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Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (2) Cape Colony, Paardeberg (4142 Pte. A. Rumball, 2nd. D. of C. Lt. Infy.) initial officially corrected

Arthur Rumball was born in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, in 1876 and attested for the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry in London on 17 July 1893. Posted to the 2nd Battalion, he served with them in South Africa during the Boer War, and was killed in action during the famous ‘Cornish Charge’ at the Battle of Paardeberg on 18 February 1900; on this occasion the Battalion suffered 28 fatal casualties, including their Commanding Officer, Colonel W. Aldworth, DSO, who led the Charge, and whose final words were: ‘We will make the name of the Cornwalls ring in the ears of the world boys... go on men and finish it.’

Rumball is commemorated on the Regiment’s Paardeberg Memorial at Bodmin, where his initial is given as ‘T’ - presumably that is how his Queen’s South Africa Medal was originally named before his initial was corrected to ‘A’.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (7) Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast, South Africa 1901 (3282 Pte. J. Borland, 2: D. of C. Lt. Inft.);
[ 1914/15 Star trio ]

James Borland was born in Plymouth, Devon, in 1873 and attested for the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry at Bodmin, Cornwall, on 9 February 1891, having previously served in the regiment’s 3rd Militia Battalion. Posted to the 1st Battalion, he served with them in India from 20 February 1893 to 25 January 1899, and took part in the operations on the Punjab Frontier with the Tirah Expeditionary Force in 1897-98. (Medal with two clasps).

Transferring to the Army Reserve on 28 January 1899, Borland was recalled to the Colours for service during the Boer War, and served with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa from 5 November 1899 to 8 March 1901. Whilst in South Africa he was tried and convicted by District Court Martial for using insubordinate language to a superior officer, and was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment with hard labour. He was released from prison after 364 days’ confinement, and was discharged on 8 March 1903, after 12 years’ service.

Borland saw further service with the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry during the Great War on the Western Front from 10 December 1914 to 15 February 1915, and then with the 1st Garrison Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, in Egypt from September 1915. He was finally discharged, Class Z, on 13 March 1919.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (4) Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal (3349 Pte. M. Ando, 2: D. of C. Lt. Infy.);
KSA (2) (3349 Corpl: M. Ando. D. of C.L.I.);
1914-15 Star (3349 Pte. M. Ando. D. of Corn. L.I.);
British War and Victory Medals (3349 Pte. M. Ando. D.C.L.I.);
Army LS&GC GV (3349 Bndsmn: M. Ando. D.C.L.I.)

Michael John Thomas Ando was born in Woolwich, Kent, on 28 November 1875, and attested for the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry on 7 May 1891, giving his trade as musician. Appointed a Bandsman on 26 July 1896, he served with the Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War from 5 November 1899, and was present at the Battles of Paardeberg and Driefontein (and presumably the actions at Poplar Grove, Bosman’s Kop, Springfontein, Isaacs Poort, Thubanchee and Hout Nek, at the capture of Winberg, and at the passage of the Zand River). He returned home on 3 June 1900, before returning to South Africa on 1 May 1901.

Ando served with the 2nd Battalion in France during the Great War from 19 December 1914, and was hospitalised with frostbite on 25 February 1915. Appointed Lance-Corporal on 15 June 1917, he transferred to the Labour Corps on 6 July 1918, and was appointed Acting Corporal on 1 February 1919. He was finally discharged on 16 March 1919, after 27 years and 314 days’ service.

He died at Freshwater, Isle of Wight, on 30 July 1949.

Picture courtesy of the London Medal Company

Territorial Force War Medal 1914-1919 (CAPT. T. CARUS-WILSON. D. OF CORN. L.I.);
Territorial Decoration, GVR, hallmarked 1912

Together with miniature group of 6: comprising: DSO GV; QSA (5) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902; British War Medal; Victory Medal; Territorial Force War Medal, Territorial Decoration, GVR cypher.

Trevor Carus-Wilson was born in 1869, the son of Edward Shippard and Ellen Anne Carus-Wilson of Penmount, Truro. He was appointed a Second Lieutenant of the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, this being published on 25th September 1897 and then a Lieutenant on the 23rd August 1900. He served during the Boer War in South Africa on operations in Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal.

