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QSA Wounded Magersfontein Gordon Highrs

QSA, bar Cape Colony, 3523 Pte John Grindrod, Gordon Highlanders, wounded in action at Magersfontein with the Highlanders on 11th Dec 1899, died 1919 RM Labour Company

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SKU: J7954 Category:
Origin: United Kingdom
Extremely Fine

Description

QSA, bar Cape Colony, 3523 Pte John Grindrod, Gordon Highlanders, wounded in action at Magersfontein with the Highlanders on 11th Dec 1899, which caused his discharge.

 

John was no fresh faced recruit, he was an active member of the Army Reserve, having enlisted in 1890 at 18 to do his “Colour’s Service”, he had been posted to India with the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders, and was in receipt of the Indian General Service Medal (1895), with 3 bars, for the Relief of Chitral, Punjab Frontier and Tirah. The 1st Gordons saw much action including the famous storming of Dargai Heights, where Piper Findlater earned the Victoria Cross.

 

He rejoined for the Boer War, but only 3 weeks in was wounded at Magersfontein, leaving him unfit for further service.
This however, did not stop him 15 years later, now in his 40s from re-enlisting, to do his part in World War 1.

 

Joining up in London on 17th May 1915 with he Army Service Corps, serving for a year at Home, earning no medals, before it was discovered he was not properly fit to service.

 

A close medical examination after reporting Pneumonia “He had previously reported in India during 1898” recorded his further injured foot “From a Gun Shot Wound in South Africa.”

 

Could you stop a man so determined and indomitable, Pneumonia, a bad heart, limping around courtesy of a likely Mauser bullet?

 

Evidently not, he took himself away from the Army, who held records on his long list of medical problems, and joined up with the “Royal Marine Labour Corps”, he attested in 1917 and must have got his wish to serve in France, as he was posted with the RM Labour Company Boulogne, but not long after the war ended, he Died of Disease on 11th February 1919.

 

Notably the newly launched RMLC was in the market for men over the age of 41, the maximum age for “Combat” units, as long as they could serve, they were allowed in, up to 55 years old. He was amongst of 8000 “Old” men doing their bit, 25 would be KIA, 14 killed in accidents and he would be among the unfortunate 95 to die of disease or natural causes.

 


Officially impressed: “3523 Pte J. Grinrod, Gordon Highrs:”
Medal mostly unworn, having seen little wear since awarded after he was done with the Army, and received a wound for his efforts.

 

Private John Grindrod, was wounded in action at the Battle of Magersfontein, on 11th December 1899, a disastrous defeat where the Highland Brigade bore the brunt of the casualties.

 

The full medical report of his invaliding from Netley as Permanently Unfit for duty, details that he had received a Gun Shot Wound to his Left Foot “Caused by a Bullet at Magersfontein December 11th 1899.” it was said that by August 1900 the “Wound has healed, but unable to bend his Meatarsal phangeal” as such it was “The Disability is permanent, will prevent his earning a full livelihood to the extent of one half.”

 

Part of the original Highlanders Brigade that fought early in the Boer War, having been wounded in the Battle of Magersfontein, where the Gordons took many casualties, the embarrassing defeat of the British Force, with heavy casualties, did not warrant it’s own clasp, as such he would only receive the “Cape Colony” bar before he was invalided home and discharged in mid 1900.

 


He saw the following service:

 

Home, 14th October 1890 – 26th Jan 1893
East Indies, 27th Jan 1893 – 9th October 1898
Home, 20th Oct 1898 – 21st Nov 1899, With Army Reserve and Emergency Recalled
South Africa, 22nd November 1899 – 24th Jan 1900, wounded after only 3 weeks in South Africa.
Home, 25th Jan 1900 – 14th August 1900, assessed after wound healed but found unfit at Netley.

 

Campaigns: “Chitral Relief Expedition of 1895, Punjab Frontier Disturbances and Tirah Expedition 1897-8.”

 

The 1st Gordon Highlanders are particularly renowned for their service in India, especially during the Battle of Dargai Heights, where the Piper George Findlater won a Victoria Cross.

 

 

John Grindrod, was born on 30th June 1872 in Stoke Newington, Middlesex.

 

Having been a member of the local 4th Battalion Middlesex Regiment of Militia, he opted to sign up for full time service shortly after turning 18, choosing the Gordon Highlanders on 14th October 1890.

 

He served 8 years active service, mostly in India, and had only been in the Army Reserve for a year, before he was recalled to active service with the outbreak of the Boer War, the Army Reserve being brought back under an Emergency Order.

 

He landed in South Africa on 22nd November 1899, and had the misfortune of barely 3 weeks later fighting in the Battle of Magersfontein, a bad day for the Highland Brigade.

 

He was invalided back home and spent months recovering at Netley Hospital, before it was determined he could no longer serve, and was likely to be plagued by a bad foot in return for his services in South Africa.

 

Total service was 9 years 305 days.

 

With his discharge, he returned home to live in Battersea, Wandsworth, and Married Mary Ann Grindrod (Born 1881).

 

He was shown on the 1901 Census as a “Queen’s Commissioner”.

 

In 1911 he had a son and 3 daughters.

 

He might have had a Limp in his step, but that did not stop this old soldier from joining up as Duty Called in during the First World War. (J7954) E.F. £395