TOPIC:

30 CORPORAL RICHARD LAMPLOUGH HULSE:
'A' SQUADRON LOCH'S HORSE

Hulse has turned up in an exciting little skirmish as reported in the Manchester press.

From "THE MANCHESTER COURIER, AND LANCASHIRE GENERAL ADVERISER," dated, Tuesday, November 20, 1900. P.7:

"THE FIGHT AT WOLVEHOEK."
"A MANCHESTER MAN'S NARROW ESCAPE."
"FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT."
"On Monday, October 1st, was fought another small but stubborn engagement at WOLVEHOEK, which is a station on the main line from Kroonstad to Pretoria, about 15 miles south of the Vaal River. During the previous night or small hours of the morning of the above date the Boers ,under De Wet, surprised and captured a picket, consisting of thirteen men of the Royal Irish Rifles, who were guarding a culvert about a mile south of the station, and so entirely cut off their communication with headquarters. They then proceeded to tear up the line with the view of capturing the first train up containing food supplies,&C, from the south, as they were in sore straits for provisions. At daybreak, however, the engine driver of the first train up luckily saw them, reversed his engine, and steamed back down the line. At the same time the Boers were also perceived from camp. Immediately the order was given to saddle up, and Loch's Horse, 16 all told, under Lieutenant Savile, together with a similar number from the Royal Irish Rifles, were soon galloping across the open veldt in skirmishes order. Meanwhile the armoured train, which had arrived from Heilbron the night before, unknown to the Boers, got up steam and took up a position about 400 yards from the station and commenced a brisk shell fire from their two 4.7 naval guns, respectively christened "John Bull" and "Uncle Sam," The mounted men in the meantime had tried to outflank the enemy, who suddenly appeared to spring up in overwhelming numbers on three sides, and commenced to pour a deadly fire into the little mounted band, numbering scarcely more than 30 men.
Loch's Horse bore the brunt of the battle. Corporal Bell and Trooper O'Kelly here fell, both mortally wounded, the former shot through the lungs, and the latter by an explosive bullet through the shoulder, to which he shortly after succumbed. The Boers, who, it was subsequently ascertained, numbered over 1,500 men, gradually closed in and captured eight of Loch's Horse. The remaining six, although called upon to surrender, preferred to make a dash for liberty. Corporal R. L. Hulse, who hails from Manchester, had a miraculous escape. He was called upon to throw up his arms while about 40 yards from the enemy. He, however, mounted his horse, which bolted, owing, as it afterwards turned out, to the bit having broken, and managed to escape, although followed by a perfect hail of bullets, which excited his horse still more, and it was only after a desperate ride of over two miles that he found himself clear of their range of rifle fire and able to stop his then beaten horse. To make matters worse, the armoured train first of all taking in the distance Loch's Horse to be a detachment of the enemy, fired one of their shells into the midst of them, but luckily perceiving their mistake soon afterwards and preventing further damage.
The Boers lost about 14 men besides several wounded, and, what was even a greater loss to them, two waggon loads of ammunition were captured and brought into camp. As they cannot now get fresh supplies it makes the loss all the more serious. They had two guns in action -one a Krupp- which, however, did little damage, being soon put out of action by the two naval guns from the armoured train.
This Commando of the Boers is practically the last remnant of the Free Staters under De Wet. They afterwards retired to some kopjes about fourteen miles off. The right prisoners they subsequently released after having relieved them of their horses, rifles, bandoliers, &C., and in some cases they even took their leggings, belts, money,&c. sway.
Corporal Hulse, who had such a narrow escape, is the son of Mrs. Hulse, of Withington, and brother to Lieutenant H. H. Hulse, who went through the siege of Ladysmith. He was for years a member of the Manchester football team, and was formerly connected with Messrs. Hulse and Co., of Ordsal Works, Manchester."

110 SERGEANT R. ADAM: LOCH'S HORSE
'B' SQUADRON.

The second of my recent acquisitions to Loch's Horse from the recent tranche of LH medals which appeared on e-bay last year.
As one would expect from a gentleman who served with the unit, he has proven to be an interesting fellow.

James Ronald Glennie Adam, to give him his full name, was in the fourth quarter of 1877 at Godstone, Surrey, England. His parents were James Adam and his wife Edith (nee Drew).
The family were found to be residing at number 6 Balfern Street, Battersea, Wandsworth, London in 1881. Father James is a Bank Account (probably the equivalent of a modern day Bank Manager). He was living with Edith, James (now 4), Emily and Amy A. The family was prosperous enough to employ the services of a servant, Emma Pegler.

The Census event of 1891 revealed a spectacular rise in prosperity and social status for the Adam family, for they were now living in a rambling pile known as Malling Place, St. Leonard's Street, West Malling, Malling, Kent.


A very recent image of 'Malling Place' being offered for sale (don't ask the price!).

Along with the explosion of fortunes the family had grown substantially over the period since the last national stocktake. For in addition to James (50), Edith (38) and James (13), there was now; George (12), Walter (10), Ethel(8), Charles (6), Alan(3) and Michael (2).
To help run this sprawling abode a veritable army of servants were required!
SERVANTS
Elizabeth Rogerson(41)
Caroline Driver(23)
Emily Bathen(19)
Agnes Men(18)
Clare Lancaster (25)
Mary Kitchenham(17)
Harriet Sears(19)
Rose Nash(22)
MALE ATTENDANTS
Thomas Curry(33)
William Self(32)
Frederick Welsh (31)
Frederick Stanton (21)

Another 6 persons are listed by initials only. Four are described as 'patients,' another as Barrister, and another as ' living by own means.' Possibly rooms were rented out to those who could afford it?
A very large household indeed (eat your heart out Downton Abbey!). The Adam family were certainly among the movers and shakers of society.

