Original British Victorian Boer War Killed in Action 2nd Dragoon Guards Private E.H.G. Greenaway Uniform Set Original Items

Original Items: One-of-a-kind Set. Incredible 1899 dated uniform of Private E.H.G. Greenaway, 2nd Dragoon Guards, who was Killed in Action during Boer War in 1902! This tunic is clearly marked inside with service number “4948” and a November 1899 (“11 99”) issue date. 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen’s Bays) regimental records, included with the grouping, indicate that the trooper with service number 4948 was Private Ernest Harry George Greenaway, who enlisted in November 1899 and died fighting against the Boers at Leeuwkop on 1 April 1902. Greenaway was entitled to the Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902.

The scarlet tunic is of regimental pattern with white facings and is in fine condition with no substantial moth damage or rips. It has Queen Victoria Crown 2nd Dragoon Guards buttons, regimental embroidered epaulettes, and an original bullion wire badge for excellent swordsmanship on the left sleeve. The matching 1871 pattern 2nd Dragoon Guards helmet is in very fine condition with no significant marks or dings. It has the almost vertical brow typical of late Victorian helmets. It retains the original removable black horsehair plume, correct enlisted rosettes, and chinstrap.

Greenaway is memorialized at the Queen’s Bays memorial in Primrose Cemetery in Johannesburg.

The belts did not belong to Greenaway but are original Victorian pieces and representative of what he would have been issued. The sword belt is pattern 1881, and the pouch belt of regimental pattern.

Everything is offered in very good to excellent condition. Photo copies of research report are also included with purchase.  

Approximate Tunic Measurements:
Collar to Shoulder: 7”
Shoulder to Sleeve: 22.5”
Shoulder to Shoulder: 16”
Chest Width: 14”
Waist Width: 13”
Hip Width: 14”
Front Length: 26”

Research Report  4948 Private Ernest Henry George Greenaway,  2nd Dragoon Guards  
Forward  
The enjoyable task of tracing Greenaway would have been a whole lot quicker if I had not got it into my head that he had died in South Africa in 1901 (rather than 1902) and would not, therefore, appear on the 1901 Census (which Census in contrast to its successor in 1911 did not include details of men overseas in units, ships and on the high seas).

Where images appear in the text an individual image file is appended to this report.

Official Individual Records
A check of the Chelsea Pension documents revealed no surviving papers, suggesting that our man had not survived military service either to receive a pension or to live long enough to make some claim in later life for a pension relating to his service eg a medical condition not apparent at the time of discharge.
A check of the WW1 Medal Index Cards (known as MICs, recording medal entitlements mostly for overseas service) showed no candidate who might be Greenaway. Similarly the 30% of soldiers’ papers that survived being bombed on the first night of the London Blitz at the War Office Repository at Arnside Street in Walworth similarly revealed no candidate.

Fate
An assumption that our man did not survive service combined with the date of tunic issue commended the South African Field Force Casualty List. This was an official publication, now reproduced on a number of online databases. (An image of the original text is not available).

This offered:
4948 Pte EHG Greenaway, 2nd Dragoon Guards
Killed Leeuwkop 1 April 1902.

Now knowing Greenaway to be a Boer War fatality an entry was sought in the ledger volumes for the Disposal of Soldiers’ Effects. These were an official accountancy ledger for recording the payment of any monies (less stoppages) owing to a deceased soldier, such as pay, allowances and war gratuities.

This revealed the following:
Born Greenwich, enlisted 06/11/1899 stating trade as Blacksmith’s Labourer. Outstanding pay of 11s 6d, Gratuity of £3 and War Gratuity of £5 paid to his Mother 02/09/1903, although his Brother William was given as next of kin. (National Army Museum, accessed per Ancestry.corn)

Medal Entitlement
A check of the Roll for the Queen’s South Africa Medal revealed that Greenway was entitled on the Queens South Africa Medal Roll and entitled to this medal with clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902. He is noted as “Deceased”.