Orders, Decorations and Medals

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (88453 Dvr. W. Holdaway, O Bty., R.H.A.) good very fine £70-80

Driver W. Holdaway was taken prisoner at the disastrous affair at Uitval Nek on 11 July 1900. Early in July 1900 the post at Uitval’s Nek, or Nitral’s Nek, in the Megaliesberg Mountains, was taken over from Baden-Powell’s force by a squadron of the Royal Scots Greys, five companies of the Lincolnshire regiment, and two guns ‘O’ Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, the whole under Colonel H. R. Roberts. On 11th July the enemy in great numbers attacked the position, and “owing mainly to the defective dispositions of the commanding officer”, the enemy gained possession of the pass and captured the two guns, almost an entire squadron of the Scots Greys, and 90 officers and men of the Lincolns, including Colonel Roberts.