Australian Groups

Lot 2481    SESSION 17 (11.30AM FRIDAY 25TH NOV)    Australian Groups

Estimate $2,800
Bid at live.noble.com.au

PAIR: Queen's South Africa Medal 1899, (type 2 reverse), - five clasps - Modder River, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal; King's South Africa Medal 1902, - two clasps - South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902. 27 Tpr: O.A.Taylor, Australian Horse on first medal, Lieut: O.Taylor. N.S.W.M.R. on second medal. Both medals impressed (see footnote). Court mounted, contact marks, good fine.

Note: Service number area seems to have been adjusted and the number 27 which is impressed is different to the number 811 on medal roll although next to this number on the roll is a circled number 29. Perhaps the medal naming worker has inserted 811, thought he made an error, then removed it and in trying to put 29 has made another error and inserted 27.

Ex R.Dalton in March 1992 and Noble Numismatics Sale 122 (lot 3659).

811 Trooper Owen Albert Taylor, 1st Aust Horse; Emb.14Nov1899 from Newcastle, NSW and arrived at Cape Town 13Dec1899; WIA 10Mar1900 at Battle of Driefontein; Enl. in 3rd NSW Mounted Rifles as Sgt in A Sqdn; promoted to Lieut 28Feb1901; Emb.05Apr1901 to Durban; 25Apr1902 subject to a serious charge re improper conduct at Villiersdorp; RTA 04May1902.

On 25 April 1902 Colonel Rimington CB wrote to the Assistant Adjutant General Colonial Forces, Pretoria and stated,

'I have the honour to bring to your attention the conduct of the two officers named in the margin (Lieut O.Taylor and Lieut H.Waters 3d NSWMR), with a view to their receiving no further employment in this country.

On marching through Villiersburg from South to North on 13th instant, special precautions were taken to protect the houses of two Boer women, who had on several occasions been of use to His Majesty's Forces by giving information. These women were given orders by my intelligence officer protecting their property, and were also given small presents of sugar, coffee, etc. Military Mounted Police were posted on their houses to protect them. As the rear guard passed through the town these police were withdrawn.

The two rear troops which were commanded by the two officers in question, instead of continuing on with the remainder of the rear guard, and taking up a position on the heights overlooking the town from the North, as they should have done, stopped behind and headed by their officers, looted and set on fire the houses of these women, and robbed them of their money and their groceries. Both officers were shown the protecting passes by the women, and they threw them to one side. My Assistant Provost Marshall had to return and clear them out of the town. One of the women had a cross in her house which had been left with her by the O.C. 3rd N.S.W.M.R. to put over the grave of a man of this regiment, who had been buried in the neighbourhood. This had the man's name and regiment painted on it, and was shown to these officers.

I was not present with my column at the time or I should have had both these officers tried by Field General Court Martial, the officer temporarily in command gave them a public reprimand. I am sending a similar letter to this to the authorities in Australia.'

On 4 May 1902 Lieutenant M.R.Mecham claimed that the women had wrongly identified Lieutenant Waters and it was in fact Mecham who had gone to the women's houses.

In his defence, on board H.M. Transport 'Aurania' on 4 May 1902 Lieutenant Taylor wrote,

'I have the honour to state that on 13th April, when I was in charge of one of the rear troops of Colonel Rimington's Column, I was directed by Major Bennett to burn the houses in Villiersdorp, if not under police protection. As the houses were not so protected when I came to them, I acted on the General Orders which I had received during the drive and proceeded to burn them. Before however any damage had been done I was informed by the acting Provost Marshall that these houses were protected and at once withdrew my men.

I saw no protection passes as stated by the women. One house was burnt by Lieutenant Mecham and not by Lieutenant Waters as stated by the women. The house I went to was not burnt. As far as I know the woman who protected our comrades grave and buried him was not interfered with in any way.'

No further action was taken by the authorities in this matter.

With considerable research.