Welcome, Guest
Username: Password: Remember me
  • Page:
  • 1

TOPIC:

Medals to the Shropshire Light Infantry 4 years 9 months ago #64218

  • djb
  • djb's Avatar Topic Author
  • Offline
  • Administrator
  • Administrator
  • Posts: 31550
  • Thank you received: 4500

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (4) CC Paard Drie Joh (3193. Pte. A. F. Whelan, 2nd. Shropshire Lt. Infy.);
Visit to Ireland 1903 (C. A. Whelan. R.I.C.) with integral top shamrock suspension bar;
Visit to Ireland 1911, unnamed as issued,
Dr David Biggins
Attachments:

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Medals to the Shropshire Light Infantry 3 years 4 months ago #73122

  • djb
  • djb's Avatar Topic Author
  • Offline
  • Administrator
  • Administrator
  • Posts: 31550
  • Thank you received: 4500
From the next City Coins auction, November 2020

Frederikstad train incident, 30 July 1900

Quoting from the regimental history:

“Lord Methuen’s force left us and proceeded to Potchefstroom and the Gordon Highlanders went to Krugersdorp. They had no boots, so we were left to bring a convoy on to Potchefstroom. July 28 we were joined by the City Imperial Volunteers and 33 sick and wounded who were captured in the wrecked train and sent in by the Boers. The convoy arrived on the 29th and we proceeded towards Potchefstroom the same day. An unfortunate accident attended with considerable loss of life happened on the way. A heavy train of supplies passed us just as we were approaching camp at Frederikstad on July 30 and seated on the trucks was a draft of ours which had lately arrived in the country together with some sick men re-joining. Our yeomanry scouts had been ordered to inspect the line as they advanced but they failed to perceive that on a sharp curve where the line ran down a decline some of the fishplates had been unscrewed and the rails loosened but carefully replaced. The engine on reaching the spot was derailed and the heavy supply trucks ran up one on top of the other. Thirteen of our men were killed, together with the engine driver and forty-one injured.”

QSA (3) CC, OFS, Tvl (7358 Pte. J. Wright, 2nd Shropshire Lt. Infy.)
The clasp set is loose on the ribbon, not attached to the suspender.

Pte Wright served in the Volunteer Service Company of the Shropshire LI. and was one of the 13 men killed in the accident.

He is buried in the Olën Park Cemetery in Potchefstroom.
Dr David Biggins

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Medals to the Shropshire Light Infantry 3 years 2 weeks ago #75261

  • djb
  • djb's Avatar Topic Author
  • Offline
  • Administrator
  • Administrator
  • Posts: 31550
  • Thank you received: 4500
From the next Bonhams sale:


Picture courtesy of Bonhams

QSA (4) Cape Colony, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (4429 Pte J. W. Taylor, 2nd Shropshire Lt Infy).

QSA (5) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, SA01, SA02 (7605 Pte A.Richardson, Shrops: Lt Infy)
Dr David Biggins
Attachments:

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Medals to the Shropshire Light Infantry 2 years 9 months ago #77005

  • djb
  • djb's Avatar Topic Author
  • Offline
  • Administrator
  • Administrator
  • Posts: 31550
  • Thank you received: 4500

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (2) Cape Colony, Orange Free State (2801 Pte B. Leyland, 2nd Shropshire Lt Infy),

Incorrectly catalogued by Spink as Layland.

Born 1874 in Bolton, Lancashire. Returned to England 15 September 1900. Clasps verified on WO100/194p411.

Has Great War service.
Dr David Biggins
Attachments:

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Medals to the Shropshire Light Infantry 2 years 8 months ago #77530

  • Moranthorse1
  • Moranthorse1's Avatar
  • Offline
  • Senior Member
  • Senior Member
  • Posts: 889
  • Thank you received: 742


3992 PTE. J. JONES. SHROPS:L. I.

QUEEN'S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL
CLASPS:TRANSVAAL (ALSO ENTITLED TO SA1902)
CONDITION:GVF WITH EDGE KNOCKS.

A recent addition to the collection, I was very pleased to find his attestation papers form a very interesting insight into the character of Private John Jones.
Please read on.

John Jones was born in Oldwood Common, near Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire in1874.
He attested to the Shropshire Light Infantry in the market town of Ludlow, Shropshire on 23rd January 1893 at the age of 18 years and 9 months, stating his occupation as a farm labourer. He is further described thus:
Height:5' 5 1/2"
Weight:122lbs
Chest min. 34" max. 35 1/2"
Complexion :fresh
Eyes:grey
Hair:light brown
Religion : Church of England

His next of kin was his father, also John Jones who resided at Duncombe, near Onibury, Shropshire.

John's military history sheet details the following periods of service:
Home:23/01/1893 to 22/11/1894. 1yr 304 days
India:28/11/1894 to 13/02/1902. 7yrs 83 days
S. Africa :14/02/1902 to 06/09/1902. 205days
Home: 07/09/1902 to 22/01/1903. 2yrs 138 days
His total service stood at 12 years until his discharge time expired.
Now things begin to get interesting!

