Gunner 1448 William Bibby, Royal Artillery, 6th Bde. M Battery

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Chelmsford Chronicle, Friday 15 February 1929.

Awarded Medal with clasp according to the Forsyth Medal Roll .
Here is a summary from Mackinnon & Shadbolt describing M Battery , 6th Brigade's Roll in the war
Major Sandham's battery arrived at Durban from England on the 22nd March 1879 . For about a month it was encamped at Cato's manor , during which time the Prince Imperial was attached to it . On the 26th April it joined Crealock's Divis at Fort Tenedos , where it was encamped till the 19th June ; it then proceeded with the Divis , in its advance , taking part in the various expeditions , and assisting in the opening of Port Durnford , and in the burning of the Ondine Kraal . On the 17th Aug a portion of the battery , consisting of Mounted Non - com , Officers and men under Lt Thompson , took part in Capt Yeatman - Biggs' expedition in search of the king . It proceeded up the coast as far as St.Lucia Bay , which it crossed . Gleaning no tidings of the object of its pursuit , it made its way to Ulundi , which it reached on the 29th . It would appear that had the coast not been thus patrolled , the King would have made for the thick Forests in the neighbourhood of St Lucia , as he had , in fact , proceeded a considerable distance down the Umvolosi when he heard of the appraoch of the party . The battery , subsequently , on the return of the forces to Natal , made its way back to Durban , where it arrived on the 14th September .
Cheers 90th.

Just out of interest>

SERVICES OF THE OFFICERS OF THE M BATTERY, 6TH BRIGADE.
.
“Major. Sandham, W.H. Served in command of the battery though the whole of its operations during the war.
(Mentioned in despatches.)

Captain Legard, J.D.. Served on Staff of Crealock’s Div. as D.A.Q.M.G., Intelligence Branch, from 16th April to
7th July, when invalided to base. Thanked by the General Commanding in his despatches. Received, also, thanks
of H.R.H. the Commander-in-Chief for reconnaissances executed in Zululand.

Lieutenant. Shiffner J.

Lieutenant. Jervis-White-Jervis, J.H. Lieuts. Shiffner and Jervis-White-Jervis served with the battery during its
various operations in the war.

Lieutenant. Thompson, J.H. Served with the Field Force from the date of the arrival of the battery till the
conclusion of the war. Was in command of the mounted gunners in Capt. Yeatman-Biggs’ expedition in search
of the King.

Vet. Surgeon Healy, M.F. Was attached to HQ and in veterinary charge of Crealock’s Div. from the end of
March 1879, to its break-up at the end of Sept. 1879. During the last three months the other officers of his
department being invalided, Vet.-Surg. Healy was in sole charge.”

I have William Bibby's South Africa Medal with clasp in my late father's collection along with several other SAMs (57th Foot, 1st Cape Yeomanry, 2/4th Foot and C Troop RE). Does anyone have any more about this old soldier and in the war?
SteveL