103
Pair: Bombardier W. Dempsey, Royal Field Artillery, accompanied by a superb hand-written...
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Pair: Bombardier W. Dempsey, Royal Field Artillery, accompanied by a superb hand-written diary detailing his service in South Africa from 2 October 1899 to 13 March 1901, including the Battles of Elandslaagte and Lombard’s Kop, and his experiences during the Siege of Ladysmith
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (64237 Bmbr. W. Dempsey. R.F.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (64237 Bmbr. W. Dempsey. R.F.A.) extremely fine (2) £240-£280
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William Dempsey was ordered to mobilise at Secunderabad with 23rd Battery, Royal Field Artillery on 9 September 1899. Leaving Bombay on 18 September 1899, he steamed to Durban per S.S. Lalpoora, his unit strength recorded as 5 Officers, 172 N.C.O.’s and men, 152 horses and 1 Assistant Surgeon. Transferred to 21st Battery, Dempsey was sent to Ladysmith (’Tin Town’) on 4 October 1899 and stood to arms on 17 October. Sent to camp at Klip River, his diary subsequently offers a fascinating 3 page first-hand account of The Battle of Elandslaagte, which he annotates ‘1st Battle’:
‘The 21st and 42nd Batteries under the Command of Major Blewett, 21st B. R.F.A., wheeled sharp to their right, & crossing the railway advanced at a brisk trot in an easterly direction - after an advance of nearly 2 miles they passed the Gordons who were in support... Advancing over the hill, the 21st Battery had several casualties, the gun teams had given up one after the other, the horses being utterly done up by this sharp advance... A shell from the enemy struck the ground close to No. 5 gun damaging the wheel and severely wounding Gunners Smith & Pound. On coming into action the difficulty was to locate the guns firing at the Battery owing to them being skilfully placed & firing cordite, however these were silenced very soon after being located.’
The diary adds:
‘Seeing that a largish party of the Boers were on the open ground on our right front & seemed to be disputing it with our infantry, ordered fire to be turned on them. This was done with effect that the Boers retired precipitately leaving the Manchester Regiment free to advance, carrying out this Captain Campbell was hit by a rifle bullet in the right breast... command now devolved on Lieut. Manley.’
Returned to Ladysmith 22 October 1899, Dempsey received a ‘good reception’ upon entering the town and enjoyed a week of rest. This proved short lived. Engaged at the Battle of Lombard’s Kop, he was tasked with shelling Pepworth Hill:
‘Speedily silenced all the enemy’s guns on it - Bombardier Morgan, 21st Battery, R.F.A., was killed by a shrapnel bullet & Gunner Andrews was severely wounded in the ankle. Meanwhile, the enemy showing in full on our right.’
Remaining in action throughout the day, the 21st Battery expended 546 rounds; the following day witnessed a ‘truce’ for the burial of the dead and removal of the wounded.
The Siege of Ladysmith
The Siege of Ladysmith proved to be one of the most protracted engagements of the entire Boer War. Recording the safe passage of ‘the last train’ [to get through] on 2 November 1899, Dempsey’s ensuing 28 page account of the Siege offers a daily insight into the military actions, the weather, the food (for men and horses) and the morale of all within the town. The entry of 18 December 1899, states:
‘A very bad shell burst in lines of Natal Carbineers close by 21 Battery, killing 5 of them & one man R.E. & 13 horses & wounding Captain Campbell’s 21st B. R.F.A. charger which had to be destroyed.’
Placed on half-rations on 12 January 1900, Dempsey was keen to note: ‘fresh meat very bad’. The following day: ‘horses beginning to die very fast from diarrhoea owing to bad diet, Bulwana Bill devoted most of his messages to the lower end of town and convent’. Describing the 100th day of the Siege, Dempsey pencilled that it wasn’t just the horses dying of dysentery and starvation: ‘Men are falling away fast, medicines are falling short.’
Reduced to eating horse flesh on 25 February 1900, salvation finally came three days later in the form of the relief column under Major Hubert Gough: ‘Long last, relief was at hand - no words can adequately describe the situation, our men’s spirits went up to the highest pitch imaginable and the evening of the last day of February, the 119th of our long siege, ended in such mirth & laughter as had not been witnessed in Ladysmith for many a long day.’
Remaining with the Colours, Dempsey witnessed a number of further actions - all detailed in the diary - before being sent to Middelburg in March 1901. His entries end on 13 March 1901, the medal rolls confirming service with 21st Battery but further noting forfeiture of the K.S.A. Medal under Article 1255 R.W.; this was later restored to him under Para 383/1915.
