Description
Queen’s South Africa, 4 bars, Cape Colony, Rhodesia, Orange Free State, Transvaal, King’s South Africa, 2 bars, SA 1901, SA 1902, Lieutenant Albert Henry Bintley, Kimberley Horse.
QSA officially impressed: “Lieut: A. H. Bintley. Kimberley Horse.”
KSA officially engraved “Officer Style”: “Lt A. H. Bintley. Kimberley Horse.”
Toned, an unusual Officer’s pair both named to the Kimberley Horse.
Slighty Wounded in Action at Kipdrift on 7th March 1902, Whilst Sergeant Major of Dennison’s Scouts.
On this day known as the “Lord Methuens Disaster” or the Battle of de Klipdrift/Tweebosch the column was defeated, although not without making a glorious stand almost to the last man, leading to the wounding and capture of the commander, Lord Methuen becoming the first and last British General captured by the Boers, in one of their final major victories of the War.
Albert Henry Bintley was originally a Yorkshireman, born in Halifax, Yorkshire on 14th March 1873, being baptised there at St Augustine’s on 30th May 1875.
After his schooling he worked as a Shoemaker, whilst also serving in the 3rd Militia Battalion of the West Riding Regiment, his experiences working with leather as a shoemaker may have assisted his rise as a Saddler and in various mounted units.
Once he turned 18 years old, he signed on for full time service with the West Riding Regiment at Halifax on 23rd December 1891.
Having transferred to the 2nd Battalion West Ridings in 1893, he was posted overseas for service with them in South Africa on 6th June 1893, sailing under Colonel E. Nesbitt in April.
However after almost 4 years in the country, and his regiment having taken part in the Matabele Uprising (he does not appear on the medal roll for this), rather than continue on with the Army and return home he took the route of “Discharge by Purchase” on 24th February 1897.
During the Boer War, Captain G.C. Dennison DSO raised his unit, Dennison’s Scouts in September of 1900.
One of his early additions to the ranks was Albert, who joined them on 15th December 1900, being about 4th March 1902, holding the rank of Sergeant Major.
Enrolment records from the war notes that Albert was a “Saddler” working in South Africa following him leaving the West Ridings, recording his next of kin as his Aunt Mrs Wood back home in Brighouse.
AngloBoerWar.com has a section on the unit, detailing their services at this time:
https://www.angloboerwar.com/unit-information/south-african-units/322-dennisons-scouts
Casualty Reports from the war note: “Dennison’s Scouts – 26189 Sergeant Major A.H. Bentley, Slightly Wounded, Leg and Arm.”
The casualty list included Lord Methuen, who was wounded leading this Column, See further details of the battle in these articles, which notes 58 men of the Dennison’s Scouts present.
http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol054jo.html
https://www.battletoursza.com/tweebosch/
After his discharge he joined the Kimberley Light Horse, noted as “Transferred to GWLH”.
He remained in South Africa and died there on 13th February 1938 at East London, being described as a “Retired Pensioner” aged 64.
