TOPIC:

This is the account of the 1st Australian Horse from the publication by Lt. Col. P. L. Murray's 1911 'Official Records of the Australian Military Contingents to the War in South Africa'

Unit Information from this forum - Anglo Boer War - 1st NSW Australian Horse

The First Australian Horse (NSW) supplied two contingents to South Africa and in all numbers serving including Officers, NCO's and men were less than 150 members.




Picture courtesy of Ebay

This scarce example of the Queen's South Africa Medal was spied recently on Ebay here in Australia and after 2-3 day listing it was untimely de-listed and was no longer available for sale.


QSA with entitled bars (5) Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (11 Tpr: J. Bucholtz Australian Horse).

Trooper James Bucholtz is also entitlement to the Coronation Medal 1902 confirmed.

There are no less than four (4) Military Campaign Medal and Award Rolls on Ancestry for Trooper James Bucholtz (also spelt on one as Buckoltz). There are also two variations in Regimental Numbers of 11 & 208 and three Rolls on the part of Ancestry's error have been mis-read and labeled the 1st Australian Commonwealth Horse.


 
Writing from Colesberg, under date, January 7th, 1900, Trooper James Bucholtz sends us the following highly interesting narrative of the doings of our boys in South Africa : -
  "Not having much to do this afternoon I thought I would take the opportunity of writing you a few words about the contingent here in South Africa. I was with my friend, Trooper Bossley, when he wrote to you. Since then we have had a lively time of it on one or two occasions, which I will relate to you later on. We arrived at Arundel, a distance of about 600 miles from the Cape. We spent our Xmas at this place, which I must say was very different to what we have been used to. Dinner consisted of boiled buffalo and dough, with plums thrown into it (what they call plum pudding where we come from) and water to drink with the dinner. Well, nothing unusual happened while we were at Arundel, only doing a little scouting and Cossack post duty. It was here Trooper Jones, one of the First Australian Horse, had one of his legs broken, through being thrown from his horse. Who also had to send a man back from the Cape through illness. Sid Strike has been under the doctor for a couple of weeks, but he is on the mend now. We struck camp at Arundel about a week ago and marched on to Colesberg, where we are now camped. Since we arrived here we have had plenty of work to do, being roused out nearly every morning at 3 o'clock, and stopping out for a couple of days at a time.

The column here is under General French, and is about 7000 strong. I expect you know by this time that we are attached to the N.S.W. Lancers. They are a fine lot of chaps, and we get on well with them. Last Monday we got a lively reception from the Boers. Thirty-five trucks of stores and forage were let away. The connecting air hose of the brake was cut in two, letting the trucks run down the line for about four miles, where they ran off the line, which was blown up by the enemy's artillery. On Monday morning 12 of the Lancers, including myself and Trooper Eames, started out at 2 o'clock to look for the missing trucks, which we found, some of them being smashed up. We did not come across any Boers while out, so we returned to camp and reported what had happened. At 1 o'clock in the afternoon the whole of the Lancers and 1st Australian Horse were sent out to release the trucks, taking some fettlers with us to fix up the line. We advanced in open column towards the trucks, when we were given the order to gallop to an embankment near the line and dismount. We had no sooner dismounted than a shower of bullets were poured in amongst us from the kopjes around. We advanced and sent a couple of volleys at the enemy, but the bullets were falling too heavy around us, so we retired back to the horses and took what shelter we could and got behind the small rocks. The Boer artillery then began to shell us, and we were not long in finding out that we were in a tight corner. Some of our infantry came along, but only to be made a target of, as our men were unable to get a shot in, with the exception of a few, who were near the trucks. The bullets and shells continued to fall, some of the shells bursting close to us. At last one of them burst in amongst the trucks, setting them on fire, and in a few minutes they were all ablaze. At last my horse received a bullet through the groin and fell dead alongside of me. A few minutes later one of the Suffolk infantry men was shot through the body a couple of yards from where I was sitting. As time grew on the firing became heavier, and the Boers were flanking us, so we were getting the bullets from all sides when some of our men opened fire and checked them for a while. Some of the shells burst on the top of the embankment near us, sending the shrapnel flying just above the horses heads. All of our men took things very coolly considering the danger we were in, and did not get the least excited, one man, who was next to me remarking in the hottest of the fire, "Listen to them now, they are giving us 'Home Sweet Home' in variations." It was half-past seven before we retreated. It was our only chance to retreat under cover of darkness. We were five and a half hours under fire. Trooper Mick Ford received a bullet wound in the leg and Trooper Priddle a wound above the eye received from the  splash of a bullet. Three of our horses were shot dead and six wounded. Some of us had marvelous escapes from being shot. One of our men had a bullet put clean through his helmet. It went so close to his head as to singe his hair. One of the fettlers was blown to pieces by a shell. We arrived in camp about 9 o'clock. Having got my horse shot Lieutenant Osborne gave me a mount on his horse, doing a double banker, and I wasn't sorry when we got back to camp, not being used to such a style of riding. Our two wounded were sent back to the hospital at De Aar. They are not seriously wounded. Trooper Ford was in the best of spirits before he left for the hospital, and is very anxious to have another go at the Boers. We miss him very much, as he cracks a joke now and again to keep us alive. We hope to have him back with us in a couple of weeks.

