Listed is a good & interesting Boer War 'Battles of Magersfontein & Paardeberg' QSA, KSA, & Medal Group awarded to 5677 Pte William Thornton, 2nd Seaforth Highlanders, later the Royal Naval Reserve during WW1.

William Thornton was born on the 7th January, 1879, at Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire. He originally enlisted into the ranks of the Seaforth Highlanders on the 15th of October 1896, and set sail with the 2nd Battalion aboard the SS Mongolain to South Africa about the 21st of October 1899, arriving Cape Town on or around the 16th of November, 1899. The following is an online extract of the 2nd Battalions actions during their service in South Africa -

‘The 2nd Battalion sailed on the Mongolian about 21st October 1899, and arrived at the Cape about 16th November.  Along with the 2nd Black Watch, 1st Highland Light Infantry, and 1st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, they formed the 3rd or Highland Brigade, first under Major General Wauchope and after his death under Brigadier General Hector Macdonald.  The work of the brigade is dealt with under the 2nd Black Watch.

At Magersfontein (see 2nd Black Watch) the Seaforth’s saw their first fighting in the campaign.  The regiment was not so severely cut up in the first outburst of fire as the Black Watch, but during the day its losses became very heavy, 5 officers and 53 men being killed or mortally wounded, 7 officers and 136 men wounded, and about 14 taken prisoners.  The battalion moved to the right of the Black Watch after the firing began, and pushed very close to the trenches at the south-east of the hill; indeed it is recorded by 'The Times' historian that a party of the Seaforth’s actually got round to the east of the hill and ascended it from the rear.  They were driven down, partly by the fire of the British guns, and were all either killed or wounded.

Three officers and 1 non-commissioned officer were mentioned in Lord Methuen's despatch of 15th February 1900 for great gallantry.

At Koodosberg in the beginning of February the battalion lost 1 officer and 3 men killed and 17 men wounded.

At Paardeberg (see 2nd Black Watch) the losses of the battalion were again appalling, 2 officers and 50 men being killed or dying of wounds, and 5 officers and 95 men wounded.  Their advance that day, like that of the Black Watch and Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, commanded the admiration of all onlookers, some companies of the Seaforth’s being specially praised for the way in which they pushed down to the river, crossed it, and worked up the right bank along with some of the Black Watch.  In Lord Roberts' despatch of 31st March 1900, 3 officers, 2 of whom were killed, and 6 men were mentioned for their good work at Paardeberg.

During General Colvile's march from the Bloemfontein Waterworks to Heilbron some very severe fighting fell to the lot of the Seaforth’s, and they always earned the highest commendation of the divisional commander.

At Roodepoort, 28th May 1900, the battalion had to hold a position on the right.  "They were heavily attacked from the right rear by a force which far outnumbered them", but "held their own all day".  Colonel Hughes-Hallett was wounded, and the Seaforth’s had another officer and 15 men wounded.

In the operations round the Brandwater basin, when the Highland Brigade was acting as part of Sir A Hunter's army, the Seaforth’s again gained the encomiums of the general.  In his despatch of 4th August 1900 Sir Archibald describes the taking of Retief's Nek with some detail.  He remarks that on 24th July he ordered General Macdonald to bring up the Seaforth’s by a wide turning movement on the left of the Black Watch.  The movement was completed successfully, "the Seaforth’s advancing with quiet gallantry and seizing the ridge".

When the enemy moved south of Bloemfontein three companies of the Seaforth’s were sent, about 13th October 1900, to occupy Jagersfontein and Fauresmith.  Both places were attacked before daybreak on the 16th.  At the former place the Boers got into the town in the darkness, indeed into the camp, but were driven out.  The Seaforth’s, however, lost 12 killed and 1 officer and 5 men wounded.  A portion of the battalion had fighting in the Redders-burg district, and moving south to the Rouxville Aliwal district, they operated there for a considerable time.

Twelve officers and 21 non-commissioned officers and men were mentioned in Lord Roberts' final despatch.

About the middle of February 1901, the battalion was taken to Victoria West, the enemy being active in Western Cape Colony at that time.

In the summer of 1901, the battalion furnished two companies as part of the infantry of a column working in the Eastern Transvaal under Major General Beatson and General Bindon Blood.

In March 1902 the battalion was employed to strengthen the railway line north of Kroonstad during General Elliot's great drives against the line, and shortly afterwards they were moved to Klerksdorp to strengthen the columns in the Western Transvaal in the efforts which were made to clear that district after the two mishaps to Lord Methuen's forces.  The battalion furnished a guard to the Boer generals during the peace deliberations.

