A Highland Brigade 'Black Day at Magersfontein' Killed-in-Action medal group of 3: Private Henry Thackray, 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders

a). India General Service Medal 1895. Victoria silver issue & clasp 'Relief of Chitral 1895' (3824 Pte H.Thackray 2d Bn Seaforth Highrs)

b). QSA Medal. Silver issue with clasp 'Cape Colony' (3824 Pte H.Thackray. 2: Sea: Highrs:)

c). Army Temperance Association India: 1 Year Service Medal

Note: Surname only on QSA with minor official corrections to RA in last part of surname - exactly as issued

Killed-in-Action: Private Henry Thackray 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders confirmed 'Killed-in-Action' at Magersfontein, Cape Colony, South Africa on, 11 December 1899

Medals verification: The campaign medals and both clasps verified as entitled per the respective campaign medal rolls of 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, as under:

- India General Service Medal 1895-1902 & clasp: Ref WO 100/78

- QSA Medal 1899-1902 & clasp: Ref WO 100/203, shown as 'Thackery' (sic), with remark, killed 11.12.99 Magersfontein

Henry Thackray, youngest son of Richard Thackray (Railway Signalman) & Harriet Thackray was a native of South Milford, Yorkshire, England, where he was born in 1875. The 1881 National Census for England & Wales, records Henry living together with his parents & 6 x siblings (2 x older brothers, John Richard (Assistant Signalman) & William, together with older sister, Sarah Ann, & 3 x younger sisters viz; Anne Elizabeth, Eliza & Catherine, at the family residence located at, 183 Salts Works Bulidings, South Milford, Yorkshire. Henry's older brother William, was the first of the brothers to enlist and serve with 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders (William's service papers are extant are held at The National Archives), being posted to the Regimental Depot of the Seaforth Highlanders on, 6 July 1891, and given the regimental number 3674, subsequently being posted to 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders on 27 January 1893. Henry followed his brother William into the British Army when 150 x enlistments later he too joined the Seaforth Highlanders. Both brothers served together in India , with 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, with both receiving the Indian General Service Medal 1895 for their services during the Relief of Chitral in 1895 (brother William was transferred to the Army Reserve on 8 July 1899, and took his final discharge from the British Army on 18 December 1899, at which time he was found to be medically unfit for further service)

Magersfontein: After having disembarked at Cape Town, Cape Colony, on 16 November 1899, 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders (Duke of Albany's Ross-Shire Buffs) were brigaded with the, 2nd Black Watch, 1st Highland Light Infantry, and 1st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, to form the 3rd or 'Highland Brigade' under command of Major General Wauchope - a Black Watch officer

For 2/Seaforth their baptism of fire during the South African War took place only 25 x days after they had landed in the Cape. On 11 December 1899, 2/Seaforths, and the Highland Brigade fought at Magersfontein - with Major General Wauchope being shot dead in the opening volleys of well aimed mauser rifle shot that poured into the advancing Highlanders - the highlanders attack being stalled and ultimately repelled by the Boers

The British loses at Magersfontein are estimated to have been 22 x officers and 188 x other ranks killed; 46 x officers and 629 x other ranks wounded, and 1 x officer and 62 x other ranks missing. Of this, the Highland Brigade suffered losses of 747 x all-ranks killed, wounded, and missing. Among the individual battalions, 2/Seaforth, suffered the below following losses:

- 5 x Officers killed or mortally wounded
- 7 x Officers wounded
- 53 x Other ranks killed or mortally wounded
- 136 x Other ranks wounded
- 14 x All-ranks taken prisoner

The supreme sacrifice of Private Henry Thackray is commemorated on two South African War memorials, viz the South African War Memorial of the Seaforth Highlanders located at Dingwall, Ross-shire Scotland, and at Duncombe Cross, Yorkshire, England

The medals mounted on flock covered card board for display

Condition: Toned GVF

Code: 21908