Lot Essay
D.C.M. London Gazette 27.12.1901.
'The King has been graciously pleased to signify His intention to confer the decoration of the Victoria Cross on the undermentioned Soldier, whose claims have been submitted for His Majesty's approval, for his conspicuous bravery in South Africa as stated against his name:
Driver F.G. Bradley, 69th Battery Royal Field Artillery
'During the action at Itala, Zululand, on the 26th September, 1901, Major Chapman called for volunteers to carry ammunition up the hill; to do this a space of about 150 yards swept by a heavy cross fire had to be crossed. Driver Lancashire and Gunner Ball at once came forward and started, but half-way across Driver Lancashire fell wounded. Driver Bradley and Gunner Rabb without a moment's hesitation ran out and caught Driver Lancashire up, and Gunner Rabb carried him under cover, the ground being swept by bullets the whole time. Driver Bradley then, with the aid of Gunner Boddy, succeeded in getting the ammunition up the hill.'
His Majesty has further been pleased to approve of the grant of the Medal for Distinguished Conduct in the Field to the undermentioned Soliders, in recognition of their gallant conduct during recent operations in South Africa:-
69th Battery Royal Field Artillery
14494 Gunner W.H. Rabb
15247 Driver E.N. Lancashire
25209 Gunner A. Boddy
10694 Gunner W.G. Ball'
The original citiation for Driver Bradley, Gunner Boddy and the others is contained in Major A.J. Champan's handwritten report on the Defence of Fort Itala sent to Lieutenant-General Neville Lyttleton, Commanding Natal. Bradley and Rabb were recommended for the Victoria Cross and this prompted Lyttleton to minute on 5.10.1901:
'Regarding the V.C. cases I do not understand the omission of the names of Driver Lancashire, and Gunners Boddy and Ball who seem to have shown equal gallantry with Gunner Rabb though perhaps not so conspicuously as Driver Bradley. I do not mean they are all V.C. cases.'
Major Chapman replied one week later:
'It was not my intention to exclude the names of Dr. Lancashire, Gnr. Boddy and Ball, I thought my mention of their service in para. 2 of my letter would be sufficient. They are now placed in order of merit.'
In the event, only Bradley received the Victoria Cross, and Boddy's DCM citation read as the citation above but with the following amplification:
'...without any further orders from me, Dr. Bradley (already recommended for V.C.) and Gunr. Boddy went out, and succeeded in dragging the box under shelter of a rock where they opened it, and having filled their pockets, etc. succeeded in gaining the sangars at the top' (War Office records refer).
Bombardier Alfred Bartholomew Boddy, D.C.M., was discharged medically unfit from the Royal Artillery in 1904. His Distinguished Conduct Medal was presented to him by Lord Kitchener at New Delhi on 27.12.1902.
'The King has been graciously pleased to signify His intention to confer the decoration of the Victoria Cross on the undermentioned Soldier, whose claims have been submitted for His Majesty's approval, for his conspicuous bravery in South Africa as stated against his name:
Driver F.G. Bradley, 69th Battery Royal Field Artillery
'During the action at Itala, Zululand, on the 26th September, 1901, Major Chapman called for volunteers to carry ammunition up the hill; to do this a space of about 150 yards swept by a heavy cross fire had to be crossed. Driver Lancashire and Gunner Ball at once came forward and started, but half-way across Driver Lancashire fell wounded. Driver Bradley and Gunner Rabb without a moment's hesitation ran out and caught Driver Lancashire up, and Gunner Rabb carried him under cover, the ground being swept by bullets the whole time. Driver Bradley then, with the aid of Gunner Boddy, succeeded in getting the ammunition up the hill.'
His Majesty has further been pleased to approve of the grant of the Medal for Distinguished Conduct in the Field to the undermentioned Soliders, in recognition of their gallant conduct during recent operations in South Africa:-
69th Battery Royal Field Artillery
14494 Gunner W.H. Rabb
15247 Driver E.N. Lancashire
25209 Gunner A. Boddy
10694 Gunner W.G. Ball'
The original citiation for Driver Bradley, Gunner Boddy and the others is contained in Major A.J. Champan's handwritten report on the Defence of Fort Itala sent to Lieutenant-General Neville Lyttleton, Commanding Natal. Bradley and Rabb were recommended for the Victoria Cross and this prompted Lyttleton to minute on 5.10.1901:
'Regarding the V.C. cases I do not understand the omission of the names of Driver Lancashire, and Gunners Boddy and Ball who seem to have shown equal gallantry with Gunner Rabb though perhaps not so conspicuously as Driver Bradley. I do not mean they are all V.C. cases.'
Major Chapman replied one week later:
'It was not my intention to exclude the names of Dr. Lancashire, Gnr. Boddy and Ball, I thought my mention of their service in para. 2 of my letter would be sufficient. They are now placed in order of merit.'
In the event, only Bradley received the Victoria Cross, and Boddy's DCM citation read as the citation above but with the following amplification:
'...without any further orders from me, Dr. Bradley (already recommended for V.C.) and Gunr. Boddy went out, and succeeded in dragging the box under shelter of a rock where they opened it, and having filled their pockets, etc. succeeded in gaining the sangars at the top' (War Office records refer).
Bombardier Alfred Bartholomew Boddy, D.C.M., was discharged medically unfit from the Royal Artillery in 1904. His Distinguished Conduct Medal was presented to him by Lord Kitchener at New Delhi on 27.12.1902.