TOPIC:

Hi all. I am following my ancestor Sergeant Harry Underwood. He was a Sergeant in residence at the Shrapnel Barracks, Woolwich in March 1901. His medal records show he served with 77 Battery RFA during the second Boer War - entitled to clasps for both Cape Colony and Orange Free State. I'd like to know which actions he was involved in - I can't confirm whether he was in South Africa prior to March 1901 (and returned to Woolwich in March 1901 after serving in South Africa) or whether he went to South Africa post March 1901. This information is key to determining which engagements he would have been involved with. Harry Underwood was a career soldier and went on to become Battery Sergeant-Major with 24 Brigade (WW1) and concluded his career as a Major. If anyone can advise this would be greatly appreciated, I'm keen to know where he fought.

Hello and welcome.

The medal rolls show he was additionally entitled to the SA02 clasp and not the SA01 clasp which was usual for the 77th RFA. The Supplementary rolls says he was invalided to England on 24 February 1903.

The QSA rolls suggest he was working in Pretoria. Does anyone know the abbreviation LAC? Ammunition Column?



There are no service papers for him sadly.

There is a page on the 77th Battery . This links to the page for the 74th Battery and other line regiments from where it is possible to build a picture of the exploits of the 77th Battery.

Kind regards
David

David and 77 Bty, RFA
Yes, "LAC" is shown in Appendix J of "The History of the Royal Artillery" Vol.III, as indicating "Local Ammunition Column". According to the same work, 77 Battery RFA was with the VI th Brigade, RFA. and No.2 LAC was at Pretoria.
Regards
IL.

hi
he was my great grandfather
he retired a lt col
his medals were
1.south africa medal with 5 clasps
transvaal
SA 1901
Sa 1902
orange free state
cape colony
2.mons star
3.war medal
4.victory medal with a MID
5.WW2 Defence medal
6.Croix de Guerre