Other Properties - Australian Singles

Lot 3625    SESSION 13 (2.30PM THURSDAY 21ST NOV)    Other Properties - Australian Singles

Estimate $750
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,100

QUEEN'S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL 1899, (type 2 reverse with clear ghost dates), - four clasps - Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901. 2665 Bomb. C.Cowburn, N.S.W. Art. Impressed, note 'u' in surname upside down. Lovely gold toning, nearly uncirculated.

Charles Cowburn, plumber of Paddington, Sydney, NSW, A Battery, RAA, Bombardier and Corporal 13Dec1900.

Details of letters written by Charles Cowburn to his mother were published in the Goulburn Evening Penny Post on 26Jun1900 as follows,

Gunner C. Cowburn, a member of the A Battery, N.S.W. field artillery, writing to his mother, who resides in Ifield, Goulburn, gives some particulars of the movements of the battery. The letters are from Upington, about 200 miles from the Orange River. Writing on April 26, he says they left Orange River for what was supposed to be three days, only having the clothes they stood up in, but they had been away for two months at the time of writing.

They reached Upington in a rather dilapidated state and got fresh clothes from the deserted houses of the rebels. He says the Orange River is well named, for the banks are lined with orange trees, and the fruit was ripe when the troops were there. At Upington they got plenty of good tucker. They had six milking cows and plenty of poultry and eggs. Writing on May 21st he says, "I am very sorry to say that we have not fired a shot since coming here. The Boers won't give us a chance at all. We have not caught sight of them once since leaving Orange River. There have been some reports about the A Battery having been in action, but they are not true. I think we are the only lot out from Australia that has not fired a shot. There is one thing we can say and that is that we made the longest march in South Africa as yet. We marched from the Orange River to Upington, a distance of over 200 miles, and in some parts we had to graze the horses along the road for their dinner to spin out the oats. We came to a deserted store along the road and there was a splash for the gunners there all right. We lost one of our chaps at Dratghoonah (sic should be spelt Draghoender). He was kicked by a horse, which caused lockjaw and he died. His name was Edwards. I have had the river fever and am still in hospital, but out of danger. I will he glad when it is over, and may the Lord teach me better sense next time about coming to such an ungodly place."

Writing two days later he says he expects to leave hospital in seven days for light duty. "We get plenty of good tucker while in a standing camp at leave," he writes. "We spend some of our time gathering oranges and going after bees' nests which are found in the old ant-hills. There are no trees big enough for them. We catch a spy nearly every week. The Boers are frightened of our guns. That is why they won't come in to Upington. As soon as they saw us coming they cleared out of the town and left a lot of things behind. Some left their houses and all that was in them. It was quite a little harvest for us - spirits, wines, flour, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes, which are all the go here."

With research.