Description
Queen’s South Africa, 2 bars, Cape Colony, Wittebergen, 2294 Pte Robert Hullah, 2nd Bn Scots Guards, An emotive casualty medal to a Yorkshireman son of a Crimean Veteran.
Officially engraved: “2294 Pte R. Hullah Scots Gds”
Confirmed on the medal roll, with copy of original medal application from his service records, made by his grieving father.
With very detailed copy service papers, unusual for a casualty.
“Dear Sir, I am writing to you on account of my son’s medals, Private R. Hullah No 2294 2nd Scotch Guards. I want to let you know that I have not lived with my wife for the past 20 years and I willed the money to her at the Leeds Town Hall and I ahve to have the Medals.
I am an Old Veteran myself I was in the 4th Division of the 63rd Regiment I have 9 pence a day for life pension and am 70 years of age, I have Sebastopool Medal (Crimea) and Turkish Medal and bar, and I think my sons medals will go very well with them and I a was discharged with a very good character when I left my regiment.”
– A 1902 dated letter from Robert’s Father to the Army, in a plea to at least have his Son’s medal as he was no longer coming back home.
This would be one last honour for the old veteran, who soon afterwards died during 1905.
Guardsman Robert Hullah, was a Yorkshireman born in Leeds, Yorkshire, circa 1874.
Son of Charles Henry Robinson Hullah and Sarah (Witty).
He signed on for the Scots Guards, straight from the local Yorkshire Artillery Militia aged 24 on 13th August 1898.
He served in South Africa from 15th March 1900 to 23rd July 1900, before he succumbed to Enteric Fever on 23rd July 1900.
Going out to South Africa to fight in the Boer War, he would earn these 2 clasps to his medal and likely took part in the Battle of Biddulphsberg from his entitlement and unit.
He died of Enteric Fever at Senekal on 23rd July 1900, with the 2nd Bn Scots Guards.
He is now commemorated on the Holy Trinity North and South Gallery Panels in Yorkshire.
Also the Household Cavalry & Guards Memorial in Windsor.
Also the Duncombe Place Edwardian Cross Boer War Memorial in York, North Yorkshire.
After his death, his father was allowed to claim the medal on his behalf, his service papers include copies of the Scots Guards Application for the QSA, as his next of kin, rather than his mother who had not seen his father in “20 years”, but his father was as noted an Crimean War Veteran.
His father signed with his mark: “Charles Hullah, father to the deceased, 22 Musgrave Fold Bank Leeds, 22nd November 1902.”
