TOPIC:

On this the anniversary of the start of the siege of Wepener in 1900, I am writing to ask for information on the siege and its participants in preparation for a new book on the subject. The book is planned to follow the same format and content as the Defence of Kimberley and Talana.

There is a provisional list of the participants on my site at www.angloboerwar.com/publications/wepener

Currently this lists 2,040 men of the British and Colonial forces:

Cape Mounted Rifles - 513
2nd Brabant's Horse - 473
Kaffrarian Rifles - 422
1st Brabant's Horse - 392
Royal Scots - 83
Driscoll's Scouts - 78
South African Constabulary - 25
Royal Engineers - 11
Prince of Wales Light Horse - 9
KFS, 2nd - 8
Scottish Horse, 1st Battalion - 7
Prince Alfred’s Own Volunteer Guard - 5
Johannesburg Mounted Rifles - 3
Royal Garrison Artillery - 3
Imperial Light Horse, 2nd Battalion - 2
Scottish Horse, 2nd Battalion - 2
Cape Medical Staff Corps - 1
Imperial Light Horse, 1st Battalion - 1
7th Hussars - 1
Lancashire Fusiliers - 1

If anyone has details of extant Wepener QSAs, pictures, diaries or accounts, I would be very pleased to hear from you.

With thanks
David

Reference Company Sergeant Major G.H Field, R.E – awarded the Wepener clasp


On the 10th of February 1900 a detachment of the 12th Field Company was organized under Company Sergeant Major Field for service as a mounted troop. This troop did excellent work for the division, acting on the right flank of the British force at Sterkstrom.

(Refer: History of the Royal Engineers)


From February Field’s section was attached to the Colonial Mounted forces that eventually finished up at Wepener. He was the senior R.E N.C.O at Wepener. He would have been easily recognised on photos as his records indicate that he was rather bow legged

I hope the above information helps in some way.

Regards

Tony Conroy

djb wrote:
If anyone has details of extant Wepener QSAs, pictures, diaries or accounts, I would be very pleased to hear from you.

With thanks
David

Hi David......

From my collection......

MURPHY, T.

REG. NO.: 6160
RANK: TROOPER
REGT: BRABANT'S HORSE
BARS: CAPE COLONY, WEPENER, WITTEBERGEN, BELFAST

REMARKS / HISTORY:
1. P.R.O. - WO-100/237 FOLIO 227


For Sale at Frontier Medals.....

Military Cross GV (reverse privately engraved Capt. T.H. Wilson), Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony, Wepener, Transvaal, Wittebergen (133 Cpl. T.H. Wilson, Brabant's Horse) British War Medal. (T/Capt. T.H. Wilson) Bilingual Victory Medal. (T/Capt. T.H. Wilson) with M.I.D. GVF+

2495 Pounds.....

Thomas Henry Wilson was born about 1867 and served in the South African War with the Railway Pioneer Regt, Brahant's Horse & Commander in Chief's Bodyguard. As Cpl. Wilson he was dangerously wounded in action near Senekal on 28 June 1900 together with 559 Sgt. G. Cribbes of Brahant's Horse (Times History of the War Volume iv page 313). Discharged medically unfit 30-08-00. [South African Field Force. JB Hayward & Sons] subsquently enlisted Commnader in Chief's Body Guard.

Mike

Hi

Ré Wilson : Inflation? Over-optimistic pricing?? I sold the group in August 2000 to another local collector for £520.

Henk

Hello Henk,
I think inflation and perhaps a little greed too!
Regards Frank

OSAKSA wrote: Hi

Ré Wilson : Inflation? Over-optimistic pricing?? I sold the group in August 2000 to another local collector for £520.

Henk

Gentlemen.....

I understand that the cost of groups that contain a MC or MM and a QSA have gone through the roof...... As per the latest DNW auction they exceeded their estimates......

A number of years ago I purchased a BW DCM group from him and I thought it was quite reasonable a lot less than the one that is on ebay right now.....



Also the QSA does have a Wepener Bar and I am sure there is a bit of a bonus there....

Mike