Boer War medal to H.H. Goulding, Railway Pioneer Regiment

Original, correctly named:

Queen's South Africa Medal to 748 Pte. H.H. Goulding, No. 3 Company, 1st Battalion, Railway Pioneer Regiment with clasps Cape Colony and Orange Free State - also entitled to Transvaal and SA 1901.

Harry Goulding was born on 15 July 1872 on Sherwood Farm in the Cradock district of the Eastern Cape the son of Reuben Goulding and his wife Harriet, born Freemantle. On 3rd January 1900, at the age of 27, Harry Goulding completed the Attestation Form for service with the Railway Pioneer Regiment. He provided his occupation or trade as that of a Carpenter and his nationality as British. 

The form was signed at Kimberley and his mother, Mrs. H. Goulding, was provided as his next of kin. (Mrs. Goulding had fled Johannesburg to Kimberley by train and was staying with her daughter Ellen and her husband Joe) The assumption is that Harry must have joined them. Recruiting for the Railway Pioneer Regiment that Goulding joined started on about 18th December 1899 at Cape Town; and before Lord Roberts commenced his advance from Bloemfontein to Pretoria the first regiment was organised, its work being to assist in protecting the railways and to repair bridges, culverts, and lines when broken. 

Lord Robert’s mentioned that “Without outside assistance the corps of Royal Engineers could not have faced the enormous amount of work naturally falling to their department. From the Railway Pioneer Regiment they received very valuable help.”

The Pioneer Regiment consisted almost entirely of civilian refugees, mostly mechanics from Johannesburg, and it rendered excellent service. They also took part in a number of skirmishes with the Boers. Goulding, as a Private with the 3rd Company of the 1st Battalion, R.P.R. was present at the battle of Zand River on 14 June 1900. The official history of the Regiment stated as follows,

“…Fortunately, at 09h00 reinforcements from Nos. 2 and 3 Companies, and later 50 men from the reserve, advanced forward to K position, commanded by Maj. Seymour. These reinforcements encountered determined opposition and suffered some losses including Maj. Seymour who was killed. 

Following the action at Zand River the Railway Pioneer Regiment continued to be heavily engaged, principally along the Lines of Communication between Bloemfontein and Pretoria. Inevitably their positions were subject to constant harassment and attack…”

The Regiment’s duties relating to the reconstruction of the railway ceased in July 1900 and five Companies, including Goulding’s, arrived at Johannesburg between 28 July and 1 August 1900. They then fulfilled the role of Johannesburg District Military Police, manning outposts of the Gold Mines of the Witwatersrand.

Having served for a period of 417 days, Goulding took his discharge at Port Elizabeth on 23 February 1901. 
He was to survive only until 1918 when he passed away at the age of 46. He had never married.

Postage via Postnet @ R100 in South Africa