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Ian - The 18th Hussars are a particular interest of mine so I found your acount of Roach very interesting.

Below are the details of Cpl. Richard Valpy. I took the photo on a visit to Ladysmith some years ago. The names are carved into a stone on the site of Manchester Fort on Caesar's Camp. When his medals and diary (plus his son's WW2 medals) came up for sale I just had to get them.

David



4497 Cpl. R. Valpy, 18th Hussars.
Queen’s South Africa Medal clasps Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Laing’s Nek, Belfast;
King’s South Africa Medal clasps South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902.
MID Lord Kitchener 8 March 1901.
With four photocopy pages of service documents, photocopies of the QSA and KSA roll pages, 1881 and 1891 census details, an original photograph of a rock on Caesar’s Camp on which he and two other NCO’s carved their names, his original Boer War diary, other family details and his son’s medals for service in the South African Forces in World War II: 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence Medal; 1939-45 War Medal; Africa Service Medal (all named 53403 N. Valpy) with a registered envelope addressed to Mnr/Mr N. Valpy, Bergendal, Somerset West, C.P.”. Richard Edward Valpy enlisted at London 9 October 1895 aged 19 years 10 months. Born 8 October 1874 at Elsing, Norfolk. Occupation clerk. Religion C of E. He had previously served in the 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. On the 1881 census he is shown as Richard Edward John Goodacre Valpy aged 6 living with his father Julius (53) the Rector of Elsing, mother Bertha (47) and siblings Henry (12), Ellen (11) and Bertha (9) at the Rectory House. On the 1891 census his mother does not appear so had presumably died at some time between the censuses. Appointed lance corporal 1 October 1896. Reverted to private 9 December 1896 but appointed lance corporal again the following day. Promoted corporal 15 June 1901. Appointed lance sergeant 1 August 1902. Transferred to Army Reserve 7 November 1902. His Boer War diary contains mostly poems and verses but includes an account of the action at Talana. This account includes, “Corporal Franklin shot through the neck and carried him in 12 miles”. The front cover and several inside pages of the diary have bloodstains on them and he wrote on the cover “With Corporal Franklin’s blood marks – wounded at Talana Oct. 1899”. On one of the inside pages he wrote within the bloodstain “Blood stain from Talana Hill. Cpl. Franklin shot thro’ neck”. (Franklin survived but was discharged medically unfit in 1902). Discharged on payment of £18 at Pretoria 8 March 1904. Settled in Kimberley and married Gertrude Mary Higgs-Craven 22 August 1904. Between at least 1910 and 1945 his wife made a number of trips back to the UK, both with and without her children. He died at Dynamite Factory Hospital, Somerset West in 1942 aged 67. Former occupation diamond sorter, overseer, storekeeper and munitions worker. His son, Richard Nevill Valpy was born 30 September 1905, married Daisy Isabel Mary Young at Somerset West 4 January 1956 and died at Robari, Somerset West 9 December 1997 aged 92. Former occupation farmer.

David
Thanks for posting that info. Your man, "4497 Cpl. Valpy, R" was also a member of 18H's B squadron and it is highly likely that Roach and Valpy knew each other. If you have not already done so, I suggest you avail yourself of Burnett's regimental history. I especially like the pic of the rock carving.
Best regards
IL.

Ian - Indeed they most likely knew each other. I have a copy of Burnett's regimental history and it's been a real mine of information especially about relatively minor actions. Valpy is one of the very few of 'my' men not to be mentioned in the text. Below is the page in Valpy's diary annotating the bloodstain (which runs through the front cover and several pages) of Cpl. Franklin whom he carried in after being wounded at Talana.

David

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (4) Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg (3763. Corpl. A. Baker. 18/Hrs.) engraved naming;
KSA (2) (3763 Corpl: J [sic]. Baker. 18th. Hussars)

Albert Baker (alias Reitze) was born in Camberwell, London, in 1873 and attested for the 18th Hussars in London on 15 August 1891. He served with the Regiment in India from 29 September 1893 to 14 October 1898, and was promoted Corporal on 10 February 1897. He transferred to the Reserve on 13 June 1899, but was recalled to the Colours on 20 December 1899, and served in South Africa during the Boer War from 28 December 1899. He transferred to the Reserve on 16 March 1903, and was discharged on 14 August 1903, after 12 years’ service.

Sold with copied service papers and medal roll extracts that state that the recipient’s QSA was reissued with a corrected clasp entitlement in March 1904.

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (2) Cape Colony, Wittebergen (Lt: Col. R. H. Morrison. 18/Hussars) officially engraved naming;
KSA (2) (Lt. Col. R. H. Morrison. Genl. Staff.)

Richard Hobart Morrison was appointed Cornet in the 18th Hussars on 13 June 1874; Lieutenant, 31 October 1882; Captain, 19 November 1889; Lieutenant-Colonel, 14 September 1898. Appointed (from half-pay Major, 18th Hussars) Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Provost Marshall on the General Staff of the South African Field Force, 19 January 1900. He was later resident at Molesey House, Molesey, and Johnstown House, Cabinteely, County Dublin.

The pair to Lt Col Morrison sold for a hammer price of £600. Totals (inc VAT for UK only): £773. R15,300. Au$1,410. Can$1,290. US$1,010