| Surname: | Borges |
| Initials: | G |
| Rank: | Sergeant |
| Army Number: | 410 |
| Notes: | MFP. 18/12/1885 he enlisted in the North Lancashire Regiment, No. 1421, age 18.6 years, born Manchester, occupation Seaman, 24/3/1892 he transferred to MFP. Served Malta 2.7 years, South Africa 2.11 years, 14/12/1906 to discharge time expired with rank of Sgt, conduct very good, address 143 Charter Street, Chatham. 2/12/1919 he died at Rochester, Kent. Served Home 18/12/1885 to 10/4/1897, Malta 11/4/1897 to 20/11/1899, South Africa 21/11/1899 to 3/11/1902, Home 14/11/1902 to 14/12/1906 at Aldershot, time expired, age 39 years, served 21 years, address: 143 Charter Street,Chatham. Re enlisted 7/9/1914 rank Sgt. Occupation on re enlistment, Watch Keeper, Royal Sailors Home, Chatham. Served in London and 5 Area, Eastern Command. Went to France on escort duties 18/11/1916 to 20/11/1916 and 22/6/1917 to 23/6/1917. 24/6/1918 WOII. 6/7/1919 to class Z reserve. George Borges. He has the same No. as SSM F Howard, MMP. Extract from the Malta Chronicle and Garrison Gazette 7 May 1900. We have much pleasure in publishing the following letter which has just been received from Cpl. Borges, Military Foot Police, lately stationed in Malta, by Police constable T Martin of the Malta Civil Police, doing duty in Sliema. 11th Brigade Staff. Natal Field Force, Surprise Hill, Sunday, April 1st 1900. Dear Tom, Just a few lines to you, as I have been thinking you would like to know how we have been getting on since we left Malta. Well, we had a splendid voyage to Durban, calling at Cyprus, through the Canal to Aden and then to Zanzibar, where we went on shore for a couple of hours, and then proceeded on to Durban where we landed on the 14th December, and entrained for Pietermaritzburgh, but the Derbyshire's went on to East London and they are now doing good service in the Orange free State. We remained at Pietermaritzburgh about a month, whilst our Brigade was being formed at Frere, where we joined on the morning of the 10th January, from which day up to the day we entered Ladysmith, I must say, to use the mildest expression I can, that we have roughed it. At Springfield they took 4 of us away and attached them to Sir Charles Warren's Staff, viz: Wall, Ford, Simmons and Sinclair, which left us only 5 for the Brigade Staff. We had a Sergeant but he was too quiet, and we got a lot of humbugging about, doing things we should not do, and what with one thing and another, I wished myself back on Strada Reale, or the Molo Marian again. But then the circus had not commenced with us then, not until Spion Kop came off, and those were the liveliest 6 days I ever had, what with that and Acton Holmes, and Potgieters Drift, I must say that we all had a lively time, but they were all failures, but I se the English papers put them down as victories, but I don't see where the victories come in, for we had to evacuate the positions after we had taken them. After that we recrossed the "Tugela" and went into camp again where Sir Redvers Buller addressed the troops and told us not to be downhearted at retiring, as he had found the key to Ladysmith, and that he would open the eyes of the world, but he opened our eyes I can tell yo. He marches us back to Chievely, we had a couple of days rest, then commenced the final attack on the Colenso Hills, just to the right of the old Colenso battle ground, and for 18 solid days we pounded those hills with Lyddite and then you should have seen the sight of our infantry advancing, it would have done your heart good to see our fellows going up those hills, like to many flies going up a glass window, in face of a most murderous rattle of musketry. It was wonderful to see them going and not falling, for the enemy must have been firing with their eyes shut, for you would only see one drop here and there, noting to what you might have expected from such a rattle of fire. Well they advanced over one hill after the other in grand style, it is a pity that they were not "Kilties" so that they would be praised up, but they were only men of the Royal Lancaster Regiment and South Lancashire, supported by the York and Lancaster's. I forgot to tell yo that I was attached to the Lancashire Brigade. The Lancashire Fusiliers had been sent to the rear as they had no officers, they had nearly all been hit as Spion Cop, where the regiment suffered terribly, this is the same battalion which was at Malta, where they arrived shortly after the battle of Khartoum. Well I go back to my original yarn, the infantry took hill after hill, and each hill was a stronghold. When at last our fellows got amongst them, then didn't they fly, they fairly went mad, and I went mad. I was just behind the Howitzer Battery, and the Officer Commanding commenced turning "cart wheels." The 16 Company, Southern Division RA, (siege battery0 from Malta, stopped firing and commenced cheering, which was taken up by all the batteries, naval and military, shortly after, we got the news that our mounted Infantry had with the Colonial troops entered Ladysmith, but we could not get through on account of the relief convoy having to go first, for there were 16 miles of convoy to go over the river, and only one wagon at a time could cross the pontoon, so it took them nearly 2 days to get over - but I went through with the Staff wagon and entered Ladysmith on the 2nd February. We had a triumphal entry by the beleaguered troops, but poor fellows they did show it, there was one thing, they were near compared to us, for the relieving force were in rags, and very dirty looking, for we had bee night after night in the trenches without even our coats, and it is bitter cold towards morning I can tell you. Of course you know we do not as Policemen, take any active part in the fighting, but are chiefly used as Orderlies to the General. We have been very unlucky with our Generals. One of our Generals (Woodgate) got hit at Spion Kop and has since died - and the Brigade Major was killed there - the ADC wounded, Corporal Humphries was wounded also, you knew Humphries, I suppose he was over the Valetta side, and we had another Sergeant hit, and a Corporal killed of the Mounted Police, but the hottest corner I was ever in was at Spion Kop, we were right up with the General and Staff, but I dropped lucky, I was sent to the rear on the fourth day, to look after the wagons, but thank God I am here in the best of health and spirits, and glad to say but three are in hospital. Ford and Coulter are very bad with enteric fever, and Rhodes is in hospital with a sprained ankle. Well Tom, after we relieved Ladysmith we thought we were in for a rest, but no, we had not been there 3 days before we were ordered down to Durban, to embark for Port Elizabeth, to join Lord Roberts command but we were stopped at Pietermaritzburg, the order was cancelled, so we came back here again, and are now encamped at the foot of the renowned Surprise Hill. Now dear Tom, I don't think I have much more to say at present, only tell all the chaps I wish to be kindly remembered to them and hope you are all quite well. Sinclair wished to be specially remembered to you, I must say he has gone much thinner, remember me kindly to your wife and family hoping they are quite well. I will now conclude. Excuse me for writing in black lead, but I think I will be able to manage ink for the envelope. Oh, I forgot, remember to to Paolo and Boneachie, and don's forget to remember me to Sergeant Morealle at St. Julian,s for he was a jolly fine fellow, non once more I will make an attempt to finish this letter, so I will conclude by sending you my best wishes for your welfare, and good luck to you and yours. George Borges. |
Decoration Record: | |
| Decoration: | Queen's South Africa Medal (London Gazette: QSA Medal Roll WO 100/234 Page: 198 July 5, 1901) |
| Citation: | Clasps: Orange Free State, Transvaal, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Laing's Nek |
| Decoration: | King's South Africa Medal (London Gazette: KSA Medal Roll WO 100/355 Page: 302 Dec. 23, 1902) |
| Citation: | Clasps: South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902. |