Captain Alfred Neersham ELLA Queensland Volunteer Contingent

Had his Medal ( Capt A N Ella Queenstown Vol.Contgt.) some years. It came from an old collection Spinks had bought and sold privately and so no research done . I found details on google then ( but cannot find now) that he came from Melton near Queensland and had gone to Australia from Craddock in 1849, and Wriiten a paper called " Some observations of Pasture Grasses of the Division of Queenstown " Years back I tried to find more information and someone found he was involved in aq legal Action in 1872 and that they had a note of a Pte P Ella ( most likely a relative ) serving in the Zulu War in the same Queenstown Volunteer Contigent. Ive just joined the forum and thought I might try and see if any members
have any information on Captain Ella, and so many thanks in advance if anyone can help as I would dearly love to find out more if I can .. Regards Michael

Hi Johnscliffe.
All I can tell you is what you may already know ,

Queenstown Volunteer Contingent . Captain , Ella A.N medal with clasp 77-78 .
Private , Ella , P . Medal with Clasp 77-78 .
Sorry that's all I have . As the Queenstown Vltr Cont didn't actually take part in the zulu war the unit is not mentioned in
' For God , Queen and Colony ' by Terry Sole , this book deals only with Colonial Units that were actually involved in the
Anglo Zulu War . One of our members ' Phil ' may be able to help as his interest is the Colonial Units .
cheers 90th.

Thanks 90th very much appreciated as I didn't have confirmation of Clasps before so great to have it
best regards Michael

Hi Michael

Firstly Welcome to the forum.

The only other information I can add to what 90th has already posted is the following.

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Dated 18th March 1878.

A letter written by Private Griffith Griffiths, Peribush, Natal.

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Hi Johnscliffe.
I had a look through my Medal Sale books but didnt come across either of the Ella's but did find 4 or 5 medals that have
been sold from the Queenstown Vltr Cont in the last 3 yrs or so , if you want their names and clasp details let me know and
I'll post them .
cheers 90th.

Thanks to ....1879graves....Littlehand...and 90th....I'm finding out more about Captain Ella in a day than I've achieved in many years. I can see now why many people are saying this Forum is a great place to be. If not too much trouble to "90th" it would be nice to have Medal and Clasps details you kindly mentioned..thanks again.. best regards Michael

Hi Johnscliffe .
Here are the one's I have found on Ebay over the last few yrs .

Pvt. W. Meyer Queenstown Vltr Contg. No Clasp Medal Awarded . 18 / 3 / 09 opened at 320 Pds also same price for Buy it now.
Was sold for 290 Pds .

Pvt. G. Whall QVCont . 77-78- Clasp , 21 / 9 / 08 Opened 12 Pds , sold for 350 Pds.

This from Aberdeen Medals .
Pvt. G.C. Cornell 77-78 Clasp , Was sold before 11 / 6 / 10 for 425 Pds.

This from African Military Connection .

Pvt. L. Upton 77-78 Clasp was sold before 27 / 5 / 11 for Rand 4 , 489 .
Pvt. I . Upton 77-78 Clasp Still available for Rand 5 ,550 .

This from Northeast Medals .
Pvt. T.Coombes 77-78 Clasp was sold before 29 / 1 / 08 for 395 Pds .
Hope you find this of interest .
cheers 90th.

Thanks once again 90th very nice of you, always interesting as a good chance many of those knew him

all the best Michael

"He found an expedition under Commandant-General Griffith about to march against Sandile in the Thomas Eiver valley. On the 8th of March this expedition entered the valley and began to scour it, but the men who had only a fortnight before attacked Captain Harvey with such determination seemed to have lost all heart, and made only a very feeble resistance. Seventy of them were killed, without any loss on the colonial side, and twelve hundred head of cattle, which they depended upon for food, were captured. Sandile himself, his sons, and some eight hundred of his men managed to elude the colonial forces and escape to the westward, the next thing that was known of them being that they were in the Perie bush.

A reward of i-500 was now offered for the capture of Sandile, and an attempt was made to surround that portion of the forest occupied by the rebels and either make them prisoners or destroy them. From the 10th to the 17th of March the troops and colonial forces were engaged in this task, but the area of operations was so extensive and the ground was so difficult for Europeans to traverse that they met with much less success than they hoped for. The principal events of these days occurred on the 11th and 15th of March. On the 11th a portion of the division of volunteers under Commandant Frederick Schermbrucker fell in with a party of Gaikas, with whom they had two skirmishes, killing nine of them, but losing a very promising young man named Hillier, of Bowker's rovers, and having another wounded. They managed to secure three hundred head of horned cattle, two hundred and ninety sheep, and four horses. On the 15th Lieutenant Andrews, of the George volun- teers, with thirty of his own men and twenty-seven of
the Stutterheim German police encountered about two hundred Gaikas under Mataczima, most of whom managed to get away, but fifty-five took shelter in a small
thicket.

There they were surrounded and prevented from moving out until reinforcements from Commandant Frost's division, under Captain Ella, arrived, when, as they would not surrender, they were all shot. Captain Ella and three of the volunteers were wounded, but no lives were lost on the colonial side.

Source: HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA

Thanks once again Littlehand , really appreciate all the information thats come in through the forum, all really
interesting , never expected so much ... best regards Michael