Extracts and Comments
(from Sources as shown) | |
Murray: Saddler-Sergeant died of wounds 14.1.1902 Onverwacht.
Source:# 22 War Memorial Brisbane.
Fogg: heroism at Onverwacht 4.1.1902, buried at Wakkerstroom, possibly 'The Doctor' who stole Gen. Plumer's horse.
B5172: next of kin in Charters Towers Qld.
Source:# 1010 Wakkerstroom Memorial photo, Sgt. SHANNON J QIB died 9.1.1902.
URL4: unofficially reported died of wounds in hospital following action at Sprintskop near Walkerstroom, Qld. Government seeking details.
URL5: Sgt. SHANNON a Qlder died of wounds c13.1.1902.
URL7: Several dreary weeks of trekking on the Amersfont road followed before the column reached Onverwacht, where a big fight was made with 900 Boers. The casualties in PLUMER's column in this engagement were nineteen killed, and thirty-seven wounded. Major VALENTINE, commanding the corps, was among the slain, and Captain JOHNSON of the Scottish Imperial Yeomanry, while several Queenslanders also fell, including Sergeants BERRY and POWER (the latter being mentioned in despatches for coolness and daring in action) and SHANNON, privates CHARDON, SALT, MACFARLANE and LILLEY, while Captain CARTER and Lieutenant HIGGINSON were severely wounded. It was in this engagement that Major TOLL displayed that special bravery that caused his name to be mentioned in the London "Gazette" for bravery and coolness in leadership. Company-Sergeant KNYVETT and Reg.-Sergeant Major PRICE being also mentioned for coolness. Major TOLL was himself too modest to tell our representative much of his own doings, but the other officers speak in the highest terms of his leadership. "Don't forget," said one of them, "to say that we all call TOLL 'The Fighting Major.'"
URL8: LONDON, Jan 11 [1902]. In the fighting at the end of last week, when Generals PLUMER and SPENS and Colonel PULTENEY attacked a considerable Boer force under Commandants Chris BOTHA and OPPERMAN, and drove it from a position north of Amersfoort, in the South Eastern Transvaal, a detachment commanded by Major JM VALLENTIN, of the Somersetshire Light Infantry, who was attached to the South African Constabulary, suffered severely. Major VALLENTIN and 18 men being killed and 5 officers and 28 men wounded. The following casualties occurred among the Fifth Queensland Bushmen, who formed part of Major VALLENTIN's detachment - Killed - Private A BELIN. - Severely Wounded - Captain H CARTER, Lieutenant J HIGGINSON, Serrgeant J SHANNON, Corporals C BYRNE, F EFENWICK (sic) and B SMITH, Bugler W BUSBIE, and Privates D ARNOLD, H DOBE, E NORMAN, AE MURRAY, W PALMER and F SINCLAIR. - Slightly Wounded - Privates W BATCHELOR, J MACARTIE and G WATERTON.
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