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Auction: 25111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 159

The India General Service medal awarded to Private T. McCandlish, 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, who was later Killed in Action at Magersfontein on 11 December 1899

India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Relief of Chitral 1895 (3314 Pte. T. McCandlish 2d. Bn. Seaforth Highrs.), very fine

Thomas McCandlish was killed in action on 11 December 1899 at Magersfontein. The diary of Private John Winning, 2nd Seaforth Highlanders held in the Highlanders Museum records the events of 11 December 1899, stating:

'When we laid down that night it was impossible to sleep, for the cold, so we welcomed 12 o' clock. When we got orders to stand to arms we were told to light our pipes, as no lights had to be shown after we moved off; we were also told to look at our rifles and see that they were in working order, while doing this someone let off a round. This was rather unlucky as it must have let them know that we were coming. It turned so dark that a rope had to be passed from the front to the rear regiment so that we would not loose [sic] one another. We must have been very close to the hill when the Kimberly search light played on us, showing us up to the enemy in grand style. At about 4am daylight was just breaking. The regiments got the order to extend when a red light flashed on the hill, and the next minute a fearful storm of bullets were poured into us. We got the order to fire bayonets and lie down, but some of the front companies charged with a wild cheer but didn't get far before many of them were mowed down. At this stage, we received many conflicting orders, some being to charge others being to retire, till we did not know what to do. About this time General Wauchope was killed, although we did not know till we had to retire, which we had to do eventually but not for long as we advanced again in long extended lines, 5 paces between each man, to within 80 yards of the position where we laid down as it was impossible to get any closer owing to the heavy fire that was directed on us. Here we lay all day … but it was useless, as the courage of the troops had been fiercely broken at being led into such a death-trap at the commencement. At 5pm we got orders to retire, which we did for about 2 minutes, strong picquets were put out and we were told we were staying here for the night. We were issued with a dram of rum and a couple of biscuits.'

McCandlish is commemorated on the Dingwall Seaforth Highlanders Boer War Memorial; sold together with copied research.

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Sold for
£150

Starting price
£140