TOPIC:

Hi
I need help in locate the record of Pte John Cawley, Connaught Rangers. On 5 Sep 1896 he married at St Joseph's R/C, Darwen to Mary Ann Melia. At this time he was aged 28, brick setters' labourer son of John Cawley, labourer. He was interview by a reported on the Darwen New in Jul 1900, see below when he gave his regiment as the 88th Connaught Rangers. Clearly is must have been a typo for his battalion. At the end of the report he mentioned that he was given a medal from Princess Louise when he arrived at Southampton.

I cannot find him listed in the Connaught Rangers, can anyone help? Also what was the medal presented to him by Princess Louise?

Regards, Tony

Darwen News 14 Jul 1900

Home from the War
One of the Irish Brigade
In Five Engagements

Private John Cawley, a Darwen reservist of the 88th [sic] Connaught Rangers, has recently returned home from South Africa on sick furlough.

In the course of an interview which I have just had with Private Cawley at his home in Radford Street, writes our representative, I learnt that he has been in the five following engagements: Colenso, Spion Kop, Potgieter’s Drift, Acton Homes, and Pieter’s Hill. It was at the latter end of last November when Private Cawley with his regiment landed at Durban. They then took the train up to Pietermaritzburg, were they spent about a week drilling. Their next move was to march to Frere, where, it will be remembered, the armoured train and big bridge were blown up. After camping at Frere they proceeded to Chieveley. Private Cawley’s Brigade, it should be mentioned, was composed of the Connaught Rangers, Dublin Fusiliers, Inniskilling Fusiliers and the Border Regiment. General Hart commanded the brigade with General Buller in Supreme command. The first battle in which Private Cawley took place was at Colenso on December 15th, when, after fighting all day, the British had to retire. They made an attempt at Colenso to cross the river Tugela, but the enemy having placed barbed wire just below the surface of the water, our men were unable to gain the other side and had eventually to retire. During the whole of the time they were endeavouring to gain the opposite bank they were subjected to a terrific fire from the Boers, and they has a very trying time indeed. In speaking of the unfortunate affair at Colenso, Private Cawley remarked “I have never seen greater pluck shown than by our men; they did not seem to care where the bullets went.” Private Cawley and his regiment afterward went back to Frere, where they rested for about a month until reinforced. Their next engagement was the unfortunate affair at Spion Kop, which, it is hardly necessary to say, the British have reason to remember. It was at Spion Kop where one brave Darwener at least – Sergeant Candy – received the wounds from which he succumbed.

By the way, Private Cawley told me (continues our representative) that wo days before the battle of Spion Kop he went to see Sergeant Candy in camp. Private Cawley did not know that that would be the last time he would speak to Sergeant Candy. “Or course,” be observed, “you never know when a battle is coming on. They don’t let you know anything, and you have to tumble to it at once. And you never know who will fall.” It may seem very strange that although Private Cawley took part in the battle in which Sergeant Candy was killed he had to receive the information of the unlucky sergeant’s death from home! The Lancashire Regiment and Rifles, added Private Cawley, distinguished themselves at the battle of Spion Kop and no mistake. It happened that Cawley’s regiment was lucky that day, being the escort to the guns, and the regiment, fortunately had very few casualties. Referring to that memorable affair, Private Cawley said he could not help but admire the pluck displayed that day by our brave soldiers, who were trying with all their might to get at the Boers on the top of the hill. The firing on both sides, he remarked, was something awful, especially the Boers’ “pom-poms,” and it gave one a pain in the head just to heard the firing. The Spion Kop affair, if he remembers, lasted for twelve days, and during the whole of that time they never saw canvas, having to bivouac anywhere. After Spion Kop they had another retirement to the resting camp, where they had a good – and also a well-deserved – rest. Previous to the battle of Spion Kop they had several smaller engagements. There were many obstacles in their way, and in one instance the Engineers had to construct a pontoon bridge across the Tugela in order that the oxen with the waggons, etc, might cross. Private Cawley says another big thing our men did was at Pieter’s Hill, just before entering Ladysmith. Of course when the Boers were got off this hill Ladysmith was relieved. There were only supposed to be about 5oo of the enemy on the hill, but by the rifle fire which opposed them Private Cawley is of the opinion that there were about 10,000. It was at Pieter’s Hill where we found the hottest firing of all; he says it was “murderous” fire. The Inniskillings and the Connaught Rangers formed the firing line that day, and the Dublins and the Imperial Light Infantry supported them. The Inniskillings suffered very heavily, losing nearly the whole of their officers and Private Cawley’s regiment came next as regards casualties. The next day – Sunday – the Boer General consented with General Buller to a twelve hours’ armistice in order that the dead might be buried and the wounded removed. A lot of the wounded hah had to lie on the ground all night, as they could not be taken away. Of the dead there were collected 54 of the Inniskillings, 20 of the Connaught Rangers, seven of the Dublin Fusiliers, and one of the Imperial Light Infantry. There were also two colonels and six other officers, and as for the wounded, he could not count them – “God knows how many there were.” The wounded were all taken away by the stretcher bearers and then removed in the ambulance wagons back to the rear, the bad cases being afterwards sent to different hospitals down country. Pieter’s Hill, which was the key to Ladysmith, was taken by the brigade which Peter Cawley was in. When their men got alt the Boers he says they did not show them much mercy; the Boers had behaved very unfairly to some of our men. There was great jubilation when Ladysmith was entered. Each man was given two pints of beer that day to commemorate the event and a concert was held in the evening. With the relief of Ladysmith their operations in Natal terminated, and after a month’s well-earnest rest they went to join Lord Roberts. The marching, however, so knocked Pte Cawley up that he was ordered home on sick furlough, and he has to return to the depot in Ireland on September 5th. He was never been really wounded but he remarked that he received “many a bit of a knock,” and he has a scar caused by a piece of a Boer shell. He says the Boers are not good shots in comparison with our men. Speaking of the hospital accommodation out in South Africa, he said that the patients could have better treatment meted out to them than in Wynberg Hospital. He returned home on the hospital ship “Maine” and on arrival at Southampton he was presented with a medal by Princess Louise. As to the treatment he received on the “Maine” he has nothing but praise.

Hello Tony
I found 2 J Cawley's Ist Battalion Connaught Rangers.
Private 2285 J Cawley 5th Battalion
Private 2769 J Cawley 1st AR ( Not sure if the AR is Army Reserve?)
Both named on medal roll for the C Rangers.

PS. There was an 88th Connaught Rangers who fought in the Crimean War & the 1857 Indian Rebellion.
Princess Louise did perform Civil duties towards the end of Victoria's reign. She also entered the social circle of her brother King Edward the V11 , it could be possible she presented a medal to Private Cawley, but as the date is 1900 in Southampton I'm not sure what medal it could have been. She did enjoy sculpture though, and designed a memorial to the colonial soldiers who died in the Boer War.
If I was a betting man I would say 2285 Pte J Cawley could be your man. QSA 5 clasps and KSA medal . Clasps awarded were- Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Tugela Heights & Relief of Ladysmith. Plus KSA with x 2 date clasps.

The other Private J Cawley 2769 had QSA 3 clasps couldn't find KSA for him. Note in margin of roll - Time expired.
Clasps awarded were Cape Colony, Tugela Heights & Relief of Ladysmith. The article you posted did mention reservist. This chap could be a possibility. No mention of invalidity regarding the 2 soldiers. Couldn't find any paperwork or attestation papers. Not sure if the Connaughts records exist.They may have been destroyed in WW2 London blitz.