South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 2 (of 8): From the Commencement of the War to the Battle of Colenso, 15th Dec. 1899Creswicke, Louis
History
South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 2 (of 8): From the Commencement of the War to the Battle of Colenso, 15th Dec. 1899
Creswicke, Louis
South African War, 1899-1902; Transvaal (South Africa) -- History
[1] Colonel Sherston, D.S.O., of the Rifle Brigade, in which he held the
rank of Major, was a son of the late Captain Sherston, of Evercreech
House, Somerset, and a nephew of Lord Roberts. He entered the army on
February 12, 1876, and on the Afghan War breaking out two years later was
appointed aide-de-camp to his uncle, then Sir Frederick Roberts. He was
present in the engagement at Charasiah on October 6, 1879, and the
subsequent pursuit of the enemy, his services being mentioned in
despatches. A similar distinction fell to his lot in connection with the
operations around Cabul in 1879, including the investment of Sherpore. He
accompanied Lord Roberts in the famous march to Candahar, and was present
at the battle at that place, when he was again mentioned in despatches.
His services during the operations were rewarded with the medal with three
clasps and the bronze decoration. In 1881 he took part in the Mahsood
Wuzeeree Expedition, and on August 20, 1884, he received his company. He
served with the Burmese Expedition in 1886-87 as D.A.A. and Q.G. on the
Headquarters Staff, and was again mentioned in despatches and received the
Distinguished Service Order and the medal with clasp. On October 15, 1898,
A.A.G. in Bengal.
[2] Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Henry Gunning, of the 1st King's Royal
Rifles, was the eldest son of Sir George William Gunning, fifth Baronet,
of Little Horton House, Northampton, the Chairman of the Conservative
Party in Mid-Northamptonshire, by his marriage with Isabella Mary Frances
Charlotte, daughter of the late Colonel William Chester-Master, of the
Abbey, Cirencester, and was born on July 17, 1852. Educated at Eton, he
entered the army as a sub-lieutenant on March 26, 1873, and was gazetted
to the 60th Foot (now the King's Royal Rifle Corps) as a lieutenant on
September 9, 1874. He served in the Zulu War of 1879 with the third
battalion of his regiment, and was present at the action of Gingindhlovu
and the relief of Ekowe, afterwards serving as adjutant of the battalion
throughout the operations of "Clarke's Column," for which he wore the
medal with clasp. He was gazetted captain in August 1883, was an adjutant
of the Auxiliary Forces (the 5th Militia Battalion of the King's Royal
Rifles) from March 1886 to March 1891, having obtained the rank of major
on June 25, 1890. In 1891-92 he took part in the war in Burma, being
engaged in the operations in the Chin Hills in command of the Baungshe
column, for which he wore a second medal with clasp. His commission as
lieutenant-colonel bore date April 16, 1898. Colonel Gunning, who was in
the Commission of the Peace for the county of Northants, married in 1880
Fanny Julia, daughter of the late Mr. Clinton George Dawkins, formerly Her
Majesty's Consul-General at Venice.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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