TOPIC:

The medal and story to EJ Harris taken POW at Kuruman with ALH www.angloboerwar.com/forum/5-medals-and-...e-a-p-o-w-at-kuruman

Many thanks to Forum members for info listed .Evyn

34575 TROOPER THOMAS TAYLOR: ASHBURNER'S LIGHT HORSE.

This corps was employed in the Warrenton-Kuruman district, and in the south -west of the Transvaal during the last sixteen months of the war, and saw much hard work and alot of fighting. The corps suffered casualties on many occasions. They had the ill-fortune to be part of the column of Major Paris, and under Lord Methuen, when that General was defeated by Delarey on 7th March 1902.
The approximate losses were 12 killed and approximately 14 wounded.

Thomas Taylor attested as Trooper 34575 to Ashburner's Light Horse on 24th May 1901 at Uitenhage. He was 28 years old, an Englishman and an Erector by profession.
He was unmarried and gave his next of kin as his brother David Taylor of 52 Penton Street, Pentonville, London, England.

Thomas' service with the ALH was, alas, all too short. He was killed in action on 3rd August 1901 at Schmidt's Drift during one of the numerous actions the corps were involved in.
I can only assume that his remains were never found or he was buried at or near the location of his death, as Watt (2000) gives no place of interment on his casualty record.


IMAGE 1---Here is a close up of the Nominal Roll showing Trooper Taylor's casualty details (fourth name down)which gives his place of death as Schmidt's Drift. However, all three more recent sources of casualty lists (Hayward 1982; Palmer 1999 and Watt 2000) all state Swaitputs as the location.
It certainly looks more like Schmidt's Drift to my eyes on the Nominal Roll!

He holds the dubious honour of being the first man of ALH to be killed in action during the conflict. Earlier on in the year, 32478 Trooper M. Power was killed at Windsorton on 7th April 1901, but this was reported as accidental.


IMAGE 2---The Queen's South Africa medal awarded posthumously to 34575 Trooper Thomas Taylor having a nice dark toning.
Clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State and South Africa 1901 all confirmed on the Medal Roll WO100/236.

IMAGE 3---Impressed naming to the rim. Note the extra initial 'P' in his naming. I believe to be an error in manufacture.


IMAGE 4---Impressed regimental naming to the rim.

I do not anticipate too many additions to this thread of medals actually named to Ashburner's Light Horse, many who served with the corps had their QSAs named to other units, typically, Kimberley Volunteer Regiment (as with Trooper JH Adrience, another Ashburner in my collection).

Moranthorse
There has previously been some activity about Ashburner's Horse in the Medals and Awards topic. BTW, the action where Methuen's column was overrun by Delarey took place on 7th March 1902.
My ALH chap was "39644 Sgt. G.R.Downey" who was posted Missing after the action at Klip Drift (Tweebosch) on 7/3/1902. A Court of Enquiry stated that he was "killed" and presumably is still out there somewhere.
See previous posts.
Regards
IL.

An excellent medal with great research and images. Many thanks, Steve.

IL,

The attestation for George Downey