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QSA with Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg. Driefontein to: 2344 Pte. W. Speck, Glouc Regt
taken PoW 25 November 1900 at Dewetsdorp. Entitled to the SA1901 clasp.

Walter Speck was born in Gloucester in 1869/70. He was the son of John (1833) and Eliza (1834) Speck of 4 Jacques Passage, Mitre Street, Gloster. His father, originally from Playmouth, was a Canal Pilot. He had two siblings, John born in Hempsted (1865) and Frank born in Gloucester (1868). In the 1881 census, they were both errand boys, while their 11-year-old brother Walter was at school. He was an 18-year-old laborer from Gloucester, when he joined the Gloucester Regiment at Bristol on 09/08/1888, having previously served in the 1st Gloucester Royal Engineer Volunteers. He served at home from 7/8/1888 to 7 January 1891; East Indies from 3 January 1891 to 27 November 1894; Home from 29 November 1894 to 31 December 1899; South Africa 1 January 1900 to 15 August 1901 and again at home from 16 August 1901 to 19 August 1901. He was granted Good Conduct Badges on 7 Aug. 1890 and 7 August 1894, but forfeited one on 28 Dec 1899. He was issued 2 Sterling (War Gratuity AO 5 of 1901) at demobilization on 19 August 1901 when discharged as a Private for “Time Expired”. He was 18 years and 1 month old when he enlisted as was 5’5” tall, 127 lbs with Brown hair and eyes and was COE.

He served in South Africa from January 1900 and was taken POW at Dewetsdorp on the 25th of November 1900. He left South Africa in June 1901 and was discharged from the army in August 1901 after 12 years’ service. He was only entitled to this QSA with four clasps.

Speck W 2344 Private Prisoner. Dewetsdorp, 23 November 1900
2nd Battalion. Released 5 December
Source: South African Field Force Casualty Roll


In November, three companies of the battalion were part of a garrison at Dewetsdorp, which came under siege on the 17th. The garrison were short of water, which had to be carried in each night by volunteers. "November 23 was the hottest day of the siege. The men's tongues began to swell from thirst, and their situation was pitiable, as the enemy's fire was coming from every direction. Major Massey decided that it was impossible to continue the struggle and at half-past 5 the white flag was hoisted. De Wet congratulated Major Massey on the plucky defense made by the garrison and Steyn said that the losses of Boers in killed were greater than those of the British in wounded. The Boers had lost their best men at Dewetsdorp and would never again attempt to take a fortified post." (The Times). In his history of the war Conan Doyle wrote: "The thirst in the sultry trenches was terrible, but the garrison still, with black lips and parched tongues, held on to their lines." Speck is confirmed among the prisoners. The prisoners, except officers, were released 5th December.

2nd Battalion
In the summer of 1899, the 2nd Battalion was stationed at Aldershot and was commanded by Lt Col Lindsell. They sailed on the Cymric on 1st January 1900, and arrived at Cape Town on the 21st. Along with the 2nd East Kent Regiment, 1st West Riding Regiment, and 1st Oxford Light Infantry, they formed the 13th Brigade under Brigadier General C E Knox, and part of the VIth Division under Lieutenant General Kelly-Kenny. (See notes under 2nd East Kent)
The whole division did splendid work in the advance from Modder River to Bloemfontein. At Klip Kraal the East Kent, Gloucesters, and Oxford Light Infantry had sharp fighting with Cronje's rear-guard. On the 18th at Paardeberg the Gloucesters were not so seriously engaged as many other battalions, but between the 18th and 28th they did good work in seizing positions of importance, and driving back the Boer reinforcements. Their losses were about 6 killed and 20 wounded, including Colonel Lindsell.
The correspondent of the Press Association, whose work was generally very reliable, telegraphing from Paardeberg on 26th February said: "Last Monday night (19th) a brilliant piece of work was performed by the Gloucesters. During the afternoon they approached within a short distance of a Boer kopje and contained the enemy until nightfall, when 120 men charged the kopje with bayonets and drove off the Boers with loss, bayoneting several". On 28th February Lord Roberts wired: "Cronje with his family left here yesterday in charge of Major General Prettyman, and under an escort of the City Imperial Volunteers' Mounted Infantry. Later in the day the remaining prisoners left under the charge of the Earl of Errol, and escorted by the Gloucester Regiment and 100 City Imperial Volunteers". The Gloucesters soon rejoined the main army to take part in some further hard marching and fighting.
At Driefontein on 10th March 1900 the 13th Brigade had the toughest of the work, and although the Gloucesters were not in the original first line, they did their part splendidly, and had again about 5 killed and 20 wounded.
Three officers were mentioned in Lord Roberts' dispatch of 31st March 1900.
On 22nd November 1900, when De Wet made his famous rush south, he snapped up on his way the garrison of Dewetsdorp, consisting of three companies of the 2nd Gloucesters, one company of the Highland Light Infantry, and some of the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles, so that both battalions of the regiment have had the nasty experience of losing a large proportion of their men in surrenders.
Three men of the battalion were mentioned in Lord Kitchener's dispatch of 8th March 1901, presumably for gallantry at Dewetsdorp.
In 1901 the battalion furnished about three companies as the infantry of a column which operated in the Orange River Colony under Colonel Henry.
The Mounted Infantry company of the battalion saw a good deal of fighting, and gained several "mentions". In the final dispatch of Lord Kitchener 4 officers and 6 non-commissioned officers of the battalion were mentioned.