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Shaun, thanks for the info. Ernest Dickinson used 13 pages of his account book as a “a diary of the war” which seems to be a condensation of newspaper articles and/or news telegrams and mostly reflect optimistic and wishful-thinking Jingo interpretations of the events. The entry for 24 January 1900, for example, reads: After two days of fighting Gen. Warren takes Spion’s kop.” The entry of August 10 of that year reads “Discovery of plot to kidnap L. Roberts” This plot which is described in BereniceUK thread “August 27”, resulted in the execution in the gardens of the Pretoria Goal on August 24, 1900 of apparent kidnap plot ringleader Hans Cordua, a German immigrant and ZAR artillerist.

Shaun’s remark about Dickinson’s lacking clasps may lay in the specific requirements that had to be met for eligibility. If I understand correctly (the medal men may set me straight here), the following pages in Dickenson’s account book delineate the conditions, including geographic boundaries, that applied for eligibility for Battle clasps.






Dickinson also noted down a speech made to the KRRC on January 27, 1900 by General Lyttleton (Commander 4th Brigade). I don’t know whether he was present and/or if this speech is already in the public domain but hereunder follows what Dickinson wrote:
“Major Copley, officers and men of the 3rd Bn KRRifles. For over 30 years during which time the 60th Rifles of the Rifle Brigade have been closely associated, and speaking as a Rifleman, I never saw a finer bit of skirmishing or a more gallant attack than that made by your Battalion on Spion Kop. It was a brilliant feat of arms and worthy of the proudest traditions of your gallant Regiment. I am glad to inform you that your losses were not in vain. The pressure brought to bear on the Enemy firing on Sir Charles Warren’s right had enabled him to hold on until dark and had probably saved the 500 lives. I deeply deplore the loss of Colonel Buchanan Riddell in performing this gallant action. I only wish I had been able to congratulate him personally. Major Copley, you ought to be proud to command such a fine body of men.”

Dickenson also noted down a speech by Redvers Buller to the 3rd Btn KRRifles: “I am glad to take this opportunity of saying a few words about your conduct on Wednesday last. Certainly, in my experience and I think in the annals of the British Army I can remember no finer deed than your response to the appeal [for] from your hardy pressed comrades on Spion Kop. Deeply as I regret the loss of a personal friend in your Colonel and the son of one of my oldest friends in the world. Had I have had a son and had the Almighty God been pleased to take him in such a course, I should have been proud and content to lose him”

I do not know for sure to whom Buller is referring to in the latter part of his speech but if this is a reference to Freddy Roberts (Lord Roberts’ only son killed at Colenso a few weeks prior) then the speech is remarkable as Buller and Roberts could hardly be considered good friends. Even if that were the case, such statement seems incredibly insensitive to surviving relatives.

These recorded speeches are followed by “Copies of Telegraphs” one from Lord Roberts on the 29th of January and another fromf Queen Victoria to Redvers Buller, congratulating the men of the KKR.

In the final part of his booklet, Dickinson relates a story from a certain Cpl. G.A.Poyser of the 3rd KRRifles. It is set to rhyme and may be an original or copied from some published work. Whatever the case, it’s no Pulitzer prize material.

“Story of the Boer War”
Now friends, I’ll tell you a story. It’s a story that is known near and far. How deed of Courage and glory were done in the Great Boer War.
It was on the 15th of December our troops made a most gallant attack at that most fatal place Colenso. General Buller’s troops fought hand-in-hand.
Our artillery dashed up and unlimbered in the thick of shot and shell; it was here that these gallant young heroes stuck to their guns till they fell.
It was here that the hero Lieut. Roberts tried hard those guns to save but struck down by a shot from the enemy, he now lives in a brave soldier’s grave.
No doubt you’ve all heard of the battle which took place on the famous Spion Kop. How that corps, Kings Royal Rifles made a most daring rush for the top.
The fire from the Mausers was awful but not one of the enemy was seen. But the Boers did not know of the courage possessed of the scarlet and green.
Their Colonel, brave Riddell was foremost, directing his men where to fire when an orderly came up from the General with an order they were to retire.
Brave Riddell was reading the order when a shot from a Boer laid him low, one of the bravest of officers and fear was a thing he did not know.
Darkness came on very quickly, but the Rifles kept up a strong fire. When the order was passed along very quickly the King’s Royal Rifles were to retire.
It could easily be seen by the grumbling xxx the hill, they did not like to part, but at last they gave way to their officers and down that steep hill made a start.
Next day to them was a sad one and everyone looked sad and gloom for at 3 o’clock that afternoon their comrades were laid in the tomb.
And many will live to remember and will relate at some future time how the gallant 3rd 60 Rifles accomplished that hazardous climb.

