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James Pike

Died of Enteric Fever – Intombi Hospital, Ladysmith – 19 February 1900

Sergeant, 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment – Anglo Boer War

- Queens South Africa Medal (Talana/Defence of Ladysmith) to 3105 SEJT. J. PIKE, I: LEIC: REGT.

James Pike’s start to military life was an unfortunate one – so too was the eventual outcome of his efforts in uniform – he died from Enteric Fever in the dustbowl that was known as Ladysmith a couple of weeks before Buller’s army relieved the three month-old siege. Perhaps if he had clung to life for a little while longer an improvement in diet and treatment would have produced a different outcome.

Born in the Parish of Keyworth, Nottingham in about 1873 he was the son of Charles Pike, a Needle Maker by trade and his Irish-born wife Kate. According to the 1881 England census the Pike family lived at 14 Galloway’s Yard in Nottingham. The family comprised James (7), his parents and siblings Anne (2) and Joseph (1).

With the coming of the 1891 England census the family had moved to 4 Kent Street in Nottingham. James was now a strapping lad of 17 and employed as an Iron Plainer. The family had grown incrementally in the years since the previous census – younger siblings abounded in the forms of Anne (13), Joseph (11) and the newcomers, Mary Ellen (7), Elizabeth (6), Kate (3) and baby Charles (2 months).

It was in the early part of 1891 that James decided to enlist with the Militia – in his case the 4th battalion Sherwood Foresters. Completing the Militia Attestation forms at Derby on 29 April, he confirmed that he was still living in his father’s house and that he was employed as a Labourer by the Stanton Iron Works in Derby.

His employers had a quite a bit of history - work had commenced on the Iron Works in 1845 by the side of the Nutbrook Canal. The original works occupied a five-acre site between the canal and the Midland Railway branch line, which was under construction in 1848. Three blast furnaces were built, said to have been 'of the largest proportions and best construction (after the Scotch plan). There were two blowing engines, a casting and foundry house, offices, warehouses, workshops, fitters' rooms and 15 new cottages for workers. A wharf was excavated to bring three canal barges into the site. The site was also connected by rail with four 'Open Holes' and several 'bell pits' on Stanton Moor where gangs of workmen dug out the ironstone. There were also two small coal mines.

Output data suggests that Stanton at that time was in the forefront of Derbyshire ironworks, with much of the iron being sent by a fleet of barges to the Black Country. The blast furnaces were demolished c1872 and a more extensive works was built. By 1878 it had five blast furnaces and a new pipe foundry which was a major development. It appears that Stanton was in the vanguard of pipe making and a circular of 1879 announced that the company had started making cast iron pipes, retorts, columns and all other castings required by gas and water companies, in addition to 'our old established business of coal and iron masters'. In 1893 the pipe business was so prosperous that a new foundry was erected for large sizes.

Back to his application - aged 18 years and 1 month old James, sadly, was rejected after two days service in the Militia “for want of intelligence.” This must have been galling for the young chap but, undeterred by this slight, he persevered, completing the application for Short Service (7 years with the Colours and 5 years in the Reserve,) at Derby on 25 July 1891. On this occasion he was 18 years and 4 months old and still a Labourer. Asked the question as to his previous service, he was quite open about the fact that he had been rejected for “deficient intelligence.”

There was to be no rejection this time round – accepted as Fit by the Doctor, he was assigned no. 3105 and the rank of Private with the 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment. Physically he was 5 feet 5 ½ inches in height and weighed in at 115 lbs. he had a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair and was a member of the Church of England. By way of special marks about his person he had a tattoo of an Anchor and Cable at the top of his left forearm and a mole on the left side of his neck and another on the nape of his neck.

Initially, things went well for Pike – a Descriptive Return completed in his regard when applying to extend his service to 12 years with the Colours, showed that he had been promoted to Corporal rank on 15 May 1894 and that his conduct was Good. Disciplinary problems, however, crept in shortly after his promotion and his name began to appear in the Defaulter’s Book with increasing regularity.

The first recorded occasion was at Aldershot on 5 November 1894 when he was found guilty of “Not complying with an order given him by a Superior.” Coming away with a Reprimand he soldiered on. After a lull of almost two years he was found guilty, at Aldershot on 18 September 1896, of “Speaking in an improper manner to the O.C. of his Company” – on this occasion he was Severely Reprimanded and allowed to go about his business.

Shortly thereafter Pike and his regiment moved to Cork in Ireland where, on 7 October 1896 he was found guilty of “Without orders from his Superior Officer, leaving his picquet in that he, at Cork on the 4th October 1896, when in charge of a garrison picquet, left the same without orders.” This offence was of a more severe nature and Pike found himself reduced to the ranks by a Regimental Court Martial as a result.

