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The work of the 16th Lancers is described here .

From today's City Coins auction, 27 November 2020

Near Doorn River, 20 December 1901

A convoy of 50 waggons left Clanwilliam on 19 December with supplies for Calvinia. They were escorted by the columns of LtCol P G Wyndham and LtCol E M S Crabbe, each with 2 guns of the 88th Bty RFA. On 20 December, as the convoy started the descent to the Doorn River on the farm Elizabethfontein, they were shot at by men from the Theron and Smith Rebel Commandos. The convoy hurried to the river, unaware that an ambush had been set up there by men under the two Rebel Commandants Pypers. As the first waggons crossed the river the Rebels caused consternation with concentrated rifle fire but before the British guns could be brought into action, the Rebels retreated in a north-westerly direction. On the Boer side 4 men were slightly wounded. The British had 3 men killed, 4 subsequently died of wounds and 5 were wounded.

QSA (3) RoK, Paard, Tvl (4391 Pte W.H. Barker, 16th Lancers);
KSA (2) (4391 Corp. H. Barker, 16th Lancers)

Barker was severely wounded in the Doorn River ambush.

From today's City Coins auction, 27 November 2020

Between Calvinia and Clanwilliam, 22 December 1901

A convoy of 50 waggons left Clanwilliam on 19 December to furnish Calvinia with supplies, escorted by the columns of LtCol Wyndham and LtCol Crabbe, each with 2 guns of the 88th Bty RFA.

On 20 December, as the convoy started the descent to the Doorn River on the farm Elizabethfontein, they were shot at by men from the Theron and Smith Rebel Commandos. The convoy hurried to the river, unaware that an ambush had been set up there by men under the two Rebel Commandants Pypers. As the first waggons crossed the river the Rebels caused consternation with concentrated rifle fire but before the British guns could be brought into action, the Rebels retreated in a north-westerly direction. On the Boer side 4 men were slightly wounded. The British had 3 men killed, 4 subsequently died of wounds and 5 were wounded.

QSA (3) CC, OFS, Belf (4479 Pte. S. Lyons, 16th Lancers)
Rim bruise on reverse edge.

Pte Lyons was killed in the Rebel attack and is buried at St Johns Church, Clanwilliam.

He was also entitled to a SA01 clasp.

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (4) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (3347 Pte E. Tugwell, 16th Lancers) top lugs filled with retaining rod;
1914-15 Star (P. 1149 L-Cpl. E. G. Tugwell. MMP.);
BWM and VM (P-1149 L. Cpl. E. G. Tugwell. MMP.);
Jubilee 1935, engraved ‘E. [sic] Tugwell. Hove.’;
Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, GV 1st issue, (2) The Great War 1914-18, Long Service, 1929 (Edward G. Tugwell)

Edward G. Tugwell served during the Great War with the Military Mounted Police in the French theatre of war from 3 June 1915 (entitled Silver War Badge).

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (4) Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Wittebergen (3653 Pte. J. Barton, 16th Lancers);
KSA (2) (3653 Pte. J. Barton, 16th Lancers.)

John Barton, born 1874 in Cambridge. Service papers extant.

Queens South Africa Medal clasps Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill and Wittenbergen named 3602 CPL J PARKIN 16TH LANCERS, Meritorious Service Medal named 2478 R S MJR J PARKIN 1/1 YORK H YEO & Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal named 3602 SQ S MJR J PARKIN 16/LRS. Comes with a 16th Lancers broach.

John Parkin born 1872, and enlisted when he was 21 years old on 14 Jan 1893 at Canterbury into the 16th Lancers. He was 3602 Private, and rose through the ranks to become Squadron Sgt. Major. He served in South Africa from 7 Jan 1900 until 6 Sept 1902 and was at the Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill and Wittenbergen. It was noted as being wounded in action on 30th May 1900 near Pretoria.

While in South Africa he was awarded the Bronze Royal Humane Society medal for saving someone's life in the Burg River in Dec 1901. 3602 Corporal John PARKIN (Bronze; Burg River, Cape Colony, 11/12/1901)
"On the 11th December 1901, Trooper A. Warwick, of the same regiment, was bathing in the Burg River, Cape Colony, when he got into deep water, and, being unable to swim, was in danger of drowning. Parkin, at great risk, went in and, after a struggle, succeeded in saving him"

Hampshire Advertiser, 18th January 1902

AWARDS FOR GALLANTRY.
At its first meeting for the year held on Wednesday in London, the Royal Humane Society made the following awards in service cases: –
Medal to Corporal J. PARKIN, 16th Lancers, for gallantry in rescuing a comrade in 15 feet of water in the Burg River, Cape Colony, on 11th December last.

He was sent back to the UK until 3 Mar 1903 when they were sent out to South Africa until Nov 1904 when the regiment returned to the UK and stayed there. He retired on the 8 Jan 1914 after 21 years of service and awarded his LS&GC (GV) medal.

In WW1, he rejoined on 1 Sept 1914, in the 1/1st Yorkshire Hussars as the Regimental Sgt. Major numbered 2478 and was sent to France on 27 Feb 1915 and renumbered to 330305. Mention in Dispatches three time, in the LG 15 June 1916, 20 Dec 1918 & 5 July 1919; awarded an MSM (GV) LG 1 Jan 1917. He was stationed in France through the war till 26 Feb 1919 when he returned to the UK and was discharged.

Missing Bronze Royal Humane Society Medal, Kings South Africa Medal 2 clasps & 1914/15 Trio (mid). If you know the location of any of his medals, please contact me as I'd like to reunite Parkin's group. Thanks in advance.

Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

Sudan (3921 Pte J. Mulholland 21/L/crs), note incorrect initial;
QSA (4) Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Transvaal, Wittebergen (4419 Pte W. Mulholland, 16th Lancers);
KSA (2) (4419 Pte W. Mulholland. 16th Lancers.);
Khedive’s Sudan (1) Khartoum (3921 Pte W. Mulholland 21st Lcrs).

Private William Mulholland was born in 1873 at Moneymore, County Londonderry, and originally enlisted for military service at Belfast on 7 September 1891, serving first with the 4th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, later transferring to the Royal Inniskillings, and then to the 21 Lancers. Mulholland was promoted to Lance Corporal on 12 May 1894, but reverted to Private later that year on 13 July.

He served in ‘B’ Squadron of the 21st Lancers under Major J. Fowle during the Sudan campaign of 1896-98, and took part in the famous cavalry charge at Omdurman, with ‘B’ Squadron forming the very centre of the charge (which also suffered the highest proportion of casualties – 10 killed and 24 wounded). Private Mulholland is listed in ‘Forgotten Heroes: The Charge of the 21st Lancers at Omdurman’ by Dutton as a fully ‘confirmed’ charger with the 21st Lancers, in which the young cavalry officer & correspondent Winston Churchill (on attachment from the 4th Hussars) also famously took part. The regiment won 3 Victoria Crosses during the battle, as well as earning themselves the new title the of the ‘21st (‘The Empress of India’s) Lancers’. For his part in this campaign, Mulholland was awarded the Queen’s Sudan Medal & Khedive’s Sudan Medal (rolls confirm).

Mulholland later served during the Boer War with the 16th (Queen’s) Lancers, who served with distinction throughout, and is confirmed on the QSA and KSA Rolls as having served with entitlement as above. He continued to serve until his final discharge on 6 September 1903.

Ex Spink, 30 November, 2004, lot 171