TOPIC:

A exceptionally fine Boer War ‘Casualty’ pair awarded to Private A. MacKay, Imperial Yeomanry, who was captured at Zwartzkopjefontein on 20 April 1900, released, and then witnessed extensive action at De La Reys Farm in December 1900 - which he documented in a fascinating letter to his nephew soon thereafter

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, unofficial rivets (and glue) between state and date clasps (535 Pte. A. MacKay, 9th. Coy. 3rd. Imp: Yeo:); Yorkshire Tribute Medal 1900-1901(Type 1), 3rd Battalion, South Africa 1900-1901 (535 A. Mackay) mounted for wear, good very fine (2)

Andrew MacKay was born in Skipton, Yorkshire, in 1866. A draper employed by the firm Baxter & MacKay, he attested at Sheffield for the Imperial Yeomanry on 8 January 1900 and served in South Africa from 28 January 1900 to 9 June 1901. Serving with the 9th (Yorkshire Hussars) Company, 3rd Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry, MacKay was captured by the Boers on 20 April 1900. His Army Service Record adds that he was wounded on 21 April 1900, with a contemporary newspaper report stating: ‘he was shot through the arm’. Sent to hospital in Waterval, MacKay was one of three thousand prisoners released on 6 June 1900 by a squadron of the 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys) commanded by Captain F. S. Maude.

Recovered from his wound, MacKay returned to the fight as part of a column tasked with reinforcing Colonel Money at Ottoshoop. A copied letter dated 12 December 1900, from the recipient to his nephew, George, describes what happened:
‘We were the advance guard and that day I was Orderly for Captain Wombwell who was leading us. We didn’t get very far before we were into action and had to retire as the fire was too hot for us and we had no cover... Eventually we moved them out [from a very strong entrenched position on a high Kopje] but they cleared out into another Kopje about a mile in front of us and gave us a right royal salute from their Mausers. We got our guns, Pom Poms and Maxims into action which cleared them out over two hours shelling and rifle fire. They must have lost heavy as our Gunners had got the range to a few yards...

Next day we started at 4 a.m. and had not proceeded far before we were in action again and fought all the way within a couple of miles from here. We managed to kill General Lerner that day which I think will have a great effect on the Boers. 16 came in today and gave up their arms. The Boers fought well and came right out into the open, it is the first time that I have seen them do it but I think they are hungry and intended having the convoy but we kept them at bay.’

Proceeding to Litchenburg, MacKay faced peril once again - but not in consequence of bullet or shell, rather the burrowing habits of the native fauna. Tasked with an opportunist pursuit of the ‘wily Boer’, he was fortunate not to come to harm:

‘We got the order to gallop and we kept it up for about ten miles, many a poor fellow come a cropper as the ground was so very uneven and full of holes made by a small animal about the size of a squirrel (meerkat) but they burrow a hole much larger than a rabbit. I was one of the lucky ones as I managed to keep my horse on his feet but I have had many a nasty fall out here. When we got within 2 miles of the Laager, we could see them flying all over the veldt so we had to use the spurs to try and cut them off. When we got within about a thousand of them they gave us a right royal salute from their mausers...’

Returned to England with his Squadron, MacKay re-enlisted with the 120th Company, Imperial Yeomanry, and returned to South Africa from 8 February 1902 to 10 July 1902. He later married and lived in Skipton, and it was here in his home town that he died in June 1926 after purposefully drinking a mug of tea laced with prussic acid (cyanide).

azyeoman wrote: Pair to Corporal S. T. Dickinson, Imperial Yeomanry

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (26152 Corpl: S. T. Dickinson. Imp: Yeo:); Yorkshire Imperial Yeomanry Medal 1900-1902, 3rd Battalion, South Africa 1901-1902 (26152 Cpl. T. Dickenson [sic].) very fine (2)

Thomas Dickinson was born in Halton, Yorkshire, around 1865. A groom, he served in South Africa with the 9th (Yorkshire Hussars) Company, 3rd Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry, during the Boer War.

Courtesy of Noonans

I won this pair in the auction and can now add a little more history. His papers were tucked away in WO97 Chelsea Pensioners British Army Service Records 1760-1913. They add the intriguing detail of previous service in "Horse Artillery"



and under the medals, decoration etc section they show entitlement to the Egypt 1882 medal and Khedive's Star.



