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The role of the "Corps" is sometimes underrated in terms of how much action they saw - the propensity being that front-line fighting regiments get the glory. The 7th Field Company, Royal Engineers distinguished themselves at Paardeberg and Blacker was there - in the thick of things

Henry Blacker

Driver, 7th Field Company, Royal Engineers – Anglo Boer War

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Belmont, Modder River, Paardeberg, Driefontein and Transvaal to 28534 Dr. H. Blacker, R.E.

Harry Blacker was born in Islington, Middlesex on 9 May 1877 the son of John Frederick Blacker, a Mathematical Instrument Maker and his wife Rosa. It would seem that the Blacker’s were remiss, initially, in their Christian duty as a whole host of their children, Harry included, were baptised together on 14 November 1883 at the Parish of All Saint’s in Battersea Park.

The 1881 England census found a 4 year old Harry at home at 88 A Block, Victoria Dwellings in Islington. Aside from his parents were siblings Ellen (9), Fred (7), Florence (5) and Charles (1). The 3rd November 1884 was an important day in young Blacker’s life – he attended school at Battersea Park Road School for the first time transferring to the Infant’s Department at Belleville Road School on 30 March 1885 where he was to remain until 15 April 1890 passing out at the age of 12.

By the time the 1891 England census came round the family had moved to 18 Chatham Road in Clapham where a 13 year old Harry was already gainfully employed as a Printer. Of siblings there were the same names as before but the Blacker parents had been busy – new additions were Catherine (9), Ernest (7), Annie (5), Alice (4) and baby Susan (6 months).

Perhaps the incessant noise that accompanies large families with a menagerie of small children began to fray Harry’s nerves – whatever the case may be he determined that a life in uniform was more suited to his needs and, on 28 January 1895 attested for service with the Royal Engineers in London. Having furthered his trade in the same mold as his father he was now a Telegraph Instrument Maker aged 18 years and 2 months. Blacker signed up for 3 years with the Colours and 9 years with the reserve.

Physically he was described as 5 feet 5 ½ inches in height, weighed 139 pounds and had a fair complexion, blue eyes and black hair. He had no marks about his person and was a member of the Church of England. Having been found Fit by the Doctor he was assigned no. 28534 and the rank of Driver. The first three years of his military career were uneventful and he remained at home in England for the duration being transferred to the 1st Class Army Reserve on 27 January 1898 without hearing a shot fired in anger.

Things were about to change though and, on 5 July 1899 – little knowing what lay in store for him a few months away – he asked to rejoin the Colours and was allowed to do so on repayment of his gratuity. Posted as a Driver once more he was despatched to South Africa on 19 September 1899 and was thus in the country when the Anglo Boer War erupted on 11 October 1899 as part of 7th Field Company, R.E. The decision, taken in the early summer of 1899, to send the 7th to South Africa was with the probability of a conflict with the Boers in South Africa increasing. The company, under Brevet Lieutenant Colonel W.F.H.S. Kincaid, sailed for South Africa in September and was originally destined for Natal.

Upon its arrival in the Cape Colony the company was sent to Orange River Station where it split up with one section of 50 men, under Lieutenant R.L. Mc Clintock, detached to Kimberley. The engineer units with this column consisted of the 7th and 11th Field Companies, the 8th Railway Company, the 31st Fortress Company, and a Telegraph Section, all under the command of Lieutenant Colonel J.B. Sharpe, R.E. as the Commander Royal Engineers (C.R.E.). The move northward commenced from Orange River Station on the 21st of November 1899 and by the afternoon of the following day the division arrived within 2 miles of Belmont Railway Station where the Boers decided to make their first stand on a range of hills commanding the railway. The Boers were driven from this position on the 23rd of November and the advance was continued. The Royal Engineers were assigned the task of repairing the railway that had been considerably damaged by the Boers before they retreated.

On the 25th of November the Boers made a further stand at Graspan and then retired to the Modder River. On the 28th, the 7th Field Company was pushed on with an escort to endeavour to save the railway bridge over the Modder. The company was greeted by a salvo from the Boer artillery that had taken up a position on the north bank of the river. It was soon discovered that the bridge had been destroyed. The Royal Engineers of the column were given the task of constructing a temporary bridge, a difficult task that was completed by the 10th of December.

