Description
Queen’s South Africa Medal, 3 bars, 3086 Private John George Vaughan, Northumberland Fusiliers. Severely Wounded at Nootigedacht on 13th December 1900.
Officially impressed: “3086 Pte. J.G. Vaughan, North’d: Fus:”
Confirmed on the medal roll. With copy service papers.
Also earned the Sudan 1898 Pair and KSA, both bars.
John George Vaughan was born in Dublin, Ireland, circa 1872
His Father John (Born 1842 in Greenwich Kent) was a “Pensioner of the Corps of Commissaries” in 1881.
His Mother Caroline (born 1851) came from Beltchingley, Surrey.
Attested at Dover on 26th January 1902, having worked as a Printer, aged 20 years 6 months old.
Served:
Home: 26th Jan 1892 – 26th Dec 1892
India, 17th Dec 1892 – 3rd March 1895
Singapore, 5th March 1895 – 31st Dec 1896
Gibraltar, 1st Jan 1897 – 16th Jan 1898
Crete, 3rd Oct 1898 – 18th April 1899
Home, 19th April 1899 – 3rd Nov 1899
South Africa, 4th Nov 1899 – 15th September 1902
Home, 15th Sept 1899 – 15th September 1899.
Campaigns Fought: Sudan Expedition 1898-99, Occupation of Crete 1898, South Africa Boer War 1899-1902.
At the Battle of Nooitgedacht, fought on the 13th December 1900, the British Camp of 1500 men ended up with 50% becoming casualties.
General Smuts later wrote “I do not think it was possible to have selected a more fatal spot for the camp.”
The 1500 strong British Force, including Pte Vaughan of the Northumberland Fusiliers, was under command of Major General R.A.P. Clements, being attacked by a superior Boer Commando numbering 2100 men, led by Generals Koos de la Rey and Christiaan Beyers.
Clements force consisted of the 2nd North’d Fus (With Vaughan), 2nd Worcesters, 1st Border Regt, 2nd York LI and 900 mounted Troops under Colonel Ridley, along with the 8th Battery RFA.
4 Companies of the Northumberland Fusiliers, who were holding the ridges overlooking the camp, were surrounded and captured by the enemy.
The British were severely beaten, and Maj Gen Clements was rather lucky to not have his whole force wiped out.
He managed to lose half of his brigade, thanks to his terrible choice for the camp.
Total British Losses out of 1500 men came to about 88 killed, 171 wounded and 372 missing or taken as prisoners.