By a strange mischance Lieutenant E M Sutherland was killed near Frederickstad on 29th May, two days before the terms of peace were formally signed.

One officer and 1 private were mentioned by Lord Kitchener during the war, and in the final despatch the names of 6 officers and 8 non-commissioned officers were added’.

At some point Pte Thornton served with the 2nd Scottish Horse, being retuned back to his unit (2nd Seaforth) on the 19th of March, 1902. Despite some good copy research, it is not obvious when he transferred across. The following is again, an online extract of the 2nd Scottish Horse’s record of active service in South Africa whilst Pte Thornton was still serving there -

‘The second regiment started in Colonel Benson's column in the Eastern Transvaal, under Major Murray, Black Watch, and, thanks to Colonel Benson's good guidance, speedily became one of the best corps in the country, and never degenerated, even after his death. Their first serious skirmish was at Roodekrantz, on April 30th, 1901, when one man was killed, 4 officers and one man wounded. Their next (on 3rd July 1901) at Eland's Hoek [Kloof in the despatches, see Mentions], when three men were killed and nine wounded". The officers wounded at Roodekrantz were Captains M W H Linday and A M Creagh, and Lieutenants Oscar Hamilton and C S Long-Innes.

The despatches report Colonel Benson's operations in some detail, and the Scottish Horse are invariably mentioned in terms of credit. On 9th and 10th July 1901, near Dullstroom, north of the Delagoa Bay Railway, they are said to have pursued the enemy in a northerly direction, and to have captured some waggons. On the 11th the regiment was detached on a wide detour, during which they successfully located and captured 6 prisoners, 40 horses, and 24 vehicles belonging to Viljoen's commando, which were hidden in a kloof in the Tautesberg. On 15th July, at Wagen Drift, Lieutenants O W Kelly and M'Letchie and 4 men were wounded. In August, September, and October Benson operated south of the Delagoa Railway, and was most successful in rushing laagers after long night marches, taking a large number of armed Boers and immense quantities of cattle and transport. For their fine work Lord Kitchener bestowed on the column and its gifted leader the highest praise. But to few soldiers is it given to know nothing but unqualified success.

It will be remembered that at the end of September 1901 a great concentration of Boers was reported in the Vryheid district. After making most determined but unsuccessful! attacks on Forts Itala and Prospect, the enemy was driven from the south-east corner of the Transvaal. General Botha knew that Benson's column, which had become a standing cause of terror to his subordinates, was operating alone in the Bethel district. Into that district the Boer commandant moved, determined to concentrate, and strike hard. On the 30th of October, at 4.30 am, Colonel Benson moved from Quaggalaagte northwards towards Brugspruit. He was soon opposed on his front and flanks and rear, but the attacks on front and flanks were not so serious as those on rear. At the crossing of a drift the enemy had a good opportunity of doing serious damage but did not press home; the guns and waggons were got over, and the trek was continued in a torrent of rain. The soft ground caused serious trouble, and two waggons, which were bogged, had to be left. The accounts of what followed vary considerably. The despatch states that:

"At about 9 AM the advance guard, on approaching the farm Bakenlaagte [more usually spelt Brakenlaagte], where Colonel Benson intended to halt, found the ground was held by the enemy, who after a short resistance was dislodged, and the column moved gradually into camp covered by the rear-guard, composed of two companies of mounted infantry, two squadrons 2nd Scottish Horse, two guns 84th Field Battery Royal Artillery, a pom-pom, and one company of the 2nd Battalion the Buffs, the whole under the command of Major Anley, 3rd Mounted Infantry. The guns, with the company of the Buffs and 50 mounted infantry, took up a position on an irregular ridge running generally east and west some 2500 yards south of the camp. Small posts of mounted infantry were well out on either flank, and the remainder with the Scottish Horse, occupying some hillocks another 1000 yards to the south of the ridge, where the guns were in position, formed a screen to the whole. As the front of the column was cleared, the numbers of the enemy hovering round the flanks and the rearguard increased. It was now past noon, the rain continued, and a strong wind was blowing from the south-west.

