A Collection of Medals relating to the Boer War formed by two brothers
Commander E. G. Robinson, who greatly distinguished himself on three separate and distinct occasions in the Dardanelles, and was awarded the Victoria Cross besides being specially promoted to the rank of Commander. Among others who were conspicuous in minesweeping on this and other occasions were Commander J. R. Middleton of the Albion, and Lieutenant F. H. Sandford of the Irresistible, both of whom were awarded the D.S.O. Sub.-Lieutenant A. Bayford, R.N.R., and Midshipman J. C. W. Price, the latter of the Ocean, were awarded the D.S.C., while Mr. J. W. A. Chubb, the torpedo gunner of the Prince George, was mentioned for gallantry in bringing his trawler out in a sinking condition after his commanding officer and three men had been killed.
No trawlers were sunk, but four of them and one picket boat were put out of action. Thanks, however, to the efficient protection of the steel plating fitted at Malta Dockyard, their casualties were no more than five killed and four wounded, including one volunteer officer killed and another wounded.’
Although the sweepers had not achieved their aim, ‘their conduct’, says the Official History, ‘had excited everyone's admiration, and in the morning Admiral Carden made the following general signal: "Minesweepers are doing fine work. Their perseverance and steadiness are excellent. Much depends on them!" Indeed, almost everything depended on them, but how with their low speed they were to do the work in the strong current till means were found of mastering the minefield defence was far from clear.’
Chubb was awarded the D.S.C.
Not long afterwards, on 22 May 1915, he received a shrapnel wound to his foot, and he was evacuated to hospital in Egypt, and thence home to the U.K. On recovering from his wound in December 1915, he took up an appointment at the Devonport Barracks Vivid, but in September 1916 he returned to sea in the battleship Warspite, and remained employed in that capacity until the end of hostilities.
Having then served in the Glorious 1920-22, he joined the submarine depot ship Maidstone, but in December of the latter year he was placed on the Retired List in the rank of Lieutenant. Sadly his retirement was short-lived, for he died at Devonport in February 1924; sold with an extensive file of research.
238
A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of five awarded to Captain L. C. Boyle, Royal Engineers, late Railway Pioneer Regiment
MILITARY CROSS, G.V.R., unnamed; QUEEN’S SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 (Lieut., Rly. Pnr. Regt.); 1914-15 STAR (Capt., R.E.); BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS, M.I.D. oakleaf (Capt.) cleaned, lacquered, mounted court style for display, nearly extremely fine (5)
£1000-1200
M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1917. ‘Temp. Capt. Lewis Collings Boyle, R.E.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 4 January 1917.
The recruiting for the Railway Pioneer Regiment began in Cape Town on about 18 December 1899. Before Lord Roberts commenced his advance from Bloemfontein to Pretoria the first battalion was organised, its work being to assist in protecting the railways and to repair bridges, culverts, and lines when broken. Without outside assistance the corps of Royal Engineers could not have faced the enormous amount of work naturally falling to their department. From the Railway Pioneer Regiment they received very valuable help. The efficiency of the Regiment was greatly assisted by a leavening of Royal Engineer officers. Of such value was the work of the Railway Pioneer Regiment that before the close of the war a fourth battalion had been organised. The battalions were employed chiefly on the Cape-Pretoria railway, but they were also on the Krugersdorp line, and sometimes operated as a fighting force a considerable distance from railways. The regiment also did admirable service on the armoured trains which did so much to make railway traffic possible during the guerilla war stage of the conflict.
In his evidence before the War Commission (vol i p. 445), Lord Roberts said: "An enormous amount of reconstruction was carried out by the Railway Pioneer Regiment and the Railway Companies Royal Engineers. The Pioneer Regiment consisted almost entirely of civilian refugees, mostly mechanics from Johannesburg, and it rendered excellent service. To its aid and that of the Royal Engineer officers and men we were indebted for the fact that the railways very seldom lost touch with the fighting portion of the army, and that we were able to seize Johannesburg and Pretoria, distant about 1000 miles from our base upon the coast, and 260 miles from Bloemfontein, our advanced depot, with such rapidity that the enemy were unable to concentrate their resources and offer a strongly organised resistance”.
With copied roll and gazette extracts, a copied photograph of the recipient taken from the Black & White Budget and research of the Railway Pioneer Regiment.
www.dnw.co.uk
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