The next part of my story I’ll l tell you though it may not be believed. It’s about the besieged Ladysmith and how it was relieved.
It was on the 15th of February we formed up rank-by-rank for General Buller had made up his mind to try the Boers’ left flank.
The movement was very successful as no doubt you have all read for after some very hard fighting the Boers all turned and fled.
He followed quickly up behind although we needed rest for every man was full of fight and in want to do his best.
He got into Colenso though fighting was severe. But our soldiers moved on lively like men who knew no fear.
He captured more positions and moved on further still, but at last we were held at bay by the Boers on Pieter’s Hill.
Our men they held the trenches for three long days and nights, while the Boers were sniping at; it’s the way the enemy fights.
But they could not stand the Lyditte, which we gave them pretty thick; and after about an hour they all had to do a hit.
Next day our cavalry moved out, about one thousand strong and took the news to those brave men who had been penned up so long.
Our Infantry Brigades moved off as soon as it was light, and each man gave a hearty cheer when Ladysmith was in sight.
And although the war’s not over and there’s more fighting to be done, the record will shine in history how Ladysmith was won.

Everhard, Freddy Roberts was a Lieutenant when he died. The Colonel that Buller referred to was Lieutenant Colonel Robert George Buchanan-Riddell who you had already mentioned. Mildred Dooner ends her write up on him with the following sentence "He was mentioned in despatches L.G., Feb 8th 1901, by Gen. Sir R. Buller, who referred to the great loss the country had sustained by the death of Lieut.-Col. Buchanan-Riddell." He also receives a mention in the first verse of Cpl Poyser's poem - by the way thank you for sparing us the other 21 verses!



Regards, David.

Everhard,

I think the pages you have shown us from Ernest’s account book are evidence of a man who was not happy with the QSA medal he had been issued with.

The day by day listing of locations was not built up over nearly three years in the field. During nearly three years Ernest would have undergone a change in pen & ink and not made such a neat job of it. I would say they were all written on the same day and obviously after the event. I suspect they were copied from an official list drawn up by somebody else and, thus, do not necessarily in all cases reflect his personal movements but reflect the movements of the unit he served in.

The list of qualifying criteria for the clasps are correct and reflect those officially issued in April 1901 when the awarding of the QSA medal was sanctioned. They can be found on this site in the medals & awards reference section. The only variation is that he has a closing date for the three state clasps of May 1901 rather “than to be decided” – the end of the war making the decision.

So I suspect when Ernest received his medal he toddled off to the KRRC depot and copied all this material into his account book to compare and contrast later. From his locations list his unit definitely did join the column that left Poplar Grove on the 10 March 1900 and thus qualified for the Driefontein clasp and they did go to Pretoria in November 1900 thus qualifying for the Transvaal clasp. However, on both occasions Ernest may not have been with them, detached by hospitalisation or sent off on a special errand.

I have now fully worked out Ernest’s life from 8 July 1876 somewhere in Birmingham to 16 May 1956 in Dudley Road Hospital, Birmingham but living at 21 Beakes Road, Smethwick at the time. As Beakes Road was also within my youthful stamping ground our paths could well have crossed 70 plus years ago!

I originally started doing a joint write-up on both brothers but it involved so many dates I became totally confused. However, contrasting with his brother has a possible part to play in my above speculation – his brother spent only 10 months in SA (after being relieved from Ladysmith he was sent to guard PoW’s in Ceylon) but earned three clasps to his QSA as opposed to Ernest’s measly two. Did his brother pull his leg to the extent that Ernest felt compelled to research the matter and check the army had not made a mistake?

David, many thanks for digging up all this information on this man. Perhaps the account book has not as much original contents than hoped. As for your arguments regarding potential clasp-envy between Ernest and his brother and to address Ernest’s true participation in the war effort, I reproduce hereunder his pay listings from January 1900 until a few months after the war. In the margin he noted some locations he may have been at the time of eligibility for said payments. I also attach, FYI, the previous address for his father.








Old address for his father A. Dickinson

Very many thanks Everhard for all this fascinating material which I am still getting my head round.

The first page confirms Ernest was detached from his unit from March to December 1900 inclusive and hence no Driefontein & Transvaal clasps. Was he wounded at Paaderberg or was he found wanting and posted to Cape Town out of harm's way regarding his comrades in arms, probably just went sick.

A thrifty soul in 1900 but not so in 1901 & 1902 and why did he withdraw £12 in Frankfort on 24 May 1902 - to pay his debts to his mates and others? - this is a bit like examining the Epstein files.

I have come to the tentative conclusion that his Dad was a bit dodgy finance-wise as the family were always on the move. I knew he did a runner to the USA but thought it was in 1910 when he would have been 60 but 1901/02 makes more sense as he would only have been in his early 50's. He was still living with Ernest's mother at the time of the 1901 census. He died in New York in 1921. The 1911 & 1921 Censuses shows Ernest's deserted mother living with his married sister Annie in Birmingham. At the time of the 1911 Census Ernest had been a widower for about 5 years - I think the death of his first wife was probably associated with the birth of their second child) and Ernest, son (6) and daughter (5) were lodging with a family living at 8 St Matthews Road, Smethwick. His brother Alfred was living at 247 Halford's Road Smethwick.

It is interesting to add another Smethwick address i.e. 5 back of 42 Unett Street and even more interesting to note Smethwick was considered to be in West Birmingham. In 1898 Smethwick Local Board considered a motion to become part of Birmingham and it was only defeated by the casting vote of the Chairman, Jabez Lones. In 1899 Smethwick was granted borough status and in November 1899 elected its first mayor, namely Jabez Lones!

Sorry I am becoming boring!