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3641 Private E. Banks 2nd Battalion Scottish Rifles. M.I.D

My latest addition to my QSA collection. A Christmas present to myself…had to be done.

Edward Banks was born in Birmingham in 1872. He joined the Scottish Rifles in 1890 at Hamilton Lanarkshire, Scotland. He was 18 years of age of slight build at five foot six inches. Pale complexion with blue eyes and brown hair. His trade before joining the Cameronian’s was a gun finisher. He served in South Africa from 23rd October 1899 to 24th November 1901. He was mentioned in dispatches. Source: General Buller. 30 March 1900. Re: Ladysmith. THE LONDON GAZETTE, FEBRUARY 8, 1901. Page 947 2nd Bn. Scottish Rifles, along with 4 of his fellow soldiers.
3641 Private E. Banks.
3686 Corporal Carr.
5543 Corporal Balkwell.
3006 Private Wade.
3514 Private J. Welding.

He served for 13 years and was discharged, time expired. He was awarded his QSA with 6 clasps. On His return home he joined the army reserves. He then went on to become a Groom. It seems he remained single and is believed to have lived with his brother William at 14 Grosvenor Street Wolverhampton England.

The information below is a short resume of some of the actions of the Scottish Rifles. I would like to think that Edward’s M.I.D was earned during one of those actions? Alas, I don’t think we will ever know?

The 2nd Battalion sailed on the City of Cambridge on 23rd October 1899, and arrived at Durban about 21st November. Along with the 1st Durham Light Infantry, 3rd King's Royal Rifles, and 1st Rifle Brigade, they formed the 4th Brigade under Major General Lyttelton. The 2nd Battalion was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Cooke and formed part of the 4th Brigade of the 2nd Division. Comprising 25 officers and 936 men, the Battalion arrived at Durban on the 21st November. The 4th Brigade played a supportive role in an attack on Colenso, covering the withdrawal of the 2nd Brigade, commanded by Sir Redvers Buller, who suffered over 1,100 casualties.
The 2nd Battalion played a vital role in the Battle of Spion Kop on the 23rd and 24th January 1900. Spion Kop. Over 1,700 of the defeated British forces were killed or wounded, including 26 dead and 61 wounded from the Scottish Rifles.
Like other troops on the hill, the Scottish Rifles fought splendidly and held their ground marvellously well. Their losses on the day were very heavy. Four officers and 33 men were killed or died of their wounds; 6 officers and about 60 men were wounded. In his telegraphic despatch of 27th January 1900 General Buller says, "Our men fought with great gallantry, and I would specially mention the conduct of the 2nd Scottish Rifles and 3rd King's Royal Rifles, who supported the attack on the mountain from the steepest side, and in each case fought their way to the top, and the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers and 2nd Middlesex, who magnificently maintained the best traditions of the British army; and Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry, who fought throughout the day equally well alongside of them". When addressing the troops after the retirement the general especially mentioned the two rifle regiments. Mr Bennet Burleigh wrote, "Nothing could have been grander than the scaling of Spion Kop by the Scottish Rifles and 60th of glorious reputation".


The real attack force, Lyttelton’s Fourth Brigade, crossed by a pontoon bridge at Munger’s Drift, a mile to the east of Potgeiter’s and headed for Val Krantz, a hill at the bend in the river.
The deliberate slowness with which Buller permitted Lyttelton’s force to begin the attack and the sight of the single pontoon bridge being assembled at Munger’s Drift gave the Boers ample warning that the true line of assault was up onto Val Krantz.
The battalions of the Fourth Brigade, comprising 1st Durham Light Infantry, 3rd King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 1st Rifle Brigade and 2nd Scottish Rifles (the old 90th Light Infantry), with the 2ndDevons from Hildyard’s brigade, scaled Val Krantz, driving the Boers from the lower slopes of the hill and coming under heavy fire from the surrounding higher positions.

