[ The Boer War, the Rifle Brigade and Brigadier-General John Harington. ] Nineteen items relating to the embarkation of the 2nd Battalion, including 'Nominal Roll', drill instructions, 'Musketry Orders for Pembroke Camp', orders, letters, telegram.

Author: 
Brigadier-General John Harington (1873-1943), son of Sir Richard Harington, 11th Bart [ 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade; Second Boer War; Natal Field Force ]
Publication details: 
South Africa, including Pembroke Camp and Klein Oliphant. 1902.
£500.00
SKU: 20318

For details of Harington's distinguished military career, see his entry in Who Was Who. The present collection, from his papers, is an interesting assemblage of ephemeral items, casting light on British Army practices at the time of the Boer War. Nineteen items. In fair condition, with some signs of age and wear. ONE: Duplicated orders in mimeograph of handwriting. Titled: 'Depôt Battalion | Orders for Reservist Companies passing through'. At end: 'By order | B St Clair-Ford Captain | Adjutant Depôt Battalion' and 'Green Point | 1st August 1902.' 2pp., folio. Fifteen numbered orders, from '(1) Nominal rolls in duplicate (including officers names) to be rendered to the Orderly Room as soon as possible after rporting arrival' to “(15) There will be roll-call parades at 7 a.m. And 3 p.m. daily Medical Inspection parade at 11.30 a.m. On Mondays and Tuesday', and including '(12) O.C. Reserve Companies will warn their men if there is a prevalence of “Drunkenness” and “Absence” in their companies they will lose their turn on the roster for embarkation being placed at the bottom of the list.' TWO: Printed 'Musketry Orders for Pembroke Camp.' At end: 'By Order, | A. WYNNE, | Colonel, D.A.G. | Chief Staff Officer.' and 'Malta, 5th November, 1897.' Slug: 'Printed at the Head Quarters Office, 215, Strada Form.' 4pp., 16mo. Bifolium. Manuscript note at foot: 'This also applies to N.C.Os. when in charge of parties at private practice'. Fifteen numbered orders. Marginal summaries: 'Musketry Diaries', 'Dress for Musketry Parties', 'Damaged Targets, &c.', 'Firing out of hours', 'Flags to denote when firing may take place', 'Private practice', 'Ceases fire for boats to pass', 'In case of fog', 'Extra look-out man', 'Steamships plying to and from Gozo', 'Route to and from firing points', 'Piquet sentries', 'Route to butts', 'Defective ammunition', 'Ball & blank not to be packed together', 'Responsibility of N.C.O.'s', 'Glass', 'Lead' and 'Time for completion of course'. THREE: Autograph manuscript by Harington, headed: '2nd. Battn. Rifle Brigade. | Nominal Roll of N.C.O's & Men proceeding from Middelburg, Transvaal to Rifle Depot, Gosport. August 5/02.' 2pp., folio. On government paper. A list in four columns: 'Coy', 'Reg No.', 'Rank & Name' and 'Remarks'. After 'Capt Harington | Conducting' the list runs to fifty names, from 'E | 5338 | Sergt Mr. Tailor | Simpson G. | For duty at Rifle Depôt.' to 'H | 3861 | Pte | Young C.' FOUR: Undated duplicated mimeographed manuscript regarding 'Parades', 'By Order | (Sgd) B St Clair Ford Capt | Adjt Depot Battn.' Begins: 'Church of England parade at 11-10 am 2 Lt Wagstaffe 2 Dorsets will march the R. C. party to Church & Lieut Davidson 2 Dorsets the Presbyterians.' He describes his 'parade for marching away', adding 'Previous to parading O C Reservist Coys will see that the tents or huts that have been occupied by their men are handed over Clean.' FIVE: Autograph list by Harington of the 'Reg. No.' and names of 51 members of the battalion, from '2566 George Odell' to '655 Albert Norman'. The last three individuals carry notes: 'to Depot', 'Furlough' and 'Discharge'. SIX: Pencil notes (by Harington?) regarding drill. 