Sold with the recipient’s original A4-sized unpublished hardback diary, 159 pages of entries, exterior boards and spine a little tatty and worn, the ink and pencil contents fresh and fully legible.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (64237 Bmbr. W. Dempsey. R.F.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (64237 Bmbr. W. Dempsey. R.F.A.) extremely fine (2) £240-£280
---
William Dempsey was ordered to mobilise at Secunderabad with 23rd Battery, Royal Field Artillery on 9 September 1899. Leaving Bombay on 18 September 1899, he steamed to Durban per S.S. Lalpoora, his unit strength recorded as 5 Officers, 172 N.C.O.’s and men, 152 horses and 1 Assistant Surgeon. Transferred to 21st Battery, Dempsey was sent to Ladysmith (’Tin Town’) on 4 October 1899 and stood to arms on 17 October. Sent to camp at Klip River, his diary subsequently offers a fascinating 3 page first-hand account of The Battle of Elandslaagte, which he annotates ‘1st Battle’:
‘The 21st and 42nd Batteries under the Command of Major Blewett, 21st B. R.F.A., wheeled sharp to their right, & crossing the railway advanced at a brisk trot in an easterly direction - after an advance of nearly 2 miles they passed the Gordons who were in support... Advancing over the hill, the 21st Battery had several casualties, the gun teams had given up one after the other, the horses being utterly done up by this sharp advance... A shell from the enemy struck the ground close to No. 5 gun damaging the wheel and severely wounding Gunners Smith & Pound. On coming into action the difficulty was to locate the guns firing at the Battery owing to them being skilfully placed & firing cordite, however these were silenced very soon after being located.’
The diary adds:
‘Seeing that a largish party of the Boers were on the open ground on our right front & seemed to be disputing it with our infantry, ordered fire to be turned on them. This was done with effect that the Boers retired precipitately leaving the Manchester Regiment free to advance, carrying out this Captain Campbell was hit by a rifle bullet in the right breast... command now devolved on Lieut. Manley.’
Returned to Ladysmith 22 October 1899, Dempsey received a ‘good reception’ upon entering the town and enjoyed a week of rest. This proved short lived. Engaged at the Battle of Lombard’s Kop, he was tasked with shelling Pepworth Hill:
‘Speedily silenced all the enemy’s guns on it - Bombardier Morgan, 21st Battery, R.F.A., was killed by a shrapnel bullet & Gunner Andrews was severely wounded in the ankle. Meanwhile, the enemy showing in full on our right.’
Remaining in action throughout the day, the 21st Battery expended 546 rounds; the following day witnessed a ‘truce’ for the burial of the dead and removal of the wounded.
The Siege of Ladysmith
The Siege of Ladysmith proved to be one of the most protracted engagements of the entire Boer War. Recording the safe passage of ‘the last train’ [to get through] on 2 November 1899, Dempsey’s ensuing 28 page account of the Siege offers a daily insight into the military actions, the weather, the food (for men and horses) and the morale of all within the town. The entry of 18 December 1899, states:
‘A very bad shell burst in lines of Natal Carbineers close by 21 Battery, killing 5 of them & one man R.E. & 13 horses & wounding Captain Campbell’s 21st B. R.F.A. charger which had to be destroyed.’
Placed on half-rations on 12 January 1900, Dempsey was keen to note: ‘fresh meat very bad’. The following day: ‘horses beginning to die very fast from diarrhoea owing to bad diet, Bulwana Bill devoted most of his messages to the lower end of town and convent’. Describing the 100th day of the Siege, Dempsey pencilled that it wasn’t just the horses dying of dysentery and starvation: ‘Men are falling away fast, medicines are falling short.’
Reduced to eating horse flesh on 25 February 1900, salvation finally came three days later in the form of the relief column under Major Hubert Gough: ‘Long last, relief was at hand - no words can adequately describe the situation, our men’s spirits went up to the highest pitch imaginable and the evening of the last day of February, the 119th of our long siege, ended in such mirth & laughter as had not been witnessed in Ladysmith for many a long day.’
Remaining with the Colours, Dempsey witnessed a number of further actions - all detailed in the diary - before being sent to Middelburg in March 1901. His entries end on 13 March 1901, the medal rolls confirming service with 21st Battery but further noting forfeiture of the K.S.A. Medal under Article 1255 R.W.; this was later restored to him under Para 383/1915.
Sold with the recipient’s original A4-sized unpublished hardback diary, 159 pages of entries, exterior boards and spine a little tatty and worn, the ink and pencil contents fresh and fully legible.