More digging in the medal rolls for Egypt reveals a 25228 Thomas Dickinson on 3 rolls of the 5th MB, 1st Brigade, Scottish Division, Royal Artillery with entitlement to the Egypt medal with clasp Suakim 1885 and the Khedive's Star.



Armed with this service number and a new and earlier D.O.B. and more in hope than anticipation I searched for more service papers and, Joy of Joys, found these



Confirmation that this is my man is present on page 3 with the annotation Dis Docs to Chelsea to be annexed to his later discharge and pension from 9 Coy 3rd Bn Imperial Yeomanry on 30th August1902.



So his complete medal entitlement is Egypt 1882 with clasp Suakim 1885, QSA with 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, Khedive's Star, Tribute from Yorkshire medal 1901-1902-possibly an unique group?

The icing on the cake was the discovery via Google that the Egypt medal and star are extant and were sold by Tennants in 2015



An Egypt and Sudan Medal, 1882-1889, to 25228 Gunr. T.
Dickinson, Sco: Div: R.A. (partly obscured), with Suakin 1885
clasp, together with Khedive's Star, unnamed as issued

So still the possibility of an epic reunite if Tennants will play ball.

...and that is why I like collecting medals!

Merry Christmas to all forumites.

I hope they’re reunited soon! What a wonderful group it will be when all together again.

Fingers crossed, Paul. That would an amazing re-unite.

The pair including a Yorkshire Tribute is a worthy addition to your collecting theme on their own. It would be a bit of a coup for you to reunite with his other awards.
We'll all have to keep an eye open on the internet and militaria fairs
You never know your luck!!

Catching up on the Yorkshire Tribute Medals from the last Noonan's sale.

7. Trooper H A Franklin. Sold for a hammer price of GBP 600. Totals: GBP 773. R 17,450. AUD 1,390. NZD 1,500. CAD 1,250. USD 940. EUR 860

315. QMS F A Simpson. Sold for a hammer price of GBP 360. Totals: GBP 464. R 10,470. AUD 830. NZD 900. CAD 750. USD 570. EUR 510

316. L/Cpl B Brown. Sold for a hammer price of GBP 800. Totals: GBP 1,030. R 23,270. AUD 1,850. NZD 2,000. CAD 1,670. USD 1,260. EUR 1,140

317. Tpr H Thornton. Sold for a hammer price of GBP 340. Totals: GBP 438. R 9,890. AUD 790. NZD 850. CAD 710. USD 530. EUR 480

318. Pte H Eyre. Sold for a hammer price of GBP 380. Totals: GBP 489. R 11,050. AUD 880. NZD 950. CAD 790. USD 600. EUR 540

319. Pte T Hides. Sold for a hammer price of GBP 460. Totals: GBP 592. R 13,380. AUD 1,060. NZD 1,150. CAD 960. USD 720. EUR 660

320. Pte A Mackay. Sold for a hammer price of GBP 1,400. Totals: GBP 1,803. R 40,720. AUD 3,240. NZD 3,500. CAD 2,930. USD 2,200. EUR 2,000

321. Pte G T Peel. Sold for a hammer price of GBP 750. Total GBP 966. R 21,810. AUD 1,730. NZD 1,870. CAD 1,570. USD 1,180. EUR 1,070

322. WOII T R Wilson. Sold for a hammer price of GBP 750. Total GBP 966. R 21,810. AUD 1,730. NZD 1,870. CAD 1,570. USD 1,180. EUR 1,070

324. Cpl S T Dickinson. sold for a hammer price of GBP 750. Total GBP 966. R 21,810. AUD 1,730. NZD 1,870. CAD 1,570. USD 1,180. EUR 1,070

325. Pte P Carter. Sold for a hammer price of GBP 800. Totals: GBP 1,030. R 23,270. AUD 1,850. NZD 2,000. CAD 1,670. USD 1,260. EUR 1,140

327. Tpr J W Nicholson. Sold for a hammer price of GBP 320. Totals: GBP 412. R 9,310. AUD 740. NZD 800. CAD 670. USD 500. EUR 460

328, Pte F Randall. Sold for a hammer price of GBP 420. Totals: GBP 541. R 12,220. AUD 970. NZD 1,050. CAD 880. USD 660. EUR 600

329. Pte T White. Sold for a hammer price of GBP 400. Totals: GBP 515. R 11,630. AUD 920. NZD 1,000. CAD 840. USD 630. EUR 570