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QSA KSA Rifle Brigade Wounded Hart’s Hill

£395.00

QSA, 4 bars, KSA, 2 bars, 884 Pte Richard P. Dillon, 1st Bn Rifle Brigade, wounded in action on 27th February 1900 during Battle of Tugela Heights at Hart’s Hill. Later died in a fire during 1927.

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SKU: J7566 Category:
Origin: United Kingdom
Nearly Extremely Fine

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Queen’s South Africa, 4 bars, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, King’s South Africa, 2 bars, SA 1901, SA 1902, 884 Pte Richard Pilkington Dillon, 1st Bn Rifle Brigade, wounded in action on 27th February 1900 during Battle of Tugela Heights at Hart’s Hill.

 

Essex Standard 8th February reports on a court case of some Essex Postmen including Dillon who were part of a Horse Racing scam where the postmen would place into an earlier postmarked envelope the winning horses of a race allowing it to be delivered under the false pretence that it had been sent earlier than the race, a testimonial to Dillon’s character reads:

 

“…The two prisoners, Dillon and Croft, were Post Office officials who had hitherto borne excellent characters…..

 

Counsel also addressed the Judge on behalf of Dillon, who, he said, served in the South African War, and was with the Ladysmith relieving force, and took part in several big battles and was twice wounded, and returned to take part in King Edward’s Coronation ceremonies. He was only to receive 10s to open the letter. He was entitled to a pension, which he would lose if his Lordship sentenced him to a sentence of hard labour.”

 


QSA officially impressed: “884 Pte R Dicton. Rifle Brigade.” Slight misspelling due to handwriting on medal roll.
KSA officially impressed: “884 Pte R Dillon. Rifle Brigade.”

 


Richard Pilkington Dillon was born in Bengal India, the son of Gerald Massey Dillon and Caroline, being christened on 8th October 1872 in Purneah, Bengal.
He was part of a British Indian Family, his father also being born in Madras India circa 1841. Who worked with the Eastern Bengal Railway.

 

One day Richard signed up as a Sailor, seemingly with a view to leave behind India and make his way to England. Later arriving at Winchester aged 19, where he joined the Rifle Brigade on 28th October 1890.

 

He got off to a rocky start when on 26th December 1893 he was arrested, and was tried and sentenced to a lengthy 6 months of imprisonment and hard labour for “Striking his superior Officer”.

 

“At Fort William on the 26th December 1893, he struck with his clenched fist in the face and kicked Sergeant David *** of the same battalion, his superior officer, and in the execution of his office.”

 

Whilst a prisoner he did end up with 1 day of no bread and water, for communicating with his sentry and also being improperly dressed.

 

He had other less violent convictions in his earlier years, in 1891 he was caught “will fully making away with rations” earning 7 days confinement, then in the same year was caught “Fighting in the Barracks about 9.30 pm” earning another 5 days.

 

In July 1893 he was found to have been stealing “Malt Liquor from the liquor bar”

 

Later whilst in Hong Kong, he was arrested in the Colonial Hotel, being reported by the Proprietor of the Hotel for being “Drunk, Improperly Dressed and for creating a disturbance in the Colonial Hotel about 4pm. on 30th June 1895.

 

He states in court during 1912 that he was “Twice wounded” in South Africa.

 

He received his 1st Wound in action whilst earning his “Tugela Heights” Clasp, during the Battle of Tugela Heights on 27th February 1900, he was wounded in action at “Pieter’s Hill”, later known as Hart’s Hill, due to the great sacrifice of Hart’s Irish Brigade in the assault.

 

A short summary of the 2 week battle that led to many casualties and the gallant final assault that ended with a wounded Pte Dillon:

 

“The battalion took part in the heavy work between 13th and 27th February, and won the commendation of General Buller. In his telegram of 20th February the general mentioned 3 infantry battalions, one of which was the 1st Rifle Brigade.

 

On 18th February there fell to the Durham Light Infantry and 1st Rifle Brigade the task of attacking the nek between Greenhill and Monte Cristo. They wasted no time, and were soon in the laager behind the nek. On the 23rd these two battalions crossed the river, and in the forenoon received orders to support Hart's attack on Inniskilling Hill, but the attack was over before they arrived at the hill-foot.

