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Auction: 24111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 181

An Elandslaagte casualty's K.S.A. awarded to Private S. Hemingway, Manchester Regiment, who was wounded during the famous engagement on 21 October 1899

King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3953 Pte S. Hemingway. Manch: Regt), light contact marks, very fine

Samuel Hemingway was born at St. Mark's, London in 1874 and attested at Ashton-on-Lyme on 23 July 1893. Posted first to India on 5 February 1895 he later joined the garrison at Gibraltar in February 1898. He was still there when escalating tensons in South Africa led to the 1st Battalion, Manchester Regiment being ordered to join Sir George White's army in Natal.

This unit was deployed during the initial Boer Invasion in the British counter thrust at Elandslaagte. The Manchesters formed part of the British right hook around the Boer flank, despite heavy fighting they managed to make the crest of the ridge which formed the Boer positions. Here they found their enemy had withdrawn to new positions and above these positions a white flag was flying. Captain Newbigging, the adjutant of the Manchesters, led men forward to accept the enemy surrender and they came under fire from Boer troops on a different part of the line.

This sudden counter-attack forced the British back but they redoubled the attack, wounding the Boer Commandant. The Devons brought their enemy to hand-to-hand combat in the centre of the line forcing them into a general retreat. At this point a charge by a squadron apiece of the 5th Lancers and 5th Dragoon Guards routed them with heavy losses. Despite this they still suffered heavy losses of 55 dead and 205 wounded, the latter number including Hemingway.

Presumably due to his injury he was not present at the Siege of Ladysmith with the rest of his unit. He did however rejoin them for the Battle of Belfast and remained in the country until 5 September 1902. Transferring to the Army Reserve on 11 January 1903 he was discharged on 24 July 1905.

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Sold for
£120

Starting price
£120