‘During the Boer attack on Itala Camp on 26 September 1901, I called for volunteers to carry ammunition up the hill. In order to do this, a space of 150 yards swept by a heavy cross fire had to be crossed. Driver Lancashire and Gunner Ball attempted it, but had to drop the box half way across when Driver Lancashire was hit. Without any further orders from me, Driver Bradley (already recommended for the V.C.), and Gunner Boddy went out and succeeded in dragging the box under shelter of a rock, where they opened it and, having filled their pockets, etc., succeeded in gaining the sangars on the top.’

The original recommendation for Gunner A. B. Boddy’s D.C.M., refers.



A fine Boer War D.C.M. pair awarded to Bombardier A. B. Boddy, Royal Field Artillery, who was decorated for his gallant deeds in 69th Battery at the defence of Fort Itala - deeds that indelibly placed him alongside his equally gallant comrade Driver Bradley, who was awarded the Victoria Cross: in fact Boddy’s own name was cited in official correspondence as a possible candidate for the V.C.

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (25209 Gnr. A. Boddy, R.F.A.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek, South Africa 1901 (25209 Gnr. A. B. Boddy, 69 B. R.F.A.). last clasp loose on riband, good very fine or better (2) £4000-5000

D.C.M. London Gazette 27 December 1901.

'The King has been graciously pleased to signify His intention to confer the decoration of the Victoria Cross on the undermentioned Soldier, whose claims have been submitted for His Majesty's approval, for his conspicuous bravery in South Africa as stated against his name:

Driver F. G. Bradley, 69th Battery Royal Field Artillery

‘During the action at Itala, Zululand, on the 26th September, 1901, Major Chapman called for volunteers to carry ammunition up the hill; to do this a space of about 150 yards swept by a heavy cross fire had to be crossed. Driver Lancashire and Gunner Ball at once came forward and started, but half-way across Driver Lancashire fell wounded. Driver Bradley and Gunner Rabb without a moment's hesitation ran out and caught Driver Lancashire up, and Gunner Rabb carried him under cover, the ground being swept by bullets the whole time. Driver Bradley then, with the aid of Gunner Boddy, succeeded in getting the ammunition up the hill.'

His Majesty has further been pleased to approve of the grant of the Medal for Distinguished Conduct in the Field to the undermentioned soldiers, in recognition of their gallant conduct during recent operations in South Africa:

69th Battery Royal Field Artillery

14494 Gunner W.H. Rabb
15247 Driver E.N. Lancashire
25209 Gunner A. Boddy
10694 Gunner W.G. Ball’

The original citation for Driver Bradley, Gunner Boddy and the others is contained in Major A. J. Chapman's handwritten report on the Defence of Fort Itala sent to Lieutenant-General Neville Lyttleton, Commanding Natal. Bradley and Rabb were recommended for the Victoria Cross and this prompted Lyttleton to minute on 5 October 1901:

‘Regarding the V.C. cases I do not understand the omission of the names of Driver Lancashire, and Gunners Boddy and Ball who seem to have shown equal gallantry with Gunner Rabb though perhaps not so conspicuously as Driver Bradley. I do not mean they are all V.C. cases.’


Major Chapman replied one week later:

‘It was not my intention to exclude the names of Dr. Lancashire, Gnr. Boddy and Ball, I thought my mention of their service in para. 2 of my letter would be sufficient. They are now placed in order of merit.’

In the event, only Bradley received the Victoria Cross, and Boddy's D.C.M. citation read as the citation above but with the following amplification:

‘ ... without any further orders from me, Dr. Bradley (already recommended for V.C.) and Gunr. Boddy went out, and succeeded in dragging the box under shelter of a rock where they opened it, and having filled their pockets, etc. succeeded in gaining the sangars at the top’ (War Office records refer).

Alfred Bartholomew Boddy, who was born in Battersea, London, enlisted in the Royal Artillery in August 1898, aged 19 years, and was embarked for South Africa in 69th Battery, R.F.A., at the year’s end. Following his gallant deeds at Fort Itala - for which he also received promotion to Bombardier - he served in India from November 1901 until March 1904, in which period he was presented with his D.C.M. by Lord Kitchener at New Delhi on 27 December 1902. He was discharged as medically unfit at Netley in April 1904; sold with copied research.