W Woolmore Collection - Other Commonwealth

Lot 3586    SESSION 13 (2.30PM THURSDAY 21ST NOV)    W Woolmore Collection - Other Commonwealth

Estimate $1,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $2,400

QUEEN'S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL 1899, (type 2 reverse with trace of ghost dates), - three clasps - Relief of Kimberley, Driefontein, Transvaal, with unofficial MID emblem. 14 Corl J.Hogg, N.Z'Land M.R. Impressed. Hairlines in obverse field, otherwise extremely fine.

MID: 29/4/1901, Corporal J.M.Hogg, honourably mentioned by Lord Roberts for meritorious service.

John Martin Hogg, indent agent, age 35, born at Wanganui; service with Wairoa Mounted Rifles; NOK, wife, Mrs Sarah Hogg at Occidental Hotel, Wellington; Embarked on S.S. Waiwera with NZMR, 1st Contingent, 1st Coy.

Cpl Hogg received permission to travel to England in early 1901 leaving South Africa on S.S. Harleck. He received a commission in the Scottish Horse and intended to return for service in South Africa unfortunately he was badly injured in a cab accident in London and admitted to hospital. Upon recovering, he returned to New Zealand and later moved to Australia where he lived in Melbourne, Victoria. Died at Melbourne in 1951.

Copy of a letter from Corporal J.M.Hogg at Arundel Camp and dated Dec 17 (1899), published in the New Zealand Mail, 1 February 1900. Courtesy National Library of New Zealand - Papers Past.

Yesterday we had our first experience of being under shell fire. I can assure you it was pretty merry. For over an hour the shells were bursting all round us; but both men and horses stood it as coolly as the proverbial cucumber, and have been highly complimented on their behaviour. Three mounted companies went out to act as escort to the Royal Horse Artillery-the 12th Lancers, New South Wales Lancers and No. 1 Company New Zealand Mounted Rifles. You will be proud to hear that, after the second shell from the enemy, which burst within twenty yards of us, the New Zealanders were the only company to retain its position with the Royal Horse Artillery, the other two having taken themselves out of the range of fire. The shells of the enemy were really well-directed, but, fortunately for us have not the bursting power of ours. We picked up some of the shells, and found most of them were 1882 to 1885 manufacture, whilst ours are all of the most modern and approved pattern, and burst readily.

The Royal Horse Artillery has formed a very high opinion of the New Zealanders, and has expressed it pretty freely too. The artillerymen say that they will know in future to whom to look for support, and have not forgotten to tell it all round the camp that we were the only company of the lot that stuck to them.

We hear all sorts of rumours here about the war, and the probable duration of it. We hear bad accounts of recent engagements with the enemy by Generals Gatacre and Buller, telling us they had both had heavy losses; almost immediately after we hear that there is a burst-up between the Boers and the Orange Free Staters; and further that there is a great deal of dissatisfaction among the Boers themselves, and that they are anxious to arrange for peace. I must close this in a hurry. Will try and drop you anything of interest. Kind regards to all. - Sincerely yours, J.M.Hogg.

Three days later Corporal Hogg wrote another long letter following a fierce encounter with the Boers and his final two chapters read as follows.

General French has asked our officers to tell us that he scarcely knows how to express his satisfaction and appreciation of the conduct and coolness of the New Zealanders when under such a heavy fire, and to specially express to the No. 3's his gratification, at the splendid manner in which they stuck to their horses and their posts. I believe, too, that he has mentioned us in his despatches.

As I told you in one of my earlier letters, we were pretty highly thought of in camp; but now there is no one else spoken of but the New Zealand boys. I was asked by a captain of the Carabineers what sort of a time we had of it. I told him that it was "fairly sultry" He replied, "Fairly sultry! Damn it, you fellows never seem satisfied. What the devil do you want?" All who saw this sortie agree that we can go right through the war, but can never get into a warmer corner than we were in. I must close now. We are just warned that we are to put lights out, and are to sleep, fully dressed, as they are fearing a night attack.