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Auction: 26002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 62

A superb 'V.C. action' casualty's Queen's South Africa Medal awarded to Bombardier T. Langler, 7th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, who was severely wounded trying to save the guns at Colenso alongside Frederick Roberts V.C.

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Relief of Ladysmith (16730 Bomb: J. Langler, 7th Bty., R.F.A.), good very fine

James Langler was born at Stepney, London in 1878 and enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery on 9 October 1896. He entered the war in South Africa with No. 7 Battery, R.F.A. and was soon in action during General Buller's march on Ladysmith.

The Battery went into action at the bloody battle of Colenso, the start of the army's 'Black Week' in October 1899. Colonel Long disastrously ordered the 66th and 14th Batteries, Royal Field Artillery into action too close to the Boer positions causing them to be swept by fire from artillery and snipers. The guns were soon all but cleared and the position was almost impossible to reinforce.

Thus men from other batteries, reinforced by soldiers from Hart's Irish Brigade, were ordered to save the guns. Repeated attempts came to nothing with Lord Robert's only son Lieutenant Frederick Roberts killed in the effort, earning a posthumous V.C.. This was awarded alongside similar awards to Captains Schofield and Congreve, Corporal Nurse, Private Ravenhill and Captain Reed, with the former being a member of the 7th Battery.

Reed led a group of thirteen men of his 7th battery, three wagon teams and twenty-two horses from cover in the attempt to rescue to situation. Unfortunately he was driven back with some eight of his thirteen men becoming casualties. These men appear on the casualty roll, including Langler who was severely wounded, he appears alongside the six men of the Battery who earned the D.C.M. for their actions. A total of thirteen men of the 66th and 7th Batteries received these awards in recognition of their efforts.

Despite the severity of his wound, Langler survived and appears upon the 1901 census at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Stepney; sold together with copied research.

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Estimate
£300 to £500

Starting price
£240