Boer War Nurses

K.M. Champion

This cabinet print taken by Duffus Bros, Johannesburg, in the late 1890s, shows Kate Champion, a trained nurse who was to serve, a few years after this photograph was taken, during the Siege of Ladysmith.

Descended from the Hillary family of Hampshire, who emigrated to South Africa in the 1850s, Kate was born to Charles and Emma Champion ca 1870 and grew up in the Free State.

She survived the rigours of the Siege and was able to be in Ladysmith for the 1950 anniversary celebrations.

If your ancestor was a nurse during the Anglo-Boer War, visit Keiron Spires' fascinating and useful site at http://www.boerwarnurses.com

Boer War: A Doctor during the Siege of Ladysmith

Oswald James Currie was born in 1860 in Greenwich, London, into a life of middle class prosperity and conformity. His parents, Alexander and Jessie, were of Scottish descent but long settled into London suburbia, able to pay for Oswald's education fees at Guy's College from the income of Alexander's career as an insurance underwriter.

At some point Oswald must have decided to reject the idea of medical practice in Britain and perhaps he was inspired by tales of his father's seven brothers who had variously emigrated, enlisted and travelled all over the world. Certainly, after qualifying as a doctor at the University of London with a first class degree in forensic medicine, he did not waste much time before leaving his comfortable life and 4 stay-at-home younger siblings to pursue his love of travel and adventure. After a year in Ceylon and a spell as a ship's doctor, he finally came to South Africa which was to become his home.

Oswald worked as a physician in Pietermaritzburg from 1892 and was also a surgeon at Gray's Hospital there. In 1896 he married Sara Gough Gubbins, born in Limerick in Ireland and a cousin to Sir Charles O'Grady Gubbins*, and they had their first of 4 children in 1898.

By this time, Oswald had become very involved in the Natal Medical Corps and by the outbreak of the Second Anglo-Boer War he was a Captain with the Natal Carbineers. Realising he was living through history, he wrote 3 letters to his sister Rose's 5 year-old daughter back in England, telling her about the Ladysmith Siege where he worked in Intombi Camp with the other medical staff. Little Winifred went on to keep her 'Uncle Oswald' letters all her life and they were often brought out of their little leather case as treasures for her children and later her grandchildren and great grandchildren to see.

Oswald himself went on to survive both the Boer War and the First World War. After 1908, the family left Natal and made their home in the Cape where Oswald became a well-respected GP, kept up his interest in hospital work at the Wynberg Hospital and contributed much to the South African Medical Corps. He died at the age of 72 in 1932.

Dr Currie is among the group of Natal Carbineers shown on this blog at http://molegenealogy.blogspot.com/2012/09/boer-war-natal-carbineers.html

O J Currie, his wife Sara,
with John Alexander (Jack) b 1898
and Jessie b 1900 (d in infancy)

*Sir Charles O'Grady Gubbins, M.B., J.P.
for Natal, M.L.A. Natal 1901-10, Colonial
Secretary and Minister of Education 1906-10,
Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Native
Affairs 1907, Senator and MinisterWithout
Portfolio in Union of South Africa 1910-11,
Knt 1911, d 1911.




[With thanks to Currie descendant Jo King.]














Note: O J Currie served Sept 1899-31 May 1902 in the Natal Volunteer Medical Corps.
He received the QSA with 3 clasps.
During the Siege of Ladysmith he was in charge of the Natal First Field Hospital
(Volunteers). Later Major commanding the C Battery Natal Royal Artillery;
Surgeon of Grey's Hospital, Maritzburg, and Medical Officer of Health, Maritzburg.

Boer War: Intombi Camp, Siege of Ladysmith

Intombi, sometimes referred to as Ndomba (the Zulu word for a small stream), was a neutral camp established four miles to the south-east of Ladysmith, after negotiations between the British and the Boers. The Ladysmith Town Hall, which had been converted into a hospital and contained numerous casualties, was unsafe as exposed to enemy fire - a shell had landed on the clock tower of the Town Hall.

