NEW MEMBER--MEDAL COLLECTOR

Posts : 6 Join date : 2011-02-14

Hi
I joined this Forum a week ago,and this is my first post.
I am principally a medal collector who learns about campaigns from the medals I buy---then I try to buy even more to that campaign.
The Zulu campaign is particularly interesting as I have also visited Rorkes Drift and Islandhwana battlefields.
I have 6 SAGS medals,but one has the 1877-8 clasp only.
I have the 2/24 Islandwhana casualty medal to the youngest British casualty.
I have a group of 6 medals to an "ACTIVE" man who was at Eshowe.
I have an IGS Perak/SAGS to 80th Foot.
I have a single to 1st Dragoon Guards.
I have an OBE (WW1)/SAGS to Army Service Corps,later to reach Lt.Col rank.

I am just starting to find my way around this excellent Forum and resource,and also belong to medal-only ones.

Martin

Posts : 3379 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Hi Martin

Welcome to the forum.

Would like to know more about your medals when the time is right for you.

Have many hours of fun on the forum Idea

Guest

Welcome to the forum, Martin!

Look forward to seeing your posts. Who is your 'Active' man? Is it Harper?

Petty Officer Tom

Posts : 6 Join date : 2011-02-14

I will post details shortly.

Tom--yes,they are Harper's group of medals.

Can I post pictures on this forum,and how do I go about it please ?

Martin

Posts : 3379 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Hi Martin

We look forward to your posts.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Able Seaman W. Harper

Is this your man?

Subject: New Member , Medal Collector Wed Feb 23, 2011 6:15 pm

Hi Martin.
Welcome to the Forum . Looking forward to seeing your collection . Hope you enjoy roaming around this great site .
I know we do. Idea

.
cheers 90th.

Subject: Re: NEW MEMBER--MEDAL COLLECTOR Wed Feb 23, 2011 7:29 pm

Very naughty of me to ask, but do you have the Edwards Dyson medal? (Killed on the eve of his 21st birthday).
Enjoy the forum!

Guest

Martin,

Yes, you can post pictures on the forum. Unfortunately, I am the wrong person to tell you how. One of the others will help you.

1879graves,

Yes , that is him. There was only one Harper on board the "Active". The Dix Noonan Webb medal archive has another photograph of him, but I will wait to see if Martin has it before I post the link.

Petty Officer Tom

Posts : 6 Join date : 2011-02-14

1879 graves
PM sent re uploading photos--thanks.
I do not have that picture of Harper--may I ask the source.

PO Tom
I purchased the Harper group from the dealer who bought from DNW,so I do have the picture off their archive site thanks.That photo came from a newspaper article way-back when Harper was interviewed about his distinguished career,particularly in the Coastguard after his active (pun) naval service.I intend to do a brief resume of his career on the forum,but if you PM me I will happily provide some photocopies for your archive,as I note your particular interest in the naval brigade.

Tasker
Sorry not him.My youngest casualty is Pte Daniel Gordon,who enlisted in Dec 1877 aged 13..I have a copy of the roll for 2/24th which shows him as "LAD",the only one so described.I have this image of him as being the poor boy shot whilst pegging out the range for the rifles in "Zulu Dawn" !!

Martin

Subject: Re: NEW MEMBER--MEDAL COLLECTOR Wed Feb 23, 2011 9:53 pm

Wow, poor boy.
That is something new I have learned today!

Posts : 6 Join date : 2011-02-14

Tasker

I'm not saying he was the lad depicted in the film, but like to think the film depicted something that did go on,ie. pegging out range markers.I would like to know.
Still incredibly tragic that a 14 or15 year-old was killed in such carnage.The poor lad must had been terrified.I can say that having a 15 year-old grandson myself.

Martin

Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 61 Location : UK

The two youngest recorded in the Noble 24th by Holme is "Boy" Joseph McEwan 2/24th attested Dover 20/4/77 age 14, which would put him 16-17.

Also "Boy" Daniel Gordon 2/24th attested 16/12/75 age 13. Which would also put him 16-17.

Posts : 6 Join date : 2011-02-14

John

I note your comment on Gordon.
I have Holme's "The Siver Wreath" which says Gordon enlisted at Chatham on 6/12/77 aged 13 years.
Holme's above book has McEwan as you say,enlisted at Dover on 20/4/77 aged 14.
Gordon's medal was sold at Bonhams on 17/12/02,and whilst I do not have that catalogue,Medal News of March 2003 report that "exceptional interest----the meloncholy fact that Gordon was probably the youngest casualty in that disasterous engagement".
Gordon is also on the 2/24 roll as "Lad",and not "Boy".
This is what I base my assertion on,and certainly the differing dates in 2 Holme's books is a puzzle.

Martin

Subject: Re: NEW MEMBER--MEDAL COLLECTOR Thu Feb 24, 2011 7:15 pm

Mardan, any chance of your getting a copy of the attestation papers from Kew?
Either way, who cares? Youngest or second youngest, another terribly sad footnote about 2 boys in the iSandlwana story.

Posts : 3379 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Hi All

From The Dix Noonan Webb medal archive

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Posts : 6 Join date : 2011-02-14

Tasker

No papers there I'm afraid.
You are quite right,and it certainly matters not a jot to me.
I pointed out the youngest casualty assertion as us collectors do like to think they have something "unusual".
The unusual means normally that the research is more interesting,but in this case it only highlights the appalling concept of sending 14/15/16 year old boys to war.Of course you have to put that in the context of life/army service in the 1890's.
I have been lucky to stand roughly where young Gordon must have died,and his age made that particularly poignant.

Martin

Posts : 2308 Join date : 2010-07-02 Age : 44

Just out of interest.

Quote :: "James Wade ….. 9th Foot ….. served throughout Peninsular Campaign ….. aged 7"

Subject: Re: NEW MEMBER--MEDAL COLLECTOR Fri Feb 25, 2011 6:36 am

7 - seven - ?!?!
that has to be the youngest I have ever heard of, a shocker even for those days.
i have a medal to a boy who served at Trafalgar - he was 10.

» Baltic Medal & South Africa Medal (1879), William King, HMS Exmouth & Boadicea
» Original Queen South African Medal Zulu War medal
» South Africa Medal and 1877-8-9 Bar with India General Service Medal and Burma 1887-1889 Bar (1492 Pte G Adams, 2/24th Foot and 2nd Battalion, S Wales Borderers)