This is the story of Henry Massey -once with the Royal Navy who moved to South Africa and was with the I.L.I. at Spioenkop
Henry Massey
Able Seaman, Royal Navy
Trooper, Imperial Light Infantry – Anglo Boer War
- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal and Laing’s Nek to 16 Pte. H. Massey, Impl. Lt. Infy.
Henry Massey was born on 15 May 1866 the son of John Massey, a Gardener, and his wife Elizabeth in Stone, Staffordshire.
At the time of the 1871 England census Mrs Massey had passed on to the great beyond leaving her 40 year old husband a Widower to raise five children. The family lived in Cross Street in Stone and comprised 15 year old Fanny (already a housekeeper at her tender age) along with George (14), James (10), Joseph (7) and Henry who was a boy of 4.
Ten years later during the 1881 England census 15 year old Henry had moved to Springfield House neat Whitgreave in Staffordshire where he was in the employ of Mr Arthur Averill, a local farmer, as a farmhand.
More than likely to improve his lot Massey sought other employment and at the age of 16, on 28 March 1882, enrolled in the Royal Navy with no. 119042 and the rank of Boy 2nd Class. As was common practise in those days Massey could only become a fully-fledged member of the R.N. on his 18th birthday and thus it was that he was elevated to the status of Ordinary Seaman on that day whilst aboard the “Minotaur”.
He had, however started out his naval career aboard the “Impregnable” from 28 March until 8 April 1882. From there he was posted to the “Bocawen" until 28 January 1884 picking up a promotion to Boy 1st Class in the process.
Now an Ordinary Seaman he was moved to the “Sapphire” on 18 August 1887 before being transferred to the “Wildfire” on 26 September 1889. This move was to be of short duration as he was transferred to “Pembroke” on 17 November 1889 where he was to remain until a posting to the “Raleigh” on 1 October 1891.
From there he was transferred to the Cape Station aboard the “Penelope” from 19 November 1891 until he moved back to the “Raleigh” on 8 March 1892. Operational around the Cape of Good Hope all this last while he completed his engagement of 10 years with the Royal Navy and took his discharge at Simons Town on 29 May 1894 with a character rating of Very Good.
Now freed from any military or naval obligations Massey remained in the Cape eventually making his way to Durban in the Colony of Natal. On 11 October 1899 the world awoke to the news that Great Britain and her Empire were at war with the two Boer Republics of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal.
Any red-blooded Englishman in South Africa worth his salt would have deemed it an honour to help the cause of the Empire and Massey was no exception. On 7 November 1899 he enlisted at Durban for “’such period as my services may be required” with the Imperial Light Infantry. Described as being 33 years old with a dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair he was 5 feet 5 inches in height and had a foot size of 7 and a head size of 6 ½.
Assigned the number 16 he was, in every respect, one of the earliest chaps to join one of the many colonial units being raised to join the fight.
The I.L.I. was raised in Natal and was largely recruited from those who had lost their employment through the outbreak of hostilities.
The command was given to Lieutenant Colonel Nash (Border Regiment) and by the end of December 1899 the regiment was ready for active service. The Imperial Light Infantry saw comparatively little training and no fighting until they were thrown into the awful combat on Spioen Kop on 24th January 1900. About 1000 strong, they paraded at 10 pm on 23rd January, and, as ordered, took up positions from which they could reinforce General Woodgate, who commanded the force detailed to capture the hill.
Sir C Warren visited the regiment early on the morning of the 24th, and asked the officers if they had seen anything of a mountain-battery which he was expecting. He requested that 2 companies be sent forward to a specified point to be ready to escort the battery to the summit when it arrived. The companies of Captains Champney and Smith moved out at 6 am and waited as ordered for the battery, but about 9 am a staff-officer told them to reinforce immediately on the summit. The 2 companies advanced and reached the top shortly after 10 am.
At this hour the enemy's fire was appalling, the hail of bullets and shells being ceaseless, but these untried volunteers are said to have pushed up to the shallow trench and the firing-line beyond it without flinching. They at once commenced to suffer very severe losses. These 2 companies were the first reinforcements to enter the firing-line, and their arrival proved most opportune, some Lancashire companies being very hard pressed at this time and at this part of the position.
About mid-day Colonel Nash was ordered to reinforce on the summit with "every available man". About 2 pm he reached the top with his remaining companies, who at once bolted out from the rocks at the head of the ascent and fed the firing-line, pushing forward fearlessly across the open.
Throughout the afternoon and evening the firing was unceasing, and often at very close quarters; after dark it had died away. The regiment having been collected, fell in and marched off. They had barely gone 200 yards, however, when an officer said to Colonel Nash, "Where are you going?" The latter replied that he had been ordered to take down the regiment. The other officer then said, "I am Colonel Hill of the Middlesex; not a man or regiment is to leave the hill". The officers of the Imperial Light Infantry then said to their men that a mistake had been made, and the column 'about turned', marched back to the place they had come from, put out pickets, and lay down among the dead and wounded. The worst feature of this very trying experience was the ceaseless crying of the wounded for water: there was none on the hill. During the night a staff-officer informed Colonel Nash that he had better bring down his men before dawn if no fresh troops or orders came up. Between 3 am and 4 am the regiment was again collected and finally left the hill. No Boers had ventured on to the hill up to that time.
One can only imagine from where we sit today just how awful it must have been for Massey and his comrades – in among the dead and the dying without water for themselves let alone those parched throats for whom death was almost imminent. Justifiably then the Imperial Light Infantry are credited with having played a very significant role in the fight for Spioenkop
For his efforts Massey was awarded the Queens Medal with clasps for the Relief of Ladysmith, Tugela Heights, Transvaal and Laing’s Nek. He took his discharge from the regiment on 22 October 1900 and nothing further is known of his movements.
