4527 Private A Aird, 17th (The Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers. He deployed with his regiment to South Africa for the Second Anglo Boer War, sailing on the Victorian on 14 Feb 1900, and arrived at the Cape about 10 Mar 1900. They joined Lord Roberts at Bloemfontein, and were put into Gordon's, the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, along with the 9th and 16th Lancers. They joined the advance to Pretoria and fought at the battle of Diamond Hill 11-12 Jun 1900. In Nov 1900 they operated in the south-east of the Orange River Colony in the pursuit of Boer forces under De Wet. In Dec 1900 the regiment was sent into the Cape Colony to pursue Boers who had crossed the Orange River and remained there for most of the rest of the war. Private Aird was slightly wounded Slightly wounded near Middleburg, Cape Coony on 23 Feb 1901. On 17 Sep 1901 he was with his squadron, part of a British force holding the pass at Elands River Poort in the Cape Colony. The Squadron led by Captain Sandeman, a cousin of Winston Churchill, was attacked and destroyed at Tarkastad, near Modderfontein farm by a Boer Commando led by Jan Smuts. When Smuts' vanguard ran head on into a Lancer patrol, the British hesitated to fire because many of the Boers wore captured British uniforms. The Boers immediately opened fire and attacked in front while Smuts led the remainder of his force to attack the British camp from the rear. The squadron offered splendid resistance, but suffered severely. The Boers managed to replenish from the Squadrons stores but another squadron, arriving in support, made the Boers withdraw. The 17th Lancers lost 35 killed and some 32 wounded before surrendering. Private Aird was one of those wounded in the attack. He died of his wounds the following day, 18 Sep 1901. The Royal Garrison Artillery lost 3 killed. Boer losses were only one killed and six wounded. The British dead from the battle were buried at Modderfontein farm. A photo of the memorial to Private Aird can be seen at: https://www.graves-at-eggsa.org/main.php?g2_itemId=1239719. He is also commemorated on the 17th (The Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers Boer War memorial in the All Saints Royal Garrison Church, Farnborough Road, Aldershot, Hampshire, England (see: https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/275760/).
4527 Private A Aird, 17th (The Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers. He deployed with his regiment to South Africa for the Second Anglo Boer War, sailing on the Victorian on 14 Feb 1900, and arrived at the Cape about 10 Mar 1900. They joined Lord Roberts at Bloemfontein, and were put into Gordon's, the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, along with the 9th and 16th Lancers. They joined the advance to Pretoria and fought at the battle of Diamond Hill 11-12 Jun 1900. In Nov 1900 they operated in the south-east of the Orange River Colony in the pursuit of Boer forces under De Wet. In Dec 1900 the regiment was sent into the Cape Colony to pursue Boers who had crossed the Orange River and remained there for most of the rest of the war. Private Aird was slightly wounded Slightly wounded near Middleburg, Cape Coony on 23 Feb 1901. On 17 Sep 1901 he was with his squadron, part of a British force holding the pass at Elands River Poort in the Cape Colony. The Squadron led by Captain Sandeman, a cousin of Winston Churchill, was attacked and destroyed at Tarkastad, near Modderfontein farm by a Boer Commando led by Jan Smuts. When Smuts' vanguard ran head on into a Lancer patrol, the British hesitated to fire because many of the Boers wore captured British uniforms. The Boers immediately opened fire and attacked in front while Smuts led the remainder of his force to attack the British camp from the rear. The squadron offered splendid resistance, but suffered severely. The Boers managed to replenish from the Squadrons stores but another squadron, arriving in support, made the Boers withdraw. The 17th Lancers lost 35 killed and some 32 wounded before surrendering. Private Aird was one of those wounded in the attack. He died of his wounds the following day, 18 Sep 1901. The Royal Garrison Artillery lost 3 killed. Boer losses were only one killed and six wounded. The British dead from the battle were buried at Modderfontein farm. A photo of the memorial to Private Aird can be seen at: https://www.graves-at-eggsa.org/main.php?g2_itemId=1239719. He is also commemorated on the 17th (The Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers Boer War memorial in the All Saints Royal Garrison Church, Farnborough Road, Aldershot, Hampshire, England (see: https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/275760/).
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