He married Dorothy Trewidden of Buryas Bridge, Penzance, Cornwall.

At the outbreak of the Great War he was at Woodbury Common, Exeter at the 1/4th Battalion, Annual Territorial Camp. He would be sent with a detachment to guard the wireless station at Poldhu.

Other home duties followed but on 9th October 1914 he left England for India with the 1st/4th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry as a Captain commanding ‘E’ Company. On arrival the Battalion was reorganised on a four company basis and he took over ‘B’ Company. In October, during the Viceroy’s visit, he commanded the Guard of Honour. He left India in November 1914 to join the 1/5th Battalion. By May 1916 he was in France, and in November of that year, as a Major, he commanded a party of 375 all ranks sent to assist the 4th Canadian Division during its attacks on Contalmaison and Pozieres. On 11th December he took over command of the 1/5th Battalion (Territorial Force) from Lieutenant Colonel W.A.B. Bawden. He was mentioned in despatches three times (4th January 1917, 22nd May 1917 and 18th December 1917) and would also be awarded the Distinguished Service Order in the London Gazette of 1st January 1918, with the general citation ‘For distinguished services in the field’.

The 1/5th were caught up in the wake of the German Offensive of 1918. They were forced to down tools, take up rifles and serve as infantry during the bitter and confused fighting which followed the German attack on 21st March 1918. When ‘B’ Company was detached and ordered to support the 183rd Brigade, they lost touch with Battalion Headquarters and were believed lost for some time.

At dawn on the morning of the 23rd March there was a thick mist. Occasionally the mist would lift three feet or so and then drop again like a curtain. During one of the these lifts, the massing of German infantry was seen. After a moment of shock, the order was given for fifteen rounds rapid and the Cornwalls blazed away with everything they had. During a later break in the mist, the enemy was seen close to the wire and only twenty yards away, they were again driven off with heavy casualties. The Battalion’s success was short lived as they soon found themselves enfiladed by machine-gun fire from the left where French Colonial troops had given way. Forced to withdraw, they suffered heavy casualties on their return to the Transport Lines at Hearly. He at once set off to find ‘B’ Company who were in forward positions along the canal bank in front of Moyencourt. They were heavily attacked on the morning of the 25th and forced to withdraw. It was during this attack that Lieutenant Colonel Carus-Wilson was mortally wounded when hit in the chest by a sniper or stray bullet. He was locating enemy positions with field glasses at the time. It is said that as he was being carried back to the Casualty Clearing Station he said to his servant, Private Stacey, ‘Give my love to the Battalion’. He was evacuated in a hospital train but died before reaching Rouen. He was well-known for his outstanding gallantry and it was said of him ‘If you want to find Carus-Wilson you will find him in the line.’

At the time of his death, he was 48 years old and was buried in the St. Sever Military, Rouen, being noted as the Son of Edward Shippard Carus-Wilson and Ellen Anne Carus-Wilson of Penmount, Truro, husband of Dorothy Carus-Wilson or Trewidden, Buryas Bridge.

Picture courtesy of the London Medal Company

QSA (5) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902; (6273 PTE. B. KING. D. OF. C. L.I.)

Together with: Small studio photograph of the recipient wearing the medal, postcard photograph addressed to a relative in Albert Street, ‘Joeburg’, Transvaal, permit to Travel to the recipient, copy of a birth certificate for a child, letter from King to his family detailing his will and a hand crafted commemorative belt for South Africa named ‘B. King 2nd D.C.L.I.’

Private (No. 6273) B. King, 2nd Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. The 2nd Battalion sailed in the Formosa on 5th December 1899 and arrived at the Cape on the 29th. For two months it was on the lines of communication on the western Border. In February 1900 it became part of the 19th Brigade. It saw action against the Boers at Paardeberg, and in March 1900 entered Bloemfontein. It continued to take part in a series of skirmishes until the end of the war.

The MM group of 6 to Private Fred Thomas is here: www.angloboerwar.com/forum/5-medals-and-...ions?start=102#92218