Medals from an Africa Collection

Three: Squadron Sergeant Major H. H. Coxen, 18th Hussars, later Yorkshire Hussars, who distinguished himself and was mentioned in despatches for his gallantry during a Boer ambush east of Uitkyk Station, 24 December 1900, ‘I had rather a narrow shave myself, five bullets through my jacket, two through my pants. Not one of these touched my skin, although I was hit through the muscle of the leg below the calf.’ Coxen, who was twice shipwrecked during previous employment with the merchant service, met a sad and untimely end at a rifle range in the Bedern Yeomanry Drill Hall, York, June 1908

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Natal, Belfast, Orange Free State (3122. Serjt: H. H. Coxen. 18/Hrs.) unofficial rivets between 2nd and 3rd clasps; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3122 Serjt: H. Coxen. 18th Hussars); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (3122 S. Sjt. Mjr. H. H. Coxen. 18/Hussars.) mounted for display, light contact marks, therefore generally nearly very fine or better (3) £360-£440

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from an Africa Collection.

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D. Lloyd Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, February 2021.

H. H. Coxen was a native of Bristol, served with the 18th Hussars during the Second Boer War, and was mentioned in Lord Kitchener’s despatch, 8 March 1901, for his gallantry during outpost duties at Uitkyk, near Middleburg, 24 December 1900. Coxen supplied a report for the action, which was reproduced in full in The 18th Hussars in South Africa 1899-1902, by Major C. Burnett. The following extracts are taken from that report:

‘At 7.30am on the 24th December, 1900, Lieut. Thackwell, with our patrol of thirty-two non-commissioned officers and men of ‘B’ Squadron, relieved ‘A’ Squadron, which under command of Lieut. Wood, since 2am had been holding a position near the colliery to the East of Uitkyk Station, distant about three and a half miles from Middleburg. Reaching the colliery, we dismounted and relieved the different posts, and our horses, led by the number threes, were placed under cover. We had not taken up position more than ten minutes when we saw Boers moving about amongst the trees surrounding Van Niekirk’s Farm, then we saw a waggon, which, with the Boers, was making towards the railway line. Lieut. Thackwell was occupying a position commanding the line, the ground affording little or no cover, with the exception of a few small ant heaps. Looking through my glasses I saw another party of the enemy threatening our left flank and rear, so sent Private Collier with a message to that effect to Lieut. Thackwell, meanwhile placing the five men (Privates Speigh, Slinger, Seppings, Kempster, and Jackson) and myself well extended to resist a flank attack. By this time the Mauser bullets were flying thick and fast, and we could hear Lieut. Thackwell’s party hard at it as well...

Then we heard three loud explosions, which we at first thought were from the guns at Oliphant’s River, but soon discovered they were caused by the charges of dynamite placed under the rails, which resulted in blowing up the line. As soon as this was accomplished the Boers (who certainly numbered 130, some say 150) devoted their whole attention to us, and as they had to advance for some distance up a gentle slope they made a fair mark, and we made it rather warm for them. We held on to our positions for quite an hour and three-quarters, then a shrill whistle sounded, ponies appeared as if by magic, the Boers were in the saddle in a twinkling, and they rushed us, yelling like fiends as they came. Slinger, Seppings, Kempster, and Jackson managed to reach their horses, but, to tell the truth, I did not miss them until I heard them shouting to Speight and myself, for they were bringing our horses up; but I waved them back, for I saw that it would mean the whole of us being captured, as the Boers were too close upon us.

Speight and I went on firing as quickly as we could, still hearing Lieut. Thackwell’s party doing the same. When the Boers were within about one hundred yards of us we opened cut-offs and commenced magazine fire, the last shots ringing out when they were about ten or twelve yards away. The next second I was jerked on my feet by two burly Boers seizing my bandolier, my carbine wrenched out of my hand, and I saw Speight had been served in the same manner. We were then marched down into a hollow towards Van Niekirk’s farm by four of them and two armed Kaffir boys, the remainder pursuing the four men who had got away, but they fortunately did not succeed in wounding or capturing one of them.

In about a quarter of an hour they returned, and then there was a big palaver, and very excited they seemed to get. Luckily Speight and I did not understand Dutch, or we certainly should not have been so unconcerned. Just then they were joined by a man in a white jacket, who evidently seemed to be someone in authority, although his appearance and dress would not have proclaimed it. They had a long talk with him, and we heard the name “Jansen” frequently mentioned, and angry faces were turned towards us as they pointed at us. Ultimately we were told to go, the man in the white jacket coming a little distance with us, saying to us before leaving that we should consider ourselves lucky for his timely arrival, as the majority of the Boers were for shooting us, on account of firing until the last moment, instead of laying down our carbines and putting our hands up.....

I had rather a narrow shave myself, five bullets through my jacket, two through my pants. Not one of these touched my skin, although I was hit through the muscle of the leg below the calf, but not bad enough to go sick with, and it healed entirely in about a fortnight. In conclusion I heard from three different sources, one them being a Boer who was himself in the attack, and was captured some months afterwards, that the Boers had nine killed and nineteen wounded, five of the latter subsequently dying. “Jansen,” I discovered, was one of Trichardt’s leading men, and was amongst the killed.’

Coxen advanced to squadron sergeant major, and transferred to the Yorkshire Hussars. He committed suicide on the rifle range at the Bedern Yeomanry Drill Hall, York in June 1908.

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