TOPIC:

First I must apologise for taking nearly 18 months to bring Joseph's story to the forum, especially to Sturgy and Rob D for providing valuable information reference my research questions at the time. I was checking through my to do list of QSA recipients and realised I had never completed this story. Having reread my research I began to understand why I had put this project on hold. It was a head scratcher for sure.

This is my interpretation of events and if there are any anomalies it is down to yours truly. Corrections, additional information and suggestions are always welcomed from my fellow forummers.

So, here goes, better late than never.

4694 - Private, Joseph Dawson, 2nd Battalion (Scottish Rifles) served for 12 years in the Cameronians, a total of 4,380 days with the colours. The majority of Joseph's service was based on British soil. However, 190 of those days were to be spent on the South African veldt from October 1899 until August 1900. It was during this time that Joseph was to witness and in some cases, experience some of the most intense and historic actions which occurred during the opening stages of the war.

Joseph's story begins in 1876, he was born in Preston Lancashire. In the year where tramways were proposed, a worrying decline in the cotton trade was fast approaching, the enlargement of Fulwood barracks was ongoing and a proposal to form a football club in connection with Preston North End Cricket Club was in its infancy.

The 1881 census has Joseph residing at 42 Mount Street. He is recorded as living with his Grandparents, John and Amelia Dawson. John worked as a domestic Coachman, Amelia looked after the household. Also present at the family home were John and Amelia's 3 children Sarah, Thomas and Mary Winifred.

Moving swiftly on 10 years, Joseph is still living at 42 Mount Street, however, he is now recorded as being the son of John and Amelia Dawson (1st head scratch) on further investigations and relying purely on my own assumptions. I believe that it is very possible Joseph's mother may have been Sarah the eldest daughter of John and Amelia. Sarah disappears from the home in 1891. I found a possible record of Sarah living in Salford, working as a servant in a home for destitute women. Joseph however, is now working as a shoe makers apprentice aged 15.

Three years later Joseph decides shoe making is not for him. It is now July 1893 and having passed his medical fitness exam in Preston, he was deemed fit for military service. However, Joseph does not join a local regiment. Private 4694 J Dawson travels 171 miles North, which takes him to Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, this is where he dons the Douglas tartan and begins his service with the Cameronians 2nd Battalion (Scottish Rifles.)


Hamilton Barracks

His first few years were taken up with basic training and unlike some of his comrades he never made it to India. The majority of his service was depot work and was predominantly barrack based. He managed to gain a Lance Corporal stripe early on in his career but lost it pretty quickly for misconduct. His service papers record Joseph as being of fresh complexion, with light brown hair, grey eyes, standing at 5ft 9 inches tall and weighing in at 8.85 stone. His occupation was that of a groom and his religious denomination was Roman Catholic. He also states that his mother and father were John and Amelia. ( I'm not so sure)

During his time in the Cameronians, Joseph found time for romance and in 1898 he marries Agnes Cookson. It is very possible that Joseph knew Agnes before he joined the army as they were both Lancashire born and bred. The wedding took place in the parish of St Saviour's, Preston on December 26th.

1899 was a year of mixed emotions for Joseph, he and Agnes welcomed their first child John in March of that year. Later in June, Joseph's father John passed away and in October, Private Dawson was making his way to Glasgow for a rendezvous with a troopship with a number 15 emblazoned on it's hull. On the 23rd of October Joseph and his comrades along with a contingent of RAMC boarded the S S City of Cambridge. His time for serving overseas was now upon him and having waved good bye to the cold and grey 'dreich' Scottish weather, Joseph and his fellow Cameronians were heading for the warmer climes of Durban and beyond.

The City of Cambridge arrived in South Africa in late November and after disembarking they were to join the 1st Durham Light Infantry, 3rd King's Royal Rifles, and 1st Rifle Brigade which formed the 4th Brigade under the command of Major General Neville Lyttelton.

The brigade was concentrated at Mooi River on 3rd December, on the 6th of December the Brigade marched to Frere, and then on to Chieveley, to take part in the attack on the Boer position at Colenso.

There have been numerous written accounts of the actions and battles which accompany Private Dawson's story. I have taken brief snapshots from those actions in which the Scottish Rifles were present. I cannot specifically say which company Joseph served with nor in which areas of battle he may have been engaged. However, I believe he would have been in at least one or more of them.