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Pair: Bombardier W. Dempsey, Royal Field Artillery, accompanied by a superb hand-written diary detailing his service in South Africa from 2 October 1899 to 13 March 1901, including the Battles of Elandslaagte and Lombard’s Kop, and his experiences during the Siege of Ladysmith
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (64237 Bmbr. W. Dempsey. R.F.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (64237 Bmbr. W. Dempsey. R.F.A.) extremely fine (2) £240-£280
---
William Dempsey was ordered to mobilise at Secunderabad with 23rd Battery, Royal Field Artillery on 9 September 1899. Leaving Bombay on 18 September 1899, he steamed to Durban per S.S. Lalpoora, his unit strength recorded as 5 Officers, 172 N.C.O.’s and men, 152 horses and 1 Assistant Surgeon. Transferred to 21st Battery, Dempsey was sent to Ladysmith (’Tin Town’) on 4 October 1899 and stood to arms on 17 October. Sent to camp at Klip River, his diary subsequently offers a fascinating 3 page first-hand account of The Battle of Elandslaagte, which he annotates ‘1st Battle’:
‘The 21st and 42nd Batteries under the Command of Major Blewett, 21st B. R.F.A., wheeled sharp to their right, & crossing the railway advanced at a brisk trot in an easterly direction - after an advance of nearly 2 miles they passed the Gordons who were in support... Advancing over the hill, the 21st Battery had several casualties, the gun teams had given up one after the other, the horses being utterly done up by this sharp advance... A shell from the enemy struck the ground close to No. 5 gun damaging the wheel and severely wounding Gunners Smith & Pound. On coming into action the difficulty was to locate the guns firing at the Battery owing to them being skilfully placed & firing cordite, however these were silenced very soon after being located.’
The diary adds:
‘Seeing that a largish party of the Boers were on the open ground on our right front & seemed to be disputing it with our infantry, ordered fire to be turned on them. This was done with effect that the Boers retired precipitately leaving the Manchester Regiment free to advance, carrying out this Captain Campbell was hit by a rifle bullet in the right breast... command now devolved on Lieut. Manley.’
Returned to Ladysmith 22 October 1899, Dempsey received a ‘good reception’ upon entering the town and enjoyed a week of rest. This proved short lived. Engaged at the Battle of Lombard’s Kop, he was tasked with shelling Pepworth Hill:
‘Speedily silenced all the enemy’s guns on it - Bombardier Morgan, 21st Battery, R.F.A., was killed by a shrapnel bullet & Gunner Andrews was severely wounded in the ankle. Meanwhile, the enemy showing in full on our right.’
Remaining in action throughout the day, the 21st Battery expended 546 rounds; the following day witnessed a ‘truce’ for the burial of the dead and removal of the wounded.
The Siege of Ladysmith
The Siege of Ladysmith proved to be one of the most protracted engagements of the entire Boer War. Recording the safe passage of ‘the last train’ [to get through] on 2 November 1899, Dempsey’s ensuing 28 page account of the Siege offers a daily insight into the military actions, the weather, the food (for men and horses) and the morale of all within the town. The entry of 18 December 1899, states:
‘A very bad shell burst in lines of Natal Carbineers close by 21 Battery, killing 5 of them & one man R.E. & 13 horses & wounding Captain Campbell’s 21st B. R.F.A. charger which had to be destroyed.’
Placed on half-rations on 12 January 1900, Dempsey was keen to note: ‘fresh meat very bad’. The following day: ‘horses beginning to die very fast from diarrhoea owing to bad diet, Bulwana Bill devoted most of his messages to the lower end of town and convent’. Describing the 100th day of the Siege, Dempsey pencilled that it wasn’t just the horses dying of dysentery and starvation: ‘Men are falling away fast, medicines are falling short.’
Reduced to eating horse flesh on 25 February 1900, salvation finally came three days later in the form of the relief column under Major Hubert Gough: ‘Long last, relief was at hand - no words can adequately describe the situation, our men’s spirits went up to the highest pitch imaginable and the evening of the last day of February, the 119th of our long siege, ended in such mirth & laughter as had not been witnessed in Ladysmith for many a long day.’
Remaining with the Colours, Dempsey witnessed a number of further actions - all detailed in the diary - before being sent to Middelburg in March 1901. His entries end on 13 March 1901, the medal rolls confirming service with 21st Battery but further noting forfeiture of the K.S.A. Medal under Article 1255 R.W.; this was later restored to him under Para 383/1915.
