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Picture courtesy of Spink

IGS 1895 (3) Relief of Chitral 1895, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (4275 Pte. H. W. Collier. 1st Bn. Gord: Highrs.), unofficial rivet between first and second clasps;
QSA (4) Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith, Laing's Nek, Belfast (4275 Pte. H. Collier, Gordon Highrs:);
KSA (2) (4275 Pte. H. Collier. Gordon Highrs:)

William Collier was born at Hackney, London, Middlesex in 1873 and attested at London on 4 July 1892. Posted to India from 29 January 1893 he saw heavy action with his Battalion including the Tirah expedition which doubtless saw him in action at the famous Battle of Dargai. As such he was doubtless witness to- and inspired by- the actions of Piper George Findlater who was awarded the Victoria Cross for continuing to play the pipes despite a disabling wound to his thigh.

They were transferred to South Africa on 22 September 1899 just prior to the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War. As such Collier was in Natal when hostilities commenced and was one of the Battalions which took part in the Battle of Elandslaagte in October 1899. This proved one of the most decisive of the British victories in South Africa, with the 2nd Gordons storming the hill of Elandslaagte, they were forced back initially but counter attacked, catching the Boers out of position and wiping them out.

Collier was present for the Defence of Ladysmith where the Battalion took part in the bloody fighting over Waggon Hill on 6 January 1900. Continuing to serve until the end of the war, he left South Africa on 19 August 1902, returning to Britain. There he was court-marshalled and imprisoned, transferring to the Army Reserve on 19 February 1903, finally being discharged on 3 July 1904.

Picture courtesy of Aubrey's

QSA (4) Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Transvaal (4465 Pte. R. Graham, 5/ Lers.);
KSA (2) (4465 Pte. R. Graham, 5th Lancers).

The Spink sale is upon us. The pre-bidding for the single clasp Elandslaagte to Pte George, GH has already pushed the bid to £1,700 so it will be fascinating to see if this goes any further.

The QSA went under the hammer. It sold for a hammer price of GBP 1,700. Totals (inc VAT UK only): GBP 2,108. R47,500. Au$4,160. Can$3,810. US$2,730.

Pictures courtesy of Noonan's

IGS 1895 (2) Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (Lieut G. H. I. Graham. 1st Bn Devon. Regt.);
QSA (3) Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith, Belfast (Lieut. G. H. I. Graham. Devon. Rgt.);
KSA (2) (Capt. G. H. I. Graham. Devon Rgt.) surname officially corrected;
1914-15 Star (Capt. G. H. I. Graham. 44 - Merwaras.);
British War and Victory Medals (Major G. H. I. Graham.)

George Humphrey Irving Graham was born in Benares, India in 1873, and was the son of Major General G. F. I. Graham, Bengal Staff Corps, and later resided at Stewart-town, Rosemount. He initially served in the ranks of the 2nd Dragoons (Scots Greys), and advanced to Sergeant before being commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment in July 1897. Graham served with the Battalion in India, including as part of the capture of the Sempagha and Arhanga Passes. He went with the Battalion to South Africa, being one of the first regiments to arrive and engage in the Second Boer War.

Graham served in the operations in Natal during 1899 including Battle of Elandslaagte, Reilfontein, and Lombards Kop. He was also present during the Defence of Ladysmith including the action on 6 January 1900, known as the Battle of Wagon Hill (Platrand). On this day Boer Storming Parties under General C. J. De Villiers began climbing Wagon Hill and Caesar’s Camp, after being spotted by British working parties who were emplacing guns, the Boers captured the edges of both areas but could not advance any further, the British also failed in their counter attacks.

At noon, de Villiers made another attack on Wagon Hill, some of the exhausted defenders panicked and fled, but Hamilton led reserves to the spot and recaptured some empty gun pits. Late in the afternoon a terrific rainstorm broke out, leading the Boers to withdraw under the cover of it. The British suffered casualties of 175 Killed and 249 wounded, with 52 dead Boers left in British Positions they had attempted to capture.

Graham then took part in the operations in Natal from March to June 1900, followed by operations in Transvaal, including the battle of Belfast & Lydenburg.

The Morning Post, London 12 December 1900, reports Graham on their casualty list as having been discharged from Hospital to duty during the week ending 2 December 1900, for an unknown reason. Having returned to duty, Graham served as Officiating Intelligence Officer at Machadodorp, September 1901 - November 1901. He then returned to India with the Regiment, and served there January 1902 - February 1903. Graham advanced to Captain, and was seconded for service as Adjutant of the East Indian Railway Volunteers in March 1906.



Graham subsequently transferred to the Indian Army in March 1911, and served with the 44th Merwara Infantry during the Great War. He served with the Regiment in the Mesopotamian theatre of war from 1915, taking part in the Battle of Shaiba, actions in Southern Iraq and other actions leading up to the campaign to relieve Kut.

Major Graham was killed in action during a rearguard action near Butaniyeh, 7 February 1916:

‘In the first days of February, 1916, Sir Percy Lake, who had succeeded Sir John Nixon to the chief command of the British forces in Mesopotamia, dispatched General Brooking from Nasariyeh with a column up the River Shatt-el-Har, a branch of the Tigris, to make a reconnaissance. On February 7, 1916, on his way back, General Brooking was attacked by hostile Arabs near Butaniyeh. He was also attacked by tribesmen who had been considered friendly to the British and who issued from villages along the route. There was some sharp fighting in which the losses were heavy on both sides. The British had 373 men killed or wounded, while the Arab dead numbered 636. On the 9th a small punitive expedition was sent against the treacherous tribesmen, and four Arab villages were destroyed. The incident offered another striking proof that no dependence could be placed on the faith of the Arabs.’ (The Story of the Great War by Churchill, Miller and Reynolds refers)

An inquest into this disastrous action was held by Lake, including a scathing report of the Native regiments (including the 44th Merwaras) who disobeyed orders and abandoned the line leading to massive casualties. Major Graham is commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Iraq.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith, Belfast (4780, Pte. T. H. Bowman [sic]. 5/Lcrs.);
[ KSA (2) ]

Surname Bowmar on the rolls.

These 3 clasps on WO100/115p8. CC on WO100/115p67. KSA (2) on WO100/303p99