TOPIC:

Nearly £600 is quite a lot for a single Wepener QSA to the Kaffrarians. The last one I saw was at DNW in the spring where an near identical medal sold (with all charges included) for £490. That seems much more reasonable.

I have contacted DCM Medals.

From the next City Coins auction, November 2020

QSA (4) CC, Wepener, Tvl, Witt (3290 Pte. W.G. Dunning. Cape M.R.)

Pte Dunning was wounded in the Frere Bridge skirmish, 11 March 1900.

From the next City Coins auction, November 2020

QSA (2) CC, Wep (3183 Pte. O. Cornille. Cape Mtd. Rifles.)

The position assigned by Dalgety to the Cape Mounted Riflemen in the defences was the most exposed, facing an open plain. This was De Wet’s primary target with his attacks on 9 April, in which the CMR suffered 6 killed and 25 wounded later in the evening of 10 April 1900 a further 5 killed and 27 wounded.
Pte Cornille (Corneville, as recorded in “Record of the Cape Mounted Riflemen” by Basil Williams and as Cornell in Orange River Colony Graves Register), was dangerously wounded on 10 April 1900.

He died on 14 May 1900: according to Basil Williams this happened at Mafeteng, across the Caledon River in Basutoland.

He is buried near Jammersberg Drift, Wepener.

From the next City Coins auction, November 2020

Leliefontein (Senekal) 26 June 1900

“On 24 June Gen Clemens ordered Lt Col Grenfell to move with some 800 mounted men on 25 June so as to take a Boer laager on the farm Leliefontein, some 15 miles north-west of Senekal. At dawn on the 26th, instead of being in a position to attack, he was surprised by a force of Boers. They had five guns to Grenfell’s two, but he was extricated from a very difficult position by the arrival of reinforcements from Senekal. British casualties were 2 killed, 13 wounded and 20 missing.” Times History, Vol IV p301.

QSA (4) CC, Wepener, Witt, Belf (317 Tpr. A.B. Webster. Brabant’s Horse)
Rim bruise.

According to the Nominal Roll for 2nd Brabants Horse Andrew Webster enlisted in Brabant’s Horse at Queenstown on 28 November 1899 with a note “rejoined 5 March 1900”. The QSA Roll also notes service in the Cradock Town Guard and also as Conductor in the ASC.

He took his discharge at Rouxville, OFS, on 15 December 1900.

The SAFF Casualty Roll states that he was dangerously wounded at Senekal on 26 June, but under regimental number 6128.

From the next City Coins auction, November 2020

Quaggafontein, 31 August 1900

“On 31 August 1900 the 3rd Cavalry Brigade under Col Little and the Colonial division under Col Dalgety were marching for Krugersdorp when they were attacked on the farm Quaggafontein (11 km east of Derby) by some 450 burghers with guns from Asst Cmdt-Gen de la Rey’s commando. During the action De la Rey arrived with some 600 more burghers and artillery, and Dalgety sent the Kaffrarian Rifles on an enveloping attack around the left flank of the Boer position, where they bore the brunt of the enemy fire as the cavalry pulled back. Once this was accomplished, the Kaffrarians advanced, only to be pinned down by a withering hail of bullets from Boers who had been waiting for them on a group of rocky kopjes. They remained in this exposed position until sunset when firing ceased. The British lost 11 men killed in action and 6 officers and 26 men wounded.”
The Regimental History by Francis Coleman.

QSA (4) CC, Wepener, Tvl, Witt (1038 Cpl. Far. R. Moir. Kaffrn. Rifles)
Top clasp added, other clasps possibly reconstituted. (small rim dent on reverse)

Farrier Corporal Moir was one of the 11 men killed in the above skirmish. He is buried in Krugersdorp.

Picture courtesy of City Coins

DSO VR, complete with top riband bar;
QSA (4) CC, Wepener, Tvl, Witt (Capt. J.P. Farrar D.S.O. Kaff. Rif.)
QSA with usual engraved naming for officers

Capt John Percy Farrar is mentioned for his work at Wepener in Dalgety’s Despatch: “…Captain Farrar of the Kaffrarian Rifles was invaluable in obtaining supplies from Wepener on the 6th, 7th and 8th.”

Coleman elaborates further on this: “Most importantly, Capt J P Farrar and a supply officer, Mr Williams, made great efforts to stock the camp with foodstuffs, fuel and slaughter cattle and sheep. Not a tin of fish, meat or preserves escaped their attention, whilst every kilogram of sugar, tea, coffee and rice in the shops of Wepener was requisitioned.”

In the months after, Wepener the Kaffrarians continued to operate in the Eastern Free State. On 27 May 1900 Capt Farrar was nearly captured on patrol to Commando Nek (near Ficksburg) whilst attempting to climb the mountain to locate an enemy laager.

He only just reached his horse under continual sniper fire.

At Quaggafontein Capt Farrar was severely wounded in the groin at about 11h00 but continued to direct his men until he was ordered to retire at sunset.

He was then awarded the DSO on 19 September 1900, as the Kaffrarians moved down the railway line to Viljoen’s Drift on the Vaal river, an ambulance train passed them carrying in it Capt Percy Farrar on his way home to England.

This popular officer received a great cheer as the train rattled by.

Captain Farrar was also an accomplished mountaineer. His Alpine career began in 1881 in the Eastern Alps with his last climb in the St Gotthard regions in 1928: in total more than 325 major ascents.