4pp. Closely written on two pieces of card. Divided into sections: 'Escort to guns', 'Connecting files', 'Increasing pace', 'Overhead fire', 'Oblique fire', 'Scouts', 'Kinds of fire', 'Woods', 'Convoys', 'Villages', 'Defile', 'Fords', 'House', 'Bridges', 'Shelter trenches'. SEVEN: Duplicated list regarding uniform, in mimeograph of manuscript, with the actual signature of 'Lieut Harington'. Describing articles in three columns: 'Worn or carried by the soldier', 'Black Kit bag' and 'Canvas bag'. Note at foot: 'The above articles must be carried. Any additional articles that a man wishes to carry may be put into the kit bag if there is room.' EIGHT: Autograph letter, on government paper, 'From Captn. J. Harrington, 2nd. Bn. Rifle Brigade | To | The Officer Commanding, 2nd. Bn. Rifle Brigade', at 'Klein Oliphant | Middelburg. | 11th. July 1902.' Regarding his application 'for Leave of Absence to England for four months commencing from the date of my embarkation with Reservists from this Country'. With three notes appended, the first, in autograph, by 'C. T. E. Metcalfe Col | Commdg | 2nd. Batt Rifle Bde.', agreeing to the request; the second by 'Captain | D.A.A.G.' (signature indecipherable); the third by '<?> Maitland Capn'. NINE: Autograph draft of letter from Harington to the Adjutant General, War Office. From Whitbourne Court, Worcester. 9 September 1902. Reporting his arrival in England 'in charge of Reservists from South Africa – I embarked at Cape Town on the 19th. Aug: on the “Bavarian” and landed at Southampton on the 6th. Sept:' He requests four months leave of absence. TEN: Printed table, completed in manuscript: 'Return of Officers, Warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, Tumpeters, or Drummers, and Rank and File, with their Families of [2nd. Bn Rifle Brigade] to embark on the [18th. March / 98] at [Malta] in the Ship [P. & O. Ceylon] for conveyance to [Royal Albert Docks]. Dated from Malta, 9 March 1898. Signed by 'F Howard WC', officer commanding. ELEVEN to THIRTEEN: Three communications from the War Office in London, each completed in manuscript on printed forms, and each signed by 'Evelyn Wood | A.G.' 25 March, 1 April and 19 July 1898. The first concerns the 'soldier servant who accompanied you to this country', the second an examination by the Army Medical Board, the third a leave of absence. The latter two with their War Office envelopes. FOURTEEN: Undated duplicated orders to 'All Officers returning from S. Africa in charge of Reservistd, Time expired etc'. Faded and so difficult to decipher the name of the writer, who is 'Adjt Rifle Depôt'. FIFTEEN: Undated Army Telegram to 'O C Klien Oliphants' from 'Quarter Master', regarding withdrawal of ammunition. SIXTEEN: Slip of paper carrying a postscript signed by 'A.W.': 'All questions as to new uniform, etc., and what patterns to get, are being left over till Col. Wilson arrives. | Everyone is very smart here and the General keeps grousing at our filthy appearance.' SEVENTEEN: Slip of paper, with illegible signature: a pencil list of three 'Prisoners' (privates Glyn, Mather and Calligham). EIGHTEEN: Manuscript order (by Harington?) for £150 2s 3d, headed 'Req[uire]d. From Adj. 2. B. R. B.', 'On account of 30 days Adv: of Pay from 5th Aug. to 5 Sept. 1902 for Draft of Reservists to England for discharge'. NINETEEN: Calling card of 'Captain John Harington, | Rifle Brigade. | Army & Navy Club.' Two copies. Also present are two later items. The first is a duplicated letter from 'E. H. Gorges Col. | O. C. E. M. D.', dated from '', 6 November 1906, on government paper, instructing five officers to read an attached telegram. Annotated by 'S. I. Bagge'. The Uganda Railway Telegram from 'C. S. O.' is also present, giving Gorges instructions regarding troop movements by train.