Sold with the recipient’s original A4-sized unpublished hardback diary, 159 pages of entries, exterior boards and spine a little tatty and worn, the ink and pencil contents fresh and fully legible.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (64237 Bmbr. W. Dempsey. R.F.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (64237 Bmbr. W. Dempsey. R.F.A.) extremely fine (2) £240-£280
---
William Dempsey was ordered to mobilise at Secunderabad with 23rd Battery, Royal Field Artillery on 9 September 1899. Leaving Bombay on 18 September 1899, he steamed to Durban per S.S. Lalpoora, his unit strength recorded as 5 Officers, 172 N.C.O.’s and men, 152 horses and 1 Assistant Surgeon. Transferred to 21st Battery, Dempsey was sent to Ladysmith (’Tin Town’) on 4 October 1899 and stood to arms on 17 October. Sent to camp at Klip River, his diary subsequently offers a fascinating 3 page first-hand account of The Battle of Elandslaagte, which he annotates ‘1st Battle’:
‘The 21st and 42nd Batteries under the Command of Major Blewett, 21st B. R.F.A., wheeled sharp to their right, & crossing the railway advanced at a brisk trot in an easterly direction - after an advance of nearly 2 miles they passed the Gordons who were in support... Advancing over the hill, the 21st Battery had several casualties, the gun teams had given up one after the other, the horses being utterly done up by this sharp advance... A shell from the enemy struck the ground close to No. 5 gun damaging the wheel and severely wounding Gunners Smith & Pound. On coming into action the difficulty was to locate the guns firing at the Battery owing to them being skilfully placed & firing cordite, however these were silenced very soon after being located.’
The diary adds:
‘Seeing that a largish party of the Boers were on the open ground on our right front & seemed to be disputing it with our infantry, ordered fire to be turned on them. This was done with effect that the Boers retired precipitately leaving the Manchester Regiment free to advance, carrying out this Captain Campbell was hit by a rifle bullet in the right breast... command now devolved on Lieut. Manley.’
Returned to Ladysmith 22 October 1899, Dempsey received a ‘good reception’ upon entering the town and enjoyed a week of rest. This proved short lived. Engaged at the Battle of Lombard’s Kop, he was tasked with shelling Pepworth Hill:
‘Speedily silenced all the enemy’s guns on it - Bombardier Morgan, 21st Battery, R.F.A., was killed by a shrapnel bullet & Gunner Andrews was severely wounded in the ankle. Meanwhile, the enemy showing in full on our right.’
Remaining in action throughout the day, the 21st Battery expended 546 rounds; the following day witnessed a ‘truce’ for the burial of the dead and removal of the wounded.
The Siege of Ladysmith
The Siege of Ladysmith proved to be one of the most protracted engagements of the entire Boer War. Recording the safe passage of ‘the last train’ [to get through] on 2 November 1899, Dempsey’s ensuing 28 page account of the Siege offers a daily insight into the military actions, the weather, the food (for men and horses) and the morale of all within the town. The entry of 18 December 1899, states:
‘A very bad shell burst in lines of Natal Carbineers close by 21 Battery, killing 5 of them & one man R.E. & 13 horses & wounding Captain Campbell’s 21st B. R.F.A. charger which had to be destroyed.’
Placed on half-rations on 12 January 1900, Dempsey was keen to note: ‘fresh meat very bad’. The following day: ‘horses beginning to die very fast from diarrhoea owing to bad diet, Bulwana Bill devoted most of his messages to the lower end of town and convent’. Describing the 100th day of the Siege, Dempsey pencilled that it wasn’t just the horses dying of dysentery and starvation: ‘Men are falling away fast, medicines are falling short.’
Reduced to eating horse flesh on 25 February 1900, salvation finally came three days later in the form of the relief column under Major Hubert Gough: ‘Long last, relief was at hand - no words can adequately describe the situation, our men’s spirits went up to the highest pitch imaginable and the evening of the last day of February, the 119th of our long siege, ended in such mirth & laughter as had not been witnessed in Ladysmith for many a long day.’
Remaining with the Colours, Dempsey witnessed a number of further actions - all detailed in the diary - before being sent to Middelburg in March 1901. His entries end on 13 March 1901, the medal rolls confirming service with 21st Battery but further noting forfeiture of the K.S.A. Medal under Article 1255 R.W.; this was later restored to him under Para 383/1915.
Sold with the recipient’s original A4-sized unpublished hardback diary, 159 pages of entries, exterior boards and spine a little tatty and worn, the ink and pencil contents fresh and fully legible.
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