Sunday 19 April 2020

Nesbitt's Horse casualties and the Siege of Philippolis, October 1900 - who was who?


I picked this piece off the Boer War Medal Collector Facebook group as an excellent example of; 1) problems with the Official Casualty Roll and 2) a great piece of research to resolve problems with the Official Casualty Roll. My thanks to the medal collector and researcher Jonathan Tombs for allowing me to copy his work here.

The Register has corrected and updated 40% of the records in the Natal Field Force Casualty roll and 45% of the records in the South African Field Force Casualty roll. From these numbers there is still considerable scope for correction, and Jonathan illustrates what is possible and the type of work needed to correct the casualty rolls and enhance our knowledge.

The problem: a section of the South African Field Force Casualty Roll (JB Hayward & Sons 1982) showing Nesbitt's Horse casualties for the siege of Philippolis. There are no service numbers for the troopers.


Looking at the medal roll for Nesbitt's Horse there are many men of the same surname, two men naned Schwartz and six men named Scott; how do you separate them out?

164 CPL J. SCHWARTZ. NESBITT'S HORSE
Trooper Swartz (sic) is listed as wounded at Philippolis during the siege in 1900. There are two men with the name of Schwartz on Nesbitt's Horse roll. As my man had an Orange Free State clasp, whilst the other only had a Cape Colony clasp, my logic being as the action was in the Orange Free State anyone at Philippolis would qualify, but there was always an air of uncertainty. 

After detailing all the data from various sources, I saw on a DNW auction a QSA, which I brought at a reasonable amount, in the hope of proving he was the "J Scott" wounded during the siege.
 
TPR H. SCOTT NESBITT'S HORSE
I knew that two men with that surname were on the casualty lists but there are 6 Scott's on the medal rolls. As he was the only one to have an Orange Free State clasp and from D Squadron it had to be him. 

I found a newspaper report from the Grahamstown Journal which listed the casualties in detail, and importantly listed the Squadron they were with, this clinched and confirmed that:- All the Nesbitt Horse participants came from D and F Squadron and all qualified for the Orange Free State clasp. 

I created a Excel spreadsheet and listed all the data I had from various sources to identify these men:

  • SAFF Casualty List.
  • Newspaper Casualty List
  • Grahamstown Journal
  • Casualty List Times
  • Nominal Roll details listing all those with same surnames
  • WO100/262 Medal Roll details listing all those with same surname


Another newspaper report from a member of the detachment from Norvalspont was found, this report mentioned Lieut Hanna, Nesbitt's Horse, as leading the men to Philippolis. A report from a relative of Tpr W.G. Hill mentions how Tpr O. Porch [Pooch in SAFF] was killed : 

"Trooper George Water Hill, Number ??? Who fibbed his age to join Nesbitts Horse in Grahams Town, (he lived in Salem at the time) He was one of the 34 Nesbitt Horse under Lieut Hannah, who galloped to Phillipolis to relieve the siege. He ended up on Tomkin's Kopje for a few days. While the shooting went on, one shot went very close to his head, as he turned to say to his mate next to him, "that was close", the bullet had hit his mate straight between the eyes. His mate was Oscar Porch, whose grave is a few hundred metres away in the Phillipolis grave yard. Granddad recounted that he never looked over the rocks again."

From all this data, Lt Hanna, Tpr O Porch and Tpr W.G. Hill were all unique names and this clarified the section of the roll that the squadrons were listed. It was clear to see that D Squadron (Roll signed at Colesburg 13 June 1902, and referenced by the Squadron OC as being D Squadron)  and F Squadron (Roll signed at Norvalspont 4 August 1901) were involved, and as the medal roll is separated into sections and squadrons I was able to say for sure which one of the 5 Scott's and which one of the 2 Schwartz's were my men.

Interestingly, the medal to Trooper H. Dunn was sold as being a casualty, but there are two men with this surname on the roll. One was not even in Nesbitt's Horse at the time and neither was in D or F Squadrons and only qualified for a Cape Colony and SA1901 clasps. Also there is no mention of Dunn in any of the casualty reports. The SAFF list is not 100% and verification is always advised.

