TOPIC:

NEW SOUTH WALES LANCERS AT BELMONT

A small detachment of 30 men of the New South Wales Lancers under Lieutenant Osborne was sent to Orange RIver as part of Lord Methuen's force.
This detachment became involved in the battles of Belmont on 23rd November 1899, Enslin on 25th November, Modder River 28th November and Magersfontein on 11th December 1899. So, for the collector of QSAs, a very desirable medal to the NSW Lancers with the Belmont and Modder River clasps. I am afraid to say that I do not have one in my collection.
My purpose for writing this post is to relay an interesting account of a couple of Lancers' experiences at Belmont as follows:

Taken from the New Zealand newspaper "Evening Star," dated 13th January, 1900;

"A PLUCKY COLONIAL"
Trooper Harold Peek, of the Maitland Half -squadron Lancers, in a letter to his father, refers in an amusing manner to the case of Trooper Byrne, of Parramatta, who, it was first thought, had been shot by the Boers at Belmont on October 22. The fact of the matter was that Byrne pursued a Boer, and after a long chase through the hills, finally captured him. However, the Parramatta man found himself in a strange predicament, as he was unable to find his way back to camp, but his prisoner very obligingly pointed it out to him, and accompanied him back to headquarters. Of the engagement at Belmont Trooper Peek writes:-"The Boer marksmanship was bad. None of our Lancers are yet even wounded; but alot of the regulars got great credit for holding our kopje yesterday until our guns silenced the Boer artillery. One shell burst right over us , but we were well under cover, and I have a piece of iron as a memento. The Lancers and Mounted Infantry followed up the Boers to find out their new position, and the Boers lay in hiding, and allowed our line to get between two fires, and then poured in volleys, and we had to gallop about a mile and a half under fire. I happened to see a Boer horse, with a head-rope on him, so put him on the firing side, and lay on my horse's neck. One of our fellows had his horse shot under him and four Mounted Infantry were wounded. On our way back to camp we captured a Boer officer, and a private, ammunition, and rifles." Of the same battle, Trooper George Stratford says:-"It lasted seven hours, and the fighting was severe. The Boers occupied a splendid position. I cannot say what their losses were; but about 250 British were killed and wounded. It was a fearful sight after the battle, some of the men having half their faces blown away. At Grass Pan the battle lasted thirteen hours, and few Lancers were present. The troops had nothing to eat for fifteen hours, or drink for twice that time."

Please note that the date quoted from the publication of October 22 has to be in error. The first 70 men all ranks did not arrive in South Africa until 2nd November 1899 after their voyage from England (they had been at Aldershot for a period of training and set sail for SA on 10th October before the declaration of war, they were later joined by a further contingent from Australia comprising 5 officers, 1 Warrant Officer, 32 men and 130 horses).

8998 PRIVATE WILLIAM McCLAIR: ' D' COMPANY OF THE SCOTS GUARDS

WOUNDED AT BELMONT 23RD NOVEMBER 1899, DIED OF WOUNDS AT WYNBERG ON 8TH DECEMBER 1899.

As we know, men who died whilst on active duty generally had their documentation withdrawn from the army files and destroyed . Very occasionally, indeed rarely, we are fortunate enough to find extant paperwork so that we might find out a little more about a deceased soldier.
This is the case with Private William McClair.

William McClair was born in the Parish of Dalziel, Motherwell, Scotland in 1872.
He attested to the Scots Guards on the 22nd May 1891 at Glasgow, Scotland.
He declared previous military service with 2nd Volunteer Battalion Scottish Rifles.
William was 18 years and 10 months of age and was a Bridge Builder by way of occupation, which I would imagine would have been hard graft!
He weighed in at 135lbs and stood 5' 7 1/4" with a chest expansion range of 34"-36 1/2".
He was of fresh complexion, with greyish -blue eyes and brown hair. As with many Scotsmen, he was Presbyterian by religious denomination.

On the 28th April 1892 he was reported as being a good and efficient soldier, so the high standards expected of a guardsman obviously suited William.

