PRIVATE E. DOYLE, MOUNTED INFANTRY COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS (LATE 3RD

PRIVATE E. DOYLE, MOUNTED INFANTRY COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS (LATE 3RD BATTALION ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS, KILDARE MILITIA), TAKEN PRISONER OF WAR AT THE BATTLE OF TALANA (DUNDEE) 20/10/1899. Queen’s South Africa Medal, 3 clasps, Talana, Orange Free State, Transvaal (officially impressed: 5390 Pte.E. DOYLE, RL. DUBLIN FUS:). Ghost dates visible on reverse, attractively toned, Almost Extremely Fine.

Medal accompanied by 4 pages copied service papers, extract Boer War Casualty Roll and extract medal roll, confirming medal and clasps.

Edward Doyle was born in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, and enlisted into the Royal Dublin Fusiliers at Naas on 11/3/1895. At the time of enlistment Doyle was 18 years of age, stated that he was then serving with the militia, in the 3rd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers (Kildare Militia) and gave his trade as labourer. Doyle was first posted 5390 Private to the 1st Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers on 11/11/1895, transferring to the 2nd Battalion on 25/11/1897. In South Africa Doyle took and passed the Mounted Infantry course of instruction on 10/7/1899, subsequently seeing service with the Mounted Infantry Company, 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers, and being taken prisoner of war at the battle of Talana (Dundee), 20/10/1899. After spending time in a Boer prisoner of war camp in Pretoria, the capital of the Boer Trasvaal Republic, Doyle was released after the camp was liberated by British troops. Doyle never rose above the rank of Private and transferred to the Army Reserve on 25/11/1902 and was finally discharged on 10/3/03, having served a total of 12 years with the colours. In addition to service at home, Doyle also saw service in South Africa, 25/11/1897 to 21/11/1902.

Private Doyle was also entitled to the King’s South Africa Medal with 2 clasps.

Medal also accompanied by copied extracts from Romer & Mainwaring’s “The 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers in the South African War” (London 1908) and Major Charles Burnett’s “The 18th Hussars in South Africa”.

At Talana, the Mounted Infantry Company of the 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers formed part of a composite Mounted Infantry / Cavalry Brigade, brigaded with the 18th Hussars, the brigade commanded by Colonel Moller of the 18th Hussars. On the morning of 20th October 1899 a Boer force occupied Talana Mountain, overlooking the British camp at Dundee, opening fire with artillery on the camp, whereupon the British commanding officer, General Penn Symonds ordered the infantry under his command to launch a frontal assault on the Boer positions on Talana Mountain, whilst Colonel Moller with the 18th Hussars and the Dublin Fusiliers Mounted Infantry Company were ordered to attempt to outflank the Boers and cut off their line of retreat. In the event, Moller and his composite brigade advanced too far and were instead themselves cut off and surrounded. Falling back on a small farmstead, Adelaide Farm, where Moller and his men attempted to form a temporary defensive position, with the intention of slipping back to the British lines after nightfall, the 18th Hussars took up positions in and around the farmhouse and the Mounted Infantry positioned on the surrounding hills. The Boers, however, brought up artillery, and with the men under his command running out of ammunition, Moller and his force were eventually forced to surrender, a white sheet from the farmhouse being raised and a lone bugler from the Dublin Fusiliers Mounted Infantry stationed on a hill overlooking the house ordered to sound the cease-fire, Moller and his entire force being taken prisoner of war. During the action in and around Adelaide Farm, the Dublin Mounted Infantry lost one officer wounded, 5 other ranks killed, one died of wounds, 18 wounded and approximately 73 taken prisoner of war.