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From: "Graham Dickason" <>
Subject: Re: [ZA-EC] MILITARY ESTABLISHMENTS
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 18:39:44 +0200
References: <1BB22E7885974A8CB0AF05DD7A462F1D@MARYPC><AANLkTikpAvBaKY3-7H56BgCG6+jHMjcyunYT2jXW6PM9@mail.gmail.com> <!&!AAAAAAAAAAAYAAAAAAAAANlEpzhSR2tEnZEDOeqfpBLCgAAAEAAAAC5SUomr//VJs1Z2VyiXpgcBAAAAAA==@telkomsa.net><02D419FD3BF84C7382526968A0D21D06@MARYPC><!&!AAAAAAAAAAAYAAAAAAAAANlEpzhSR2tEnZEDOeqfpBLCgAAAEAAAAJlMlbny7W5DqcMG32TRsWoBAAAAAA==@telkomsa.net><C250594ABA9A44119E6A60E16981B3BC@lib><C3F94AA48CBF44AFAE8924B59D250FE4@Eileen>
In-Reply-To: <C3F94AA48CBF44AFAE8924B59D250FE4@Eileen>


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From: "Eileen & Marty Russell" <>
Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2010 3:51 PM
To: <>
Subject: Re: [ZA-EC] MILITARY ESTABLISHMENTS

> Hi Jennifer
> I was hoping the fundis would come up with lots of lovely info but I have
> seen no replies at all. I have an interest in a man who was with the 4th
> Company 5th Battalion Royal Artillery. Below are my notes, you might
> references you can use.
>
> Best wishes
> Eileen
>
>
> Notes from 'The South Africa 1853 Medal' G R EVERSON Royal Artillery
>
> Until the war of 1846-7 a single company was required to stretch itself
> from Cape Town to the most forward posts and before the outbreak of 1834
> the allocation of Gunners to the frontier was just 20 men. Throughout the
> period of the wars the artillerymen were so scattered that it was not
> uncommon for a bombardier to command a detachment. Such men possessed a
> freedom of action experienced by few non-commissioned officers of those
> days.....
>
> In 1851 Maj H R Eardley-Wilmot, OC, the 4th Co 5th Btn wrote - 'I cannot
> persuade the people here that guns are of no use for this sort of work, as
> guns drive Kaffirs away and our object should be to get near them ....
> artillery is of no use in this country except when escorting wagons, in a
> camp or in forts.'
>
> Perhaps if Eardley-Wilmot had not been killed in action on New Year's Day
> 1852 his views might eventually have gained acceptance but commanders
> persisted in employing artillery on offensive operations to the very end
> of the war. That their columns made slow progress while the guns and
> limbers* were laboriously hauled across wooded and mountainous terrain
> seems not to have discouraged them and when the enemy resorted to felling
> trees along the paths of retreat artillerymen had to lift the guns bodily
> over the obstructions.[*Limber - detachable forepart of a guncarriage,
> consisting of two wheels, an axle, a pole, etc ]
>
> But when employed defensively cannon played an important role. Heavy
> losses were inflicted on Kaffir and Hottentot forces gathered to attack
> the posts and forts and at times may have been crucial in the outcome.
>
> Then info on 8th Co 8th Btn, 3rd Co 7th Btn, 4th Co 5th Btn (see next
> para) and 4th Co 8th Btn.
>
> The 4th Co 5th Bn OC Capt Lethbridge arrived at the Cape in October 1849.
> Thirty officers and men went promptly to Natal and as the situation
> deteriorated on the frontier some 60 officers and men under Capt
> Eardley-Wilmot were sent to King William's Town in December 1850. A year
> later Eardley-Wilmot was killed at the Fish River and Capt Devereaux
> commanded for the remainder of the war, following which the 4th/5th was
> reunited at Fort Napier, Natal.
>
> The loss of the major portion of the returns of the Royal Artillery other
> ranks has necessitated a reconstruction from the musters. Listed here are
> over 500 officers and men who qualified for the medal but for one reason
> or another, less than half of them actually claimed the award. Mint
> records show that 195 medals were earmarked in the first batch for the
> regiment and with subsequent issues I estimate approximately 225 meadals
> altogethr were presented to artillerymen.
> PRO References given at end of list, start with WO/10/1723 to -2175.