William married Jane Walton back home in Dalziel (perhaps a childhood sweetheart?) on 18th July 1898. There is no record of any children from their union.
His father, also William of 18 Kirk Street, Motherwell was originally described as next of kin. This record ruled through since marriage and Jane McClair of 29 Elgin Avenue, Maida Vale now the nearest and dearest.
His service record confirms a total of 8 years and 201 days with the colours until his death in South Africa.

William sailed to see South Africa with his comrades in the 1st Battalion Scots Guards on the transport ship Nubia on 20th October 1899, arriving at the Cape on 13th November.
Here they disembarked to form the Guards Brigade with 3rd Grenadier Guards and 1st & 2nd Coldstreams under the command of Sir E. H. Colville.
The Scots Guards were soon thrown into action at the Battle of Belmont on 23rd November 1899. It was a baptism of fire for the brigade earning the highest praise from Lord Methuen who said, "The Scots Guards carried out their instructions to the letter, and gained the heights at the point of the bayonet."
The battalion's losses were severe with 10 men killed, 3 officers and 34 men wounded. Of which 8998 Private William McClair was one of the latter.
He was then transported to the hospital at Wynberg for treatment to his wounds which were no doubt inflicted by a Mauser bullet.
I have uncovered his Death Certificate issued by the Registrar at Wynberg which gives further information on the extent of his wounds and how it resulted in his demise.
It informs us that he was 26 years old and had sustained a gunshot wound to his left arm. A survivable injury one would have thought, but he developed cellulitis of his left arm resulting in a secondary haemorrhage and ultimately his death.



Image 1---The Queen's South Africa medal with the single clasp "BELMONT" awarded posthumously to 8998 Private William McClair.
The medal was issued to his grieving widow Martha Jane McClair on 11th April 1902. She was residing at number 6 May Cottages, Railway Road, Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire. Small recompense for the loss of her husband.


Image 2---the single clasp "BELMONT".


Image 3---impressed naming to the rim of the medal.



Image 4---impressed regimental naming to the rim.



Image 5--- William is commemorated on Monument 10 at St. John's Cemetery, Wynberg, Cape Town. His Death Certificate refers to this location as the English Cemetery.
The inscription to the pedestal as follows:
"TO THESE
BRAVE MEN
WHO DIED AT WYNBERG FOR THEIR COUNTRY
IN THE
SOUTH AFRICAN WAR 1899-1902
AND LIE BURIED HERE
THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED BY
A FRIEND OF THE ARMY
I HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE
I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH."

Image 6---the Roll of Honour for the men who died at Wynberg and are buried there.

Another brave guardsman who served and died from wounds received at the Battle of Belmont upholding the highest traditions of the Guards Brigade.

"CONVEYING WOUNDED TO WYNBERG CAMP"


The transfer of William McClair and his wounded comrades to Wynberg from the battlefield at Belmont.

1267 PRIVATE BERNARD JOSEPH COLLINS: 1ST BATTALION COLDSTREAM GUARDS.
KILLED IN ACTION AT BELMONT 23RD NOVEMBER 1899.

Bernardus Josephus Collins was born on 9th May 1873 in Dublin, Ireland. He was baptised into the Roman Catholic faith at St. James Church on St. James Street, Dublin on 27th May in the same year.

His parents were Bernardus Collins and Mary Collins (nee Cunning).

Bernardus attested to the Coldstream Guards, now shortening his christian names to Bernard Joseph, at Dublin on 4th December 1897. At the time of his enlistment he was 24 years and 6 months of age and a Clerk by occupation.
Bernard had previously attempted to join the 2 Battalion Life Guards but his application proved unsuccessful
However, he was just the stamp of recruit the brigade of guards sought to enrol. He was a strapping lad of 6' 1/4" in height and 156lbs in weight, well above the average Tommy Atkins of the Victorian period. His chest range was a healthy 36-38 1/2".
His complexion was described as fresh, he had grey eyes and brown hair.
As we already know, he was Roman Catholic by religious denomination.
He had a dot on his right thumb, which was more than likely a tattoo.

