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Auction: 23112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 149

A rare 'Magersfontein 1899' casualty's Q.S.A. to Private G. Richards, 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards, who was wounded so severely that he was invalided from service after the action

Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Belmont, Modder River (849 Pte G. Richards, Cldstm: Gds:), nearly extremely fine

Note one of 68 casualties to the Battalion for this action of which 55 were wounded.

George Richards was born at Droxford, Hampshire on 14 April 1877 and worked as a Gardener in Shedfield prior to enlisting with the Guards at Winchester on 25 March 1897. Posted to the 1st Battalion the next month on 29 April 1898 he was posted to Gibraltar on 10 March 1899.

Belmont, Graspan and Modder River

Remaining there until the outbreak of the Boer War later in the year, Richards entered the war on 28 October 1899. Joining the Guard’s Brigade for the march to relieve Kimberly under the command of General Methuen. The British found themselves opposed on the march several times, starting with a force under Commandant Prinsloo occupying three kopjes at Belmont.

During the action that followed the Coldstreamers were held in the Brigade reserve during the attack on Gun Hill. As the attack developed the British line shifted south and they advanced into a frontal assault against Razor Back and Sugar Loaf Hills. Advancing on the British found the same force again blocking their path at Graspan however the action was largely concluded before the Guard’s Brigade came up.

Finally having conducted a remarkable advance, fighting two battles in as many days, Methuen’s army reached the Modder River on 28 November a mere three days after their last action. Not expecting to be opposed on the crossing the army advanced with the Guards on the right of the line.

A storm of fire from the opposite bank put paid to that notion and the British, Guards and all, found themselves lying before a well-entrenched enemy with very little cover. 1st Coldstream Guards, presumably with Richards attempted to find a ford, working their way around to the right of the line. However, the hail of Mauser bullets remained steady and no gap in the enemy line was found. In the end it was the South Lancashire’s who forced their way over the river, creating a beachhead that the British were able to build upon and by the morning of 29 November the British head their crossing.

Magersfontein

Control of this vital position allowed the British advance to continue and despite heavy losses it was felt that they had opened the path of Kimberly. Despite no small despondency in the Boer High Command, De La Rey persuaded Cronje and Prinsloo to attempt one last stand at the line of hills called Magersontein.

Despite the failure of their last attempt at Belmont Methuen decided to attempt a night march against the feature on 11 December 1899, having first held his ground at the Modder River for some time to regain his strength. The Highland Brigade, fronted by Brigadier-General Andy Wauchope, was to lead the advance with the rest of the column coming up behind.

In the early hours of the morning they advanced, but were unable to make the position before the light rose with the Brigade still in marching formation when the sun rose. As such the first Boer volley hammered into the tight packed ranks causing appalling losses including Wauchope himself. Regardless of the loss the Highland Brigade pressed on and it was not long before losses began to mount.

With the Scots unable to advance and a large part of the Boer army mounted, Methuen feared for the ends of his line being encircled. His next moves are detailed in The Boer War by Thomas Packenham, which states:

‘To prevent them being driven back – that was now his [Methuen’s] only concern. In this he very nearly succeeded. He sent some Gordons forward to reinforce the centre; the Guards were used to block the Boers on the east. Casualties they had, but less than twenty were killed. Lieutenant-Colonel Alfred Codrington, CO of the Coldstream Guards, was hit in the right ankle; he called, “Outer, right low.” Britian’s premier Marquis Major Lord Winchester, was shot dead; it was said he had turned his back on the enemy to watch the captive balloon. But Conje like Methuen was cautious about seizing his opportunities. The shadows shortened. Disaster passed into stalemate.’

As such the 1st Coldstream Guards found themselves in the open terrain of the British flank trying to hold the line against an invisible foe. The Battalion guarded the flank of the Gordon’s for the rest of the day, warding of the probing moves of the Boer fighters. In these trying hours Richards was seriously wounded, suffering what the Guards casualty roll referred to as a ‘gunshot wound to the abdomen’.

As the night closed in the Highland Brigade could no longer take the punishment, they fell back with over 200 casualties. British losses for the day both dead and wounded came to 902 men, compared to only 236 Boers. The column was forced to fall back with Kimberly left to withstand the Siege for another three months.

Epilogue

Richards’ wounded was severe enough to see him invalided back to Britain on 24 March 1900, however despite the injury he managed to cling to life. It was clear that he would never again be fighting fit and as such he was discharged on 18 September 1900.

Still young and now an invalid he was forced to move back in with his family, residing at Margarets Lane, Shedfield. His father, Henry Richards, had been a timber merchant but he had passed away by this time and it is likely the family was supported by his younger brother, James, an under-gardener.

Despite his poor circumstances in the wake of the war Richards lived a long life, finally dying on 5 January 1957 at Droxford, Hampshire. Having been wounded early in his career this medal represents his full entitlement; sold together with copied research comprising census data, service papers and attestation records as well as casualty and pension records.

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Sold for
£350

Starting price
£130