Cameronian Battalion in South Africa

Colenso

Buller’s plan was for Dundonald’s mounted brigade to occupy Hlangwane Hill on the right to cover the flank of the advance while Hart’s Irish Brigade forced the river line by way of Bridle’s Drift to the west of Colenso and Hildyard’s Brigade forced the main drift by the demolished Colenso railway bridge and the road bridge.  Barton’s Brigade would support the right while Lyttelton’s Brigade supported the left.  The field batteries were distributed along the line in support while the naval 4.7 inch guns provided a long range fire from behind the centre.

The 2nd and 5th Brigades would be joined by the 4th “Light” Brigade under Maj. Gen. Lyttleton, which was ordered to advance toward the Tugela between the Irish and English Brigades, ready to support either if need be. All the while, on the extreme right, Lord Dundonald was to take his Cavalry Brigade and engage the Boers on Hlangwane, but was not expressly ordered to take the mountain. Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Barton’s 6th “Fusilier” Brigade was kept in reserve behind Dundonald, and all attacks were to be supported by Buller’s considerable artillery complement.

Buller watched the opening stages of the battle from a hill where his own naval guns continued to blaze away. As he sat snacking on some sandwiches, he could see little of what was going on but enough to determine that Hart was in the wrong place. When he learned just how much trouble the Irish were in, he jumped onto his horse and made straight for Lyttleton’s camp with his staff in tow. “Hart has got himself into a devil of a mess,” he told the 4th Brigade’s commander. “Get him out as best you can.” Lyttleton did as instructed and, unlike Hart, prudently extended his men in a loose formation across the mouth of the salient to provide covering fire for the Irish to retreat. Slowly but surely, groups of exhausted, thirsty men began to trickle back out of the jaws of death, many carrying wounded comrades.


Spioen Kop

24th Jan 1900 around 15.00 hours

The 2nd battalion  Scottish Rifles (Cameronians) arrived at the summit of Spion Kop between 2.30 and 3 pm and were pushed into the firing line by companies, which had to move on to the plateau in single file along a narrow path down which the wounded were being carried.  On reaching the plateau the two leading companies became hotly engaged at close range.  Some men of the 2nd and 3rd companies then charged the opposing Boers in flank, in order to relieve the pressure on No 1, or A company.  This was successful, the enemy retiring, but cost 1 officer and several men killed, and 3 officers and more men wounded.  Gradually the battalion got extended, and by 4.40 pm had taken up a position across the summit.  At one part, on the right, when the Scottish Rifles pushed forward, the original firing line had quite disappeared, and the Boers were where it should have been, and that within 60 yards of rocks which, if occupied by the Boers, would have enabled them to command our only approach to the plateau.  Like other troops on the hill, the Scottish Rifles fought splendidly and held their ground marvellously well.  Their losses on the day were very heavy.  Four officers and 33 men were killed or died of their wounds; 6 officers and about 60 men were wounded. If there was ever a time for the Cameronian bible which was issued to all soldiers of the regiment on recruitment to be of use. I would imagine this may have been the occasion where it was most needed after the aftermath of the 23rd/ 24th of January 1900.

24th Jan 1900 Situation at Sunset.
Scottish Rifles (Cameronians)reinforce the summit, Dorset regiment, plus elements of ILI and Bethunes MI still available in reserve.

