TOPIC:

A thread to celebrate the DoL clasp.

Note that other DoL clasps will appear on the Elandslaagte and Talana threads.

QSA to Pte W G Robinson, LTG:


My thanks to Baldwin for allowing this image to be reproduced.

For sale at Baldwin for £495.

Group to 471 Tpr A King, ILH:


My thanks to DNW for allowing this image to be reproduced.

Austin St. John Charles Dominic May King served in the Boer War with the Imperial Light Horse and was discharged in November 1900, after taking part in the Defence of Ladysmith.

By the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he held, according to regimental sources, ‘an important position in Portuguese East Africa’, but quickly resigned his post to return to the U.K.

Commissioned in the 8th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment that December, he witnessed active service out in France with the 2nd Battalion, and was wounded in the stomach at Loos on 20 September 1915, when, as verified by the Battalion’s history, ‘so keen was he that the Officer Commanding had personally to command him to hand over his Company to his next senior and he was practically withdrawn by force from the scene of the battle by the stretcher bearers.’

Here then a glimpse of the “Boy King” in action, though the same source’s claim that he was ‘close to sixty’ was an exaggeration - he was in fact in his mid-forties. Be that as it may, King rejoined his unit in France and was wounded for a second time by shellfire at Flers Trench on the Somme on 15 October 1916, ‘when the Hun got the exact range’ - so exact that King received multiple shrapnel wounds. Thereafter, he was employed back in the U.K. and he died at Hastings, Sussex, in March 1930; sold with a large quantity of research. DNW Jul 12 £500.

Trio to 2337 Tpr: M. C. Moule, Natal Police:


My thanks to DNW for allowing this image to be reproduced.

QSA (2) DoL SA01 (2337 Tpr: M. C. Moule, Natal Police); Natal 1906 (1) (L. Sgt. M. C. Moule, Natal Police); Permanent Forces of the Empire L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (No. 745 2nd Cl. Sgt. M. C. Moule). DNW Sep 12 £500.

Group to Lt Col S S Binny, 19th Hussars:


My thanks to DNW for allowing this image to be reproduced.

Steuart Scott Binny was born at Sydney, New South Wales, on 1 July 1871, only son of John Binny, of Sydney. He was educated at Haileybury College and in Germany. He was a very keen cricketer, a member of the M.C.C. and Free Foresters, and a very good shot. He was gazetted to the 19th Hussars on 2 June 1894, and served with distinction throughout the South African War, including operations in Natal in 1899, and actions at Reitfontein, Lombard’s Kop, and Defence of Ladysmith; also operations in the Transvaal and Orange River Colony.

In a letter home to an ‘old friend’, since married, he wrote from Ladysmith: ‘My dear Mrs Blunt... I don’t talk much about the siege as I am trying to forget it, and look upon it as a bad dream. But as a special favor I will give you a few details. The first will be a little advice! If you want to be besieged, don’t chose a town in a hole, with hills all around, where Boers can shell you at leisure. Also send all your cavalry away before it begins for, tho’ their horses may come in very useful afterwards in the shape of soup and sausages, it is very hard to find a place where they are out of sight from N., S., E. and W. Make up your mind that you prefer always to sleep in your boots, and clothes...’

‘Binny particularly distinguished himself in an action near Blauwbank in the Blood River Valley, north-eastern Transvaal, on 29 July 1901, being awarded the D.S.O.’ In his despatch of 8 August 1901, Lord Kitchener wrote: ‘On 29th July General Kitchener was able to report from Blauwbank the gratifying news of a very successful engagement, in which the 19th Hussars, after a long chase, had recaptured one of the two pom-poms taken from the Victorians on 11th June. The 18th Hussars, who followed the 19th in support, were also able to come up with the enemy and assist in the capture of 32 prisoners and 20 waggons’.

