Some men of the Devonshire Regiment in the Boer War 1 Fogden

MEN AND MEDALS OF THE DEVONSHIRE REGIMENT IN THE BOER WAR PART 1

by Steve Fogden

These men have been traced by Steve Fogden through the sale of their medals in recent times.

In each case below, the material in italics is taken from our Boer War database.

The additional material, supplied by Steve, sheds more light on the men's military service.

Taking the 4.7 Naval Gun across the Tugela River

A contemporary sketch

Private J Josland (usually spelt Joslin), Devonshire Regiment

4792 Private John Josland or Joslin of the 1st Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of George and Elizabeth Josland or Joslin of Cheriton Bishop. Birth registered in Crediton in 1879 but he was born in Cheriton Bishop. Severely wounded at Elandslaagte 21 October 1899 aged 21. Enlisted in January 1897.

Eventually, in spite of the severity of his wounds, John recovered sufficiently to return to work as a horseman on a farm. In 1904 he married Lily Fawdon and they settled down to raise a family in Cheriton Bishop.

John was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps for Elandslaagte and Transvaal and the King's South Africa medal with clasps for 1901 and 1902.

Private John Rowland, Devonshire Regiment.

1794 Private John Rowland of the 3rd Volunteer Brigade, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of Richard and Sarah Ann Rowland. Born in Bradninch in the December Quarter of 1874. This brigade formed part of the Devon Service Company which joined the 2nd Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment in Natal in 1900. Returned home safely June 1901.

From his medal tally, we can see that John Rowland returned to South Africa after this date. He held the India General Service Medal 1854 - 95* with 1 clasp for Burma 1889 - 92. To this was added the Queen's South Africa Medal 1899 to 1901 with 2 clasps - Natal and Belfast; the King's South Africa Medal 1901 to 1902 with 2 clasps - South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902.

* This medal was awarded to those who served in India between these years - the dates do not indicate the length of John Rowland's actual service.

Sergeant J Satterley, Devonshire Regiment

Originally 5562 Private John Satterley of the Devon Company of Volunteers. Son of Thomas and Mary Satterley. Born in Torquay in the March Quarter of 1880. Invalided home to 6 Hoxton Road, Torquay. Present at Exeter to receive his medal from Lord Roberts 9 September 1901.

The medal John Satterley received from Lord Roberts was the Queen's South Africa medal 1899 - 1902 together with four clasps - Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal and Laing's Nek.

John went on to fight in the Great War. As 528 Corporal Satterley, he received the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal E VII R.; as 528 Sergeant Satterley he received the British War Medal.

Sergeant Spear, Devonshire Regiment

4729 Private Albert Spear of the 1st Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of John and Susan Spear. Born in Holsworthy in the March Quarter of 1879. Severely wounded at Elandslaagte 21 October 1899 at the age of 20. Did his training at the Exeter Depot in 1895.

Albert Spear continued to serve in the Devonshire Regiment after the end of the 2nd Boer War, returning to India in 1902 where he stayed until early 1908. Service in Malta and Egypt was followed by a return to the UK in 1912 and two of his medals - the Army Rifle Association Silver Medal and an award for the part he played in the Battalion's team, shooting for the Queen Victoria Cup in 1913, relate to peace-time activities rather than honours gained in battle. He received his Long Service Medal in 1914.

Promotion to Company Sergeant Major came in February 1915 and by 1917 he had transferred to the Machine Gun Corps ( later the Tank Corps) ending his military career with his discharge in 1919 at the age of 40. He was awarded the Queen's South Africa medal with Elandslaagte and Belfast clasps, and the King's South Africa medal with clasps for 1901 and 1902.

Private W Sweetland, Devonshire Regiment

2938 Private William Sweetland of the Devonshire Regiment was the son of John and Jane Sweetland. Born in Colyton in the June Quarter of 1866. Taken prisoner at the Battle of Colenso 15 Dec 1899 and released from Pretoria in June 1900.

He held the following medals: Indian General Service 1895 - 1902 with 2 clasps - Punjab Frontier 1897 to 1898 and Tirah 1897 to 1898. Then came the Queen's South Africa Medal 1899 to 1902 with clasps for the Relief of Ladysmith and Transvaal and the King's South Africa Medal with clasps for 1901 and 1902.

Warrant Officer Francis Henry Tilke, Devonshire Regiment

Originally 4753 Private Francis Henry Tilke of the 1st Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of William and Ann Tilke. Born in Bideford in the September Quarter of 1878. Wounded at Elandslaagte 21 Oct 1899 at the age of 21. He must have made some sort of a recovery because the 1901 census shows him in the Town Barracks, Exeter, training new recruits to the Regiment.

Awarded the Queen's South Africa medal 1899 - 1902 with a single clasp for Elandslaagte - one of only 12 men of the Devonshire regiment to receive a single clasp. Apparently, he recovered sufficiently to be able to return to South Africa in 1902 where he went on to earn a South Africa 1902 clasp on his King's Medal - this time, one of only four awarded to the regiment. The combination of these two single clasps is extremely rare.

He served in the Great War as 7490 Sergeant Tilke and held the British War Medal and the Victory Medal as 7490 W.O Class 2 F H Tilke.

Corporal Thomas Vicary, Devonshire Regiment

3456 Corporal Thomas Sherwood Vicary of the 1st Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of James and Sarah Vicary. Born in Higher Holcombe in the December Quarter of 1873. Died of enteric at Pietermaritzburg 17 April 1900 aged 26.

Thomas Vicary was awarded the Indian General Service medal with the Punjab clasp 1897 - 98; the Queen's South Africa medal with clasps for Tugela Heights and the Relief of Ladysmith.

Private Ernest Zane, Devonshire Regiment

3988 Private Ernest Walter Zane of the Devonshire Regiment. Son of Walter and Ann Jane Zane (née Snow) of The Dairy, Longbrook Street, Exeter. Born in Exeter in the March Quarter of 1870. Died in Plymouth in 1945 aged 75.

Held the Queen's South Africa medal 1899 - 1902 with three clasps - Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith and Belfast.; the King's South Africa medal with clasps for 1901 and 1902.