Description
IGS 1895, 3 bars, QSA, 3 bars, Defence of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast, 4370 Private Charles Connell, Gordon Highlanders, Severely wounded during the Defence of Ladysmith on 6th Jan 1900 during the Battle of Wagon Hill.
IGS officially engraved in running script: “4370 Pte C. Connell. 1st Bn Gord Highrs.”
QSA officially impressed: “4370 Pte C. Connell, Gordon Highrs.” With 2nd Battalion.
Both medal on original silk ribbons, the IGS (due to the short-sightedness in issuing the Relief of Chitral clasp without top lugs to attach further clasps which followed right afterwards) has had the bottom clasp fitted with top lugs to attach the later issued 2 clasps, after having originally received the medal with Relief of Chitral clasp only first. Once the extra clasps were fitted the medal has had a silk ribbon with sewn on brooch to be worn on uniform during his service.
He left the QSA on the silk ribbon as earned at the end of his career following his wounding, this one pretty much unworn condition.
All medals and clasps confirmed on the medal rolls. He also earned a KSA for further service in South Africa following his recovery.
During the Siege of Ladysmith a great battle was fought where Private Charles Connell received “Severe Wounds, Gunshots to Back and Arm” according to his service records and the official casualty lists.
The Battle was known as the Battle of Wagon Hill, He would become of the casualties of the day, the British repulsing the attack at the cost of 175 Killed in Action and 249 Wounded.
Amongst the casualties was the Gordon Highlanders officer Major Claude Miller-Wallnutt DSO, who was killed leading the 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders in command of his company. Also Lt Col William Henry Dick-Cunyngham VC, of the Gordons was mortally wounded in the fighting and died the next day.
The Brits would receive 3 Victoria Crosses for the Battle, 2 to the British Army and 1 to the Imperial Light Horse.
Chris Ash wrote a detailed article on the battle:
Notably whilst earning his Punjab Frontier and Tirah clasps to the IGS, the Gordon Highlanders stormed the Dargai Heights in October 1897, leading to the award of the Victoria Cross to 2 of the men from the regiment including their Piper Findlater who although wounded piped the men until he passed out from blood loss.
Charles Connell, was born in Marylebone, London during 1873, into an Irish family from Limerick, Munster, Ireland.
His parents were absent from the 1881 Census, leaving young Charles to be raised by his Grandparents Thomas and Mary Connell, both born in Limerick.
Charles worked as a Shoemaker as a boy,
