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Picture courtesy of DNW

East & West Africa 1887 (1) Sierra Leone 1898-99 (Capt. H. L. Humphreys, A.S.C.);
QSA (3) Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein (Major. H. L. Humphreys, A.S.C.)

Harry Lionel Humphreys was born at Greenwich Hospital on 1 August 1865. He was appointed Lieutenant in the York and Lancaster Regiment, from the Royal Military College, on 25 August 1886, and transferred to the Army Service Corps on 15 September 1890; Captain, 4 June 1892; Major, 1 April 1900; Lieutenant-Colonel, 1 April 1907; Colonel, 19 July 1911, and placed on half-pay 1 April 1912.

He served in Sierra Leone 1898-92, taking part in the Karene and Protectorate expeditions and was mentioned in Captain Harrison’s report detailing events in the Karene District, and in Colonel Woodgate’s despatch of 9 January 1899 (Medal with clasp). Coming home in 1899 he served at Belfast, and at the end of that year he went to South Africa with No. 23 Co. Army Service Corps, and from 11 February to 30 June, 1900, he was a DAAG on the Staff. He took part in the operations in the Orange Free State in 1900, being present in the actions at Paardeberg, Poplar Grove, and Driefontein, and he also took part in the operations in Cape Colony.

On 23 November 1912, he was appointed District Barrack Officer, Southern Command, but died in London on 11 June 1913, after an operation, aged 47.

Thank You David for the pictures..... Are these from a past auction or an up coming one????

Mike

QSAMIKE wrote: Thank You David for the pictures..... Are these from a past auction or an up coming one????

Mike

Mike - it is the next auction this month.

From City Coins 70:


Picture courtesy of City Coins

SAGS (1) 1879 (53 Sgt. J. Bowers. 3160th Foot);
QSA (5) CC, Paard, Drief, Joh, Belf (Lieut & Q.M. J. Bowers, A.S.C.)

MID LG 16 April 1901: “Lieutenant and Quarter-Master J Bowers, A.S.C., my confidential clerk throughout the campaign, proved himself an able and most reliable officer”.

Sergeant John Bowers was in action in Zululand at the Battle of Gingindlovu (2 April 1879) when the 10 000 strong impi of King Cetshwayo was defeated by a British relief column sent to break the Siege of Eshowe. He subsequently saw service in the Egyptian Expedition of 1882 (Color Sergeant, Egypt Medal, Khedive's Star).

Early in the Boer War he was commissioned in the Army Service Corps and served on Lord Roberts' staff in South Africa and at the War Office when Roberts became Commander-in-Chief of the Army in January 1901. He was Mentioned in Despatches by Roberts. In addition, he was promoted Honorary Captain.

During WWI he was at the War Office and the Main Supply Depot, Northampton and was awarded the MBE.

Now that certainly does appear to be a very nice pair, I dare say it may well make some people rethink the ASC.

djb wrote: From City Coins 70:

Picture courtesy of City Coins

SAGS (1) 1879 (53 Sgt. J. Bowers. 3160th Foot);
QSA (5) CC, Paard, Drief, Joh, Belf (Lieut & Q.M. J. Bowers, A.S.C.)

MID LG 16 April 1901: “Lieutenant and Quarter-Master J Bowers, A.S.C., my confidential clerk throughout the campaign, proved himself an able and most reliable officer”.

Sergeant John Bowers was in action in Zululand at the Battle of Gingindlovu (2 April 1879) when the 10 000 strong impi of King Cetshwayo was defeated by a British relief column sent to break the Siege of Eshowe. He subsequently saw service in the Egyptian Expedition of 1882 (Color Sergeant, Egypt Medal, Khedive's Star).

Early in the Boer War he was commissioned in the Army Service Corps and served on Lord Roberts' staff in South Africa and at the War Office when Roberts became Commander-in-Chief of the Army in January 1901. He was Mentioned in Despatches by Roberts. In addition, he was promoted Honorary Captain.

During WWI he was at the War Office and the Main Supply Depot, Northampton and was awarded the MBE.

From City Coins #70


Picture courtesy of City Coins

DSO GV;
MC GV;
QSA (2) DoM Tr (Capt. E.W. Hunt, A.S.C.);
1914-15 Star (Maj. E.W. Hunt, Hunt's Scouts);
BWM (Mjr. E.W. Hunt);
VM (Bil.) (Mjr. E.W. Hunt);
Jubilee Medal 1935;
Coronation Medal 1937

DSO LG 22 August 1918
‘For distinguished service in the field in connection with the campaign in German South- West Africa 1914-15.'

MC LG 13 February 1917
'For conspicuous gallantry in action. He led his Squadron with great gallantry against strongly held enemy positions. Later, with 40 men, he cut a way through dense forest and forced the enemy to retire.’

Edwin Watkin "Ted" Hunt was born in January 1869 and was raised and educated in New South Wales, Australia. First going to South Africa ‘for a rest cure necessitated by a severe accident’, he eventually settled there in farming, becoming an Inspector of Government Stock Farms in the Western District. He was subsequently present at the defence of Mafeking, having sought refuge there on the outbreak of hostilities.

For the remainder of the War he served variously as a Captain, attached to the 6th Imperial Bushmen, N.S.W. Contingent and in the Army Service Corps. Returning to Australia in 1901, Hunt later went back to South Africa and settled on a ranch in the Zoutpansberg district.

Enlisting in the South African forces in January 1915, he commanded “Hunt’s Scouts” in the German South-West Africa operations of the same year, services that were eventually recognised by a DSO and a 'mention'.

Then re-enlisting in the 9th South African Horse in May 1916, as a Squadron Commander, and later Second-in-Command, he served with distinction in the East Africa operations, winning the MC for actions fought in August of the same year, in addition to another 'mention' in Smuts' despatch of 22 November.

Major Hunt became a farmer, was President of the South African Agricultural Union, member of the Transvaal Provincial Council, Union Parliament and Johannesburg Municipal Council.

Hunt, who was discharged in March 1918, received the following message from Lieutenant- Colonel M M Hartigan, DSO, of “Hartigan’s Horse”, with whom he had shared in the trials and tribulations of active service:

‘You have in a marked degree all the qualifications necessary to command, and that inspiring “Tally-ho!” method of yours in action simply makes ‘em love the job, and once your squadron found that you would take them out of hell as easily as you let them in, I knew that I never need hesitate about the odds where you were concerned. The gift you have of being able to tell at a glance whether you can take mounted troops through thick country which you have never before seen is extraordinary, and I don’t think you would ever be “bushed”. When you were commanding the regiment during that drive down to Mahenga, I made a big call on your staying power and resource, and it was well for us I did."