Description
Queens South Africa – Q Battery (Sannahs Post)
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Transvaal (73036 Dr. J. W. Booth Q. Bty. R.H.A.) attempted erasure of name but just about discernible, with number re-engraved,
73036 Driver J. W. Booth served in “A” Sub-Division, “Q” Battery, Royal Horse Artillery during the Battle of Sannah’s Post on 31 March 1900.
John William Booth was born in Corringham, Lincolnshire in 1871 and enlisted in 1889 and discharged April 1902.
His papers show entitlement to the QSA with clasps Paardeberg, Relief of Kimberley and Driefontein, also confirmed on the medal roll.
Resulting from De Wet’s ambush of General Broadwood’s Brigade at Korn Spruit (Sannah’s Post), “Q” Battery Royal Horse Artillery behaved with great gallantry and managed to save four of its guns from an apparently hopeless situation. The conduct of the battery was praised by Brigadier-General Broadwood in his report on the action. As a result of this report, Lord Roberts took the unusual step of ordering the battery to ballot for the Victoria Cross, to choose one officer, one non commissioned officer, one gunner and one driver to receive the coveted award, there being no other fair way to choose four from so many who performed so heroically on that day. As a result, Major Edmund John Phipps-Hornby, Sergeant Charles Edward Haydon Parker, Gunner Isaac Lodge, and Driver Horace Henry Glasock were each awarded the Victoria Cross.
Booth was serving in “A division” and reported missing at Sannah’s Post, Booth was subsequently invalided on 25 July 1900.
Later served during WW1 in the Royal Field Artillery receiving a 1915 trio, entering France on the 17th November 1915 and served until March 1919
Sold together with an elaborate gilt fob.
Condition – polished, otherwise nearly very fine