An armistice was granted until midnight on 5 November 1899 for sick and wounded, as well as some non-combatants, women and children, to be transferred to Intombi. Hospital tents were erected and the Boers gave permission for a daily ration train to run from Ladysmith to Intombi, by night.

Early on the morning of 5 November 'a long, long train made up of trucks, carriages etc, filled with patients and townsfolk, the sick and wounded lying on stretchers, in trucks, and in beds in the luggage van', left Ladysmith station for Intombi ... A few tents were up and more were being put up. After much difficulty and trouble we got the beds right and the wounded fixed up in tents ... It was late at night before this was finished and very dark.'

There were less than 30 qualified doctors, 120 trained medical personnel and 56 Indian bearers at any one time in Intombi camp. They had a total of 300 beds to start with. The 'vast sea of tentage' comprised No. 12 Field Hospital under Major Love, RAMC, No 1 Stationary Hospital of the Natal Field Force and No 1 Natal Volunteer Field Force Hospital, commanded by Captain Currie of the Natal Carbineers. From Convent Hill, Mother Marie des Anges took her nuns out to Intombi: 'after the initial shock at the crudities of tent life, where six of them shared three mattresses - sometimes with nightly visitations from scorpions, snakes and frogs - the nuns joined in with the nursing until, one by one, they too fell sick'.

By January, the death-toll from diseases such as enteric fever (typhoid) and dysentery at Intombi reached a rate of 10 to 20 per day. A Natal volunteer reported: 'They sent me into a tent in the field hospital where there were 40 soldiers and nearly killed me outright. The hospital had been intended for 300 at first and there were 1400 in it when I was there and 15 nurses to look after them. Food and medicine were both very short and the sun came through the tent like a ball of fire. The place was a perfect hell on earth ... What it must be like now [15 January] with 2 000 out there I dread to think.'

During January and February the typhoid epidemic raged, doing the Boers' work for them. Every day, the hospital trains carrying white flags steamed out of the town with new carriage-loads of victims and steamed back empty. All typhoid patients were supposed to be sent to Intombi but many sick men elected to stay in one of the hospitals within the town - though conditions were little better there.

'We just lie here', said one of the starving patients at Intombi, 'and think of all the good tuck ahead' - but many of them would not survive to enjoy better times.

Nurse Kate Driver wrote: 'Yesterday a Gordon Highlander who had seemed almost out of danger, gave a kind of long sigh against too great odds. "I've nothing to gie ye, Nurse. Will ye tak a bit o' ma kilt? The bit wi' the bullet holes - for ye nursed me better o' that wound - if it hadna been for the fever ...." I thought of his kilt now - that would never swing again, that so jauntily had swung over the kopjes and under the scream of shells. I thought of how it had been when it was new and his mother looked at him with pride and love. And now I thought of her, so far away, still - weeks in the future - to be numbed by the news of his death ... I ached for all mothers and wives and sisters and sweethearts of men dying because of war, and for all the sad eyes of dying men.'

Intombi Camp Graveyard after the Siege

Further reading:
Experience of a Siege: A Nurse looks back on Ladysmith by Nurse Kate Driver
(published by Ladysmith Historical Society 1978, No 6 in series 'Diary of the Siege of Ladysmith)

A Diary of the Siege of Ladysmith by Bella Craw
(first published 1970, No 2 in Ladysmith Historical Society's series 'Diary of the Siege of Ladysmith')

Ladysmith by Ruari Chisholm (published 1979, Osprey Publishing Ltd, London)

Boer War: Steinaecker's Horse et al

Various blog visitors want information on regiments - Imperial and Colonial - which participated in the Anglo-Boer War. One of these requests was for Steinaecker's Horse: have a look at

http://angloboerwar.com/unit-information/south-african-units/473-steinaeckers-horse

For details of other units go to the Main Menu at angloboerwar.com and select Unit Information.

Ludwig von Steinaecker
from  http://www.archaetnos.co.za/our-passion/
A fascinating story.