 

During the next four days, except on the 25th, the battalion was constantly fighting, being the leading battalion on the left of the line in the final assault on the 27th.

 

In the fourteen days' fighting the Rifle Brigade's losses, including those of officers and men in the Composite Rifle Battalion, were approximately 14 men killed, 8 officers and 117 men wounded.”

 

His second “wound” appears to be an amputated finger, a court of enquiry was held on 11th March 1902 in the 18th General Hospital at Charlestown where Pte Dillon explaining his injuries states:

 

“On the 14th August 1900, I was with General Lyttleton’s Brigade. I was carrying some water in a tin, I fell, with the tin in my hand and cut my finger. I then got it dressed by the medical staff. It went on all night for a time, but afterwards it began to grow backwards and I had it taken off 20th Feb 1902 at Charlestown Hospital.”

 

He would see the following overseas service, including 2 years in Hong Kong shortly after the outbreak of the Plague:

 

Home, 23rd October 1890 – 21st Feb 1892
East India – 22nd Feb 1892 – 29th Nov 1894
Hong Kong – 30th Nov 1894 – 22nd Nov 1896
Singapore – 23rd Nov 1896 – 12th Feb 1898
Home – 13th Feb 1898 – 27th Oct 1899 (Army Reserve)
South Africa – 28th October 1899 – 25th June 1902 (Mobilised for war)
Home, 26th June 1902 – 22nd October 1902 (According to a later claim by him, he was present at King Edward’s Coronation in 1902 on 9th August 1902)
Not long afterwards he rejoined form 13th January 1903 until 12th January 1907.

 

A note later added to his service filed in 1912 reads that he should no longer be recommended for any further employment by the Army due to his conviction as a postman.

 

During the First World War, he was now about 43 years old, he joined the 15th Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps on 4th February 1915, being swiftly promoted up the ranks to Sergeant.
He later served with the Labour Company of the D.L.I. and the Labour Corps also a Sergeant.
As he only served at home he earned no medals for the war.
He was discharged as no longer fit on 17th February 1917.

 

Essex Standard 8th February reports on a court case of some Essex Postmen including Dillon who were part of a Horse Racing scam where the postmen would place into an earlier postmarked envelope the winning horses of a race allowing it to be delivered under the false pretence that it had been sent earlier than the race, a testimonial to Dillon’s character reads:

 

“…The two prisoners, Dillon and Croft, were Post Office officials who had hitherto borne excellent characters…..

 

Counsel also addressed the Judge on behalf of Dillon, who, he said, served in the South African War, and was with the Ladysmith relieving force, and took part in several big battles and was twice wounded, and returned to take part in King Edward’s Coronation ceremonies. He was only to receive 10s to open the letter. He was entitled to a pension, which he would lose if his Lordship sentenced him to a sentence of hard labour.”

 

Dillon would be sentenced to 6 months in prison for his part in the scheme but was spared hard labour to save his pension, thanks to his brave war service.

 

“He was sorry to have to sentence men of hitherto good characters, but, with a view to saving Prisoner Dillon his pension, he would not sentence them to hard labour.”

 

His death, Essex Newsman 26th March 1927:

 

“SOUTHEND-ON-SEA
TRAGIC DEATH – Sheltering from a rainstorm in a watchman’s hut on Wednesday, Richard Pilkington Dillon, of Southend, had a fit, and, falling on to the fire, was burned. He died almost immediately.

 

The disappearance of his older brother, Gerald, in the Civil & Military Gazette (Lahore), 22nd February 1901:

 

“REWARD OF Rs 25.
A Person deeply interested is most anxious to ascertain the whereabouts of Gerald Massey Dillon, who was last employed on the wharves in Rangoon, and who suddenly disappeared about October 1896. He was at the time about 28 years of age, of short stature, about 5 foot 5 1/2 ins., slight physique, with red Moustache and grey eyes.
Will any kind friend help with any information of whatsoever kind that he may possess. Any certain information that will tell where he is or what has become of him, will entitle the informant to a reward of Rs 25.”