Lot 103
Killed in Action in “The Great Attack at Ladysmith – Wagon Hill” ‡
Clandestine Operations - Inc The D.J. Croll Medal Collection & Other Properties | M26002
Auction: 16 September 2026 at 10.30 BST
Description
The Queen’s South Africa Medal awarded to Private E. Penny, 1st Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps who was Killed in Action in the Defence of Wagon Hill at Ladysmith on the 6th of January 1900 comprising, Queen’s South Africa Medal, 1899-1902, 3rd type, two clasps, Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, (5362 Pte E. Penny. K.R.R.C.) impressed naming, very fine (1)
The 1st Battalion K.R.R.C. was at Glencoe when the war broke out and fought at the battle of Glencoe or Talana Hill on 20th October 1899 the Battalion did splendid work in that action, and their losses were very severe. Colonel Gunning and 4 other officers and 13 men being killed, and 6 officers and 75 men wounded.
On 30th October, at Lombard's Kop or Ladysmith, the Battalion was with Grimwood. Like the rest of his force, they were hard pressed, their losses being 3 officers and 1 man killed, 1 officer and 32 men wounded, besides about 30 taken prisoners. In the appendices to the Report of the War Commission, p 375, it is noted that "this party was sent on in advance at the battle of Lombard's Kop but were left behind on the general retirement of the force, no order having apparently been given to them to retire". The party endeavoured to retire, but it was too late; they were surrounded, and after a sharp fight surrendered.
In the great attack on Ladysmith on 6th January 1900 (see 1st Devonshire Regiment), the 1st King's Royal Rifles were in the thick of the fight. The usual garrison of Waggon Hill was three companies of the Battalion; among other reinforcements, four other companies reached the hill at 7 AM, and all day long the fiercest fighting of the campaign surged about the crest and side of the hill until the final charge by the Devons, shortly after 5 pm, cleared the ground. The losses of the Battalion on the 6th were about 10 killed and 20 wounded.
Sold with Copy Medal Roll Confirming Both Clasps, India General Service Medal 1895-1902 Medal Roll, clasp Relief of Chitral. Copy The Boer War Casualty Roll. Note Initial “F” not “E”