The initial plan was for Hildyard’s Brigade of 2nd East Surreys, 2nd Queen’s West Surreys, 2ndDevons, and 2nd West Yorkshires to cross the Tugela River immediately after Lyttelton and storm Green Hill. The cavalry brigade would then cross and make for Ladysmith followed by Hart’s brigade. But the ever-hesitant Buller lost all confidence in the attack as Lyttelton crossed and cancelled the order to Hildyard to cross the river, leaving Lyttelton to make the assault alone.
The Boers, only some 1,200 in number, were led by Viljoen in a spirited defence of Val Krantz, while the Boer rifle and artillery fire built up from the surrounding hills. The Boers were in considerable difficulty. The spectacular success of the Battle of Spion Kop, reminiscent of the Boer victory on the hilltop in the First Boer War, Majuba Hill, persuaded the Boers, including General Botha, that the British would now sue for peace, as they had in 1881 and many Boers had gone home. Hurrying back in the face of the threat of a further attack by Buller, they arrived during the days of Val Krantz and afterwards.
Buller’s reaction to the stiffening resistance was to order Lyttelton to abandon the attack and retreat. Lyttelton ignored the order and called for reinforcements.
Lyttelton urged Buller, in particular, to bring more troops across the river and attack Doorn Kloof, the hill position on his right flank. But Buller convinced himself the Boer positions were too strong to be forced. The most Buller would risk was to reinforce Lyttelton with Hildyard’s brigade.
At dawn on 6th February 1900, the Boer artillery began a heavy bombardment with guns that had been brought up during the night. Lyttelton and other generals urged Buller he had to commit more troops and expand the position by attacking Doorn Kloof. A council of war was held, but Buller could not be persuaded to take the risk. On the Thursday night. the operation was abandoned and the British troops withdrew across the Tugela River, ending the battle known as Val Krantz.
The British suffered 400 casualties and Buller attracted the nicknames of ‘the Tugela Ferryman’ and ‘Sir Reverse Buller.’

Casualties at the Battle of Val Krantz: This extended period of fighting in February 1900 at the Battles of Val Krantz and Pieters cost the British around 3,000 casualties. The Boers probably suffered around 1,500 casualties.

Follow-up to the Battle of Val Krantz:
The unsuccessful Battle of Val Krantz was followed, on 14th February 1900, by the British attack around Colenso, known as the Battle of Pieters, the fourth and finally successful British attempt to force the Boer positions along the Tugela River and relieve the British garrison besieged in Ladysmith.
At Vaal Krantz the battalion lost 2 men killed and 1 officer and 33 men wounded.
The 4th Brigade took part in the fourteen days' fighting between the 13th and 27th February, and were at times very heavily engaged.
On the 27th the 4th Brigade took part in the last and successful assault on the hill which had defied our people so long. The Scottish Rifles were split up during most of the fourteen days, one-half being on the left and the other on the right. The latter assisted in the attack on Pieter's Hill on 27th February.
The losses of the battalion in the fourteen days' fighting were approximately 3 men killed and 2 officers and 20 men wounded. Eight officers and 14 men were mentioned in despatches for good work in the relief operations, 2 men being recommended for the distinguished conduct medal. In his list of commendations, dated 30th March 1900, General Buller, in referring to Lieutenant Colonel Cooke, used the words, "who commands an admirably trained battalion".
The 4th Brigade marched with General Buller in his turning movement via Helpmakaar, and while the 2nd, 10th, and 11th Brigades were turning the Laing's Nek position, 8th to 11th June, the 4th Brigade operated in front of it. At Laing's Nek on 11th June 1900 the battalion's losses were approximately 1 officer and one man killed, and 1 officer and 6 men wounded. After the battle of Alleman's Nek, which completed the success of the turning movement, the 4th Brigade moved over Laing's Nek and along the railway, reaching Heidelberg before the end of June. The headquarters of the Scottish Rifles were for over fourteen months at Greylingstad, and during the second phase of the war they were chiefly employed guarding the railway and doing some fighting on either side of it. The officers of the battalion were sorely struck by the war; 13 were killed or died of wounds, and 10 were wounded. Three officers and 1 non-commissioned officer were mentioned in General Buller's final despatch of 9th November 1900, 9 officers and 17 non-commissioned officers and men in Lord Roberts' final despatch, and 6 officers and 6 non-commissioned officers in the despatches of Lord Kitchener.

After reaching Ladysmith, the next stage of the campaign was to take Natal, the Transvaal and Pretoria. Following this, there was a period of guerrilla warfare by the Boers, during which the Scottish Rifles were stationed at Greylingstad Kopje, guarding important lines of communication. On leaving the area on 19th September 1901, the Battalion left their mark in the form of the letters ‘S.R.’ built in stone on the hillside.

Edwards QSA......... Regards...Dave