TOPIC:

djb wrote: An odd way to mount a KSA.

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (5) Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal (6127 Pte. C. Feeney. 1st Connaught Rang:);
KSA (2) (6127 Pte. C. Feeney. Conn: Rang:)

Charles Feeney was born at Cloonacool, Tubbercurry, Sligo in 1897 and was a labourer by trade upon his joining the Connaught Rangers at Sligo on 28 June 1897. He served with his unit during the Boer War and was wounded on 23 February 1900 at Hart's Hill.

In the attack on Hart's Hill the assault was delivered by the Inniskillings, the Rangers, and part of the Dublins. That day the Battalion lost 7 Officers wounded, 19 men killed and over 100 wounded. Four officers were 'mentioned' in General Buller's despatch of 30 March 1900, and 3 men were recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

Feeney was clearly a troubled character, perhaps some effects of his wounds suffered in action for his conduct was far below par. He was tried on several occasions and was eventually discharged with ignominy in November 1903, a notation being made that his Medals should be forfeited.

Indeed David. On a similar note I can't understand why so many KSAs are seen on sale, particularly at auction, with the ribbon the wrong way round. Surely the previous custodian must have been sufficiently clued up to realise it's not right?

Khedive's Sudan medals (1896 version) are almost always shown the wrong way round with the reverse (shield and arms) as the obverse too. British Battles and Medals gets it right but most don't.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

SAGS (1) 1877-8-9 (1275 Corpl. M. J. Kenny. 88th. Foot.);
QSA (6) Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, last clasp a tailor’s copy (Qr. Mr. M. J. Kenny. 1st. Connaught Rang:)

Together with the related miniature awards, the clasps on the QSA mounted in the order TH, RoL, T, OFS, CC, SA01, the miniatures mounted as worn.

Michael James Kenny was born in Adelaide, South Australia, in 1856, the son of Sergeant Major Peter Kenny, 11th Foot, and attested for the 88th Regiment of Foot on 2 April 1877. He served with the Regiment in South Africa from 17 June 1877 to 2 October 1879, and took part in both the Kaffir and Zulu Wars. Proceeding to India on 3 October 1879, where he was stationed until 5 November 1890, he was advanced Warrant Officer on 25 December 1889, and saw further service in Aden from 6 November 1890 to 15 December 1891.

Kenny was commissioned Quartermaster on 11 March 1896, and served in South Africa during the Beor War from 11 November 1899 to 2 Mach 1901, being present at the Relief of Ladysmith, including the action at Colenso; the actions at Spion Kop and Vaal Krantz; the operations at Tugela Heights and the action at Pieters Hill; and operations in the Orange Free State, in the Transvaal, and in the Cape Colony.

Returning to the UK on 3 March 1901, Kenny’s final appointment was as Quartermaster at the School of Training for Mounted Infantry at Aldershot from 10 December 1901 to 10 December 1906.

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (5) Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal (3052 C.Sgt C. F. Dryden, 1st Connaught Rang:);
KSA (2) (3052 Clr:-Serjt: C. F. Dryden. Conn: Rang:);
1914 Star, clasp (Hon: Lt. & Q.M. C. F. Dryden. Conn: Rang.);
British War and Victory Medals (Q.M. & Lieut. C. F. Dryden.);
Defence Medal 1939-45 (D.C.W. C. F. Dryden), engraved naming;
Coronation 1911;
Army LS&GC Ed VII (3052 S.Mjr: C. F. Dryden. Conn: Rngrs.);
France, Republic, Medal for Upper Silesia 1920-22

MID London Gazette 29 July 1902.

Charles Frier Dryden was born in Dublin, Ireland on 1 July 1870 and served in the ranks of the Connaught Rangers for twelve years before retiring. In 1898, he rejoined and served with the 1st Battalion in the Boer War where he took part in the Relief of Ladysmith, the Battle of Colenso, operations at Spion Kop (where he claimed to have started the Battle), the Battle of Pieters Hill and the Action at Zumrlakte on the 14 July 1901. Whilst serving with the 3rd Battalion, Dryden was awarded the 1911 Coronation medal and was promoted to Q.M.S., S.M. and Q.M. on 22 November 1913. With the outbreak of the Great War, Dryden went to France with the 2nd Battalion on 14 August 1914 with whom he served throughout the war and was promoted to Captain on 1 July 1917. After the war, he served with the 2nd Battalion in Poland attached to the League of Nations for which he was awarded the medal for Silesia.

On the disbandment of the Connaught Rangers in 1922 Dryden transferred to the Sherwood Foresters and retired with them on 31 December 1924. He continued to serve as the Quartermaster of the 8th T.A. Battalion Sherwood Foresters until 1927. With the outbreak of the Second World War, he was the first local man in Shoreham to volunteer with the Civil Defence and served as Deputy Chief Air Raid Precautions Warden for Shoreham and Southwick. Dryden gained the nickname "Monty" due to him wearing his official beret and a likeness to the great Field Marshall. He wrote numerous articles in "The Ranger", the regimental journal of the Connaught Rangers, under both his own name and the pseudonym "Flugeman". In one article entitled "Waterloo" (November 1941, pages 242-243), he claims to have been the person who began the Battle of Spion Kop and the last person to quit. In the last issue of The Ranger the editorial refers to a story heard long ago, of that gifted Ranger Captain C. F. Dryden at the time of the Boer War when he was a Colour Sergeant and a crack shot. One day a Boer scout was sighted at a distance of one mile. Someone said the target was an impossible one, but Dryden borrowed a rifle, fired and the Boer's mount fell dead. As the rider began to remove the saddle, Dryden proceeded to pull-through the rifle and, to an astonished "aren't you going to try for the man?" from his audience, he replied "Ah no - I don't want to spoil my averages!" Dryden died at his home in Shoreham on 19 January 1960.

The Upper Silesia Medal

The Treaty of Versailles had ordered a plebiscite in Upper Silesia to determine whether a territory should be part of Germany or Poland. Three uprisings occurred, the last of which required a special deployment of the allied army of occupation troops for peacekeeping and to ensure a trouble-free referendum. The Medal was created on 22 September 1921 by the inter-allied Government Commission of Upper Silesia to commemorate service during this time, either in the allied military forces or within the government.