Pair: Battery Sergeant Major S. Whitehead, Royal Horse Artillery

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Orange Free State (513 Bty:Sej.Major S. Whitehead, R,B, R.H.A.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (513. B:S:Maj: S. Whitehead. R.H.A.) very fine (2) £160-£200

Samuel Whitehead was born in St. Ives, Cambridgeshire, on 30 March 1862. He attested for the Royal Horse Artillery around 1880, and is recorded in 1891 as a Sergeant with “H” Battery. Advanced Battery Sergeant Major, he was awarded his L.S.G.C. Medal on 1 January 1898 whilst with “R” Battery, remaining with this unit during the Boer War. According to Our Regiments in South Africa, “R” Battery served with General French in the Colesberg district, and thereafter went to Modder River and accompanied the expedition to Koodesberg Drift. It further participated in the drive towards Kimberley and the subsequent advance to Bloemfontein and Pretoria.

Blooded at Colesberg, an eyewitness account published in the Isle of Wight Observer on 24 February 1900 makes for interesting reading:
‘Several of our horses were killed, some with their legs blown off, but when we had finished we came out of action with only two wounded. The General formed us up and told us we were lucky to come out alive and gave us great praise for our coolness and good work in action. I am in General French’s column and getting quite used to bullets and shells now.’

Transferred to the Staff, Whitehead was discharged at Woolwich on 27 May 1902, his conduct described as ‘exemplary’. The Proceedings on Discharge record adds: ‘A very able mechanic - has great inventive powers.’

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