His next of kin was his father, Bernard who resided at 157 North Strand Road, Dublin, Ireland.

Following his successful medical examination, he travelled to London arriving on 16th December 1897 to join his cohort of recruits for the rigorous training regime of the brigade.at Caterham.
From 1st June 1898 he elected to come under the rules regarding Messing Allowance contained in Royal Warrant dated 31st March '98. From this date we can assume that he was passed out as a fully functional and efficient Guardsman.

On 10th March 1899 he sailed with the 1st Battalion to Gibraltar for garrison duty, but only remained there until 27th October 1899 when the battalion were hurriedly embarked from Gibraltar on the transport ship "Malta"to South Africa in readiness for the looming conflict with the burghers of Orange Free State and the Transvaal.
The 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards arrived the Cape around 16th November 1899.
Along with the 3rd Grenadiers, 2nd Coldstreams, and 1st Scots Guards, they formed the 1st Guards Brigade under the command of Major General Colville.

Bernard did not have to wait long to taste his first action as a Coldstream, the 1st Guards Brigade were entrained up country to Belmont and engaged with the Boers into, arguably, the most famous battle of the campaign for the guards.
The Coldstreams were not with the Grenadiers and Scots Guards as they prevailed in a brutal assault and bayonet charge on Gun Hill, whilst suffering a withering fusilade of accurate Mauser fire resulting in many casualties.
I quote from the unit information on the ABW Forum for some detail of the actions of the 1st Coldstreams as follows:
"At Belmont on 23rd November 1899 both battalions of the Coldstreams did well. Lord Methuen said:"The 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards attacked the ridge, S. W. of Mont Blanc. Colonel Codrington handled his battalion coolly and well. " Three other officers were praised. In his report General Colville says:"The battalion came under fire from Mont Blanc at about 800 yards, and Lieutenant Colonel Codrington, swinging his left round to meet this, became committed to a frontal attack on Mont Blanc, which his battalion accomplished with remarkably little loss. The battalion's losses were 7 men killed and 1 officer and 20 men wounded."

1267 Private Bernard Joseph Collins was one of the seven men killed during this stage of the battle on 23rd November 1899.


Attestation document for 1267 Private B. J. Collins.


Attestation document.


Section reporting his death at the Battle of Belmont 23/11/1899.


Casualty list recording Bernard's date and place of death along with his comrades also casualties. Please see below for description of the smaller paperwork to the right.


Here is one of the saddest communications a proud father could ever have received following the death on duty of his son:
"It is particularly requested that you will be good enough to complete this paper, fold it, and post it.
One Medal and 1 Clasps for the South African Campaign, issued for
No. 1267 PTE B J Collins
Coldstream Guards
I acknowledge having received the above.
Bernard Collins Signature.
3rd, January 1902 Date.
157 Nth. Strand Road, Dublin)Postal Address.



Queen's South Africa medal awarded posthumously to 1267 Private Bernard Joseph Collins with the single clasp BELMONT. Entitlement to the QSA and clasp are confirmed on Medal Roll for the Coldstreams (WO100/164).


Number, rank and naming officially impressed to the rim of the medal.


Regimental naming officially impressed to the rim.

Bernard was interred along with fellow fallen comrades at Kimberley West End Cemetery and commemorated on Monument 10.

He is also remembered on the North and South gallery panels at Holy Trinity the chapel of the Household Cavalry and Guards at Windsor, Berkshire, England.
I am currently researching the possibility of his being named on a South Africa memorial in his native Dublin, or perhaps added to his parent's headstone. I will add to this thread if successful. Unless, of course, any of my fellow forummers have any information they would kindly impart?

I do feel very privileged to be the custodian of brave Coldstream Bernard's QSA for a while. His experience of battle was short, but he died a true guardsman's death, going forward at the Battle of Belmont!
It came to me recently (5/2/2025) after being in a collection for a very long time. It has been cherished as there is neither a blemish nor mark on the medal.