Boer War: Cape Mounted Rifles

CAPE MOUNTED RIFLES - ANGLO-BOER WAR

Killed in action:
Major C. F. SPRENGER
Sergeant N. E. COURT
Sergeant J. R. LEEDHAM
Sergeant J. M. REYNOLDS
Sergeant H. WARR
Sergeant W. MORRIS
Corporal F. HAINES
Corporal F. COOPER
Corporal W. REDER
Private C. ANDREWES
Private G. FOULKES
Private J. W. CHYRSTAL [CHRYSTAL?]
Private J. MCCURTIN
Private S. MORRIS
Private F. CASS
Private E. G. M. SPAN
Private G. R. HEWITT
Private P. G. STEPHENSON
Private A. J. COLLIER
Private W. L. M. JONES
Private W. BURDON
Private H. H. BELL
Private P. E. HORWOOD
Private H. BURKE
Private T. TUFFREY
Private J. H. ROBBINS
Private R. R. GARRETT
Private N. GRANT
Private A. J. HASSELL
Private W. A. BAILEY
Private G. H. TURNER
Private P. A. SHERIDAN (drowned)
Private J. MCINTYRE
Private H. P. G. BOYLE (killed accidentally)
Private H. RICHARDS (drowned)

Died of wounds:
Lieutenant H. F. B. TAPLIN
Lieutenant W. ROLFE
Sergeant J. WHALLEY
Sergeant W. H. NIXON
Corporal H. A. BATES
Private J. MCLOUGHLIN
Private A. G. THOMAS
Private B. P. SKERRETT
Private M. PAKENHAM
Private D. CORNEVILLE
Private J. MILLER
Private W. E. PIERCE
Private J. M. HOEY
Private R. R. GARTHORNE
Private T. P. FARIS

Died of disease:
Corporal F. C. CARDEW
Private C. F. M. RYVES
Private F. W. HARRIS
Private H. NEVILLE
Private E. CHAPMAN
Private A. W. N. THACKER
Private J. SMITH
Private G. HALL
Private F. KEEN
Private F. C. T. EVANS
Native Trooper: Jack Nqanduli

Source: Record of the Cape Mounted Riflemen by Basil Williams (1909)

The Cape Mounted Riflemen, Colonial (1855-1913) should be distinguished from that raised by the Imperial authorities in 1806, and bearing the same name. The Colonial Regiment was raised in 1855, with the designation of the Frontier Armed and Mounted Police. Its name was changed to the Cape Mounted Riflemen in 1878. The FAMP had an original strength of 17 officers and 500 other ranks, and until the disbanding of the Imperial CMR carried out police duties in the Eastern Province of the Cape. After that date (1870), it was increasingly called upon for military duty, either in the form of active service, or in occupying areas in which there were native disturbances. When the new title was adopted in 1878, the name of the older Imperial regiment was deliberately chosen.

Source of above: S. Monick: Military History Journal - Vol 4 No 5: http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol045sm.html

Further reading:

Boot and saddle: A narrative record of the Cape Regiment, the British Cape Mounted Riflemen, the Frontier Armed Mounted Police, and the Colonial Cape Mounted Riflemen by P. J Young (1955)

With the Cape Mounted Rifles by Thomas J Lucas (1878); various editions.

For more on Cape Mounted Rifles:
http://www.southerncape.co.za/history/military/forces/cmr/welcome.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Mounted_Riflemen

http://www.angloboerwar.com/unit-information/south-african-units/316-cape-mounted-rifles

Boer War: Natal Carbineers

MUSTER ROLL OF THE NATAL CARBINEERS ANGLO-BOER WAR 1899-1902

Strength Of Regiment on Mobilization, 508,
and on being released from Active Service 530

Abbreviations:
L: In Siege of Ladysmith
R: On Relief Column
SS: Special Service Members
K: Killed
W: Wounded
D: Died
P: Prisoner
NGR: On Railway Work

[Where none of the above occur after the name, no further details are given on the Roll.]