He was Adjutant of his regiment from 1901 to 1904, and of the East Kent Yeomanry, 1905-08, and as a Major on the Staff at Sandhurst from 1910 to March 1914, when he retired from the Army. On the outbreak of war he was appointed Railway Transport Offcier, and later promoted D.A. Director of Railway Transports. He was appointed to command the 10th (Service) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, in February 1916 and was killed instantaneously in action near Ypres, on 3 March 1916, by the bursting of a shell in his dug-out. He is buried at Shoilbank, near Zillebeke.
DNW Jun 12 £3,800.

Medal to 11961 Pte J. Greenow, RAMC:


My thanks to Baldwin for allowing this image to be reproduced.

Good afternoon David,
The content for this thread is almost without limit, it has no terminal point! how many men did Sir George have under his command.
Kind regards Frank

Baldwin have the single QSA to D Sparks on sale for £995.



David Sparks was born in 1858 in Sydenham House, Sydenham, near Durban, Natal. His father (also David Sparks) was one of the earliest British settlers in Natal, arriving in mid-1850, and had run a successful sugar plantation there, as well as having married the daughter of a ‘Byrne Settler’ – one Olivia Walsh. As one of eleven children, David Sparks grew up and worked in Durban until the age of 22, when he and his two younger brothers moved to Ladysmith in 1878 to start their own business, named ‘Sparks Bros.’. David himself was the shopkeeper, and he and his brothers soon rose to prominence, buying a farm in Matiwane and also several properties within Ladysmith. In 1882 David Sparks married Kate Pinkney (of Ladysmith herself), and started his own family there, raising four sons and three daughters. As Ladysmith began to grow in stature, David Sparks was one elected amongst the very first members of the Town Council, taking the position of Chairman between 1890 and 1894, and then again between 1897-98. In 1899 Ladysmith was declared a borough, and research appears to suggest that he was not only a member of Ladysmith Town Council during the period of the siege, but that he may have been Deputy Mayor and assistant to Mayor J Farquhar. In fact David Sparks’ portrait (a copy of which is included with this lot) was heavily damaged by a shell fired by ‘Long Tom’, one of several which was aimed towards and struck the Town Hall. David Sparks’ family had left on the last train to Durban prior to the investment of the town, which allowed David to take a more active part for both the Natal Carbineers and also in his capacity as a prominent townsman. The Sparks family home in Keate Street was made available to be used as a hospital, and the premises and entire stock of ‘Sparks Bros’ was requisitioned by the Army to help maintain the strength and health of the beleaguered townspeople. Mentioned by name several times in the Siege Diary of Major George F. Tatham, MLA: ‘Friday 2nd Feb, 93rd day of siege, 96th of bombardment. Sick increasing daily in numbers in camp and want of strengthening food for convalescent patients much felt. Sparks is doing good work in this way.’ During this period of time David Sparks also served as a Lieutenant in the Natal Carbineers (later being made Major) – family notes state that Lt Sparks was himself present several reconnaissance sorties. Most notably he appears to have been present during the night-time expedition to Gun Hill on the 8th of December 1899, led by General Archibald Hunter, which led to the spiking of one of the three Creusot 6inch ‘Long Tom’ guns present at Ladysmith (named Silent Susan) as well as a nearby German 4.7inch Howitzer and the capture of an additional maxim gun. The party managed to return to Ladysmith successfully without major casualties, and was considered a major success for the local Volunteer troops. In the years following the Siege of Ladysmith, David Sparks became its Mayor between 1902 and 1904, and again between 1907 and 1908. His sons became citizens of note, and his family and its connections remain influential to this day. David’s eldest Brother, Colonel Harry Sparks, was a member of the Natal Mounted Rifles which was also present and active during the Siege and Relief of Ladysmith.


My brother and I used to own this medal. The interesting aspect of the portrait is that it came from the Ladysmith Town Hall. The portrait of Sparks was high on the wall so we had to clamber onto a table to be able to take the photo. The marks on the bottom right of the picture are the reflections from the window on the other side of the hall. So it is a picture with some history associated with it.

