Elizabeth Brown Norrie in Guildford and in 1896 their first daughter was born back in Quainton. They returned to Guildford in Surrey and had a son, also Harry, born in 1897. With the outbreak of the Second Boer War in Oct 1899 Harry was recalled to the Royal Horse Artillery and was posted to South Africa on 3rd Nov where he served until 1902.
During that posting Harry was part of the famous 'Q' Battery whose actions at Sanna's Post on 31st March 1900 earned them no less than four Victoria Crosses. Lord Roberts decided on the unusual step of holding a ballot to determine which men were to get the medals. Harry was unfortunately unsuccessful but his heroism on that day should not go unrecognised.
Following his return from South Africa in Jan 1902 he served at home for a further nine years during which time Elizabeth produce two more daughters Winifred and Kathleen. Their births were registered in Woolwich, (1903), and Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland (1906) respectively presumably something to do with Harry's service postings. At the time of the 1911 census they were living in Aldershot as Harry served the last months of his time in the Army. He was discharged on 27th July 1911 after 22 years service.
After Harry left the army they moved to Grantley Road in Guildford where they stayed until the early 1950s. They then retired to Bognor Regis where Elizabeth died in 1954. Harry suffered from senile decay in his later years and died at home in 1956 in the presence of his daughter Winifred.

John Norman