OFFICERS

Lieut-Col E M Greene L
Maj D McKenzie R
Maj C E Taunton L K
Maj and Adjt J Weighton L
Maj G J Macfarlane L
Maj C B Addison L
Capt W S Shepstone L
Capt C G Willson L
Capt and Q-M A Lyle L
Capt F E Foxon L W
Capt A Hair L
Capt B Crompton L
Capt E Lucas L D
Capt G W Nourse-Varty L
Capt C N H Rodwell L
Capt G F Tatham L
Lieut W A Vanderplank L
Lieut W J Gallwey P
Lieut W Comrie L
Lieut D Sparks L
Lieut D W Mackay R W
Lieut W A Bartholomew L
Lieut W T Gage L
Lieut A C Townsend L
Lieut W E C Tanner L
Lieut A W Smallie L
Lieut T M Owen Depot
Lieut R Ashburnham R
Lieut J P S Woods R
Lieut T Duff L
Lieut A Wylde Browne SS D
Lieut R A C Cockburn L
Vet-Lieut F A Verney SS R


NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS

RSM W Burkimsher R
RSM B M Bowen L D
Bandmaster J Keilly L
Q M Sergt W Munro L
O R S P W Stride L
S M Tailor W Walters, Depot
Saddler Sergt T W Lyle L
Far Sergt J Matraves L
Far Sergt F Pain L
Sergt Tptr E J Lawrance
Sergt Cook A Ashdown L
S S Mjr E W Barter L
S S Mjr B Buchanan L
S S Mjr P J C Deglon L
S S Mjr J W Johnston L
S S Mjr J Mapstone L
S S Mjr T Mitchell L
T S Mjr A Sclanders R
S S Mjr A B Vanderplank L
S S Mjr J W Tranmer R
T S Mjr H C Fitzgerald R
S S Mjr J W V Montgomery L
S Q M S T Castle L
S Q M S T W C Evans R
S Q M S J Hackland L
S Q M S R F Harte L
S Q M S G Jackson L
Sergt J W Armitage L
Sergt R Carbis L
Sergt A E Colville L K
Sergt R Comins L
Sergt J W Durham L
Sergt H J Harkness L
Sergt F G Holmes L
Sergt J A McCullough L
Sergt F G Mapstone L W D
Sergt W J Osborne L
Sergt C McD Patterson L
Sergt H Schwegmann L
Sergt S M Shaw L
Sergt P J Stevens R W
Sergt W P Stevens R
Sergt A Swan L
Sergt A E Todd L
Sergt F J C Topham L
Sergt H Wilkinson L
Corpl J L Armitage L
Corpl R C Boyd L
Corpl C A Carbutt L
Corpl D M Craig L
Corpl J Dicks L
Corpl T Ellerker L
Corpl J R Fayers L
Corpl W P Gray R
Corpl A T Hackland L
Corpl R W Hall R
Corpl R Hesom L
Corpl J H Holley L W
Corpl C Holmes SS R
Corpl W H Home L
Corpl W A Lang L
Corpl T McCathie L
Corpl J McCullough L
Corpl W McCullough L W
Corpl H K McDowell L
Corpl J McKenzie L
Corpl H McLean L
Corpl J A Mason L
Corpl E Reed R
Corpl R A Richmond R W
Corpl H Smith L
Corpl W H Sanders L
Corpl A Tanner L
Corpl J Watson L
Corpl-Tptr O E Dick L