Queens South Africa Medal 1899-1902 two clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1901 (Tpr H. DUNN. NESBITT’S H.) With copy medal roll. Trooper Dunn was wounded at Philippolis on 1st November 1900. A town in the Orange Free State, 45km west of Springfontein. The town and district provided burghers for a Commando for the Orange Free State forces. The town personally surrendered by the landdrost on 21st March 1900 to Lt-Gen Sir W.F. Gatacre who had ridden over with a small escort from Springfontein Junction. On 18th October 1900 some 200 burghers under Cmdt G.J. Scheepers attacked the town. The resident magistrate H. Gostling, with 11 police and some hastily recruited 30 men for the town guard, held off attemps to overwhelm them until they were relieved on 24th October by a detachment of Imperial Yeomanry. In December 1900, the garrison was withdrawn. Price: 225.00

Following Jonathan's lead I have looked at the casualties reported in SAFF for the Siege of Philippolis, the dates range from 23rd October (Trpr Porch), "November" to 16th November (Philoppolis Town Guard). We know from The Gazetteer in The Register that the siege of Philoppolis was from 18-24 October, note the Grahamstown Journal cited above gives a casulty report dated 26th October. The initial force besieged comprised the Town Guard, Orange River Colony Police and some volunteers, some are included in the Grahamstown Journal list. Nesbitt's Horse joined the besieged garrison on 21st October. A releif force of 49 men from various cavalry regiments arrived outside the town on the 22nd but were forced to surrender that night. A second relief force of Imperial Yeomanry arrived on the 24th. The dates given in SAFF for the siege are wrong, except perhaps for Trpr Porch's death.

I have made corrections in The Register for all the Philippolis casualties, and from newspaper reports added Agent CH Tonkin who was present at the real siege - "A Newlyn Man" (Cornishman 29-11-1900). His wife was there as well.


Thursday 16 April 2020

The Sea Transport Medal 1899-1902

The Register has just been updated with the recipients of the Sea Transport Medal who served on voyages to and from South Africa.

In July 1903 the Admiralty issued a Memorandum announcing the creation of a medal for officers of the Mercantile Marine who served aboard ships carrying troops to the wars in South Africa and China.

The medal was titled 'Sea Transport Medal', but is commonly known as, and indeed referred to later by the Admiralty itself as the "Transport Medal". The medal was a recognition, especially, for the Second Anglo-Boer War, of the great numbers of civilian ships used to transport soldiers, stores and horses and mules from all points of the globe to South Africa, and to a lesser extent China. A number of these ships were hospital ships.The orginal intention was that this medal would be available for future conflicts, but it never was. In World War I the Mercantile Marine medal replaced the Transport Medal.

Two clasps were authorised: "S. Africa 1899-1902" and "China 1900".

The officers eligible were; Masters, Officers (1st, 2nd & 3rd ranks), Engineers (Chief, (1st, 2nd, 3rd ranks), Surgeons ("in a position of responsibility in attendance on the troops") and Pursers ("a limited number..specially deserving..at their Lordships' discretion"). All medals were awarded subject to "conduct on board the Transport having been entirely satisfactory, and to their Lordships' final approval in every case". An example of their Lordships' disapproval is that of Chief Engineer C McGarrow, SS Idaho, his medal was forfeited for "insobriety during Transport service".

The medal roll is held at the National Archives, London, ADM171-52, which is free to download.



The Transport Medal & WW1 group to 3rd Engineer TH Jarvis, SS Zibenghla


As ever there is some disagreement between sources as to how many were issued for South Africa and China. British Battles and Medals 7th edition (Hayward, Birch, Bishop Spinks 2006 - BBM) gives a total of 1,719, the Anglo-Boer War website states 1,822. A number of medals were unclaimed and returned to the Mint. Surgeon WH Pigeon, SS City of Vienna, a late addition to the roll, never had a medal made.

 Recipients of the Transport Medal were also eligible for the QSA and a very few achieved that "double". The Register helps identify these men by creating one record for each participant using many different sources. Most who achieved the double were surgeons who served in Hospital Ships and or with the RAMC ashore earning a QSA, these men were:

Surgeon G Ashton - Transport Medal, QSA
Surgeon GT Kevern - Transport Medal, QSA
Surgeon J Prentice - Transport Medal, QSA & KSA
Surgeon WH Sutcliffe - Transport Medal, QSA

Ashton, Kevern and Sutcliffe are listed in the QSA rolls as "Ship's Surgeon", WO100/225pp258-259. Prentice is not, there may be more like Prentice. When I do the Civil Surgeons QSA roll I will find out.