Val Krantz

The real attack force, Lyttelton’s Fourth Brigade, crossed by a pontoon bridge at Munger’s Drift, a mile to the east of Potgeiter’s and headed for Val Krantz, a hill at the bend in the river.
The deliberate slowness with which Buller permitted Lyttelton’s force to begin the attack and the sight of the single pontoon bridge being assembled at Munger’s Drift gave the Boers ample warning that the true line of assault was up onto Val Krantz.The battalions of the Fourth Brigade, comprising 1st Durham Light Infantry, 3rd King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 1st Rifle Brigade and 2nd Scottish Rifles (the old 90th Light Infantry), with the 2nd Devons from Hildyard’s brigade, scaled Val Krantz, driving the Boers from the lower slopes of the hill and coming under heavy fire from the surrounding higher positions.
But the ever-hesitant Buller lost all confidence in the attack as Lyttelton crossed and Buller cancelled the order to Hildyard to cross the river, leaving Lyttelton to make the assault alone. The Boers, only some 1,200 in number, were under the command of the formidable Benjamin Viljoen who led a spirited defence of Val Krantz, while the Boer rifle & artillery fire built up from the surrounding hills.
Buller’s reaction to the stiffening resistance was to order Lyttelton to abandon the attack and retreat. Lyttelton ignored the order and called for reinforcements. Lyttelton urged Buller, in particular, to bring more troops across the river and attack Doorn Kloof, the hill position on his right flank. But Buller convinced himself the Boer positions were too strong to be forced. The most Buller would risk was to reinforce Lyttelton with Hildyard’s brigade. A council of war was held, but Buller could not be persuaded to take the risk to commit more troops and attack Doorn Kloof. On the Thursday night. the operation was abandoned and the British troops withdrew across the Tugela River, ending the battle known as Val Krantz.

Pieters

The next stage involved the inevitable attack across the Tugela River. Buller decided to launch the assault west of Colenso, although this was on ground covered by the disastrous Colenso battle.
The British artillery moving up to the river, a heavy bombardment was opened on the Boer positions in the hills to the north of the Tugela. Buller’s infantry crossed the river and began an assault on the string of hills along the bank of the river from west to east, called Horseshoe, Wynne’s and Inniskilling Hills. Casualties were high and there was little success. On 27th February 1900, the pontoon bridge was moved to a position further east along the river and the British launched an attack across the Tugela on the hills leading to Ladysmith. In the final fighting of the battle, Barton’s Brigade captured Pieter’s Hill: Norcott’s Fourth Brigade which included the Cameronians (Norcott had taken over from Lyttelton, who now commanded the Division) moved to relieve Hart on Inniskilling Hill and Kitchener’s Eleventh Brigade took Railway Hill. The Boer positions crumbled and they retreated in some confusion towards the Natal border where they were joined by the Boers from the siege lines around Ladysmith.


Allemans / Almonds Nek / Botha's Pass / Inkwelo


Modern day image of Allemans Nek

(Head scratch number 2)

By the time the Cameronians and the 4th Brigade had reached the above locations, moral, battle fatigue and the soldiers disposition must have been prevalent amongst the ranks. Progress had been made but at a terrible cost due to indecisiveness throughout the early stages of the war. It is now June 1900 and the fighting continues with Buller trying to open a route to the Free State and Transvaal. At Alleman Nek which is a pass that lies 14 miles (20km) west of Volkrust. Buller used his forces to outflank the Boer defences at Laings Nek and enter the Free State via Botha's Pass and onwards into the Transvaal where he could rendezvous with Bob's ( Lord Roberts)
On further reading and research of the above actions I cannot decide where Private Dawson was wounded. He had managed to escape unscathed ( Pysically) until June 1900. However, his army paperwork records his wounding at Allemans Nek. Natal Field Force casualty roll records his wounding at Inkwelo. According to the casualty list at Allemans Nek there were 3 records of Scottish Rifles. 1 killed in action and 2 wounded which were J Anderson, W Bates and R Tomlin. The majority of the casualties were from the Devonshire regiment, Royal West Surrey's and the Dublin Fusiliers. The date for above casualties are between the 11th and 14th of June. Joseph fits date wise and is recorded as being wounded on the 11th of June, but was it at Allemans or elsewhere? I found a snippet of information relating to Inkwelo which maybe relavant.



Map showing Allmens Nek & Inkwelo.
Courtesy of Sturgy's Surveying Great Grandfather

There was a battery of 2 guns of the Royal Garrison Artillery located on the hill at Inkwelo. It could be possible that a company of Scottish Rifles were also engaged in that position. Another gun section was positioned on the left of Inkwelo at Van Wyk Hill. It is also possible that Private Dawson may have sustained his wound earlier at the Botha's Pass attack. Unfortunately, this is all supposition on my part and I have no definitive answer. Another scenario which Rob D kindly provided - " Alleman's Nek is quite close to Inkwelo mountain and it is also near Majuba, Botha's Pass, and Laing's Nek. Casualties were frequently assigned the location of the field hospital or of a prominent feature, since the open veld has few names"

He could also have been at Allemans Nek when wounded and not recorded due to administrative record errors. Alas, we may never know the exact location. Private Dawson's baptism of fire was finally coming to an end. He recovered from his wounds and after convalescing through July, he made his way back to England sometime in August 1900. He is then transferred to the army reserves where he remained on the books until July 1905.