REFERENCES
---unit information on the Anglo Boer War Forum.
---copies of the attestation paperwork and medal receipt from the previous collector. I have been unable to raise them myself from the usual sources, so all details written here were only possible due to these copies accompanying the medal.

5785 PRIVATE MORDECAI WATKINS: 3RD BATTALION GRENADIER GUARDS.
WOUNDED AT BELMONT 23RD NOVEMBER 1899 AND DIED THE SAME DAY.

Mordecai Watkins was born in Aberystuth, Monmouthshire, Wales in 1874, the son of John Watkins, a coal miner, and his wife Barbara.
The national census of 1881 finds the family living in the house 'Penybont', Aberystruth, Bedwelty, Monmouthshire.
Mordecai was a seven year old Scholar and the youngest of the family. His mother Barbara (50) had been previously married (perhaps twice) and the young Mordecai enjoyed the company of stepbrothers Enoch Hillman (34 coal miner), William Roberts (18 coal miner), and James Roberts (15 also a coal miner). His only stepsister was Johannah Roberts (20 assistant housekeeper).

Aberystruth is in the heart of the South Wales coalfield and came under the local administration of Abertillery, a larger town to the south of Aberystruth. So it is of little surprise that the men of the family all earned their living below ground.

The life of a collier may not have been to the liking of Mordecai, hence he attested to the Grenadier Guards. His attestation document does not appear to be extant, so I have no further personal information about him.

However, we do know from consulting the Medal Roll (WO100//80) that he travelled with the 1st battalion on the Expedition to Khartoum in 1898. He appears to have returned from this expedition unscathed.

While back in the valleys, he excelled as a sportsman, representing Abertillery Town at football.
The following newspaper clipping tells us more about his involvement:

From: "South Wales Daily News", Monday, September 18, 1899:

"ABERTILLERY"
"have experienced some difficulty as to ground, but doubtless the District Council will sanction the old spot in the Public Park. The ground will probably have to be shared with another local team, therefore the Abertillery Club have decided that under these circumstances it will only be possible to run one team this season. There is no suitable land available, therefore the exponents and lovers of the winter game have to make the best of any little consideration they receive in this respect. Judging by the practice games, there is material for a good fifteen. Mordecai Watkins, who has just doffed her Majesty's uniform, and who took an active part in the local team in his pre soldiering days, will take a position forward with Pick, a Cinderford man. M. Brimble, at full back, with Griffiths and Small at three quarters are recruits. J. Flook and P. George have been appointed Captain and vice Captain respectively, and the fixture list includes engagements with Ebbw Vale, Bath and Chepstow."

Football, sport and the valleys had to take second place to his duties as a Grenadier Guardsman. He was shipped out to South Africa with the 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards at the beginning of the Anglo Boer War to join the fight against the two Boer Republics of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State.

Within a week of landing at the Cape, the Grenadiers along with the rest of their brigade (Scots Guards and 1st & 2nd Coldstream Guards), found themselves entrained and sent north with much urgency to the area of Belmont, a vital link in the railway network which needed to be prevented from falling into the hands of the Boers.
It was not long before the Battle of Belmont commenced on 23rd November 1899.
Mordecai was a member of 5 Company on that day. As the Grenadiers and Scots moved towards their objective of Gun Hill they became lost, so it is possible that companies became mixed as they now found themselves embroiled in a full frontal assault on the Boer enemy which were well ensconced behind rocks along the ridge.
However, despite a withering fusilade of Mauser fire, the guards took the hill at the point of the bayonet. But there was a high price to pay for such gallantry of the Grenadiers, with 19 killed in action on the day, 124 wounded (of which a dozen more men would succumb to their injuries). This was something of a pyrrhic victory with around a quarter of the 3rd GG either dead or wounded.

