Description
Queen’s South Africa Medal, bar Defence of Kimberley, 15893 Gunner George Cooper Kilpin, 23rd Western Division Royal Garrison Artillery. Who died during the siege.
Officially impressed: “15893 Gnr: G.C. Kilpin 23rd W.D. R.G.A.”
Excellent condition posthumous medal, with old silk ribbon.
Scarce to the Royal Artillery, only 98 men from the Royal Artillery earned the clasp out of about 5,500 clasps issued to the defenders.
Confirmed on the medal roll. With copy service papers.
During the Siege of Kimberley, less than 2 weeks from being freed, George died from Enteric (aka Typhoid) Fever on 2-4th February 1900.
His obituary was published soon afterwards back home in Yorkshire, with a sketch of him, he was looking forward to getting out into the field to get even with “Old Four Fingers” President Kruger:
“A LEEDS GUNNERS DEATH AT KIMBERLEY
Gunner George Cooper Kilpin, 23rd Company, R.G.A, whose death from Enteric Fever at Kimberley on Feb 2nd, has already been announced, was the eldest son of G.S. Kilpin, of 50 Wellclose View, Blackman Lane, for many years with Archibald Ramsden’s of Park Row.
The deceased soldier enlisted at Scarborough some 4 years ago and was transferred to Woolwich, where he worked as a Wheeler.
He went to South Africa in March 1898 and was sent ‘Up Country’ last September.
His letters from Kimberley prior to the investment of that town were full of enthusiasm at the prospect of fighting, and his strong wish was to get even with ‘Old Four Fingers’ as he termed President Kruger.
Gunner Kilpin will no doubt be remembers by the Old Boys at Belle Vue Board School, He was in his 25th year.”
A further entry in the Yorkshire Evening Post, 12th Feb 1900:
“The death is announced as having occurred at Kimberley of Gunner George C. Kilpin of the 23rd Company RA, eldest son of Mr G.S. Kilpin of Well Close View, Leeds.
Gunner Kilpin was 24 years of age, and prior to joining the Army, 4 years ago, he worked as a joiner at Hunslet. He had spent 2 years in South Africa. His brother is a member of the Leeds Rifles, and has volunteered for the reserve company about to be formed in connection with that corps. The deceased soldier died of enteric fever.”
George Cooper Kilpin, was born circa 1874 in Battersea, London.
He was raised in Yorkshire and before enlisting was already a member of the Yorkshire Artillery, Western Division Royal Artillery Militia.
Having been a Joiner and Militia Man he signed up for full time service at Scarborough on 6th July 1896.
However he was almost denied as he was under the required chest size requirement to be fit as a soldier, but he was “Specially Enlisted” as the surgeon said he was otherwise “Fit, Likely to Develop”.
He was approved by the Lt Col in Command, who wrote the following recommendation:
“This lad is very eager to join the Royal Artillery, he is one inch under the chest measurements.
He will I believe make a good soldier.”
