TOPIC:

Congratulations on your very interesting acquisition Rory. I'm intrigued by Bailey's South African Sharpshooters. It's a unit I've never heard of before but they must have been a very special bunch of men.

Regards

David

Very nice Rory, not seen a snr NCO pair to the SANLC for for some time now - they always have a good story which you've proved again.

Spot on Meurig - here's his service card.

David - I'll provide details of this outfit in my write-up.





Regards

Rory

Interested members
Bailey's South African Sharpshooters was formed at the suggestion of Sir Abe Bailey - a millionaire philanthropist - and the Union Government gave its approval for a unit of 100 snipers, the cost of which would be bourne by Bailey himself. The shooting qualifications were quite stringent. Recruitment was slow due to so many having joined the army. Eventually some 24 men were sent to France in mid 1916 and was heavily employed at Arras, Passchendaele and the later Somme battles. Notably attached to 2nd KRRC and I Northants. The unit itself suffered a 35% casualty rate (compared to 5% for other SA forces). The BSAS was supplied with Purdey mounted TS SMLE rifles; cost underwritten by Sir Abe.
Info from "Out of Nowhere - a History of the Military Sniper" by Martin Pegler. ISBN 1 84176 854 5.
I do appreciate that the above info does not strictly relate to the South African campaign, 1899-1902. However, I think it does add to Rory's narrative.
Regards
IL.

My Grandfather Bertie Lowings was one of the 24 Sharpshooters that were went into WW1.
Apparently only 12 of them came back and all had even service numbers.
Bertie lived in Durban till his death in 1966

Hi Durbanboy

A possible relative of yours (Cheryl Sacks) sent me some info on Bertie. Is is possible that you have some info you could share on the Sharpshooters?

If you have - please PM and I will be in contact via e-mail or telephone.

Regards

Rory

An ex-Durban boy...