Then there was TB Gillespie, 3rd Engineer aboard SS Persia. When the ship docked in South Africa he left and enlisted in Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry, earning a QSA with the clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902.

Many men who earned the Transport Medal went on to serve in World War I. Other notable services are Captain Edward Smith, SS Majestic and Purser Hugh McElroy, SS Cymric & Britannic, who both served on the ill fated SS Titanic. Chief Officer D Dow, SS Servia, later Captained the RMS Mauretania when she broke the Blue Riband speed record and SS Lusitania, but not when she was torpedoed in 1915.

This table shows the number of South Africa clasps awarded for each rank, excluding those returned to the Mint and those otherwise not issued a medal. For comparison I have included the numbers from BBM.

 
Medals Received

The Register
BBM
Clasps SA SA,CH All
All SA SA,CH
Master 123 34 157
156 122 34
Officer 507 70 577
586 515 71
Engineer 480 70 550
541 475 66
Surgeon 63 1 64
69 68 1
Purser 39 6 45
45 39 6

1212 181 1393
1397 1219 178


BBM states 118 medals were returned unclaimed, this number includes medals awarded just for the China run. The table below shows data from The Register for the returns of the South Africa clasp:


The Register - Returns
Clasps SA SA,CH All
Master 0 0 0
Officer 24 4 28
Engineer 23 5 28
Surgeon 3 0 3
Purser 1 0 1

51 9 60


And finally a list of ships that sailed to South Africa and the numbers of each rank aboard who were awarded medals. This includes men who sailed in more than one ship to qualify for the South Africa clasp.

