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Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (7) Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen, South Africa 1901 (78913 Sgt. W. J. Darling, Q, B., R.H.A.)

Provenance: Jack Wadey Collection and with his typed label; Buckland Dix & Wood, September 1994.

Sergeant William John Darling fought in the famous action at Sannah's Post in which ’Q’ Battery won no fewer than 4 Victoria Crosses. Darling, then a Bombardier, was second in command of ‘B’ Gun and, when his sergeant was wounded, is likely to have taken over command of his gun. In The Times of 14 January 1902, Darling is mentioned as being among those whose medal was presented by Lord Roberts at a special parade of ‘Q’ Battery in London.

Darling was born at Barrackpore, East India, and attested for the Royal Artillery at Woolwich on 19 April 1890. Appointed to the Royal Horse Artillery, he served abroad in India from January 1893 to November 1895. He was posted to “Q” Battery as a Gunner on 20 March 1896, was appointed acting Bombardier in September 1896, and confirmed in that rank on 7 October 1899. He served with “Q” Battery in South Africa from 9 December 1899 to 6 January 1902, having been promoted to Corporal in April 1900 and to Sergeant the following month. He was discharged as a Sergeant, having been found medically unfit for further service, on 7 December 1909.

From The Times, Tuesday 14 January 1902








Q BATTERY, R.H. A. (SOUTH AFRICAN MEDAL).

Major G. Humphreys, D.S.O. ; Lieutenants E. R. Burne, R. W. St. L. Gethin, end E. W. Parse; Battery-Sergeant-Major F. Pavey ; Battery-Quarter-Master-Sergeant R. Harwood; Sergeants W. Williams, J. Galpin, C. Harris, J. Baker, W. Darling, and G. Stone; Sergeant-Farrier G. Preastner; Sergeant-Collarmaker J. Beckett; Corporals F. Mayor, W. Birch, F. Witney, A. E. Hannan, H. A. Hibbert, and G. Whyler ; Bombardiers S. Williams, J. Farrow, and A. H. Perkins ; Bombardier-Wheeler H. Davis, Acting-Bombardier O. C. Bevan, J. Neill, G. Mitchelmore, W. H. Royal, C. Potter, and A. Aldcroft; Trumpeter D. Daffy ; Gunners R. Allison, C. Balderstone, J. Barrow, W. Blake, A Bilbo, W. Boyce, T. Connor, F. Cleaver, B. Carroll, N. G. Comber, E. W. Collett, J. Donald, W. Finney, W. Fuke, T. Hale, H. Hillier, H. Knibbs, J. Kinken, L. Keegan, G. Lewis, C. Moffit, H. Mitchell, J. Mellows, J. Miller, P. Nolan, J. Purdy, J. Peters, A. Reynolds, F. Swallow, H. Slingsby, T. Stanley, H. Scutts, and S. W. Sparks; Drivers C. Allcock, A. J. Barber, T. Bragg, J. Blunden, F. Baker, F. Brockway, E. Crouch, G. Diver, T. Etheridge, H. George, J. Johnston, J. Jones, W. Leamer, J. McFarlane, F. Mitchell, J. Rand, F. Rushton, H. Spencer, G. Scrivens, A. Type, A H. Tyler, T. Walsh, P. Whittaker, and A. Woodgate.

From M Battery, R.H.A. — Gunner W. Mitchell.
From X Battery, R.H.A. — Driver Northwood.
From A Depot, R.H.A. — Corporal J. Stoddart; Bombardier J. Rennie; Drivers G. Charter, G. Gray, A Orton, and S. Dart.
From B Depot, R.H.A. — Sergeant T. Brown; Bombardier R. Cooper ; Acting-Bombardier G. Laycock; Trampeter T. Cresswell; Gunners P. Hallett and J. Barber; Drivers E. Shepherd, G. Saw, W. Hek, Fry, and Tagg.

The QSA to 78913 Sgt. W. J. Darling, Q, B., R.H.A. sold for a hammer price of £1,000 yesterday.

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (6) Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal, Wittebergen, South Africa 1901 (50235 Gnr: J. B. Peters, Q, B., R.H.A.);
Army LS&GC Ed VII (50235 Gnr: J. B. Peters. R.H.A.)

James Bowen Peters was born in the Parish of St James, Bristol, and attested for the Royal Artillery in Bristol on 24 August 1888, aged 18 years 2 months, and was posted 4 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. He transferred to ‘J’ Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, in February 1896, and to ‘Q’ Battery R.H.A., in July 1897, serving as a Gunner with that battery in South Africa from 19 December 1899 to 6 January 1902.

His papers confirm that he was ‘severely wounded at Sanna’s Post 31/3/00’, received the Queen’s medal with 6 clasps, and was awarded the LS.&GC medal in Army Order 172 of 1904.

He was discharged at Newbridge on 31 August 1907.

The pair to Peters just sold for a total of £2,318.

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (5) Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal, Wittebergen (11482 Dr. G. T. Gatehouse, Q.B., R.H.A.);
KSA (2) (11482 Dvr: G. T. Gatehouse. R.H.A.)

He was wounded at the Battle of Sannah’s Post on 31 March 1900.