Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Boer War Diary and Medal to Private J. W. Whittle, South Nottinghamshire Hussars, who witnessed extensive fighting prior to his death in action in August 1900: ‘Friday June 1st. Marched off at 6 a.m. In action today fighting like hell. Wherever we went we were met with a regular hailstorm of bullets. My horse fell with me head long down a precipice and broke her back ... ’

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (3388 Pte. J. W. Whittle, 12th Coy. 3rd Imp.Yeo.) refixed (bent) suspension, heavily polished and thus poor £400-600

Sold with the recipient’s original Boer War diary, a soldier’s pocket book, 112 pages, representing an extremely rare and detailed account of his unit’s activities in the Boer War up until his death in action.

James Whittle was killed in action at Rietfontein on 9 August 1900. Age 34, he was a carter, time expired from the Derbyshire Regiment, and a Trooper in the South Nottinghamshire Hussars. He enlisted on 1 January 1900 in the first Imperial Yeomanry contingent raised for South Africa, created as a patriotic response to the disasters of “Black Week” in December 1899, and was a member of 12th Company (South Nottinghamshire Hussars), 3rd Battalion Imperial Yeomanry.

The diary begins with the embarkation on the S.S. Winefredian at Langdon Docks, Liverpool on 28 January 1900 and at nine o’clock the next day set sail for South African veldt, never to return to his home shores.

The diary is an evocative and detailed record of soldiering in the early days of the Boer War. When the South Nottinghamshire Hussars Company arrived at Maitland Camp, Cape Town on 21 February, Mafeking and Ladysmith were still besieged and Lord Roberts was yet to conclude his campaign with the capture of Bloemfontein, Johannesburg and Pretoria.

On the 5 March 1900, the 3rd Battalion Imperial Yeomanry received their marching orders and struck camp. They stopped over at Stellenbosch where ‘in the evening Cecil Rhodes and Rudyard Kipling visited our camp when I had the pleasure of shaking hands with both of them. It caused great excitement in camp.’

Having trained to Kimberley, the 3rd Battalion detrained on 26 March: ‘Proceeded to Carters Ridge farm 5 miles … there are entrenchments here two miles long … we have at present to hold ourselves in readyness to proceed at once to Mafeking a distance of 90 miles which we shall have to march’. On the 30th ‘Struck camp at 3 a.m. this morning to escort a convoy of 120 wagons and 2000 head of cattle up to Boshof in the Orange Free State. When we came to the border of the O. Free State we were halted by Capt. Roleston who told us we were the first coy. of Imp. Yeo. to enter an enemys country bag and baggage. We gave 3 cheers for the Queen and 3 for the South Notts Hussars.’

A few days after arriving at Boshof, the long awaited encounter with the Boers took place on Thursday 5 April, ‘Our scouts this morning discovered a large party of the enemy entrenched at Spits Kop about 10 miles away. The South Notts. Hussars, York Hussars, Sherwood Rangers, 2 guns of the artillery, one Maxim and 4 companies of the Northampton Regiment were ordered out to attack them which we did in fine form receiving our Baptism fire like men being the first of the Imp. Yeo. to go into action and I cannot say more than that they were as cool under fire as an ordinary parade, they are certainly a credit to the good old City of Nottingham. Very sorry to have to say that we lost one officer Lieut. Williams of the York Hussars and one Sergt. They were both shot under a flag of truce. But on the other side Lieut. Peacock shot the man that shot him. The enemy lost in all 24 killed over 60 prisoners and a lot of wounded.’

The hunt for the Boers did not abate: ‘10th. Went out today about 30 miles after a party of rebels. South Notts. Hussars and Yorkshire ditto but could not locate them. However we looted 25 fowls 6 turkeys and 5 geese, potatoes and cabbage for dinner tomorrow so we did not have the journey for nothing’. Running brushes with the Boers continued as the 3rd Battalion I.Y., as part of General Douglas’ flying column, pushed through the Free State past hastily deserted farm houses.

