Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899-1902, 5 Clasps: Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal awarded to Driver A. Kearney, Royal Field Artillery who saw service in South Africa during the Boer War where he would take part in the operations in Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal as well as in the operations to relieve Ladysmith and in the action at Tugela Heights between 14th and 27th February 1900 and would be present at Moedwill on 30th September 1901 when the battery last 5 killed and 9 wounded. At the same action William Bees, 1st Battalion, Derbyshire Regiment would win the Victoria Cross for going forward under heavy fire to bring back a kettle full of water for his comrades. The kettle being hit by several bullets during his escapade.
Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899-1902, 5 Clasps: Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal; faint ghost dates to reverse (84459 DVR. A. KEARNEY. R.F.A.)
Condition: faint ghost dates to reverse, Nearly Extremely Fine
Alfred Kearney was born in Bootle, Liverpool and giving his trade as a Plumber enlisted on 11th April 1891 subsequently seeing service as a Private (No. 84459) with the Royal Field Artillery and would initially served at home, being injured when thrown from a horse on 31st December 1892.
He would travel to India on 10th October 1894, he would be convicted of disobeying a lawful command of a superior officer on 23rd November 1894 and would be imprisoned for 3 calendar months. He would remaining in India until on 4th December 1899.
He embarked for South Africa on 5th December 1899 and saw service in the Boer War with 5th Battery and later from 23rd December 1900 with 28th Battery, Royal Field Artillery in operations in the Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal as during the operations to relieve Ladysmith and in the action at Tugela Heights between 14th and 27th February 1900.
Along with 28th Battery, Royal Field Artillery he would be present at the action on Moedwill on 30th September 1901 where the battery lost 5 killed and 9 wounded. Gunner Wooding was mentioned for ‘lifting two shells from a portable magazine in which the cartridges were burning furiously.’
On the same day Corporal William Bees, 1st Battalion, Derbyshire Regiment would win the Victoria Cross:
‘Private Bees was one of the Maxim-gun detachment, which at Moedwil, on the 30th September, 1901, had six men hit out of nine. Hearing his wounded comrades asking for water, he went forward, under a heavy fire, to a spruit held by Boers about 500 yards ahead of the gun, and brought back a kettle full of water. In going and returning he had to pass within 100 yards of some rocks also held by Boers, and the kettle which he was carrying was hit by several bullets’
He would travel home from South Africa on 30th August 1902 and would be discharged on 10th April 1902