All of us Mudgee boys are together in one tent. We are all in the best of spirits. Ted Thomas looks well on it, and so does Charley Bossley who is one of the lively lads of our tent. Herb Martin must be the ladies' man amongst us as he gets most of the letters when the mail arrives. I must say none of us are pleased at what we have seen of South Africa, all the country that we have travelled through being dry and barren looking. While I am writing this letter word has just came into camp that the Suffolk Infantry lost 70 men killed and wounded, including eleven officers, and the Life Guards lost three men and one captain in an engagement about five miles from here. The Boers are about 6000 strong and are camped about six miles from here, so that a big battle may be expected at any time. We are going out tonight, and will be away from camp for three days. I might mention that a "Guardian" now and again would be very acceptable, it would be very interesting to hear some news from Mudgee as we hear very little about the outside world. I must now draw this letter to a close, as I am writing under difficulties - writing on the butt of a rifle, and it is getting too dark to write much more. With best wishes from all the Mudgee boys (who are battling their way to Pretoria) to the people of Mudgee for a prosperous New Year, and with kind regards to yourself, from Your sincere friend,
JIM BUCHOLTZ. 



There was a very pleasant gathering at Mr. G. Worth's, Eurunderee last night, when the members of the Federal Tennis Club and their friends assembled to do honor to Trooper James Bucholtz, and to present him with a token of their esteem. The ladies provided a delightful gipsy tea, and the proceedings were enlivened by the playing of the Mudgee Town Band under Lieutenant Sheppard. The presentation was made by Mr. Elliot, school teacher at Eurunderee, when a few well chosen words welcomed the returned soldier, and asked him to accept the gold pendant medal as a tangible token of the public regard.  The medal was the work of Mr. Walter Mason, jeweller, Mudgee, and was a beautiful specimen of the goldsmith's art. His Worship the Mayor of Cudgegong, (Alderman Rheinberger,) and Mr. Lord endorsed Mr. Elliot's re-marks, and Trooper Bucholtz suitably responded. A very pleasant time was afterwards spent in various games and dancing, and songs were rendered by Messrs. E. Doswell, Charlie Morrow, Alec Cameron, and a recitation by Mr. H. Lord. Before the gathering dispersed, Alderman Rheinberger called for three cheers for the Mudgee Band.



The Commonwealth Coronation Contingent, of which Trooper James Bucholtz is a member, will sail from London on the 21st instant, and should therefore land in Sydney early in October. They are to be privately reviewed today by the King.


Trev

Trev
The comment that a QSA medal to the Australian Horse is scarce must be the understatement of the month. Examples almost never turn up (I have seen just two examples over my collecting time) and when they do there is great competition. One reason seems to be that their QSAs are the first campaign medals to feature "Australian" in the naming. In any case, their clasp entitlements are very desirable.
And, No; IL does not have a1st AH QSA in his collection!
Regards
IL..

Hi,
Yes you are right, I probably did down play how scarce this medal actually is. The few days that it was listed it reached a bidding price of $500 before what I would of imagined happened was the seller was offered an amount of cash that he or she could not say no too.
It would of been interesting if the auction proceeded, just to see what type of bidding would of played out for this desirable QSA medal.

Trev

Trev
I have PM's you.
Regards
IL.