The next action that was fought occurred outside Swartz Kopje Fontein, ‘Marched out at 5 a.m. Kimberley Light Horse advance guard, artillery on the right. South Notts. Hussars on the left flank. Artillery fell back on the camp, Kimberleys remained behind kopje about 4 miles from camp. We went on to find enemy and draw them if possible. Found the enemy in force about 6 miles from camp on a large and inaccessible kopje, retired slowly on to the Kimberleys and then to camp, found all transports gone from camp, all tents down but ours. Put nose bags on packed tents and in saddle in 30 minutes. Half past one when we arrived in camp, in action at 2. South Notts. Hussars forming rear guard, enemy in great strength following us up for about 7 miles. Bullets falling around us like hail, my own horse wounded in two places, Capt. Birkins wounded in two places and one shot passed clean through his hat. The York Hussars lost 25 men killed, wounded and prisoners. Warwicks Scouts lost some, Kimberley Light Horse and infantry lost men and how it is we lost none I can’t make out because they were not more than seven hundred yards from us and very often we had to pass kopjes that were occupied by them much closer than that. It was just 8.30 when we arrived at Boshof having been fighting exactly 8 and a half hours and in the saddle 15 hours and a half on an empty stomach.’

Trooper Whittle was in action again on the 25 April when he indulged in some serious looting, ‘Reconitering patrol of ours went out at 4.45 a.m. this morning under Capt. Knowles towards Swartz Kopje Fontein . About 9 a.m. one of the party returned to camp to say that Pte. of ours had been shot and taken prisoner so more men ordered out, myself amongst them. Advanced in skirmishing order covering 4 miles of front. Found White lying on the veldt 8 miles from camp and about 4 to the right of Becks farm. He had been shot in the left leg, it was also broken in two places, one above the knee and one below the knee. His horse was shot through both shoulders and the near fetlock. It was in consequence of his horse falling on him that the leg was broken. Sent into camp for ambulance wagon, then I was sent on by myself to scout Becks farm about half a mile to the rear. Enemy’s scout in sight about 1500 yards away. Retired to farm, broke in, looted jewel case and writing desk combined, a change of underclothing, fowls, turkeys etc. Fought the enemy’s patrol and drove them back. Watched their movement all day and returned to camp about 7 p.m.’

In the ensuing days, more patrols were sighted and horses captured from the Boers. Various harrying night actions, in flying columns, took place. In mid-May they were continually on the move and accepting surrenders, seizing weapons and ammunition. More and more Free Staters surrendered, which led Whittle to speculate on 19 May, ‘Two thirds of the way to Pretoria. I think myself that the war is all but over now and those who wish to go home and can do with safety will be able to eat their Christmas in safety. I am afraid it will not be my luck so to do.’

As they closed on Pretoria, the South Notts. Hussars and Whittle fought their most serious action, ‘Friday June 1st. Marched off at 6 a.m. In action today fighting like hell. Wherever we went we were met with a regular hailstorm of bullets. My horse fell with me head long down a precipice and broke her back. Had to leave everything about 12 mile to walk to the town of Lindley all through the enemy. Arrived in camp at 8 p.m. buggered up. 22 of the South Notts. Hussars missing, full casualties not yet known.’ The next day, ‘Lord Methuen today inspected the men and horses in their own lines. He asked what were our positions in the different engagements we had been in and when told said the South Notts. had done their share of fighting, some other regt must have a go. We lost 37 horses yesterday. The following appeared in Regt Orders tonight - The Officer Comdg. congratulates the fine and forward bearing of all ranks during yesterday’s engagements and especially he commended the bold dash which was made by the two troops of the South Notts and one and a half troops of the Sherwood Rangers which cut off 16 wagons and two of the enemy’s guns. The retirement later of the troops in the face of great odds was also admirably affected and would have done credit to the best veteran troops.’

Camped around Driefontein, the piquets were shot at and the camp shelled. On the 9 June, ‘Left Heilbron 6 a.m. Fighting commenced as soon as we got out of the town. Captured 14 prisoners and blew a house to hell.’

The diary ends at this stage, with the book full. The last few pages are an unsent letter to a Polly, recounting details of the daily life of the campaign, expecting to be mentioned in orders, hoping for a promotion and detailing how he was Captain Birkin’s signaller. Whittle was eventually promoted Lance-Corporal but was soon to be killed in action.