The country was open, an expanse of vast rolling downs without any very marked features, giving a far-reaching command of view, while the deep hollows afforded cover for the approach of an enemy who knew the ground and avoided heights. As soon as the column and baggage had been brought into camp, and all arrangements made for the defence, Colonel Benson ordered the screen of Mounted Infantry and Scottish Horse to fall back on the remainder of the rear-guard at Gun Hill. When about to carry this out between 12 and 1 pm, Major Anley, who was in command, reported that the enemy was advancing in greatly increasing numbers, and was already close to his position, which he could no longer hold. He at once retired on Gun Hill, sending a company of Mounted Infantry to some small kopjes well to the left. The movement had hardly commenced when a strong Boer force appeared over the rise, immediately to the left of the position just vacated by the screen, and, wheeling sharp to its left, pushed in the Scottish Horse and Mounted Infantry. Our men passed over the ridge to the northern slope, while the Boers formed up in a large area of dead ground, which lay immediately under and in front of its western extremity: here they dismounted and rapidly worked their way into a good position within close range of the guns on the crest. The company of the Buffs, which formed the original escort, posted well to the front of the guns on the south side of the ridge, was captured by the enemy as he rode practically into our position almost in touch with our men. In spite of the gallant efforts of the Mounted Infantry Company of the Yorkshire Light Infantry and a squadron of the Scottish Horse, which promptly formed up on the flanks of the guns, our troops were unable to offer any serious resistance, and the ridge, with the exception of the extreme western end, which was held by a party of the Mounted Infantry until dark, gradually fell into the enemy's hands. As soon as Colonel Benson had become aware of the nature of the attack, he had ordered up two more companies of the Buffs to reinforce the rear-guard on the ridge, but these did not succeed in reaching any position whence their fire could be effectually brought to bear. It is now known that the sudden change in the enemy's tactics was brought about by the arrival of a reinforcement of 600 or 800 men under Commandant General Louis Botha, which came on the field from the direction of Ermelo shortly before noon. Their subsequent attack, which was delivered simultaneously both on the camp and rear-guard, was greatly aided by the heavy rain and mist which concealed the enemy's movements, as the storm burst in the faces of our troops. The attack on the camp was easily driven off, but no further reinforcements could be sent to the ridge, nor were the guns in camp able to materially assist the defence of those with the rear-guard. Both Colonel Benson and Colonel Guinness fell by the guns on the ridge, the former being wounded in three places. The fight was continued until dusk, and when our ambulance moved out after dark to collect the wounded, the guns were removed by the enemy".

In his statement before referred to Lord Tullibardine said: "The next fight was the big one at Brakenlaagte, when Colonel Benson and Major Murray were both killed. The men did magnificently trying to save the guns. Only 96 [actually fewer] were engaged at this point, and they stuck it out until only 6 were left unhit. Their casualties were 5 officers and 28 men killed, and 4 officers and 36 men wounded; total, 73 killed and wounded out of 96 engaged, all the officers engaged being hit. I do not think I ever heard of better or more determined fighting, and although we lost the guns the camp was saved by the delay, and the men really did cover themselves with glory". Major F D Murray and Captains M W H Lindsay and A Inglis, Lieutenants C Woodman and J B Kelly were killed. Captain A C Murray and Lieutenants W Campbell, T Firns, A T Wardrop were wounded. Subsequently Lord Tullibardine informed the writer that the actual total of the officers and men of the corps engaged was 93. One officer and 13 men formed the covering troop when the rear-guard retired to Gun Hill. That troop was cut off. Seventy-three reached Gun Hill; of these only 6 were unhit at the close of the day, and many were hit several times.

Naturally every corps thinks well of its doings, and officers and men of the Scottish Horse have spoken proudly of what the regiment did. It is a satisfaction to them to know that officers of other corps have spoken and written in a similar strain. If more is needed, the Casualty List, which, after all, is the best test, proves that the mounted infantry, notably that of the Yorkshire Light Infantry and the King's Royal Rifle Corps, along with the Scottish Horse, particularly 'L' Squadron, did all that men could do to hold the ridges and save the guns at Brakenlaagte.