As the 19th century rumbled to close the 1st Leicesters were sent to South Africa for a stint of service. Pike appears to have restored himself in the good books of the regiment, not only had he been restored to his previous rank but had been promoted to Sergeant as well. He could count himself fortunate then when, at Pietermaritzburg on 18 March 1898, he was found guilty of “Irregular conduct when Orderly Sergeant for the night.” This carried with it a Severe Reprimand.

Pike and his comrades were soon to be thrust into the boiling cauldron of war before the century was out - the long festering tensions between the two Boer Republics of the Transvaal and Orange Free State and Great Britain burst into a declaration of war on 11 October 1899 and the Leicester’s were one of the few regular army battalions in the country at the time.

The 1st Battalion was stationed at Glencoe, in the north of Natal, when the war broke out and the Boer Commandos, already massed on the Natal/Transvaal border, poured into Natal. It thus formed part of the brigade of General Penn Symons, the other battalions being the 1st King's Royal Rifles, 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers, and 2nd Dublin Fusiliers. There were also at Glencoe the 18th Hussars and the 13th, 67th, and 69th Batteries RFA. Penn Symons with about 4000 men under his command had been ordered by General Sir George White to fall back on Ladysmith but had, somehow, persuaded that gentleman that he could withstand any Boer onslaught in the Dundee area with the men at his disposal.

Actual fighting commenced at 3.20 am on the morning of 20th October, when a Mounted Infantry picquet of the Dublin Fusiliers was fired on and driven in. At 5.50 am the enemy occupied Talana Hill with artillery, and commenced shelling the camp. The troops were soon set in motion. To the Leicester’s and 67th Battery was assigned the duty of guarding the camp with its great quantities of stores. The general decided to attack with his other infantry and artillery. These moved away and were soon in extended order advancing to a wood, which the commander had decided to use as a breathing place. The wood was gained between 7 and 8 am, the 13th and 69th Batteries meanwhile keeping up a heavy and accurate fire on the enemy's positions. About 8.50 the infantry again advanced, and as they left the wood had to face a terrible rifle-fire both from their front and flank. Sir W Penn-Symons, who had been exposing himself with rash bravery, fell mortally wounded about 9.30; Brigadier General Yule, now in command, directed the infantry to move to a wall stretching some distance along the hillside, from which wall a very heavy fire was being kept up by the Boers.

The two batteries redoubled their efforts. The 1st King's Royal Rifles on the right first reached the wall, followed by some companies of the Irish Fusiliers; the Dublin Fusiliers also made their way up a little later. After another breathing space under cover of the wall the troops jumped the wall and scrambled up the steep face. At 1 pm the crest was gained and the enemy fled. Within easy range of the British artillery were to be seen "clumps of 50 and 100 men on which guns could have inflicted great loss. The enemy, however, displayed a white flag, although they do not appear to have had any intention of surrendering, and in consequence the officer commanding Royal Artillery refrained from firing". The Leicester’s lost 1 officer killed, 1 wounded, and 1 man wounded.

On the 21st General Yule moved his camp to a better position. On the 22nd he resolved to retire on Ladysmith. At nine at night in silence, without bands or pipers, the force set out by the east or Helpmakaar road, the dying general, the other wounded, and the doctors being left behind. A great mass of stores had also to be left to the enemy, as its destruction would have made him suspect the intended retreat; while, on the other hand, a twelve hours' start was absolutely necessary. To have fought their way to Ladysmith would have been an impossible task for Yule's column in that hilly country. As it was the elements were not favourable. The rain at times fell in torrents; roads knee-deep in mud and swollen spruits made marching very heavy work, while but little sleep was obtainable between the 21st and 26th.

On the 30th, in the battle of Ladysmith, the Leicester’s were with Colonel Grimwood on the right and had a very trying day. They had about 24 casualties before they, together with the remainder of Grimwood’s force retired on Ladysmith, having been ordered to retreat by General White.

The Leicester’s, according to the defensive plan put in place, were quartered in Section B, under Colonel (local Major-General) F. Howard. Section B. Boundaries were from Gordon Hill across the northern salient to the junction of the Klip river with the Flagstone Spruit, including Observation Hill, Cove Redoubt, Leicester Post, King's Post, Ration Post, and Rifleman's Post. This section, which formed the northern defences, was in the first instance garrisoned as under :— Six companies, 1st Leicestershire regiment, 2nd King's Royal Rifles, 2nd Rifle Brigade, and, until November 9th, the 1st King's Royal Rifles.


Maurice's map detailing the position of the 1st Leicesters camp.

