Hello Heather, The 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade was besieged in Ladysmith while the 1st Battalion was in the relief force. The siege lasted from 2/11/1899 until 28/2/1900. 2/RB landed in Durban in S.S. Jelunga 26/10/1899 and reached Ladysmith 30/10/1899, only three days before the town was cut off. 2/RB was specifically involved in a couple of actions during the siege. On 9/12/1899 five companies made a night attack on a Boer gun position on Surprise Hill outside Ladysmith. The attack was successful and the gun destroyed but they ran into trouble on the way back to Ladysmith. The Boers had managed to work round the back of the RB and cut off their escape and they had to fight their way out with the bayonet. They lost 12 killed, 36 wounded and 10 missing. The whole battalion was involved in the battle of Wagon Hill 6/1/1900 which was the only serious attempt by the Boers to capture Ladysmith. They lost 18 killed and 37 wounded. More general details of the siege can be found in any history of the war. Regards, David ----- Original Message ----- From: Heather Smith <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2003 10:55 PM Subject: [BOER-WAR]South African Medals Rifle Brigade Winchester > Hello, David > > Can you possibly assist me in finding the name of unit of the Rifle Brigade > that my great grandfather joined in 1894, please? Also information on the > besiege of Ladysmith. > > Charles Edward Lowman of Hampshire joined the Rifle Brigade at the age of 18 > in 1894. He took part in the Nile Expedition in 1898 was at the battle of > Omdurman, the occupation of Crete and was in South Africa 1899-1902, being > one of those besieged at Ladysmith. > > Charles rejoined for WW1 in 1914 and was awarded seven medals, none are in > the family's procession. > > The Sudan, Khedive's medal , with Khartoum clasp, South African medals and > clasps,, the 1914 Star, the Victory medal, and the King' medal. > > The Rifle Brigade at Winchester and the Totton British Legion sounded the > Last Post and Reveille at his funeral on 22nd August 1936. > > Regards > > Heather Smith formerly Lowman

Hello, David Thank you once again for all of the detailed information that you have sent to me. I have ordered a few books on the Boer War from Huddersfield library. Do you have the medal roll for the 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade, please? I know that Charles Edward Lowman was awarded the South African medals. Thanks again Heather in Huddersfield Hello Heather, The 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade was besieged in Ladysmith while the 1st Battalion was in the relief force. The siege lasted from 2/11/1899 until 28/2/1900. 2/RB landed in Durban in S.S. Jelunga 26/10/1899 and reached Ladysmith 30/10/1899, only three days before the town was cut off. 2/RB was specifically involved in a couple of actions during the siege. On 9/12/1899 five companies made a night attack on a Boer gun position on Surprise Hill outside Ladysmith. The attack was successful and the gun destroyed but they ran into trouble on the way back to Ladysmith. The Boers had managed to work round the back of the RB and cut off their escape and they had to fight their way out with the bayonet. They lost 12 killed, 36 wounded and 10 missing. The whole battalion was involved in the battle of Wagon Hill 6/1/1900 which was the only serious attempt by the Boers to capture Ladysmith. They lost 18 killed and 37 wounded. More general details of the siege can be found in any history of the war. Regards, David Hello, David Can you possibly assist me in finding the name of unit of the Rifle Brigade that my great grandfather joined in 1894, please? Also information on the besiege of Ladysmith. Charles Edward Lowman of Hampshire joined the Rifle Brigade at the age of 18 in 1894. He took part in the Nile Expedition in 1898 was at the battle of Omdurman, the occupation of Crete and was in South Africa 1899-1902, being one of those besieged at Ladysmith. Charles rejoined for WW1 in 1914 and was awarded seven medals, none are in the family's procession. The Sudan, Khedive's medal , with Khartoum clasp, South African medals and clasps,, the 1914 Star, the Victory medal, and the King' medal. The Rifle Brigade at Winchester and the Totton British Legion sounded the Last Post and Reveille at his funeral on 22nd August 1936. Regards Heather Smith formerly Lowman

Hi Heather, I don't have the Queen's South Africa Medal roll for the Rifle Brigade but this is in subseries WO 100/210 at the National Archives (PRO) in Kew. Regards, David ----- Original Message ----- From: Heather Smith <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, October 03, 2003 10:32 PM Subject: [BOER-WAR]South African Medals Rifle Brigade Winchester > Hello, David > > Thank you once again for all of the detailed information that you have sent > to me. I have ordered a few books on the Boer War from Huddersfield library. > > Do you have the medal roll for the 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade, please? I > know that Charles Edward Lowman was awarded the South African medals. > > Thanks again > > Heather in Huddersfield