TOPIC:

Many thanks P-C. This is the really telling one:

Newcastle Evening Chronicle 19 December 1900



Also my previous report regarding him being released from Watervaal was in error - he was reported as 5463 A Robson and not 5463 R Robson.

Fabulous, thank you, the newspapers is one sub I don't have!

Jo,

5463 Private Alexander Robson in South Africa.

The medal owner’s take on Alexander’s time in SA possibly constrained by the space available on his display:

When war broke out in South Africa in 1899, Pte.Robson and the rest of the
battalion were shipped out and landed at the Cape in November 1899 joining
General Gatacre's Division. Their first engagement was at the disastrous Battle
of Stormberg. During this engagement, Pte.Robson was one of the many
soldiers taken prisoner. Days later he and the rest were released as the Boers
had no means of housing prisoners of war. In early 1901, Robson contracted a
fever and was shipped back to England.

My take:

Following the outbreak of war in South Africa on 11 October 1899, 5436 Private Alexander Robson and the rest of the 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers embarked on the Kildonan Castle on 4 November at Southampton. The Kildonan Castle arrived at the Cape on the morning of 22 November but it was a few days before the battalion was disembarked at East London further north up the coast. Within a fortnight the battalion was involved in the disastrous Battle of Stormberg and Alexander was taken prisoner by the Boers. Along with many of his comrades he was escorted to Watervaal Prison near Pretoria. He and his comrades were liberated on 6 June 1900 when Imperial forces took control of Pretoria. Alexander presumably returned to his battalion but by 15 December 1900 he had contracted enteric fever (typhoid). The last report of him in South Africa is in a casualty list issued by the War Office on 2 January 1901 and published in the Newcastle Daily Chronicle the following day: “Dangerously ill - At Germiston, Dec 30, 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers, 5463 Pte. A. Robson, enteric.” He never rejoined his unit and was invalided home at an unknown date.

A final point regarding Alexander, on his 1898 Militia attestation papers have you noticed who he was labouring for? – the Lord Armstrong. These days Lord Armstrong is most famous for the house he built at Cragside (now in the hands of the NT) but he made much of his money out from being an arms manufacturer and founded the Elswick Ordnance Company and thus had a major influence on the South African War of 1899-1902.

Best wishes, David – signing off and returning to examining the Staffordshire Imperial Yeomanry. The investigation into Alexander would have been much less protracted if the all-important regimental number of 5463 had been known from the start – never mind, there is a certain satisfaction in getting to the right place even without a map.

Do you think that 1898 attestation is the right Alexander Robson?

TooManyDogs wrote: I don't know if it helps, but this is the image containing the medal group, I wouldn't know one from the other!. Did they get the medals despite not actually going to SA?

Jo

Here is your image regarding Alexander Robsons medals on the presentation board. Medals left to right.



Distinguished Conduct Medal.
Awarded to acting company sergeant major. 9776 Alexander Robson, Royal Irish Fusiliers. For conspicuous gallantry at St Eloi March 1915.

Queen's South Africa Medal.
Awarded to Private 5463 Alexander Robson 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. 3 clasps, Transvaal, Orange Free State and Cape Colony. POW at Stormberg, invalided home with Enteric fever.

1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal. Attributed to 9776 Alexander Robson. RIF

His commission to 2nd Lieutenant was sanctioned in July 1916.
Additional information for your records pertaining to Alexander's medal entitlement attached.



Personal effects entry


Many thanks for posting your request, it certainly stimulated the grey cells. I wish you well in your future research and bid you a safe and happy new year.


Dave....

PS. QSA medal roll was posted by David (Smethwick) and is the 6th Robson entry on the list. (5463.)

Jo, you asked "Do you think that 1898 attestation is the right Alexander Robson?"

With the evidence to hand I could not prove it in a court of law but I feel the answer to your question is yes.

Having said that Robson is a very common surname in the NE of England as one of my paternal cousins would testify being a Robson herself. She has just sent me an email which I need to answer and I will ask if she has an Charles Alexander Burleigh Robson 1880/1-1917 on her FT - she is very good on family history.

That raises another question - when exactly he was born? The 2nd May 1898 attestation aged 18 years 2 months put its early 1880 most likely February 1880 but he may have added on a bit. The medal owner put his year of birth as 1879 which the 1911 Census & CWGC age at death rule out. So I think he was born some time in 1880 put possibly 1881.

David.