TOPIC:

The PoWLH was raised in February 1901.


Picture courtesy of Noble Numismatics

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Relief of Ladysmith, South Africa 1901 (Lieut: A.E.Gray, P of W. Lt: Horse.) Engraved.

Lieutenant Alfred Edward Gray confirmed on nominal roll of Prince of Wales Light Horse.

Gray's RoL clasp was earned with the Colonial Scouts where he served as a Trooper between 2 December 1899 and 15 March 1900.

From today's City Coins auction, 27 November 2020

Tweefontein, 14 November 1901

At the conclusion of the November “drive” in the central Orange River Colony, the columns under LtCol Byng (SA Light Horse) and Lt Col Wilson (2nd Kithchener’s FS) were boldly attacked in the rear on Tweefontein, a few miles south of Heilbron, by some 400 Boers under the personal command of Genl de Wet. Although the British were hampered by an unwieldy mass of captured cattle and vehicles, the rearguard (KFS) succeeded after two hours in repulsing the Boer Commando.

The British losses, all KFS, were 2 killed and 12 wounded. The Boers reputedly left 8 dead on the field.

QSA (5) CC, OFS, Tvl, SA01, SA02 (25737 Tpr. C.G. Ohlsson. P. of W. L. H.)

Trooper Ohlson served in the Prince of Wales Light Horse for 7½ months (31 December 1900 to 13 July 1901) before enlisting in 2/Kitchener’s Fighting Scouts. He was severely wounded at Tweefontein.

The medal is named in a slightly smaller font: indicating that it is the one issued “on payment” in January 1921 as indicated on the relevant medal rolls.

The QSA to Lt Gray is now available from the London Medal Co for £375. Hammer price at Noble Numismatics last year was Au$380.

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901 (30528 Tpr: A. E. Salkeld. P. of W. Lt. Horse)

Albert Edward Salkeld served with the Prince of Wales' Light Horse and the Kaffrarian Rifles during the Boer War, his Medal & 3 clasps was re-issued on 11 May 1906.

25768 TROOPER THOMAS ALBERT HOLDING

Thomas Albert Holding attested to the P.O.W.L.H. on 20th January 1901 at Cape Town and discharged "time expired" on 24th August 1901 also at Cape Town.

Image 1---Queen's South Africa medal and entitlement to clasps Cape Colony and Orange Free State as confirmed on the Medal Roll WO100/264. A further supplementary Medal Roll in WO100/264 also confirms date clasp South Africa 1901 which is missing from the medal. I assume that as this section of the rolls wasn't signed off until 1903, two years after the first, that he never received his date clasp as often the case with men dispersing around the empire after the cessation of hostilities.


Image 2---Impressed naming.


Image 3---Impressed regimental detail.

My research with Findmypast has led me to a Thomas Holding who was born in Manchester and attested to the 2nd Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment in 1884, taking his discharge from the regiment in 1896 after completing 12 years with the colours.

Familysearch turned up a Death Registration issued in Pretoria for a Thomas Holding who died on 20th August 1908 of Pneumonia (acute), exhaustion and heart failure. He was recorded as residing at Robert's Heights in the Pretoria District and his trade/profession described as Private Soldier in the 2nd South Staffordshire Regiment.
However, it gives his year of birth as 1883 and age as 25!
Too much coincidence at play here, I believe that this South Staffs veteran and the P.O.W.L.H. man could be one and the same! Perhaps there were mistakes made at the issue of the documentation when his true age would have been around 45?
That would not be a unique occurrence!

Would anyone on the forum know if attestation documents exist for the P.O.W.L.H.? Any help much appreciated as this could provide a link between service in the two units.

Cheers Steve