Description
Queen’s South Africa, 6 bars, Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Laing’s Neck, Belfast, 4353 Private Harry Talboys, 18th Hussars.
Officially engraved: “4353 Pte H. Talboys. 18/Hrs”
Confirmed on the medal roll, with copy service papers.
He also earned the matching KSA with 2 bars for further service during the war.
Good crisp condition. A good selection of clasps beginning with the early Battle of Talana which led into becoming besieged at Ladysmith.
According to the regimental history, he served with C Squadron during the Boer War.
Harry Talboys was born in the Parish of Vinehall in Battle, Sussex during 1875.
Being raised in Ore, Hastings, Sussex.
Aged 19, he signed on for service with the 18th Hussars, on 13th December 1894.
Going into the war, he earned his medal as a Private, but was promoted to Lance Corporal on 6th December 1900, and retained the rank when he was transferred to the Army Reserve after the end of the war on 7th November 1902.
He saw the following postings:
Home, 13th December 1894 – 9th September 1895
India, 10th September 1895 – 14th October 1898
South Africa, 15th October 1898 – 31st October 1902
Home, 1st Nov 1902 – 6th Nov 1902.
Army Reserve, 7th November 1902 – 12th December 1906.
After returning from active service, he married Charlotte Priscilla Sweetapple in Heatherlands, Dorset.
He lived in Poole, Dorset, where he worked as a Tram Car Fitter during 1911.
He died there aged 38 during mid 1914 before WW1.
His death was announced in the local Swanage and Wareham Guardian on 8th August 1914:
“NIGHT FOREMAN’S FUNERAL
The Funeral of the late Mr Harry Talboys, aged 38 years, of 8 Brook Road, Branksome, a night foreman in the employ of the Bournemouth Corporation Tramways, who died suddenly on Tuesday last, the inquest on whose body was reported in our last issue, took place at the Poole Cemetery on Saturday, and was attended by 28 of the deceased workmate’s of all grades, employed on the Corporation tramways, while the Upper Parkstone Conservative Club was presented by Mr Snell.
Numerous wreaths were sent from ‘His loving Wife and Children’, Fannty Talboys (Sister), General Manager of the Bournemouth Corporation Tramways, the members of the Upper Parkstone Conservative Club,…”
He had sadly died whilst working, whilst engaged in cutting a threat on a bolt, “He suddenly fell sideways into witness’s arms, and never spoke afterwards.”
His death was subject to a lengthy inquest which the article in the Swanage Guardian on 1st August 1914 under the title “Tramway Foreman’s Sudden Death”:
INQUEST AT UPPER PARKSTONE.
At the Retreat Hotel, Upper Parkstone, on Thursday morning, the Poole Borough Coroner (Mr. E. J. Conway) and a jury, of whom Mr. Alfred H. Milledge was the foreman, held an inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of Harry Talboys, aged 38 years, of 8, Brook Road, Branksome, a night foreman in the employ of the Bournemouth Corporation Tramways. Mr. F. M. Cook, assistant solicitor to the Bournemouth Corporation, and Mr. Ignatius Bulfin, general tramways manager, attended in the interests of the Bournemouth Corporation.
Mrs. Charlotte Priscilla Talboys, the widow gave evidence of identification, and stated that she last saw her husband alive about 9 p.m. on Tuesday, when he went to his work at the Central Tramway Depôt, Bournemouth, apparently in his usual state of health. He was not a strong man, but had not been medically attended for about two years. He then suffered from haemorrhage of the lungs and was attended by Dr. Montgomery. The deceased always worked at night time until 8.30 in the morning, and had never complained that the work was too much for him.
Walter George Watts, Rossmore Cottage, Albert Road, Branksome, a fitter in the employ of the Bournemouth Corporation Tramways, deposed that about 8.22 p.m. he was cleaning his tools at a bench at the Upper Parkstone Tramway depôt. The deceased and two other men named Clarke and Nicklin were also there. Deceased was engaged in cutting a thread on a bolt, and remarking, “We will run the thing down once more,” he suddenly fell sideways into witness’s arms, and never spoke afterwards. They got some cushions, laid the deceased down on them, and sent for a doctor, but death had occurred before the medical man arrived. Witness heard no complaint of illness from the deceased.
By the Jury: The work did not entail any undue exertion on the part of the deceased, and deceased did not strike himself by falling to the ground.
Charles Octavius Nicklin, brakesman, of 2, Richmond Road, Upper Parkstone, stated that the deceased entered the depot about 7.50 a.m. on Wednesday morning and looked over the reports. About 8.20 witness told him that he had a bolt to cut down, and after he (Nicklin) had cut it down about two inches, the deceased undertook to finish it. Whilst thus engaged, he fell into the arms of the previous witness.
The Coroner: Was it laborious work?
Witness: It was hard work to cut a new thread down, but he never complained at all. Deceased did not appear to be exhausted.
Dr. S. Montgomery said he attended the deceased for tuberculosis in January, 1912. Talboys joined witness’s panel under the Insurance Act, but he (the doctor) was always enquiring as to his health, and had warned the Corporation Tramways authorities that deceased would not get well unless he was given some outdoor work. They stated that it would be practically impossible, as the deceased’s work was indoors, but they intimated that they would do all they could for him. No doubt they had done that, but deceased was one of those men who did not like to shirk work. Witness had seen the body since death, and, speaking from previous experience, he should say that death was due to tuberculosis, accelerated by over exertion in turning the screw; a little exertion would have told upon him compared with a strong man.
Mr. Bulfin told the Court that the deceased entered the employ of the Corporation Tramways department in 1903 as an ordinary cleaner, was promoted to be a brakesman in 1906, and subsequently became night foreman, his duties being merely to superintend the work at the depots. He was the best foreman they had in the tramway service. In 1910 the deceased had a very bad attack of haemorrhage of the lungs, but was certified as fit for work in January, 1911. It was recommended, however, that fresh air would be beneficial to him, and he was given employment as time keeper in the Square at Bournemouth at the usual rate of wages he was paid as night foreman. He held that position for three months and then was anxious to take up his ordinary duties, as he wanted to get back to the depot, and his work then was merely that of superintending.
The Coroner, in summing up, said it seemed to have been the case of a willing horse, of a man taking a delight in his work and ready to help anybody. The Bournemouth Corporation Tramways Department had been considerate to him, for he was not employed upon any hard work, and he seemed to have been a workman who was respected and valued by his employers.
A verdict was returned to the effect that death was the result of tuberculosis, accelerated by over-exertion, and the jury added a rider that no blame was to be attached to the deceased’s employers, who had treated him in an extremely considerate manner. They also handed over their fees to the widow.
Mr. Cook desired, on behalf of the Corporation, to express deep sympathy with the widow and children.
The Coroner: That is also the feeling of the jury and myself.”
