LINDSELL, CHARLES FREDERICK. Colonel.Irregular Horse.Born Newcastle-on-Tyne, Northumberland. C1853.Son of Colonel Robert Henry Lindsell and Emma Elizabeth Lindsell.Husband of Frances Lindsell.
"Charles was educated at Tonbridge School where he was a pupil from 1865 to1868.Charles’s army career started when he joined the 14th Hussars in 1872,and later transferred to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers (late 21st Foot).He had served as the Adjutant of the 1st Volunteer Battalion, NorthumberlandFusiliers, during the Burmah Campaign of 1885, and during the campaign he wasemployed on “Special Service” duties, and had beenpresent at the surrender of Mandalay. He served in the South Africa Campaign, First Boer War of 1879-1881, during which time he had been present at the Siege of Potchefstroom 16th December 1880 - 21 March 1881. The first soldiers to arrive in Potchefstroom were those from Pretoria in the late afternoon of 18 November 1880, comprising one company of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, plus 25 Mounted Infantry who were members of the same battalion, and a couple of 9 ponder guns of N/S Battery, Royal Artillery. This force was joined by another company of the Royal Scots Fusiliers from Rustenburg on 20 November 1881. In all a force of about 180 strong under the command of Major C. Thornhill. Major Thornhill's orders were to a build a fort, render aid to the civil power if necessary, and to 'show the flag'. At about 0900 on the first day of the siege, a small patrol of mounted armed Boers approached the Fort and Colonel R.W.C. Winsloe, C.B. of the Royal Scots Fusiliers sent the then Lieutenant Charles Lindsell, and the soldiers of the Mounted Infantry to find out what were their intentions. The Boer withdrew, but fired on Charles and his Mounted Infantry, which returned fire.
A Boer Commandant named Robbertse was hit in the arm during the exchange of fire, and is recorder as having been the first casualty of the war. Charles had also led the reconnaissanceon the cemetery, and was later Mentioned in Despatches. On 20 March 1881, Colonel R.W.C. Winsloe placed his offer before the Boer General Cronje and an agreement was reached. This agreement was signed on 21st March and the Siege of Potchefstroom came to an end. Two days later the war ended with the signing of peace terms at O'Neill's cottage, Laing's Nek Charles had also taken part in the Zulu War for which he received the medal and clasp. At the time of the 1891 census, then aged 38, Charles was the head of the house at “Thornehill,” Alnmouth Road, Alnwick, Northumberland, and was recorded by the census enumerator as being a Captain in the Royal Scots Fusiliers. Charles later served as an officer in the Egyptian Army. Whilst serving as a Captain in the Royal Scots Fusiliers, Charles had been in charge of the Scouts during the ‘Jameson Raid’ in the Transvaal,South Africa, which was carried out between 29 December 1895 and 2 January 1896. To this day, the events surrounding Leander Starr Jameson's involvement in the Jameson Raid, being somewhat out of character with his prior history, the rest of his life, and successful later political career, remains something of an enigma to historians."
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