The excellent Boer War and Great War family group to the Gammon family, Trumpeter G.H. Gammon, U Battery, Royal Horse Artillery later 3rd Brigade Royal Field Artillery would see service during the Boer War on operations at the Relief of Kimberley on 15th February 1900, in action at Paardeberg on 17th to 26th February 1900, and at Driefontein on 10th March 1900, as well as on operations in the Transvaal, being taken Prisoner of War during the famous action at Sanna’s Post, where five Victoria Crosses would be won. He would also later serve on the Western Front with 3rd Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery, he would later be registered as a Chelsea Pensioner after his discharge. Driver A. Gammon, 7th Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery would join the Army as a 14 year old boy soldier and Trumpeter, before later going on to see service on the Western Front from 15th August 1914 until 25th May 1917 when he returned home the UK having suffered an accident to his right knee on the front lines.
Group of 5: Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899-1902, 4 Clasps: Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal; (24299 TPTR. G.H. GAMMON. U BTY. R.H.A.) King’s South Africa Medal 1901-1902, 2 Clasps: South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902; (24299 GNR. G.H. GAMMON. R.H.A.) 1914 Star, clasp 5th Aug-22nd Nov; (24299 GNR. G.A. GAMMON. R.H.A.) British War Medal and Victory Medal;(24299 GNR. G.H. GAMMON. R.A.) Court-mounted for display.
Condition: court-mounted for display, toned, Good Very Fine
George Henry Gammon was born in Kirkee, India and attested at Woolwich on 27th November 1899 aged 14 years old. Initially serving at home, he would travel to South Africa on 21st December 1899, where he would serve as a Trumpeter (No. 24299) with U Battery, Royal Horse Artillery during the Boer War being present on operations at the Relief of Kimberley on 15th February 1900, in action at Paardeberg on 17th to 26th February 1900, and at Driefontein on 10th March 1900, as well as on operations in the Transvaal.
Gammon would be taken Prisoner at Sannah’s Post on 31st March 1900, where during the darkness De Wet infiltrated a force of riflemen into the ravine created by the Modder River, setting the kill zone of the ambush. At first light on 31 March, Piet de Wet's artillery opened fire from a set of small hills to the north as the British troops were striking camp for the morning. Tactical surprise was complete and all were sent into a state of confusion. The British force began to retreat as expected, in the direction of the ravine where the blocking force awaited with orders from De Wet to hold their fire. The civilian wagon drivers preceding the soldiers were seized by the Boers and told if they warned the British they would be shot. Therefore, the British soldiers suspected nothing and approached the river in small groups. As they did so De Wet’s troops ordered them to surrender, and approximately two hundred were captured, along with the six guns of U Battery.
An alert British officer noticed what was happening and ordered Q Battery to gallop away. De Wet's men then opened fire. The British fell back on a railway station which offered substantial cover, while Q Battery under Major Phipps-Hornby (joined by one gun from U Battery whose team managed to break away from de Wet) deployed in the open and opened fire.
This fire, combined with accurate rifle fire from the railway station, pinned down Christiaan de Wet's men, but Piet de Wet's forces were increasing their pressure. Broadwood's ammunition was running out, and he decided to retire to the south. His guns had first to be recovered. Five were hooked up and towed away, but two had to be abandoned. Many British soldiers were killed crossing the 1300 yards of open ground to retrieve the guns, but unit integrity was maintained.
Eventually, Broadwood managed to break contact. Approximately three hours later the 9th Infantry Division commanded by Major General Sir Henry Colville arrived to relieve the mounted brigade, but de Wet’s men had withdrawn to highly defensible positions across the Modder River and both sides retired from the field. This nevertheless left Bloemfontein's water works in Boer hands.
In all, the British suffered 155 men killed or wounded. 428 men, seven field artillery pieces and 117 wagons were captured. The Boer force suffered three killed and five wounded. But even more serious than the losses in the action was the loss of Bloemfontein's water supplies. This greatly aggravated an epidemic of enteric fever dysentery and cholera among the occupying British army, which eventually caused 2000 deaths.
During the fighting at Sanna’s Post, five Victoria Crosses would be won.
Gammon would later be released at Pretoria on 6th June 1900
After his time in South Africa he would return to the UK, before travelling to India on 10th October 1907, he would see four years service there before returning home, during the time between the Boer War and the Great War, Gammon would regularly appear on the Regimental conduct sheet for drunkenness, being absent for short periods of time and other relatively minor infractions. He would also suffer several bouts of Malaria picked up during his time in South Africa.
At the outbreak of the Great War, Gammon would travel to France and saw service on the Western Front from 15th August 1914 with 3rd Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery, he would later transfer to the Royal Field Artillery being discharged on 26th April 1919, subsequently being registered as a Chelsea Pensioner on 12th July 1919.
Group of 3: 1914 Star; together with copy 5th Aug - 22nd Nov clasp (not shown in images); (18422 DVR. A. GAMMON. R.H.A.) British War Medal and Victory Medal; (18422 DVR. A.E.R. GAMMON. R.A.) Court-mounted for display.
Condition: court-mounted for display, light toning, Good Very Fine
Arthur Ernest Ralph Gammon was born in Aldershot, Hampshire and attested at Woolwich on 23rd August 1901 aged 14 years and 8 months seeing service as a Boy soldier and then as a Trumpeter, he would be posted as a Driver to ‘B’ Depot on 18th June 1904 and on 15th March 1913 re-engaged to complete 21 years service, he would spend time in India and South Africa during his first period of service.
During the Great War, he saw service on the Western Front with 7th Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery from 15th August 1914 until 25th May 1917 when he returned to the UK having suffered an accident wound to his right knee whilst in action. He was finally discharged on 14th November 1920, he states that he would like to draw his pension from Leigh Road, Westcliff, Essex indicating he moved to this area after his discharge.