JRG Adam attended the Maidstone Grammar School from 1887, starting in Lower Class 3 where he came 2nd in Arithmetic but bottom in the French examination.
On the field of sporting endeavour, he was said to have a "peculiar cross country style," but came 2nd in the under 15 440 yards race. He also won the High Jump with the respectable clearance of 4' 3". He was a reasonable footballer making the seconds and awarded the form prize in 1892.
By this time, he preferred to be called R Adam. His education continued as he became a Randall Scholar ( I must confess to not knowing what that means!), and took a degree at Trinity College, Oxford.

Back to the subject of sport, he was a keen rugby player, despite the sport being no longer practiced by Maidstone Grammar School. In extra curriculum time, along with four other men who would later serve in South Africa, he played for the Maidstone Rugby Club.


Troop Sergeant Ronald Adam (from The Graphic)

Ronald Adam attested to Loch's Horse on February 10th 1900 in London and was designated to 'B' Squadron as a Trooper.
I will let the following newspaper report elaborate on his further military service:

From "The Graphic," dated 6th October,1900; page 28:

"Our Portraits."
Troop Sergeant Major Ronald Adam, Lord Loch's Horse, has just been given a commission in the 2st King's Dragoon Guards. Loch's Horse took a prominent place in front of Lord Roberts ' main advance; they crossed the Vaal first and held the mines for two hours before they were supported, thus saving them from being blown up. They also saved the Vaal Bridge, one span of which only had been blown up before their arrival. A party of six patched up a boat, made from paddles, which leaked terribly, and went down the river to examine the bridge. They fouy 600 charges of dynamite neatly hidden away, all connected up with wires under the water. These they traced and connected with the telegraph wires which crossed the river some way lower down, so that the centre bridge could have been blown up at any time either from Johannesburg or the Klip River, but they promptly cut the wires and the damage was averted.
Out portrait by R. H. Lord, Cambridge."

The Maidstone Grammar School published a regular update on their alumnii serving in South Africa. The Christmas 1900 edition featured:

"R Adam, who served with much distinction in Loch's Horse while the regiment was reduced in effective strength from 220 to 84 , and was promoted from Trooper to Sergeant Major, has been gazetted to a commission in the 1st Dragoons. On his return to Malling, Lieutenant Adam received an enthusiastic reception from his townsmen."

"Morning Post," dated, 19th September, 1900, announced the entry to the London Gazette regarding his commission as follows:

"Troop Sergeant Major J. R. G. Adam (University Candidate) from Loch's Horse, in succession to Lieutenant H. F. Searight, promoted."

Ronald Adam survived the Anglo Boer War, able to return home with no wounds or injury being recorded in the casualty lists.
However, he was destined to die young at the age of 28 at his Hythe.
He was buried at West Malling churchyard on 12th July 1906.

The Maidstone Grammar School news reports:

" JRG Adam. We regret to announce the death of Ronald G Adam at Hythe on July 7th from an affection of the lungs, in his 29th year. He was a Randall Scholar and ultimately took his degree at Cambridge (Trinity College). He volunteered and served with Loch's Horse in the Great Boer War, and was mentioned in despatches for valour; subsequently he received a commission in the 1st Dragoon Guards."

Adam was one of 29 former pupils of Maidstone Grammar School who served in South Africa, four of which paid the ultimate price for fighting for monarch and empire. They are all named on a plaque of remembrance at the school as shown in the image below.


Memorial plaque at Maidstone Grammar School.






Queen's South Africa Medal of Ronald Adam. Please note the font type of the officially impressed naming to the rim.

The bulk of the information I have been able to post here has been derived from the recently produced (23rd May 2020) "Old Maidstonians who served in The Great Boer War 1899-1902."
This document is accessible at www.oldmaidstonians.org.uk
I would recommend reading this piece of research. It has been a very great assistance in telling the backstory of James Ronald Glennie Adam.
I hope you enjoyed reading about his all too short but eventful life.

Thanks Steve. A fascinating and well-researched read.

Loch's Horse with guns arriving at Viljoen's Drift

Loch's Horse were the first body of British troops to arrive at Viljoen's Drift. Its approach was marked by skirmishing between their outposts and the Boers, a few shells were fired, and shortly afterwards, the little village, in which just before scarcely a person could be seen, was thronged with troops.

Source: www.angloboerwar.com/forum/19-ephemera/3...l-1900?start=0#89968

To show the medal men that there is a world beyond collecting hammered silver plaques…. Herewith a small relic from the short existence of Loch’s Horse in which Lt. (later Captain) Henry Ernest Haldane gives permission to Tr. Frank Panter for a return trip from Camp Glen to Bloemfontein. (With many thanks to this excellent website which enabled me to put a scrap of paper into proper context!)

While I cannot claim to speak for all the medal men, I for one, simply love getting some of the ephemera, be it photos, letters, diaries, other paperwork and so on.

Thanks for sharing the note, certainly brings to life the "day to day"