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An excellent purchase Paul. It looks you had a great day at Wakefield.

Hello David,
Yes quite pleased with this one, had a few medals not now in my theme that I managed to trade.

Paul

djb wrote: An excellent purchase Paul. It looks you had a great day at Wakefield.

Just a small update with a little more information.
Charles is listed on the 1911 Census aged 43 years and living at Seaforth Grove Harehills Lane Leeds West Yorkshire (The house is still there today)
He is living with his wife Elizabeth who is 33 years old, they have been married for 14 years but do not have any children.
It seems Charles stayed in the area for the rest of his life, he died in 1936 aged 71 in the North Leeds area.
I am unable to be certain if Charles served in the Great War although there is a Charles.A.Jotcham listed in the M.I.C.cards, no service records exist sadly.

Paul

coldstream wrote: A new aquistion from the wakefield medal fair today.
2804 S.Q.M.Sejt Charles Albert Jotcham 12th Lancers
Charles a native of Liverpool was born in 1865
He attested on 20 November 1185 his age is stated as 20 years and 9 months and his trade was a clerk.
at the time he belonged to the 1st Gloster Arty Volunteers
Charles was 5ft 7inches and weighed 139lbs on enlistment and is stated as having grey eyes and golden hair!
part of his service was in India from March 86 to Nov 87
He served in South Africa from Oct 99 to July 01
during his service he passed classes in Pioneering at Chatham in 1889 and the School of Musketry in 1896
His QSA clasps are confirmed as S.A 1901, Wittebergen, Diamond Hill, Johannesburg, Driefontein, Paardeburg and Relief of Kimberley

Paul

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (4) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 (Lieut: F. W. S. Murray. 12: R: Lancers);
1914 Star and clasp (Capt: F. W. S. Murray. 12/Lrs.);
British War and Victory Medal (Capt. F. W. S. Murray.).

Fane Wright Stapleton Murray was born on 16 October 1879 at Whitton Park, Hounslow, the eldest son of Colonel Charles Edward Gostling Murray, and grandson of the Right Reverend Lord George Murray, Bishop of St. David's and second son of the 3rd Duke of Atholl. Educated at Eton College, Murray was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant to the 12th Lancers on 20 December 1899. Promoted Lieutenant on 3 October 1900, he served in South Africa from 26 June 1900-5 December 1901, being promoted Captain on 27 November 1907 whilst in India.

He served with the British Expeditionary Force in France from 7 August 1914 and was killed in action on 30 October 1914 when shot through the heart in the trenches at Wytchaete, between St. Eloi and Messines. According to the Roll of Honour:

'As immediately after he fell, the 12th Lancers were obliged to abandon their trenches, his body was never recovered.'

From the next City Coins auction, November 2020

Wilge River, 16 August 1901

Lord Kitchener in his despatch of 8th September 1901, dealing with operations in the Eastern Transvaal, stated:

“On 17th August a force of the South African Constabulary and Morley’s Scouts which had been patrolling under Captain Wood, SAC, in front of the Constabulary posts to the south of Bronkhorst Spruit Station, unexpectedly came upon and attacked a greatly superior Boer force which was halted at Middelburg, 23 miles south of the railway.

The enemy, who were subsequently reported to have numbered 800, were completely surprised by the sudden rush of our men. Twenty-three Boers were killed, 11 were taken prisoners, a large number were wounded, and all their horses stampeded. Our success, however, was rather short-lived.
Discovering that the force by which they had been attacked was a small one, the enemy rallied, assumed the offensive, and drove our men back after a hand-to-hand fight in the direction of Bronkhorst Spruit. In the retirement the Boers were able to recover the 11 prisoners who had been taken from them and to capture 14 of our men, including Captain Morley of Morley’s Scouts, who was dangerously wounded. Our other casualties were 1 man killed and 5 men wounded.”

QSA (6) RoK, OFS, Jhburg, D Hill, SA01, SA02 (Lce. Corl. D. Sinnott 12: R: Lancers)
Impressed naming.

Pte Sinnott transferred from the 12th Lancers to “C” Division, SA Constabulary and was Killed in Action (medal rolls) or Died of Wounds (SAFF Casualty Roll) in the Wilge River skirmish.

He is obviously not entitled to the SA02 clasp: the two date clasps are attached to the D Hill clasp with unofficial rivets.

From today's City Coins auction, 27 November 2020

Near Hopefield, 17 October 1901

On this date Major Capper’s column (12th Lancers and Colonial Light Horse) had a short but sharp engagement with Commandant J J Smith’s Rebel Commando at Wilgebosch Drift near Hopefield.

The dense high shrubs and trees as well as the difficult terrain on the riverbank gave excellent cover to the Rebels who suffered no casualties. British losses were 3 men killed and 4 wounded. Four men were taken prisoner, but after being relieved of their horses, rifles and ammunition they were released.

QSA (4) CC, OFS, Tvl, SA01 (4701 Pte A. Smith. 12th Lancers )
Impressed naming.

Pte Smith was severely wounded in the skirmish and was probably invalided to England as he saw no service in 1902.