Frank,

Five examples here, only 13,000 to go!

Here you go David.....

A start for the next book......

DEFENCE OF LADYSMITH

DEMPSEY, P.

REG. NO.: 13616
RANK: PRIVATE

REGT: ARMY SERVICE CORPS
BARS: DEFENCE OF LADYSMITH, LAING'S NEK, BELFAST

GRUMBRELL, W.

REG. NO.: 90660
RANK: DRIVER

REGT: ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY
BARS: CAPE COLONY, DEFENCE OF LADYSMITH, ORANGE FREE STATE, TRANSVAAL, LAING'S NEK, SOUTH AFRICA 1901

REMARKS / HISTORY:

1. VERIFIED ON ARTILLERY ROLL, W100-144


HAYES, G. W. (GEORGE)

REG. NO.: 22332
RANK: GUNNER

REGT: 53rd BATTERY, ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY
BARS: DEFENCE OF LADYSMITH, LAING'S NEK, BELFAST, SOUTH AFRICA 1901

REMARKS / HISTORY: 　

1. 1914 STAR C/W BAR - 22332 GUNNER G. W. HAYES, R.F.A.
2. WAR MEDAL / VICTORY MEDAL - 22332 GUNNER G. W. HAYES, RA
3. 1914 STAR AND BAR VERIFIED FROM NATIONAL ARCHIVES, 33rd BRIGADE/BATTERY, ENTERED FRANCE 6-11-14.
4. HOME MADE DOG TAG FROM WORLD WAR ONE
5. PHOTO IN CIVILIAN CLOTHES
6. RELIGIOUS MEDAL


ISAAC, H.

REG. NO.: 4149
RANK: PRIVATE

REGT: DEVONSHIRE REGIMENT, 1st BATTALION
BARS: ELANDSLAAGTE, DEFENCE OF LADYSMITH, BELFAST

REMARKS / HISTORY:

1. KING'S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL, USUAL TWO BARS


McCARRON, P.

REG. NO.: 6127
RANK: PRIVATE

REGT: ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS, PRINCESS VICTORIA’S 1st BATTALION
BARS: TALANA, DEFENCE OF LADYSMITH, ORANGE FREE STATE, TRANSVAAL

REMARKS / HISTORY:

1. BORN IN THE PARISH OF DRUMCLOSE, LANAVADY, DERRY, IRELAND
2. ENLISTED IN R.I.F., January 26th, 1898
3. AGE - 19
4. TRADE - LABOURER
5. HOME - February 7th, 1898 TO February 10th, 1899
6. EGYPT - February 11th, 1899 TO September 29th, 1899
7. SOUTH AFRICA - September 30th, 1899 TO January 16th, 1903
8. INDIA - January 17th, 1903 TO February 6th, 1908
9. HOME - February 7th, 1908 to January 25th, 1910
10. PROMOTED LANCE-CORPORAL November 22nd, 1900
11. PROMOTED CORPORAL January 1st, 1901
12. COURT MARTIALLED FOR DRUNKENNESS November 27th, 1902, REDUCED TO RANK OF PRIVATE.
13. PROMOTED LANCE CORPORAL October 12th, 1903
14. REVERTED TO PRIVATE March 11th, 1904 AT OWN REQUEST TO EXTEND SERVICE.
15. N.O.K. - MOTHER - PARSONS LANE, LANAVADY, DERRY.
16. VERIFIED P.R.O. - WO-97/5384
17. VERIFIED IN BIGGIND TALANA BOOK, LISTED AS RANK OF CORPORAL, ENTITLED TO K.S.A., PAGE 267


MELLVILLE, L. S.

