TOPIC:

I did one of Mike's jiffy bag dances when I received this from the postman yesterday
4145 Private George Nichol 2nd Battalion The Rifle Brigade

George Nichol was born in 1873 and resided in Edinburgh with his parents.
At the time of his attestation for The Rifle Brigade on the 5th November 1895 his trade is shown as Tailor.
George like many of the time was small in stature measuring 5ft 5” in height with a chest size of 33” brown hair and eyes, his religious denomination was Presbyterian.
He was passed fit by the medical Officer at Newcastle on Tyne and appointed to The Rifle Brigade.
The only blemish on Pte.Nichol’s military career came in 1901 when he was sentenced to 42 days imprisonment for being drunk on active service.
George certainly saw the world while on service with spells in Singapore,Malta,Crete,Egypt and of course South Africa.
It was with his actions in the Nile Expeditions in 1898 the Pte.Nichol earned his Sudan medal.
He arrived in South Africa on 2nd October 1899 with the 2nd Battalion and this term of service lasted three years.
During this time he was involved in the action at Surprise Hill and is listed as dangerously wounded.
A extract of that action.
“One very remarkable piece of work done by the battalion was the keeping down by the Lee-Metford fire of 'sharpshooters, many of whom were officers', of the Boer artillery-fire at ranges between 2000 and 2800 yards. On the morning of 8th December it became known that General Hunter with 600 men of the Imperial Light Horse and Natal Carabiniers had blown up two big guns on Lombard's Kop and captured a maxim. This fired Colonel Metcalfe to do something similar, and he got Sir George's sanction to endeavour to destroy the howitzer on Surprise Hill. On the night of the 9th he reconnoitred the route, and on the 10th at 10 pm started with five companies 2nd Rifle Brigade and a few Engineers under the ever-ready Lieutenant Digby-Jones. The hill-top was reached; after some delay the howitzer was found, not in its emplacement; the explosive was inserted; a fuse was lit, but no explosion happened; another had to be set. This time the gun was destroyed; but meanwhile the Boers had gathered in force on the hillside, and our men had to charge with fixed bayonets, never firing a shot. Many Boers were bayoneted. Colonel Metcalfe lost 1 officer and 11 men killed, 36 wounded, and 10 prisoners or missing, but a bit of good work had been boldly and skilfully executed. Sir George White in his despatch of 23rd March 1900 remarks that "the companies were, on the way back, admirably handled by their captains ... The affair reflects great credit on Lieutenant Colonel C T E Metcalfe and his battalion".
George’s service in South Africa earned him the QSA with clasps Belfast, Defence of Ladysmith and Laings Nek.
He also qualified for the KSA with the usual two clasps.
Pte.Nichol responded to the call of duty again and enlisted on 28th August 1914 for The Rifle Brigade.
He saw active service in France and was discharged on 3rd March 1919 this service earned him the WW1 medal trio. (sadly missing from the group)
George lived out the rest of his days in England residing in Harlesden in Middlesex were he worked as a labourer in an aircraft factory with his until his death in 1944 from Cardiac failure.
R.I.P. George.




Naming on the Sudan






Paul

Hello Paul,
You are spending money like it's going out of fashion!
Regards Frank

Very nice indeed, Paul!

Regards
Brett

Frank,
Yes it seems so

Paul

Frank Kelley wrote: Hello Paul,
You are spending money like it's going out of fashion!
Regards Frank

Thank you Brett

Paul

Brett Hendey wrote: Very nice indeed, Paul!

Regards
Brett

Good Morning Paul......

I always thought that when awarded the Sudan Medal it was always paired with the Khedives Medal.....

Yours does not have one and I have the following in my collection which is missing it also therefore I am assuming that the Rifle Brigade was not entitled....

Mike

1427 RICHARDS, W.

REG. 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