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Auction: 12002 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 56

Pair: Corporal A.J. Dark, Pom Poms Section, Royal Artillery, Mentioned in Despatches and Promoted for Gallantry at Tafelkop, 20.12.1901, Where the Other Surviving Member of His Section, Shoeing Smith A.E. Ind, Was Awarded The Victoria Cross For His Gallantry that Day Queen´s South Africa 1899-1902, five clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast (25805 Br: A.J. Dark, R.H.A.), rank officially corrected; King´s South Africa 1901-02, two clasps (25805 Corpl: A.J. Dark. Pom Poms Sec: R.A.), very fine (2) Estimate £ 500-700 M.I.D. London Gazette 25.4.1902 35805 Driver A.J. Dark, Royal Artillery Pom Poms ´In Damant´s action at Tafelkop, on 20th December, 1901, continued to bring up ammunition under very close and heavy fire.´ 25805 Corporal Arthur James Dark, born Chatham, Kent; enlisted as Driver, Royal Artillery, 1898; served in South Africa 17.2.1900-15.4.1905, after initial service with the Ammunition Column he transferred to 1 Pdr Maxims, 27.10.1900; he served with the latter ´in Damant´s fierce little action near Tafel Kop on 20th December 1901... The enemy, through being disguised in khaki, imitating the formations of British troops, and even "firing volleys in the general direction of some of the Boers," were taken for friends, and so managed to gain a ridge commanding the guns which were with Damant´s advance-guard´ (British Regiments in South Africa 1899-1902, J. Stirling, refers); Conan Doyle takes up the narrative, ´the instant that the danger was realised Damant, his Staff, and the forty Yeoman who formed the escort dashed for the crest in the hope of anticipating the Boers. So rapid was the charge of the others that they had overwhelmed the gunners before the support could reach the hill, and the latter found themselves under deadly fire of the Boer rifles from above. Damant was hit in four places, all of his Staff were wounded, and hardly a man of the small body of Yeomanry was left standing. Nothing could exceed their gallantry. Gaussen their Captain fell at their head. On the ridge the men about the guns were nearly all killed or wounded. Of the gun detachment only two men remained [Shoeing Smith A.E. Ind and Dark], both of them hit, and Jeffcoat their dying Captain bequeathed them fifty pounds each in a will drawn up on the spot. In half an hour the centre of the British line had been absolutely annihilated´; Jeffcoat also succesfully recommended Ind for the Victoria Cross, which was gazetted 15.8.1902; Dark was Mentioned in Despatches, and both he and Ind were promoted for their gallantry that day - in Dark´s case to Bombardier; Corporal 24.7.1902; discharged 28.1.1910.

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