News from that South African War, circa 1901

The Boer War which lasted from 1899 to 1902 has largely been eclipsed by the Great War.

It sits tucked away with all those smaller colonial campaigns the British army fought across the world after the Crimean War and before the two great world wars of the 20th century.

And yet in its time it was a major event, dividing world opinion, raising in particular questions about the treatment of civilians and accounting for around 75,000 deaths of which between 20,000 and 28,000 were Boer civilians.

And the postcard manufactures were not slow about getting involved.

Raphael Tuck & Sons produced a range of cards covering all aspects of the war from photographs of British soldiers, the Boer commanders and a series of humorous ones.

This comes from a collection of six by the artist L Thackery which alternated between jingoism and a more sober reflection on experiences of British servicemen.

And of course there is a direct connection with Manchester.

In St Ann's Square we have the memorial to the men who took part.







Picture, Memorial St Ann's Square, 2014, from the collection of Andrew Simpson, and With the flag to Pretoria, from the series, The Boer War, issued by Tuck & Sons, circa 1901, courtesy of Tuck DB, http://tuckdb.org/

Remembering the South African War

It is the one in St Ann’s Square, commemorating the men who served in the South African campaign.

Location; Manchester

Picture; St Ann’s Square, 2010 from the collection of Andrew Simpson

Sapper J Houghton ...... who fought in South Africa and the Great War and was awarded medals by the old Queen and two Kings

Now I don’t know much about Sapper J Houghton, other than he served in the Royal Engineers and participated in both the South African War and the Great War.

I came across him yesterday when my old friend, David Harrop sent me this picture of Sapper Houghton’s medals, which include the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal, Victory Medal and two from the earlier conflict.

David tells me they will be in his special exhibition to be held next year in Central Ref to amrk the end of the Great War.

And for those with an interest in that earlier war, Sapper Houghton’s Queen’s South Africa Medal carries three clasps, for the Transvaal, Orange Free State and the Cape Colony.

I know that during that conflict he was with the Telegraph Battalion of the Royal Engineers and reached the rank of sergeant during the Great War.

There is a hint that he might have been from Bury but so far that is it.

In time there will be more.

Location; South Africa and the Western Front

Picture; the medals of Sapper J Houghton from the collection of David Harrop