TOPIC:

HELLO MEMBERS

CAN I GET SOME INFO. ON THIS QSA MEDAL

THANKS

19247 GNR HAROLD WALLBANK 4TH M.B. RGA

BARS - TUGELA HEIGHTS, RELIEF OF LADYSMITH, LAING’S NEK, BELFAST, SA 1901

CANINF
A quick look on my CD of QSA to RA has "19247 H.Wallbank 4th MB" as entitled to clasps TH/RofL (roll WO100/146). I had a look for supplementary rolls for the other clasps and could not find them; although I have no doubt whatsoever he is entitled to them. Perhaps Frank might help here? A marginal note next to his entry reads "204th Div. Ammn. Colm."; which I have to assume means that he was later transferred to that unit.
I have done a bit of research on this MB. Stirling's "Our Regiments in SA" gives them a para. They joined Gen. Buller in 1/00 and had their guns on top of Swartz Kop in 2/00 and were engaged in the final effort at Colenso and Pieter's Hill. In the first half of 1901, two of their guns served in the E.Tval and another part served in Cape Colony.
The Royal Artillery History tells us that 4MB could have fared much worse as they were ordered to Spion Kop and only got half way before meeting the defenders coming down! The 4th MB surprised all arms by the way they negotiated the roughest and steepest hillsides during the Tugela battles.
Unfortunately, their little RML Mountain Guns were not especially effective as artillery in 1900 terms. They were, however, crack units and could "get anywhere".
Regards
IL.

Just a little more.....

4th MOUNTAIN BATTERY, ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY
　
Joined General Buller in January 1900. They do not seem to have got into action at Spion Kop, but they had their guns on the top of Swartz Kop, opposite Vaal Krantz, in the beginning of February, and they were engaged in the final effort at Colenso and Pieter's Hill. In the second phase of the war the battery was engaged in many different parts of the country. In the first half of 1901 they had two 2'5 guns with Spens in the Eastern Transvaal (despatch of 8th July), and part of the battery was that year in Cape Colony.


Mike

Harold Wallbank an 18 year old Baker from Walsall Staffordshire joined the Army from the Militia, the 4th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment at Lichfield on the 20th of March 1897.
After a period of training at both the 2nd and 4th Depots he attained his rank on the 29th of October 1898 and on the 12th of November 1899 he was posted to the 4th Mountain Battery.
With actual service in South Africa from the 16th of October 1899 to the 25th of April 1900 whilst with the 4th Mountain Battery, he saw further wartime service with both the 53rd and 67th Batteries of the Royal Field Artillery until the 31st of October 1901, although, he had been detached from the 53rd to the Indian Ammunition Column for a period before re joining that battery, he then served in India until the 11th of March 1905 before his transfer to the Army Reserve on the 14th of March 1905.
A fairly busy gentleman and a very pleasing medal, which is verified, in respect of all the clasps, clearly shown in WO100/146, WO100/142 he also has two additional entries in the nominal rolls in WO100/137.
The first two clasps are for actual service with the 4th Mountain Battery, the third and forth clasp for service with the 53rd Battery and the final clasp for service in the 67th Battery, moreover, all are clearly shown in WO97 on his service sheet.

CANINF wrote: HELLO MEMBERS

CAN I GET SOME INFO. ON THIS QSA MEDAL

THANKS

19247 GNR HAROLD WALLBANK 4TH M.B. RGA

BARS - TUGELA HEIGHTS, RELIEF OF LADYSMITH, LAING’S NEK, BELFAST, SA 1901

wow
THANK YOU LINNEYL QSAMIKE FRANK FOR YOUR HELP AND INFO.

CANINF

Very nice medal!

CANINF wrote: wow
THANK YOU LINNEYL QSAMIKE FRANK FOR YOUR HELP AND INFO.

CANINF