An interesting South Africa Boer War veteran of the Battle of Talana and the defence of Ladysmith, and Great War 1914 Old Contemptible’s group awarded to Private G. Shemeld, 1st Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps. From Sheffield, West Yorkshire, he had an interesting military career, and saw service out in South Africa with ‘A’ Company, being present at the Battle of Talana on 20 October 1899 and then during the defence of Ladysmith through to late February 1900 amongst other actions. As a Reservist, he saw service during the Great War out on the Western Front with the British Expeditionary Force from 13 August 1914. but was sent home on 6 October and discharged two months later, being no longer physically fit and awarded the Silver War Badge. He died in February 1918 whilst a Chelsea out-pensioner.
Group of 5: Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899-1902, 6 Clasps: Cape Colony, Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Laing’s Nek, Belfast; (1096 PTE. G. SHEMELD. K.R.R.C.); King’s South Africa Medal 1901-1902, 2 Clasps: South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902; (1096 PTE. G. SHEMELD. K.R.R.C.); 1914 Star with original Clasp; (1096 PTE. G. SHEMELD. 1/K.R.RIF:C.); British War Medal and Victory Medal; (1096 PTE. G. SHEMELD. K.R.RIF.C.)
Condition: light contact wear, Good Very Fine.
Together with the recipient’s Silver War Badge, reverse officially numbered: ’60394’.
George Shemeld was born in 1875 in Highfields, and by 1881 was at nearby Ecclesall Bierlow, Sheffield, Yorkshire, he being the son of John and Emily Shemeld. Having worked as a cutter, he then attested for service with the British Army at Sheffield on 7 September 1898, stating that he had previous service in the Yorkshire Artillery with the Western Division, R.A. Around then he was also in a relationship out of wedlock, and ultimately his first child was also born out of wedlock.
Shemeld joined as a Rifleman (No.1096) the King’s Royal Rifle Corps at Gosport, being posted from the Depot to the 3rd Battalion on 7 January 1899, and then to the 1st Battalion on 13 May 1899. As such he was deployed to South Africa on that date, this being where his battalion was then stationed, and he was there on the outbreak of the Boer War. He left behind his illegitimate child and the mother, and it was just prior to the outbreak of the war that the army became aware that his child had been or else was to be born out of wedlock, as a note from the officer commanding ‘A’ Company would attest. It seems that the had written to his commanding officer requesting financial support and Shemeld was forced to admit to his predicament.
Shemeld saw service with ‘A’ Company, and was present in action the Battle of Talana on 20 October 1899, and then formed part of the forces defending Ladysmith through to 28 February 1900. He subsequently participated in operations in the Cape Colony and the Orange Free State, and was present at both Laing’s Nek and Belfast. With the cessation of hostilities, Shemeld was posted home from 25 July 1902, and was posted back to the Depot, being then transferred to the 1st Class Army Reserve two days later on 27 July 1902, this being the same date that he was sent before a Court Martial at Gosport, quite possibly owing to the revelation of his having to come clean about the existence of a child.
At Derby on 6 April 1903, he would however marry one Elizabeth Shillito. On 17 January 1906, their first child, George was born in Sheffield. On 3 June 1909, Harry Shemeld, their second child, would be born in Sheffield. Shemeld’s time with the Army Reserve came to an end on 6 September 1910, and only three days later he re-attached with Class D of the Army Reserve. As of 1911 he was working as a gas marker, when living in Sheffield with his wife and two young children at 8 Brompton Road.
As a Reservist, he was recalled on the outbreak of the Great War, being mobilised on 4 August 1914, and posted to the 1st Battalion, King’s Royal Rifles Corps on the following day. He saw service with the British Expeditionary Force out on the Western From from 13 August 1914, but was then posted home to the Depot on 6 October 1914, and discharged ‘no longer physically fit for service’ on 9 December 1914 owing to sickness, with the above numbered Silver War Badge No.60394 being confirmed as awarded to him. Shemeld was admitted as an out-pensioner at Chelsea, and died on 11 February 1918, his gravestone being still present in Sheffield City Road Cemetery.