His disciplinary record was rather appalling with a charge sheet as long as your arm!

On 24th July 1895 Jones was, I quote from his papers:
"awarded 14 days of forfeit of pay by C. O. for using threatening language to a N. C. Officer. Returned to duty 7th August 1895."
On 19th June 1896 "solitary confinement awaiting trial. Tried and sentenced to 84 days imprisonment for striking his superior officer". Returned to duty 18th September 1896.
4th February 1898 sees him awarded 10 days imprisonment by C. O. for drunkeness and using improper language. Back on duty 10th February 1898.
On December 4th 1898 he is in trouble again. "in confinement awaiting trial. Tried and sentenced to six months imprisonment for failing to appear at the place of parade and offering violence to his superior officer." He served 4 months of his sentence before returning to duty on 12th April 1899.

By my reckoning 3992 Private John Jones, a soldier who did not much care for authority, spent over seven months of his service behind bars.

As far as the war against the Boer was concerned, he probably did not see a great deal of action as he arrived in the latter stages of the conflict. However, as his statement of service bears witness, Jones was a very feisty character indeed!
Attachments:
The following user(s) said Thank You: Dave F

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Medals to the Shropshire Light Infantry 10 months 6 days ago #89910

  • Moranthorse1
  • Moranthorse1's Avatar
  • Offline
  • Senior Member
  • Senior Member
  • Posts: 889
  • Thank you received: 742
2734 PRIVATE JOHN WILLIAM JONES: 2ND BATTALION SHROPSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY


John William Jones was born in 1866 in Lower Sapey in the district of Bromyard, Herefordshire. Lower Sapey actually lies just into Worcestershire but belongs to Bromyard for administrative purposes!

The great Census of 1871 finds John as a 4 year old living at Stoneyhead Cottage, Upper Sapey, Bromyard, Herefordshire.
He appears to be living with his grandparents James (75) and Maria Austin's (66), his uncle George (27) and cousin Anne J. Austin's (3). Perhaps the enumerator recorded another household member incorrectly? Vincent Jones (27) was recorded also as a grandson. However, a Vincent Jones was given as the name of John's father as next of kin at attestation into the army. Perhaps after 152 years I have corrected an anomaly!

The researcher must assume that his mother had died prior to 1871. In 1861, an Emma Austins, a 23 year old employed as a servant, lived at Black Cottage, Lower Subadge (another potential anomaly here, as local knowledge leads me to believe that this should be Lower Hubbage), Upper Sapey, Bromyard.

John found employment as a labourer as detailed on his attestation document which was completed on 9th January 1888 at Shrewsbury, where he became a member of the Shropshire Light Infantry at the age of 22 years and 6 months.
He measured up as 5' 6 1/4" in height, weighed 157lbs and had a maximum chest expansion of 37". He had a fresh complexion, grey eyes, light brown hair and was Church of England by denomination. There were three small moles on the right side of his neck by way of distinctive marks.

His service record as follows:

Home ---06/02/1888 to 06/11/1899.
South Africa ---07/11/1899 to 10/06/1900.
Home---11/06/1900 to 05/02/1901.
Total --- 13 years and 20 days.

His entire enlistment was spent as a 2nd battalion soldier, and appointed Lance Corporal on 7th November 1899 on embarkation to South Africa.

As previously mentioned, his father Vincent was named as next of kin, residing at Lower Sapey, Bromyard, Herefordshire.






Queen's South Africa medal awarded to 2734 Private J.W.Jones.

His QSA bears the clasps Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein and Orange Free State. Therefore, he was part of the 2nd Battalion Shropshire Light Infantry who gave good service during the final days of Piet Cronje's last stand at Paardeberg.
The first three clasps mentioned above are shown to be his entitlement on the medal roll. However, I can find nothing for Orange Free State. The rivets appear to be fine and the patination is consistent overall.

The medal roll tells us that John was to "England 1-5-00".
So safe to assume that he did not have to man blockhouses in the guerilla stage of the conflict and avoided being billeted with his comrades in Bloemfontein where so many men contracted the deadly enteric fever due to the unsanitary conditions there.
By this time he had completed 12 years with the colours, so perhaps he was sent home having done his full term?

The trail runs cold now, my search for a John Jones in the Bromyard area has not revealed any satisfactory results. John Jones is a very common name in this part of the world at that time.

Having family connections in the Bromyard area, I was very pleased to pick up a QSA to a local man. As a very rural region the population would be low and consequently the number of blokes who served would also likely be low, I would have thought.

Also, another QSA to add to the list of the forummer who is compiling a list of men of the regiment who served in South Africa during the Anglo Boer War. I hope this is a fresh record!

Cheers Steve
Attachments:
The following user(s) said Thank You: Dave F, Sturgy

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Page:
  • 1
Moderators: djb
Time to create page: 1.248 seconds
Powered by Kunena Forum