Ladysmith settled down to life under siege. There was always the hope that Buller would prevail on his march up from Colenso and that the encirclement would be of a temporary nature. As news of each setback experienced by Buller’s army filtered its way into the town despondency began to take hold. Food supplies were running low and severe rationing was introduced. The days were hot and dry, interspersed with torrential thunderstorms which churned the fine sand that adorned every nook and cranny into a muddy paste.

The Boers, well provisioned, were in no rush to press the issue and contented themselves with a constant daily bombardment of the town, its buildings and its population from their Long Toms and other guns dotted on the hills around Ladysmith. Only on Sundays, a day of prayer rigidly observed by the Calvinistic Boers, was there a respite.

The Leicester’s, situated on Observation Hill were, like the garrison everywhere, decimated by the effects of a starvation ration and poor diet – disease took everyone in its firm grasp - many joined the ranks of the sick and dying, transferred to the hospital at Intombi with some not making the return trip.

Eventually, after an internal revolt threatened, the Boer leadership determined on an all or nothing attack to break the stalemate, take the town and force a surrender. Plans were put in place for a multi-pronged assault on Wagon Hill and a few other points for the 6th January 1900. Although the Leicester’s weren’t present at the main event – that on Wagon Hill and nearby Caesar’s Camp – they were under attack on the day.

Maurice, in Vol 2 Ch 31 of his Official History relating that: -

Meanwhile day had broken, and every Boer gun about the town had opened on the various sections of the defences, most severely at first upon Observation Hill. There the first of the pre-arranged feints began with a skirmishing attack by the Pretoria commando upon the Leicester regiment, which, assisted by the shells of the 69th battery, repulsed this feint without loss. The Caesar's Camp plateau itself came under fire of heavy guns upon Umbulwana, Middle Hill, and Rifleman's Ridge, and these raked the defences at all angles. Nor could the Naval 12-pr. on the summit, which in reply opened at Middle Hill, or the 42nd battery succeed in silencing the enemy's artillery, though the shrapnel had a noticeable effect on the musketry on Mounted Infantry Hill. At 5.30 a.m. the 53rd battery (Major A. J. Abdy), and ten minutes later the 21st battery (Major W. E. Blewitt) trotted out of Ladysmith, the former towards the eastern, the latter towards the western end of the plateau. Marching unobserved by the Boer gunners past Range Post, the 21st battery, escorted by the 5th Dragoon Guards, came into action at a point upon Sign Post Ridge, whence it was possible to shell the whole of the ground below the western extremity of Wagon Hill, which was thus, during a critical time, secured from being turned from this direction. The 53rd battery unlimbered in the scrub in the flats behind Maiden Castle, and opened both at the shoulder of Caesar's Camp and into the bushy slopes and dongas which sheltered the Boer supports, which were massed in the wake of the attackers of the crest. The 94-pr. and a 15-pr. on Umbulwana assailed the battery at once, inflicting considerable losses. But the enemy's practice was much hampered by the accurate shooting of the 4.7-in. gun at Cove Redoubt, and Abdy's gunners, disregarding all.

In concluding his piece on the battle Maurice states that, "Only against Observation Hill was there anything like a serious attack. Here the enemy advanced boldly under cover of a sustained bombardment, pressing on to within a few yards of the trenches, only to be beaten back with considerable loss by the detachment of the 1st Devon regiment, supported by three companies 1st Leicester regiment, and the guns of the 69th battery. Nevertheless, a heavy shell fire fell into nearly every British position about the town, and all the troops were kept in their sangars throughout the day."

The Boer assault having been finally repulsed, both sides retreated to lick their wounds. The pace of life reverting to what it had been a few days before, the drudgery of life under siege interspersed with the odd game of inter-regimental cricket or tug-of-war. These activities were often rudely interrupted by Boer shell fire – almost as if the Boer gunners with a macabre sense of humour were specifically aiming for these activities.

Food became even scarcer and horse meat replaced the stringy beef on offer. Chevril, a nourishing gruel made from horses became a staple as casualties continued to mount – not only among those suffering from illness but also from the seemingly random shells hurled into the dusty streets. But this meagre food supplement wasn’t enough to sustain those who were in desperate need of sustenance – the exact date is not known but Pike, stricken with Enteric Fever, was taken down to the Intombi camp for treatment. Like so many, he was destined never to leave that place – he succumbed to the ravages of fever and breathed his last on 19 February 1900 – less than two weeks before Buller relieved Ladysmith.

He was buried in the cemetery adjoining the Intombi Hospital and his mortal remains rest there still – tragically, the official cemetery records record him as 3105, Sgt. Pink as opposed to Pike. A final insult to go with the appellation of “mentally deficient” he had had to live with for most of his 27 years on this earth.


The little cemetery at Intombi on the outskirts of Ladysmith

Intombi Cemetery - Monument to the Leicestershire Regiment