No minor engagement of the war has engrossed greater attention than Brakenlaagte, and about no other has there been more written. The death of Colonel Benson, whose work as a column commander was unsurpassed by that of any other leader, gave it a tragic interest, but other causes contributed, and among these a degree of uncertainty as to the conduct of the troops. The infantry of a mounted or mobile column in South Africa was the part of the force which had little to do, when night attacks on the enemy's outposts or laagers were made, beyond marching to the point ordered; but if the column were seriously attacked, it behoved the infantry to hold their ground to the last man, 'cost what it may', in the words of the red book. From the despatch one would infer that there were two parties of Buffs concerned in the rear-guard action. There were actually three. These were:

1. The rear-guard company, actually 50 strong. They do not seem to have been on the ridge, but to have been cut off and captured some 2500 yards south of the ridge. This company was supporting the mounted screen, which, forced to retire, galloped through the company, thus masking any fire of which the company was capable; for it had little ammunition left. Close behind the mounted screen came the enemy, smothering the company by sheer weight of numbers, and making resistance an impossibility. The casualties of the company were few.

2. A party of 30 men, belonging to the left flank guard of the convoy, who had been temporarily detained with Colonel Guinness' guns. The guns galloped back to the ridge or hill half a mile off, leaving this small party of infantry to follow. The detachment, while still moving back, was caught in the Boer charge, but made what stand they could, losing 19 killed and wounded.

3. Two companies. The despatch speaks of Colonel Benson ordering up two more companies of the Buffs to reinforce on the ridge. These had been escorting the convoy. The officer commanding them, hearing heavy firing in rear, had halted them near the ridge on his own initiative, but had been ordered by Colonel Benson to rejoin the convoy. Just as these companies were nearing camp, where the waggons had already arrived, they received a message to go back to the ridge. They at once turned about and advanced to the ridge. When they reached it the fighting was practically over; but they maintained the struggle for a time, and endeavoured to remove the guns. The Boers are said to have admitted that this advance, in which the companies lost 25 per cent of their strength, put an end to their aggressive movement. The distance from the ridge to the camp was 2000 yards.

After October the 2nd Scottish Horse continued to operate in the Eastern Transvaal in the column of Colonel Mackenzie. There was often severe fighting, and on 20th December 1901 Major Jennings Bramley (19th Hussars), who had succeeded Major Murray in the command of the 2nd Scottish Horse, and Lieutenant John Dow were killed at Lake Banagher. In February the regiment made some smart captures of influential Boers about Carolina.

Having been brought to Pretoria after the declaration of peace, the Scottish Horse, along with the Imperial Light Horse, Johannesburg Mounted Rifles, and Kitchener's Fighting Scouts, marched past Lord Kitchener on 17th June, and the Commander-in-Chief intimated that arrangements might be made under which these corps would be placed on a permanent basis.

The Honours and Mentions gained by the corps are noted below. An attempt has been made to distinguish the regiments (1st and 2nd)

Lieutenant W.J English, 2nd Regiment, was awarded the Victoria Cross.

DESPATCH or 8th July 1901.—Captain P N Field, 1st, for conspicuous gallantry on several occasions, and notably on 29th May 1901 at Vlakfontein, when he went back at considerable personal risk to extricate two men who could not retire owing to fire. Sergeant J O Gange, 2nd, on Houtbosch Kop on 13th June 1901, a party of the regiment being under fire of Boers and of our men, voluntarily crossed a most difficult kloof under heavy fire from both sides to stop the firing of our own men, thereby saving many lives; also, on June 15 crossed the Crocodile River under fire and burnt some Boer waggons and stores on opposite bank. Sergeant D Milwraith, 1st, on 4th April 1901, when scouts and cyclists were hard pressed, he, with one other man, covered the retirement of the whole party, and by his behaviour prevented the whole party from being rushed. Troopers Gibbons, Ruddy, M Shadwell, L N Smith, all 1st, as scouts have several times passed with messages through the Boer lines, and through country filled with the enemy.

8th August. —Lieutenant O W Kelly, 2nd, shot through stomach at Laatse (Wagon) Drift, 15th July 1901, when with advanced patrol, but, having located some of the enemy, crawled back under heavy fire to inform the officer commanding. Staff Sergeant Major J Sharps, 2nd, for his coolness and good command when opposed to very superior force of enemy at Mauchberg, 14th July 1901, and Elandshoek, 3rd July. Lance Corporal A Redpath, 2nd, on same occasion, called on to surrender and refused and tried to get away, wounded and again summoned to surrender, but continued to retire, and again wounded, still persisted, and got into camp with his rifle and bandolier; promoted Corporal by the Commander-in-Chief. Sergeant W L Whiteman, Sergeant R Fraser, Trooper T Fraser (promoted Corporal by Commander-in-Chief), Sergeant T Firns, all 2nd, at Elandskloof, 3rd July 1901, for gallantry and good conduct in an attack by 60 Boers on an extended position held by 26 men, of whom 3 were killed and 9 wounded. The attack was repulsed. Corporal F T Kecrouse, 2nd, at Laatse Drift, 15th July 1901, galloped out under fire to fetch in a man whose horse had fallen and dragged him, and succeeded. Private F W Wilkinson, on same occasion, for gallantry in action and good example.

