TOPIC:

- QSA: CC, OFS, Joh - 150 Tpr: E. B. M. Byres. Lumsden's Horse)
- British War Medal. Silver issue (Capt. E. B. Moir-Byres.)
- Volunteer Long Service Medal (India & Colonies). GV issue (Captn E. B. M. Byres Assam Valley Lt Horse.)

Medals & clasps verification: All medals and clasps are confirmed as entitled per the below following cited reference sources:

- QSA Medal & 3 x clasps: WO 100/258
- British War Medal. Silver issue: WO 329/2351 compiled & signed at India Office 29/06/1922
- Volunteer Long Service Medal (India): Indian Army Order No.292 of 1915, awarded 07/06/15

Shortly after the outbreak of the South African War, Edward was one of a number of a number of Assam Tea Planters who took leave of their employers and enlisted for overseas in the South African War, when they volunteered for service with the India raised 'Lumsden's Horse. His photo is on page 361 of Pearse's The History of Lumsden's Horse.

Edward Byres Moir-Byres, third son of George Moir-Byres (described variously as an Oil Manufacturer / Landed Proprietor) and Sophia Elenor Matilda Moir-Byres (nee Bulteel) was a native of, Manchester, Lancashire, England, where he was born on, 31 January 1873. By descent, the family had its ancient roots in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Edward was one of seven children in the Moir-Byres family, his siblings being 4 x brothers and 2 x sisters. Edward still in his early twenties, obtained an appointment to work in British India on the Tea Estates of Assam, and from the mid 1890's, he was working in British India as a Tea Planter. He appears to have spent the best part of 30 years in India, during which time he fought in the South African War (Queens South Africa Medal with 3 x clasps), and was at some time mobilized during the Great War for internal security duty in India (for which latter service he earned the British War Medal). He was a long-standing member of the Assam Valley Light Horse in which unit he latterly held the rank of Captain (and awarded the Volunteer Long Service Medal in 1915). During a furlough to the United Kingdom, Edward married Mary Vera Gibson, at Newcastle in 1912. Edward and Vera were subsequently blessed with 3 x children, 2 x daughters and a son. Their first-born daughter Marie was born and sadly died in infancy in 1915 at Darjeeling. Their son George Francis Moir-Byres was born in London. in 1916 - and later became a professional soldier, serving latterly ending his career as a Major in the Gordon Highlanders, having been wounded during the Malaya Campaign 1941-42, and who had been Prisoner-of-War being transported to work on the 'Death Railway' in Thailand, where he was subsequently decorated with the award of a 'Mention-in-Despatches'. Edward's daughter Ann Moir-Byres, was born in Shillong, Assam in 1918. Prior to getting married, Edward had been the father of two boys, viz Thomas Jackson Byers (born Assam 1898) and William Byers (born Assam 1903). Edward Byres Moir-Byres, retired from the Assam Tea Estates sometime in the 1920's, and returned to the United Kingdom where he died of TB on, 24 May 1926, at the Mundesley Sanatorium, located at, Ginningham, Norfolk, England

Azyeoman
Here is a pic of your chap; from "The History of Lumsden's Horse" facing page 360. He was a member of B Coy, LH -a tea planter from Tarrapore Tea Coy. Cachar.
There are a number of references to him in Pearse's History (accessible on this site).
Regards
IL.

Thank you! He is in great health here. It’s hard to imagine him dying of TB. Very sad.

Hi Azyeoman,

I like your picture of the medals; it's neat to have them laid out like that.

Good write-up as well.

Regards,
Sturgy

Interested Forum members
I should have added this post to the subject of "Medals to Lumsden's Horse" some time ago - mea culpa. However, it featured on this site as a stand alone subject quite a while previous and here it is in its' proper place:
Group of four to Gunner/Sgt. Ephraim Robert Dale, Royal Artillery, Lumsden's Horse and East India Volunteer Regt.


(1) Bronze 1902 Coronation, unnamed
(2) Afghan medal, clasp Ahmed Khel, to 6622 Bdr., G/4th , Bty, RA
(3) QSA clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Johannesburg to Sgt., Lumsden's Horse (impressed naming with later engraving to indicate a promotion)
(4) Volunteer LS &GC medal (EVII K-I-H) engraved to East India Railway Volunteers.
And the man himself:

After service with the Royal Artillery during the Afghan War, our man left the RA and joined the volunteers at Jubbulpore. Subsequent to the Boer invasion of the British South African colonies commencing 12/10/1899, Col. Lumsden of the Assam Valley LH (then on leave in Australia) decided that the Indian Empire could contribute to the flood of volunteers from the other colonies. The offer was quickly accepted and recruiting for the "Indian Mounted Infantry corps (Lumsden's Horse)" commenced and heavily over subscribed. Sgt. Dale was posted to the Maxim battery of LH; mainly comprised of men from the locomotive and Traffic Depts., East India Railway and probably selected for mechanical knowledge, familiarity with the Maxim in the volunteers or both.
LH were the advanced scouts for General Tucker's advance upon Houtnek on 30/4/1900 and were ordered to "Take and Hold" some suspicious looking kopjes to their front. The enemy reacted vigorously and LH came under heavy fire. Orders to withdraw were were given and the LH Maxim cme into action at one thousand yards at a critical moment; checking the Boer advance for some time. However, one section of LH did not receive the "withdraw" order and fought until they were over run. "Take and Hold" indeed.
Later, the general advance on Pretoria resumed, with LH scouting and skirmishing ahead of the Army's right centre. Their work at Zand River, Viljoen's Drift on the Vaal and at Elandsfontein were especially noted. Pretoria taken, LH were tasked with outpost and patrol work before operating in the Rustenburg area. Later, LH saw some severe fighting on the way to Heidelburg.
On the last day of November 1900, LH left Pretoria for the last time and headed for the docks and India.
For his valuable services with LH's Maxim Detachment, Sgt. Dale was "Mentioned" by Lord Roberts and duly added a QSA to his Afghan medal. Our man was clearly held in some esteem by the rank-and-file as a subscription was raised to present him with a silver flask in recognition of his foraging abilities during the Great Advance. He was variously nicknamed "Daddy" or "Bobby" - the former probably not to his face.
Sgt. Dale was selected to represent the East India Railway Regt. at the Coronation of King Edward VII - thus adding a bronze Coronation medal to his display. He continued in the Volunteers and later became an Inspector of a Department in Calcutta. He returned to the land of his birth in 1920 - and after a very full life - passed away peacefully three years later.
Thanks to all who have read this far.
Regards
IL.

Hi Linneyl,

"The History of Lumsdens Horse' is a great reference book; a while a go I looked for a hard-copy but they were quite pricey; fortunately the book has been transcribed courtesy of the Gutenberg Project:

www.gutenberg.org/files/52303/52303-h/52303-h.htm#i077

Your man Sgt Dale makes a number of appearances that you referenced; very nice group!

Regards,
Sturgy