REG. NO.: 386
RANK: TROOPER

REGT: BORDER MOUNTED RIFLES
BARS: DEFENCE OF LADYSMITH

REMARKS / HISTORY:

1. DIED OF DISEASE, LADYSMITH, FEBRUARY 24th, 1900
2. NATAL CASUALTY LIST - PAGE 213
3. VERIFIED - W0-100 / 260
4. MEMORIAL PLAQUE - BRONZE
5. PHOTO OF MELLVILLE


MILDON, C.

REG. NO.: 4717
RANK: PRIVATE

REGT: DEVONSHIRE REGIMENT, 1st BATTALION
BARS: ELANDSLAAGTE, DEFENCE OF LADYSMITH, BELFAST

REMARKS / HISTORY:

1. KING'S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL - USUAL TWO BARS.
2. 1914 - 1915 STAR
3. 1914 - 1918 WAR MEDAL
4. INTERALLIED VICTORY MEDAL, 3-7643 A/COLOUR SERGEANT D. MILDON, DEAVONSHIRE REGT.


O'BRIEN. E.

REG. NO.: 3487
RANK: PRIVATE

REGT: DEVONSHIRE REGIMENT, 1st BATTALION
BARS: ELANDSLAAGTE, DEFENCE OF LADYSMITH, BELFAST

REMARKS / HISTORY:

1. KING'S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL, USUAL 2 BARS
2. SLIGHTLY WOUNDED AT BERGENDAL, August 27th 1900
3. SOLD SPINKS, JUNE 1985, L170


PARKER, R.

REG. NO.: 4658
RANK: PRIVATE

REGT: MANCHESTER REGIMENT. 1st BATTALION
BARS: CAPE COLONY, DEFENCE OF LADYSMITH, BELFAST


RICHARDS, W.

NO.: 4530
RANK: PRIVATE

REGT: RIFLE BRIGADE
BARS: DEFENCE OF LADYSMITH, LAING'S NEK, BELFAST

REMARKS / HISTORY:

1) QUEEN'S SUDAN MEDAL - 4530 PRIVATE W. RICHARDS 2nd RIFLE BRIGADE.
2) WOUNDED - 25th JUNE 1901, NEAR BANKPAW


SHEPHERD, W. H. G.

REG. NO.: 289
RANK: PRIVATE

REGT: KING'S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS, 1st BATTALION
BARS: TALANA, DEFENCE OF LADYSMITH, TRANSVAAL, LAING'S NEK

REMARKS / HISTORY:

1. VERIFIED ON ROLL SEE FILE
2. VERIFIED IN BIGGIN'S TALANA BOOK PAGE 336
3. WO - 100/345 p 75


TATE, F. R.

REG. NO.: 4243
RANK: CORPORAL

REGT: GORDON HIGHLANDERS
BARS: ELANDSLAAGTE, DEFENCE OF LADYSMITH, ORANGE FREE STATE TRANSVAAL, LAING'S NEK

REMARKS / HISTORY:

1) KING’S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL USUAL 2 BARS 4243 SERGEANT GORDON HIGHLANDERS
2) 1914-1918 WAR MEDAL, CONDUCTOR INDIAN ORDNANCE DEPT.
3) INTERALLIED VICTORY MEDAL, CONDUCTOR INDIAN ORD. DEPT.
4) ARMY L.S.C.G., EDWARD VII, STORE SGT. INDIAN ORD. DEPT.
5) SLIGHTLY WOUNDED AT ROOI KOOPIES, 21/08/00

WELDON, H.H.

REG. NO.: 3672
RANK: PRIVATE

REGT: 1st MANCHESTER REGIMENT
BARS: ELANDSLAAGTE, DEFENCE OF LADYSMITH, TRANSVAAL

REMARKS / HISTORY:

1. KING’S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL, 3672 DRUMMER, USUAL 2 BARS
2. ENTITLED TO CAPE COLONY BAR, STATES BAR RETURNED TO MINT, STATED DECEASED, 15/08/10



Hope these are some interest.....

Mike

Mike,

What an excellent array. Yes, I would like to generate a DoL book at some point.

Best wishes
David