8th October 1901.—Captains P N Field and Ian R Mackenzie and Lieutenant W Jardine, all 1st, for work done by them in clearing kloofs in Megaliesberg in September; Lieutenant Jardine, also for gallantry at Moedwill. Captains R H Dick-Cunyngham (Lieutenant 21st Lancers), P M Rattray, Lieutenants J H Symonds, A Rattray, N C G Carneron (wounded), W Loring, J Stuart Wortley (wounded), all 1st, for gallantry, Moedwill, 30th September 1901. Surgeon Captain W S Kidd, wounded early in same action but continued at his duties many hours. Trooper Richardson (promoted Corporal by Commander-in-Chief), Sergeant Mainwaring, both 1st, for specially good service in the dangerous and difficult work of searching kloofs in the Megaliesberg, 5th September 1901. The three following gained mention for work at Moedwill: Farrier-Sergeant Kirkpatrick, 1st, conspicuous by leading and rallying the men at Moedwill; Trooper G Webster (promoted Corporal by Commander-in-Chief), advanced with three comrades and when all were wounded continued alone, called on to surrender, refused, and continued to fight till reinforced, when he advanced again; Sergeant C E L'Anson, for continuing to serve and carry up ammunition though himself wounded.

8th December 1901.—Lieutenants C E Rice and W A King, 1st, for good service in capture of a laager at Beeste Kraal, 30th October 1901. Lieutenant D Robertson, 2nd, for distinguished good service in Colonel Benson's action at Brakenlaagte, 30th October 1901. Trooper N Grierson, 2nd (severely wounded, promoted Corporal by Commander-in-Chief), for gallantry, same occasion, crawling up to guns and offering to carry messages to the camp. Sergeant Major Sharpe, 2nd, good service, same occasion.

8th March 1902.—The following are all of the 1st Battalion. Major H P Leader (Carbineers), for his capture of Sarel Alberts and his laager at Gruisfontein, 5th February 1902. Lieutenants W Lawless, H Selby, J C Wallace, for gallantry and good behaviour on same occasion. Staff Sergeant Major J Sharpe, coolness, and gallantry in directing the men under him in hand-to-hand fighting, same occasion. Troopers J S Robb and M'Callum, promoted Corporals. (M'Callum was a son of the Governor of Natal). Trooper C Barclay, Staff Sergeant Major F Neal, and Sergeant G Gunning, all for gallantry, same occasion.

1st June 1902.—Captain C E Rice, 1st, gallantry in action against Delarey, 24th March 1902. Major A Blair, DSO, and Corporal W Parker (promoted Sergeant), 1st, good service at Brakspruit, 11th April 1902. Sergeant A Martin, conspicuous good service, same occasion’.

Having served with some distinction, 5667 Pte William Thornton was discharged from the Army on the 14th of October 1908.

At the outbreak of WW1, William Thornton joined the Royal Naval Reserve on the 5th of September 1914, as T.S. 669 and was discharged on the 21st of May 1919. It appears he served mostly at shore bases, but the writing of the time is very hard to read on his service records.

The medals are mounted for display, sold with copied research (Army, R.N.R. service records, & Medal Rolls included) confirming full medal entitlement (no 1914/15 Star entitlement), confirmation of Q.S.A. clasp entitlement & K.S.A. entitlement, the four medals are awarded to the same man, and are as follows -

Queen’s South Africa Medal, clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal, Wittebergen, 5667 PTE W. THORNTON, 2: SEA: HIGHRS.; King’s South Africa Medal, clasps South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, 5667 PTE W. THORNTON.SEAFORTH HIGHRS:; British War Medal & Victory Medals, 669.T.S W. THORNTON TR. R.N.R.

Condition, edge knocks to the first two, thus very fine and better - rivets on the Q.S.A clasps are all original.

An interesting and unusual combination of medals, clasps, and service. A lot of Q.S.A /K.S.A medal recipients served with one of the Corps during WW1, often the Army Service Corps, for example. It is rare to see a switch from the Army to one of the Naval Divisions. R.N.R service worthy of further research.

 

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