Private Thomas Sharples, 3963
WIA Colesburg 4 January 1900
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen (3963 Pte T. Sharples, 10th Hussars); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (3963 Pte T. Sharples, 10th Hussars)
Thomas Sharples was born in Liverpool in 1879 and was a labourer by trade before enlisting with the 10th Hussars on the 1st April 1898.
It is believed that Thomas sailed with the Columbian and was not on the Ismore which came to grief in St Helena Bay and arrived in the Cape at the beginning of December 1899; they were immediately sent to Colesburg where they were kept very busy under General French.
On the 4th January 1900 the Boers were found to have occupied a number of hills; in a most gallant style Colonel Fisher dismounted him men and led them on foot against this position which they carried with much boldness and intrepidity. In this darling operation Major Harvey was killed and Major Alexander severely wounded. Two men were killed and 2 other officers and 8 men wounded of which Thomas was one of them.
The following day Lt Milbanke of the 10th Hussars was awarded the VC for his actions in the same region around Colesburg:
www.angloboerwar.com/unit-information/so...ke-sir-john-peniston
On the, 5th January 1900, during a reconnaissance near Colesburg, Sir John Milbanke when retiring under fire with a small patrol of the 10th Hussars, notwithstanding the fact that he had been severely wounded in the thigh, rode back to the assistance of one of the men whose pony was exhausted, and who was under fire from some Boers who had dismounted. Sir John Milbanke took the man up on his own horse under a most galling fire, and brought him safely back to camp"
55 medals to the 10th Hussars with this combination of clasps.