The Dawson Family accommodation 1911.

After leaving the regiment, Joseph worked as a labourer and in 1901 he was living at number 9 Almond Street in Preston. His wife Agnes was still working as a weaver in the cotton mill whilst supporting her 2 children John and James. 1911 sees the Dawson's having moved onto 35 Albert Street where the family has grown rather considerably.
There are now 5 children, a nephew and 2 boarders living in 4 rooms.
Joseph is now employed as a general labourer at the local mineral water plant.


Joseph's work place Lancashire

(Head scratch number 3)

It is believed that Joseph died in the late 1920s. At present the final piece of the jigsaw has yet to be found. I have been unsuccessful in finding Joseph's death record. Agnes is still living at 35 Albert Street in 1939 but she is now widowed. Any additional information on Joseph's demise would be most welcomed.

Private 4694 Joseph Dawson's Queens South Africa medal.



Acknowledgments and thanks:-

Ancestry UK
Angloboerwar.com
British Battles .com
The Cameronian/ Scottish Rifles Museum.
Sturgy and his surveying Great Grandfather
Rob D
Dr David Biggins

As always a big thank you to everyone who found the time to read the article.

Cheers

Dave......

Great write-up Dave.

According to the newspapers of the day Joseph was wounded at Inkwelo. This from the Daily Telegraph of 16 June 1900:



The Glasgow Herald, London Daily News & Lloyds Weekly all agree.

The family were still living at 35 Albert Street at the time of the June 1921 Census. Listed, in the following order, are:

Head is written at the top of the list but no name against it.
Mrs Agnes Dawson – Wife, 42y 8m, Married
Sarah Ann Dawson – Daughter, 16y 11m, working as a Cardroom Doffer
Joseph Dawson – Son, 15y 4m, working as an Errand Boy
Agnes Dawson – Daughter, 11y 7 m
George Dawson – Son, 9y 3m
Edward Dawson – Son, 5y 3m
John Dawson – Son, 22y 3m, Married, Out of Work
Patience Dawson – Daughter-in-Law, 27y 9 m, Out of Work
John Dawson – Grandchild, 9m.

The form was signed off by Agnes.

Joseph & Agnes feature in 4 public family trees on Ancestry but none of the 4 creators give particulars of the death of either Joseph or Agnes.

Hi Dave,

Excellent write-up and well worth the wait, all the best.

Regards,
Shaun

Smethwick wrote: Great write-up Dave.

According to the newspapers of the day Joseph was wounded at Inkwelo. This from the Daily Telegraph of 16 June 1900:

The Glasgow Herald, London Daily News & Lloyds Weekly all agree.

The family were still living at 35 Albert Street at the time of the June 1921 Census. Listed, in the following order, are:

Head is written at the top of the list but no name against it.
Mrs Agnes Dawson – Wife, 42y 8m, Married
Sarah Ann Dawson – Daughter, 16y 11m, working as a Cardroom Doffer
Joseph Dawson – Son, 15y 4m, working as an Errand Boy
Agnes Dawson – Daughter, 11y 7 m
George Dawson – Son, 9y 3m
Edward Dawson – Son, 5y 3m
John Dawson – Son, 22y 3m, Married, Out of Work
Patience Dawson – Daughter-in-Law, 27y 9 m, Out of Work
John Dawson – Grandchild, 9m.

The form was signed off by Agnes.

Joseph & Agnes feature in 4 public family trees on Ancestry but none of the 4 creators give particulars of the death of either Joseph or Agnes.

Hello David

Many thanks for looking for Joseph's death record. Very much appreciated. Frustrating not to complete the story. But sometimes the information is not to be found. With regard to his parents. I still believe that Sarah was probably the mother of Joseph. I found her living alone and was recorded as being a greengrocer.

Best regards

Dave.....

PS..I thought I had found him yesterday, a Private J Dawson on Ancestry died in the 1920s. Alas, I think it refers to another Mr J Dawson.