Ship Master Officers Engineers Surgeon Purser Total
Algeria, SS 2 4 5 0 2 13
America, SS 2 9 5 0 0 16
Antillian, SS 2 10 5 0 1 18
Arawa, SS 1 3 4 0 0 8
Ariosto, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Armenian, SS 1 8 7 0 0 16
Assaye, SS 1 8 5 2 1 17
Atlantian, SS 1 3 5 0 1 10
Aurania, SS 3 7 5 4 1 20
Austral, SS 1 3 3 1 0 8
Avoca, HS 1 9 5 0 2 17
Bavarian, SS 1 6 3 1 1 12
Booldana, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Britannic, SS 1 5 3 4 2 15
British Prince, SS 1 3 3 0 1 8
British Princess, SS 1 5 4 0 1 11
Canada, RMS 1 8 8 2 0 19
Canning, SS 1 3 5 0 0 9
Carthaginian, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Catalonia, SS 1 3 3 0 1 8
Cavour, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Cephalonia, RMS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Cestrian, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Cheshire, SS 1 3 4 2 0 10
Chicago, SS 1 4 3 0 1 9
City of Cambridge, SS 2 5 4 1 1 13
City of London, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
City of Rome, SS 1 3 3 1 0 8
City of Vienna, SS 1 4 5 3 2 15
Colombian, SS 1 5 4 0 1 11
Custodian, SS 2 7 5 0 1 15
Cymric, SS 1 3 3 2 1 10
Dictator, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Dilwara, SS 1 6 6 2 1 16
Dominion, SS 1 3 3 1 0 8
Dunera, SS 2 8 5 1 2 18
Ellora, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Englishman, SS 1 4 7 1 0 13
Fazilka, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Formosa, SS 1 4 4 1 0 10
Fultala, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Glengyle, SS 1 3 4 0 0 8
Golconda, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Harlech Castle, SS 2 10 6 2 2 22
Hawarden Castle, SS 2 7 7 5 2 23
Henzada, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Hilarius, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Idaho, SS 1 6 4 1 0 12
India, SS 2 3 3 0 0 8
Ionian, SS 1 2 3 0 0 6
Jamaican, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Jelunga, SS 2 4 4 1 1 12
Kent, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Kildonan Castle, SS 2 7 6 3 1 19
Lake Erie, SS 1 7 7 2 1 18
Lake Manitoba, SS 1 2 3 0 0 6
Lalpoora, SS 2 6 3 0 0 11
Laurentian, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Lawada, SS 1 3 4 0 0 8
Lindula, SS 1 6 3 0 0 10
Lismore Castle, SS 1 4 3 1 1 10
Mahratta, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Maine, SS 1 4 4 0 1 10
Majestic, SS 1 4 3 1 0 9
Malta, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Manchester Corporation, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Manchester Merchant, SS 1 8 6 0 0 15
Manchester Port, SS 1 3 3 1 0 8
Manhattan, SS 2 8 6 0 0 16
Manila, SS 1 7 8 3 0 19
Maplemore, SS 1 4 5 0 1 11
Milwaukee, SS 1 2 3 0 0 6
Mohawk, SS 1 4 4 0 1 10
Mongolian, SS 1 4 6 0 1 12
Monteagle, SS 1 4 3 1 0 9
Monterey, SS 1 3 3 1 0 8
Montfort, SS 1 4 7 2 0 14
Montrose, SS 1 7 10 1 0 19
Muttra, SS 1 4 4 0 0 9
Nankin, SS 1 4 4 0 0 9
Narrung, SS 1 3 5 0 0 9
Nevasa, SS 1 4 4 0 0 9
Nile, SS 1 3 3 0 1 8
Norseman, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Nowshera, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Nubia, SS 1 9 6 1 1 18
Nurani, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Orcana, SS 1 9 3 0 1 14
Orient, SS 3 11 7 3 1 25
Orissa, SS 1 4 3 1 0 9
Orotava, SS 1 8 7 5 1 22
Ortona, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Palamcotta, SS 1 6 4 0 0 11
Palawan, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Palitana, SS 1 2 3 0 0 6
Pavonia, SS 1 3 3 0 1 8
Pekin, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Persia, SS 1 4 3 1 1 10
Pindari, SS 1 4 4 0 0 9
Pinemore, SS 2 3 6 0 1 12
Plassy, SS 1 4 4 2 0 11
Pomeranian, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Princess of Wales, SS 1 5 7 0 1 14
Pundua, SS 1 4 4 0 0 9
Purnea, SS 1 4 4 0 0 9
Putiala, SS 1 2 5 0 0 8
Ranee, SS 1 7 3 0 0 11
Rapidan, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Roslin Castle, SS 2 12 8 1 2 25
Sardinia, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Secundra, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Servia, SS 2 3 3 1 0 9
Siberian, SS 1 3 4 0 0 8
Sicilia, SS 0 4 3 1 1 9
Sicilian, SS 2 4 3 0 0 9
Simla, SS 2 8 6 0 1 17
Sirsa, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Soudan, SS 1 3 2 0 0 6
Spartan, SS 1 5 4 0 0 10
St Andrew, SS 1 8 8 0 2 19
Staffordshire, SS 1 3 4 0 1 9
Sunda, SS 2 7 5 2 0 16
Sutlej, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Syria, SS 1 4 4 2 0 11
Tagus, SS 3 10 4 1 1 19
Templemore, SS 3 3 6 0 1 13
Trojan, SS 2 5 3 0 0 10
Uganda, SS 1 7 2 0 0 10
Ujina, SS 1 4 4 0 0 9
Ulstermore, SS 1 4 4 0 1 10
Umbria, SS 1 4 3 1 0 9
Umta, SS 1 3 4 0 0 8
Upada, SS 1 5 5 0 0 11
Urlana, SS 2 1 3 0 0 6
Urmston Grange, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Vadala, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Victorian, SS 1 5 4 0 1 11
Virawa, SS 1 3 4 0 0 8
Wakool, SS 1 7 8 0 1 17
Wardha, SS 1 3 4 0 0 8
Warora, SS 1 1 3 0 0 5
Winifredian, SS 1 3 4 1 0 9
Winkfield, SS 1 4 5 0 0 10
Yorkshire, SS 1 3 3 0 1 8
Zayathla, SS 1 3 3 0 0 7
Zibenghla, SS 1 3 5 0 0 9

Transport Medals are not uncommon on the market, The Register has 114 sale records for 80 individuals, you can check the list in The Research Centre.