TOPIC:

This private was KIA at Modderfontein on the 09-08-1900,but I have been unable to get any further details on him.There is a possibility of him getting killed in the relief of the Elands River seige,none shown,or the seige itself,not known. No luck on ancestry to date.Thanks for looking. GAB

Gab - afraid dead men leave no records except for his name on a medal roll.

I could not even find him as a casualty in the newspapers of the day except for this in which he appears to have been mis-represented twice:

Morning Post 14 August 1900:



There is no 3397 R Barry on the 12th Lancers Medal Roll.

I have no idea where Lindique is or was - so not very helpful!

Regards, David.

GAB
My Cavalry CD shows your man 4397 R. Borley of 12L as being Killed in ction at the place and date you mention. He earned the clasps RofK, Dreif, Jhb, and Witte for the QSA when it was forwarded to his N O K. I can't see any reference to 12L being "in" on the relief of Eland's River. Stirling "Our Regiments" says that 12L were in the Rustenberg district about that time so it is possible.
Regards
IL.

Gab - I have now located Lindique in the vicinity of Potchefstroom which lies about 70 miles SW of Johannesburg - Modderfontein lies to the NE of Johannesburg. On 9th August 1900 Kitchener and Methuen were operating in the Potchefstroom area in pursuit of De Wet. Whether the 12th Lancers were amongst the forces under their commands I have been unable to establish. What I can say is that the 12th Lancers were not involved in the Battle/Siege of Elands River between 4 & 16th August 1900.

In what context are you interested in 4397 R Borley?

David.

Hi David,thanks once more for your assistance. I have his QSA and was surprised to see his KIA details,which match the location and time span for Elands River Seige. I have a conciderable number of Australian Boer War medals,none of who seem to have been at Elands River,but thats a work in progress.Its a possibility Borley was there. I have recentley recieved Peter Wilmots book on the subject,very interesting it is too.I have a hand drawn map by a Rhodsian trooper W.A K Nnicholson who was involved. Re Julia Adams, she was quite scathing about Churchills niece,who recieved a decoration at Mafeking. Best wishes,GAB

David,i see fom the map POCHEFSTOOM is nowhere near Elands River,and quite a distance from Modderfontein as well. Seems to rule him out,I thought he could have been one of the odd men there. Well done for spotting him under the wrong name and number,that has to be him.I wonder where his grave site might be? GAB