TOPIC:

A brief account of the Royal Canadian Regiment


Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (0) (7678 Pte. J. O'Brien, Rl. Candn: Regt.)

Together with RCR gilt pin-back badge.

Sold for a hammer price of GBP 380. Totals: GBP 489. R 10,910. AUD 900. NZD 970. CAD 780. USD 580. EUR 540

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (4) Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg (7703 Pte. S. Upton, Rl. Candn: Regt.).

Sold for a hammer price of GBP 260. Totals: GBP 322. R 7,320. AUD 600. NZD 650. CAD 540. USD 400. EUR 370.

Greetings

I have acquired a pair of medals to Albert Hammond who served in `G' Company of the 2nd (Special Service) Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry. The Queen's medal has the clasps Cape Colony, Paardeberg and Transvaal (7933 Pte A. Hammond, Rl. Candn: Regt.) and the two-clasp King's medal is named "1573 Tpr: A. Hammond. S.A.C".

Hammond was a member of `G’ Company of the 2nd (Special Service) Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry. That company was closely involved in breaking the Boer defence at Paardeberg on the night of 26-27 February 1900. I find no reference to him being a casualty, so I cannot explain why he is not entitled to the clasps for Driefontein and Johannesburg, which many of the Royal Canadians received. I would appreciate it if perhaps someone could enlighten me.

He later served with the South African Constabulary based at Heidelberg, Transvaal. That explains the Transvaal clasp.

I believe Hammond is referred to in the newspaper article entitled 'Departure of the Parisian - Return of the Canadian Soldiers', which reports that the liner left Halifax, Nova Scotia on its winter voyage. It states that the passengers who attracted most attention were a group of Royal Canadians returning from South Africa. "They were fine, soldierly-looking fellows, but bore distinct traces of the hardships they had suffered. Among them was Mr. W. M'Carthy, whose first act on reaching Liverpool was to enquire as to the result of the Canadian elections. When informed by Mr. Ennis that his bother, Mr. Leighton M'Carthy, had been returned for Simcoe, Ontario, his elation can be readily imagined. Another notable figure among the Canadian Volunteers was Private Hammond, an expert exponent of the lassoo, who distinguished himself on scout duty by overtaking and lassoing a cyclist Boer despatch rider, who refused to surrender, and returning to camp with the despatches and the bicycle as trophies of his prowess. Prior to embarking on the Parisian, the Royal Canadians were received by the Lord Mayor at the Town Hall." The source of the article has not yet been identified by me though. Hammond gave his occupation as that of a farmer in his military records.

Hammond was discharged from the Royal Canadians on 3 November 1900 on his return to Canada and later enlisted in the South African Constabulary. He died at Wakkerstroom in the South Eastern Transvaal on 21 January 1959.

Best regards
Peter Jordi

Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

QSA (3) 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg (7574 Pte C. (sic) A. Hodgins, Rl. Candn: Regt);
1914-15 Star (Pte H. A. Hodgins Rand Rfls.);
British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (Cpl. H. A. Hodgins 3rd S.A.I.)

Described as:

Herbert Alexander Hodgins (1875-1941), of Kenora, Ontario, Canada, was born on 27 October 1875 and enlisted for service in the Second Anglo Boer War in South Africa with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment. Research suggests that he may have later transferred to ‘D’ Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery, and was slightly wounded. After a brief return home, appears to have settled in Africa after the war from 1906 - apparently also serving during the Natal Rebellion. Upon the outbreak of WWI he saw service with the Rand Rifles in German South West Africa, and later transferred to the 3rd South Africa Infantry for service on the Western Front, with whom he was severely wounded in the neck on 15 October 1916. ‘The South African’ newspaper, dated, 15 March, 1918, listed Hodgins as one of the ‘Rhodesian Casualties’ – stating that he was discharged as medically unfit for further service, with a stated place of domicile as Malinda (in Matabeleland). He appears to have written various letters to a recipient in Canada, which were published in the newspaper ‘Kenora Miner and News’. Also offered with a detailed and interesting report which appears to relate to this recipient, from the ‘Canadian Great War Project’ website, copied service documents, and original transmission slip for the 1914-15 Star and War Badge.