On the 11th of December 1899 the 7th Field Company was attached to the Brigade of Guards and took part in the right attack during the unsuccessful Battle of Magersfontein. Following this battle, Lord Methuen decided to hold his ground along the Modder River to await further developments with regard to the movements of the Boer forces and other British forces in the area.

British offensive operations began again on the 12th of February 1900 with the 7th Field Company attached to the newly formed 9th Infantry Division under Lieutenant General Sir H.E. Colville. Following the relief of Kimberley the British force began operations to capture the Boer forces in the laager near Paardeberg Drift which were under the command of General Cronje. Trenches were commenced and pushed forward towards the laager. By the 26th of February the 19th Brigade and the 7th Field Company had made a trench nearly 500 yards long on the right bank of the Modder as well as another trench on the left bank of the river. The Boer entrenchments were assaulted that night by the 19th Brigade, of which the Royal Canadian Regiment and a detachment of the 7th Field Company formed the vanguard. The men of the 7th Field Company got within 100 yards of the Boer trenches without being observed, and then, at about 3 a.m., a heavy fire was opened upon them and the sappers with some of the Canadians succeeded in entrenching themselves close to the enemy's lines. By 5 a.m. the trench was completed and fire was opened at short range on the Boers, who, after defending themselves for a time, made proposals for surrender. The action of the 7th Field Company in this battle was highly commended by Lord Roberts, who inspected them the same day and congratulated them on their gallant conduct.

The 7th Field Company continued the advance on the 6th of March 1900 with the Highland Brigade of the 9th Division. On the 13th of March the British forces entered Bloemfontein and by the beginning of May 1900 Lord Roberts completed his preparations for the invasion of the Transvaal and gave orders for the advance. The 7th Field Company marched with the 9th Division on the 3rd of May. The company, which was attached to the Highland Brigade, reached Winburg on the 6th of May and immediately fortified the town for defensive operations.

In another account of the 7th’s actions it was noted that, “The 7th company, with the Canadian Regiment, made the last grand advance at Paardeberg on the night of the 26th February. In Lord Roberts' despatch of 28th February 1900 as to Paardeberg the work of Colonel Kincaid and the 7th company Royal Engineers in the last rush forward was brought to notice.

As can surmised from the above accounts Blacker and his comrades were in the thick of things. Fighting continued in the northeast of the Orange Free State during June and July of 1900, and the Boers were gradually driven back retiring to the Brandwater Basin, a mountainous district lying between the Wittebergen and Roodebergen Hills and the Caledon River. The work of the Royal Engineers during these operations, including the 7th Field Company, was to block the mountain passes to prevent the Boer escaping.

By the 1st of September 1900 the regular campaign in South Africa was over. What followed from this point was a series of small guerrilla type operations for which the Royal Engineer field companies were broken up into small sections and detachments.

It wasn’t all plain sailing for Harry though – on 4 January 1902 he was sentenced to 168 hours of Hard Labour by the Officer Commanding for an undisclosed offence. He returned to duty on 11 January of that year. The war over in May 1902 Blacker was transferred to the 20th Company, R.E. and awarded the Queens and Kings Medals for his efforts. After 5 years and 145 days he was sent back to England arriving there on 11 February 1905 from where, on 27 January 1907 he was discharged having served out his time with the Colours.

Our final glimpse of Harry Blacker comes courtesy of the 1911 England census where, single and 33 years old, he was a Boarder in the house of Henry Stopher, Coal Merchant of 5 Fields Place, Battersea. Blacker was a Coal Trimmer by trade.

Good heavens, I should imagine the Corps were pleased to see the back of this fellow, I wonder what drove him to get into trouble on so many occasions after deciding to rejoin, perhaps, not only the sights and sounds of battle, but, it's often awful stench too, in particular, of course, at Paardeberg, followed up by that period of duty with the imperial garrison in the post war environment. moreover, I see the pattern was well and truly set, it continued almost up to the point of his eventual discharge.
Still a nice medal though, I hope his KSA is extant and you find it one day.