5785 Private Mordecai Watkins was wounded during the battle on 23rd November and died the same day along with fellow 5 Company Welshman 7562 Private Mortimer Whelan of Briton Ferry in North Wales. These two fellows must surely have been good friends and comrades.

The dead were buried near the site of the battle and later reinterred in Kimberley West End Cemetery

The sorrowful event was reported in "The South Wales Gazette" on Friday, December 1, 1899 as follows:

"Died for His Country"
"We regret to have to record the name of Mr. Mordecai Watkins as being amongst those who fell in the battle at Belmont, South Africa. Mr. Watkins was a native of Abertillery, and was 26 years of age. , being born in Alma Street. He left school at the age of 12, after which he worked at the pits. Three years ago he joined the 2nd battalion of the Grenadier Guards. During his time in the ranks he was appointed waiter to the officer's mess at Whitehall, a position he held for about 10 months. He afterwards volunteered to go into service at the Soudan, from which campaign he emerged the possessor of the Egyptian Medal. In his boyhood he was a regular and faithful worshipper at the Blaenau Gwent Baptist Chapel, and held in very high esteem by those with whom he associated.
In the course of his remarks on Sunday evening Rev. T. T. Evans made a very touching reference to the sad occurrence
Regardless of our opinion of the war, he said, they would all regret to hear that a death blow had been dealt to one of our fine young stalwart men of Abertillery. The news was very painful and distressing to them all.
Mr. Watkins we learn had only returned to civil life about ten weeks before he was called up to join the reserves.
Mr. Watkins took a great interest in athletics and was considered one of the best football players in the Valley. He was a member of the Town Club.
We tender our deepest sympathy to his bereaved and sorrowful relatives."

On the same day from the same publication:

"Smoker."--A smoking concert was held at the Somerset Hotel on Wednesday evening in connection with the Town Football Club. A vote of condolence with the family of the late Mr. Mordecai Watkins, a late member of the club, who died defending his country, at Belmont, was passed."

Mordecai is further commemorated on the Welsh National South African War memorial at Cathays Park, Cardiff, Wales and the Holy Trinity Chapel of the Brigade of Guards at Windsor.



The Queen's Sudan Medal awarded to 5785 Pte. Mordecai Watkins as confirmed on Medal Roll WO100/80. He was also entitled to the Khedive's Sudan Medal with the clasp KHARTOUM. And, of course the Queen's South Africa medal with the single clasp BELMONT.


The reverse of the Queen's Sudan.


Number and rank to the rim.


Naming to the rim.


Regimental detail to the rim.

Those of you who regularly watch and bid at auctions will have seen this medal at Charterhouse Auctions accompanied by a copy QSA and Khedive's Sudan Medal. This is not where I picked it up from. It appeared about a week ago on London Medal's latest stock list minus the two copy medals.

The thought that an unfortunate casualty of the Battle of Belmont actually wore this medal is really quite a thing for me, and it gives me great pleasure to commemorate this Welshman's life and sacrifice here on the ABW Forum.

Maybe his QSA and Khedive's Sudan are still out there somewhere!

But, the final word, I will leave to "South Wales Gazette", dated Friday, December 1, 1939.

"This Week 40 Years Ago.

ABERTILLERY MAN WAS
KILLED IN BOER WAR

£5 A-SIDE RACE TOOK PLACE AT
BLAINA

Among those who were killed in action during the Battle of Belmont, with the Boers, in South Africa, was Mr. Mordecai Watkins, of Abertillery.
He served in the 2nd Battalion of the Grenadier Guards.
Mr. Watkins saw active service in the Sudan, during which campaign he was awarded the Egyptian Medal.
He was a member of Blaenau Gwent Baptist Chapel, Abertillery. A keen athlete, he was considered to be one of the best football players in the valley, and was a member of Abertillery Town Football Club."

So Abertillery never forgot their brave, talented Grenadier.

Hi Pete - I'm James Lynn's great great grandson, it was fantastic to see this pot, thank you. I've sent you a direct message in case you haven't spotted.