The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria

The well-documented Q.S.A. awarded to Private W. Woodford, 13th Middlesex (Queens Westminster) Rifle Volunteers and City of London Imperial Volunteers, who published a diary of his experiences with the C.I.V.

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg (304 Pte. W. Woodford, C.I.V.) minor official correction to latter part of surname, polished, nearly very fine £400-£500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria.

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Walter Woodford was born in Upton Lovell, Wiltshire on 25 February 1876, the son of Osmond and Sarah Woodford. Initially an accountant by profession, he later became a buyer for the drapers, Jas. Shoolbred & Co. Residing at St. Pancras, London, he joined the Queen’s Westminster Rifles on 17 November 1897 and served in South Africa with the City of London Imperial Volunteers.

Woodford published a 55 page diary of his experiences during the Boer War entitled ‘C.I.V.M.I. South Africa 1900, “L” Co. At the Front’. In it he provides much detail on ”L” Company and their activities with No. 1 Mounted Infantry Company of the C.I.V. during the Boer War, including the selection process; the journey to the Cape; individual personalities and actions including the C.I.V.’s impressive showing at their first action at Jacobsdaal, 15 February 1900:

‘About noon we received orders to advance on Jacobsdaal which was reported to be occupied by Boers. The C.I.V.M.I. advanced on the town in skirmishing order. When within about a mile and a half from the town, we dismounted and advanced on foot, sending a party of about twelve to scout along the banks of Reit River on their horses. The enemy, who were well concealed along the banks, opened fire on our scouts at about 600 yards, several horses fell at the first volley, but the men managed to get back and take cover. I thought it was all over with most of them, for the bullets were cutting up the ground around them. We had by now opened fire all along the line, and by a series of rushes got nearer and nearer the enemy’s position.
After keeping up a hot fire for some time a battery of Artillery came up and shelled the Boer position as we advanced nearer. The enemy held their position until we fixed bayonets and charged their position and the town. As we entered the town, the Boers fled over the hills eastward of Jacobsdaal. On our roll-call being called, we found we had seven men wounded, including our sergeant major [A. W. Rouse] and 6 horses killed.’

Paardeberg and the capture and escort of Cronje, 26/27 February:
‘Cronje was reported to be going to make a dash for liberty during the night. We picketed our horses and left three or four men in charge, and after dusk we crept up as close as possible to the Boer trenches, and formed a cordon around them. Cronje was thus surrounded with a circle of men about five yards apart...
Soon after noon, we received orders to form the mounted escort to take the prisoners to Modder River Statio. We started at 3pm. There was a special guard over Mr. and Mrs. Cronje who rode in a covered carriage drawn by six horses.’

Brandfort/Zuurfontein, and the deaths of Sgt. Kingsford and Pte. Holland, 3 May:
‘We continued to move forward, and as we came around to foot of a copje, we were in full run of the enemy’s position.
The Boers opened a heavy shell-fire on us, killing Segt. Kingsford and Pte. Holland by the first shot. They were both late members of the London Rifle Brigade. Kingsford was hit by a piece of shell on the buckle of his waist. In answer to an enquiry he said “I do not think I am hurt, but I think I will lie down and go to sleep,” with that he fell dead. Holland was fearfully shattered, having the side of his face and shoulder blown away by the bursting shell.’

While sailing home to England on S.S. Aurania, Woodford became ill and very nearly died:
‘On reaching the hospital, I was received by Captain Ryan, who gave me every attention; but I was not long able to fully appreciate his kindness for I soon became delirious, and for weeks I had but a faint recollection of what occurred.
I can recall, as in a dream being taken from the ship and being put into a train and on to Netley hospital, where I became acquainted with the fact that I had developed pneumonia as well as enteric fever... one night I practically died... I could write at some length at my fight against death and my slow return to health, but it is a painful subject to me, and one I would forget as far as possible. Sufficient to say, I did recover and am now able to attend to the business of Jas. Shoolbred and Co. feeling none the worse for my expedition to South Africa.’

Woodford died in Sturminster, Dorset in 1955.

Sold with a photocopy of the recipient’s typed diary.