TOPIC:

Picture courtesy of Noble Numismatics

QSA (5) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3332 L.-Corpl: E.R.Elliott. N.S.Wales M.R.) Impressed.

Described as:

Ex Sid Thurgar Collection and previously Noble Numismatics Sale 115 (lot 4929).

Edwin Robert Elliott confirmed as serving as a Trooper with 3rd Contingent NSW Mounted Rifles.

BIRTH: 20 October 1874
Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia

DEATH: 3 October 1917
Jabber Track, Broodsinde Belguim
2nd Infantry Battalion / 18 Reinforcements (AIF)

Parents
Father: Thomas Smith (1849 - 1942)
Mother: Elizabeth Hedges (1845 – 1918)

Brother: Arthur Enoch Smith

Thomas’s younger brother Arthur was one of the first to join the war effort in South Africa; he enlisted with the 1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles, Service Number 148.

He returned to South Africa and enlisted with the Johannesburg Mounted Rifles (JMR), Service Number 1475.

So it was that four of the Smith brothers served in South Africa; unfortunately Arthur was killed in action at Vaalkop, Near Vryheid, South Africa, in September 1901 whilst serving with the JMR.

 
2nd New South Wales Mounted Rifles

This regiment was established at Sydney upon pretty much, the same lines as the 1st Mounted Rifles. Preference was given to trained men who were good shots and good riders, subject to tests as ordered.

The age limit was 20 to 40 years ; standard height, 5 feet 6 inches and upwards ; minimum chest measurement, 34 inches. Applicants were also required to be single men and to pass a military medical examination. Rates of pay as for Citizen's Bushmen.

Uniform consisted of F.S. jacket, pants, puttees, and hat. Equipped partially with saddles.

The regiment left Sydney on 15th March, 1901. It consisted of 33 officers and 673 of other ranks, with 700 horses, and disembarked at Port Elizabeth, 17th April 1901

Of these, 2 officers and 23 others were killed or died, 3 officers and 10 others were struck off the strength in South Africa, 28 officers and 640 others returned to Australia.

Embarked at Cape Town on 4th May, 1902 ; called at Albany on 21st May, Melbourne, 29th May, and disembarked at Sydney, 4th June 1902.

Operations

The 2nd New South Wales Mounted Rifles were engaged in operations against Generals De La Rey, Kemp, Potgeitiers, and Vermaas

(a) Served in the Western Transvaal, under the command of Major-General Fetherstonhaugh, from 23rd April to the 1st October, the principal operations being the capture of Potgeitiers' convoy on the Vaal, 24th May, 1901 ; capture by the regiment of General De La Rey's convoy of 106 waggons, a large quantity of cattle, ammunition, &c.

(b) Served in the Eastern Transvaal, under Major-General Fetherstonhaugh ; engaged in many night marches, resulting in over 1,000 prisoners being captured. The regiment served under Colonel E. T. C. Williams, of the " Buffs," throughout, with the exception of six weeks, when the column was commanded by Lieut -Colonel Lassetter.

Extracts from Column Orders, issued 17th April, 1902, at Standerton

The command of this, a purely Australian Column, has been a great pleasure to the officer commanding, and he desires to thank everyone for their cordial support and unfailing loyalty at all times. During the year the Column has been in existence it has travelled upwards of 4,000 miles in every part of the Transvaal, doing much fighting and hard work, all of which has been most cheerfully carried out.

One specially noteworthy feature is that, though constantly engaged with the enemy, only 18 men have been taken prisoners, and of them the larger number were taken on the first fight at Korranafontein and through no fault of the men. This record, which it is impossible to boat, speaks volumes for the spirit and soldierly qualities of the Australian soldier.

No column has made more night marches ; and one march, made on the night of 11th March, 1902, from Brugspruit, over the difficult "Wilge River to Doornek (230), a distance of 45 miles, which, with the return journey, makes a distance of 75 miles, is worthy of mention.

Finally, to Lieut. -Colonel Lassetter, Commanding 2ml Now South Wales Mounted Rifles, and to Major Lydiard, 2nd Mounted Rifles, the officer commanding Column desires to express his grateful thanks. One hundred and forty-one officers, N.C.O.'s, and men, never missed a trek during the regiment's service in the field.

Thomas returned with the regiment to Australia in 1902 with time expired.

World War 1

Thomas re-enlisted for service with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on the 17th January 1916, assigned regimental number 5763, noting his previous service with the 2nd NSW MR for 1 year.

At this time Thomas was 41 years and 3 months old, working as a Farmer, and had not married; his brother James was listed as his NoK.

In July 1917 Thomas was sent to France and shortly thereafter promoted to Lance Corporal.

Unfortunately not long after Thomas was killed in action on the 4th October 1917.

A statement by his Sargent gave a graphic account of his death:



Extract from Military Records:



Jabber Track (AWM E00985):

Thomas was killed, and was buried alongside it, just 8 days before this photograph was taken.



Description:

Troops of the 5th Division walking along a winding duckboard, known as Jabber Track, through the waterlogged and sodden valleys in Albania Woods, in the Ypres sector. The 3rd and 4th Division were engaged in the attack on Passchendaele Ridge, seen in the distance.
Dated: 12 October, 1917.

So it was that the Smith family from Sydney lost a son in both the Second Boer War and the First Great War. RIP.
 
References:
[1] Oz-Boer Database members.pcug.org.au/%7Ecroe/ozb/oz_boer_more.cgi?record=19753
[2] Lt Col P L Murray's 1911 'Official Records of the Australian Military Contingents to the War in South Africa'
[3] Trove, trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/71464058

Sturgy,
A cracking medal and great research.
Thank you for sharing.
Cheers Steve

Sturgy
There are considerably more details on the activities of 2NSWMR in Stirling's "The Colonials in South Africa". That text may be accessed by going to Unit Information on Main Menu and navigating through the NSW units.
Regards
IL.

Hi Steve & IL,

Thanks for the kind words and additional research pointers.

I was so caught up in the research that I forgot to post pictures of the medal