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Henry Massey
Able Seaman, Royal Navy
Trooper, Imperial Light Infantry – Anglo Boer War
- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal and Laing’s Nek to 16 Pte. H. Massey, Impl. Lt. Infy.
Henry Massey was born on 15 May 1866 the son of John Massey, a Gardener, and his wife Elizabeth in Stone, Staffordshire.
At the time of the 1871 England census Mrs Massey had passed on to the great beyond leaving her 40 year old husband a Widower to raise five children. The family lived in Cross Street in Stone and comprised 15 year old Fanny (already a housekeeper at her tender age) along with George (14), James (10), Joseph (7) and Henry who was a boy of 4.
Ten years later during the 1881 England census 15 year old Henry had moved to Springfield House neat Whitgreave in Staffordshire where he was in the employ of Mr Arthur Averill, a local farmer, as a farmhand.
More than likely to improve his lot Massey sought other employment and at the age of 16, on 28 March 1882, enrolled in the Royal Navy with no. 119042 and the rank of Boy 2nd Class. As was common practise in those days Massey could only become a fully-fledged member of the R.N. on his 18th birthday and thus it was that he was elevated to the status of Ordinary Seaman on that day whilst aboard the “Minotaur”.
He had, however started out his naval career aboard the “Impregnable” from 28 March until 8 April 1882. From there he was posted to the “Bocawen" until 28 January 1884 picking up a promotion to Boy 1st Class in the process.
Now an Ordinary Seaman he was moved to the “Sapphire” on 18 August 1887 before being transferred to the “Wildfire” on 26 September 1889. This move was to be of short duration as he was transferred to “Pembroke” on 17 November 1889 where he was to remain until a posting to the “Raleigh” on 1 October 1891.
From there he was transferred to the Cape Station aboard the “Penelope” from 19 November 1891 until he moved back to the “Raleigh” on 8 March 1892. Operational around the Cape of Good Hope all this last while he completed his engagement of 10 years with the Royal Navy and took his discharge at Simons Town on 29 May 1894 with a character rating of Very Good.
Now freed from any military or naval obligations Massey remained in the Cape eventually making his way to Durban in the Colony of Natal. On 11 October 1899 the world awoke to the news that Great Britain and her Empire were at war with the two Boer Republics of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal.
Any red-blooded Englishman in South Africa worth his salt would have deemed it an honour to help the cause of the Empire and Massey was no exception. On 7 November 1899 he enlisted at Durban for “’such period as my services may be required” with the Imperial Light Infantry. Described as being 33 years old with a dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair he was 5 feet 5 inches in height and had a foot size of 7 and a head size of 6 ½.
Assigned the number 16 he was, in every respect, one of the earliest chaps to join one of the many colonial units being raised to join the fight.
The I.L.I. was raised in Natal and was largely recruited from those who had lost their employment through the outbreak of hostilities.
The command was given to Lieutenant Colonel Nash (Border Regiment) and by the end of December 1899 the regiment was ready for active service. The Imperial Light Infantry saw comparatively little training and no fighting until they were thrown into the awful combat on Spioen Kop on 24th January 1900. About 1000 strong, they paraded at 10 pm on 23rd January, and, as ordered, took up positions from which they could reinforce General Woodgate, who commanded the force detailed to capture the hill.
Sir C Warren visited the regiment early on the morning of the 24th, and asked the officers if they had seen anything of a mountain-battery which he was expecting. He requested that 2 companies be sent forward to a specified point to be ready to escort the battery to the summit when it arrived. The companies of Captains Champney and Smith moved out at 6 am and waited as ordered for the battery, but about 9 am a staff-officer told them to reinforce immediately on the summit. The 2 companies advanced and reached the top shortly after 10 am.
At this hour the enemy's fire was appalling, the hail of bullets and shells being ceaseless, but these untried volunteers are said to have pushed up to the shallow trench and the firing-line beyond it without flinching. They at once commenced to suffer very severe losses. These 2 companies were the first reinforcements to enter the firing-line, and their arrival proved most opportune, some Lancashire companies being very hard pressed at this time and at this part of the position.
About mid-day Colonel Nash was ordered to reinforce on the summit with "every available man". About 2 pm he reached the top with his remaining companies, who at once bolted out from the rocks at the head of the ascent and fed the firing-line, pushing forward fearlessly across the open.
Throughout the afternoon and evening the firing was unceasing, and often at very close quarters; after dark it had died away. The regiment having been collected, fell in and marched off. They had barely gone 200 yards, however, when an officer said to Colonel Nash, "Where are you going?" The latter replied that he had been ordered to take down the regiment. The other officer then said, "I am Colonel Hill of the Middlesex; not a man or regiment is to leave the hill". The officers of the Imperial Light Infantry then said to their men that a mistake had been made, and the column 'about turned', marched back to the place they had come from, put out pickets, and lay down among the dead and wounded. The worst feature of this very trying experience was the ceaseless crying of the wounded for water: there was none on the hill. During the night a staff-officer informed Colonel Nash that he had better bring down his men before dawn if no fresh troops or orders came up. Between 3 am and 4 am the regiment was again collected and finally left the hill. No Boers had ventured on to the hill up to that time.
One can only imagine from where we sit today just how awful it must have been for Massey and his comrades – in among the dead and the dying without water for themselves let alone those parched throats for whom death was almost imminent. Justifiably then the Imperial Light Infantry are credited with having played a very significant role in the fight for Spioenkop
For his efforts Massey was awarded the Queens Medal with clasps for the Relief of Ladysmith, Tugela Heights, Transvaal and Laing’s Nek. He took his discharge from the regiment on 22 October 1900 and nothing further is known of his movements.