>
> Notes from 'History of the British Regiments in South Africa 1795-1895'
> by Wilfred BRINTON, ISBN 0 7992 0199 5. Published by Department of
> Extra-Mural Studies, University of Cape Town, no date. Chapters are
> headed with the years, and the day and month is included in the narrative
> but it is hard to work out the year under discussion. These are
> references to Maj Wilmot RA (presumably the same person as Capt
> Eardley-Wilmot, RA)
>
> Chapter VIII, Kaffir War 1850 to 1853 continued. p 108. On the 2nd
> August Capt. Vialles of the 45th with 70 men left Fort Peddie as an escort
> to a convoy of waggons which they handed over to the 73rd and on the
> return march via Debe Nek they were attacked by the Kaffirs who were
> driven off with some loss. A detachment of 50 men of the 91st under Lt.
> Rae escorted cattle and waggons to Gentleman's Bush. Joining a patrol
> under Lt. Col. Michel they marched to the Kamnegana Heights being nearly
> surrounded by the Kaffirs. Maj. Wilmot's life was saved by Sgt. Ewen
> Ferguson. The patrol returned to Fort Peddie on the 11th August.
>
> p111-112. In the course of a general order issued by the Deputy Quarter
> Master General on the 17th September the following appears: "The
> Commander in Chief has received with much satisfaction Colonel MacKinnon's
> report of the continued operations which he was directed to carry on to
> dislodge the united rebels, Kaffirs and Hottentots, who had posted
> themselves in the fastnesses of the "Fish River bush".
>
> These operations have been well carried out, and the enemy has been driven
> from his holds with great loss upon his part, while that of Her Majesty's
> troops has been severe, especially in the column under Capt.Oldham and
> Commandant Davies. The experence of the latter Officer, and his unvarying
> gallantry in the bush was much relied on, and the support he would receive
> from Capt. Oldham and the renowned Queen's equally so. The operations of
> war are always eventful, especially so in the bush, where an excess of
> boldness is occasionally as detrimental as over-caution. In this
> instance the ability and wily nature of the enemy was not adequately
> estimated, and the conspicuous gallantry and dash of the column occasioned
> it consideraable loss - not however without the infliction of severe
> punishment on the enemy in the conflict, Cap. Oldham fell as becomes a
> soldier; the fame of valiant deeds outlives the man, and posterity will
> class Capt. Oldham among 'British Heroes', as well !
> as those soldiers of his Grenadiers who shared his fall. Nor will the
> gallantry and fall of Quartermaster Ebden of the Levies be forgotten.
>
> The Commander in Chief desires to compliment Colonel MacKinnon for the
> perseverance displayed in his operations, and on their success, aided as
> he has so nobly been by Lieutenant-Colonel Michel, Lieutenant-Colonel
> Eyre, Lieutenant-Colonel Burns, and those officers especially noticed by
> him and by Lieutenant-Colonel Eyre in his report. The conduct of the
> troops has well maintained the character of British soldiers, and the loss
> sustained by the 2nd Queens Royal Regiment stands prominent on the
> Regimental records of the former achievements of the gallant Corps.
>
> Colonel MacKinnon expresses his thanks to Lieutenant-Colonel Michel
> commanding the 73rd Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Burns commanding the
> Queens Regiment, Lieutenant Harris commanding Royal Marines, Major
> Armstrong commanding Mounted Levies, Captain Campbell commanding
> detachment of Levies, and Major Pinckney, 73rd Regiment, commanding
> detached parties of their regiment, and to Captain Fauce, Brigadge-Major,
> and Lieutenant Whitmore, Cape Mounted Rifles, acting as Aide-de-Camp. The
> services of Major Wilmot, R.A, Lieutenant Pasley, R.A., acting as Staff
> Officer, and of the officers of hte Medical Department, are also brought
> to the notice of the Commander in Chief; and His Excellency desires to
> express his approbation of the services and exertions of all these
> officers, as well as that of every officer and soldier under their
> command." (signed) A.J. CLOETE, Lieutenant-Colonel. D.-Q-M.-General
>
> Chapter IX. 1850-1853 Kaffir War (Continued). p123
> Somerset arrived at Butterworth on the 29th December having captured from
> 12,000 to 13,000 cattle, and awaited the arrival of the stores to be
> brought by Lt. Col. Burns' force. On the 30th December a patrol under
> Maj. Wilmot, Royal Artillery, with 70 men of the 91st, proceeded to Gaga
> remaining concealed until the 1st January when they proceeded to the
> Kamnegama Hills to destroy huts and kraals. At one village they were
> vigorously repulsed Maj. Wilmot being killed. Lt. McKenzie then assumed
> command and the patrol returned to Fort Peddie on the 1st January without
> further loss.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Jennifer Smit
> To:
> Sent: Saturday, September 11, 2010 11:48 AM
> Subject: [ZA-EC] MILITARY ESTABLISHMENTS
>
>
>
> Is anyone able to give me a history of the Royal Artillery Battery at
> Kingwilliamstown - dates, size, name of units etc?
>
> Many thanks
> Jennifer
>
>
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