MEN

Tmptr A Denness L
Tmptr T P Egner L
Tmptr W E Fyfe SS
Tmptr J A Keith L
Tmptr J H Mellis L
Troopers:
A H Abel SS L
C W Abel L
E P Adams SS
W T Adams SS R
P Adie SS R K
J Agnew SS R W
H F Albers L
F Allerston L
A F Anders L
J M Anderson SS
W Anderson SS L W
W N Angus SS R
R J M Antel L
W E Antel L
E S Archer L
A W Arnold L
E J W Ashe L
J W Ashton SS
W Bailey SS L
W J Baillie SS
R Baines SS L
T P Bale SS D
P Ballantyne R W
H M Ballenden L
C Banfield SS
A H Banwell SS
C Barnett L
T Barnett L
T Barron R
J Bassage L
J J Bassage L
W F Bassage L D
T Baum SS
G F Bennett L
H Benson L
W S Bigby SS L
J L Birkett L D
H G Bizley SS
G E Blaker L
J W Bonifant L
E M G Bowes L
A Bowman L
W S Boyce SS
T H Brandon SS R
C Brazier L
C Brennen SS R
F H Brittain SS L D
F L Brown SS
J H Brown L
B B Buntting L
F Burton L
W M Busch L
G W Butcher SS
J C Butter L
H L Button SS
W Buxton L K
A Cairns L
W Calder SS L
D P Campbell L
H C C Campbell SS
T Campbell SS
A F Carter L
C R Carter L
H B Carter L
H J Catchpole L
J G Chalklen
W M Chalmers SS L
P G Chambers L
E Chandley L
S Chapman SS L D
R Charlton SS L
B Cheney R
E Chisholm L
J P Christie SS
F Clark SS
W Cleaver SS L W D
A S Clouston L
A E Cockburn L
J B Cohen SS L D
J G Collins L
R Collins L
C Colville L
J S H Colville L D
A Comrie L
J M Comrie L
P C Comrie L
A O Cooke R
J J B Cooke R
G H Coombes SS
C F J Cope R
E P Corbet R
W J Corrigall L
H A Craig L
C Craik L W
B Crathorne R
A P Craw L
A Crickmore SS
G Crompton SS
A J Crosby SS L
H W Cross SS
J Cross SS R
H F B Crosse
A E Crouch L
B Crouch L
W J Crouch L
J T Crowsen L
E E Croysdale SS L
J Cumming SS L
W W Cummins SS R
G T Cundill L
T Cunningham SS
T Curran L
W H Currie L
P B Curry SS L
S Daly L W
C F Davies L
J E Davies L D
F P H De Bary
J H M de Bary L
R A H de Bary L
W E Deerans SS
E J Dicks L
G W Dicks L
H C Dicks L
H E H Dicks
J A Dicks
C J Diot L
W S Dobson SS L
C Douglas
D Dowsett NGR
J Duff SS L
F Duke SS L D
D J Dunn SS L
D Dunwoodie SS L
F W Durant L
W G Eccles R
W P Edwards SS R
W T Edwards L
J Elliott SS
T Elliott L K
J L Ennis SS
J F Fargerson SS
F C Farmer R
R N Faulder SS L
J G Ferrand SS
C J Fewings SS R
A H Firmstone SS L
G A Firmstone SS L
J W Flett L
F Ford SS
A G M Forder SS L
F Fowler SS
A P Francis L
G L Fraser L
J A Fraser SS R
W J Freeman SS L W
L O Fyvie L
C S M Gabriel SS L
M H Garson SS
W Gerhardt SS R
P T Gibson SS
J Gillam SS L W
T Gill SS R
M Goldstein SS R K
G M Gordon SS
J K Gordon SS P
R E Gordon SS
A F Grant R
G J Grant R
N J Grant R
R Grant L
W H Grant R
D M Gray R K
G D Gray L
K M Greenall L D
A H Greene L
S Gregory SS
J E Greig L W
C Groom SS L
H C Groom SS L
T Hackland L
H E Haddon SS L
C C Haine L
L P Haine SS L W
H W Hale SS
W A Hall L
E A Hamblin NGR
G A Hammond SS L
J W Hammond L
W J Harcourt D
E A C Harding
H Harding SS
F C Hardman L
F O Harris L
A E Harte L
W H F Harte L
C Hatley L
F W T Hatley L
H Hatley L
E H Hayes L
A G Hazell L
G C H Heckler L W
O Hesom L
S W Hewitt SS P
S R Higgins L
F C Hill L
A G Hinde SS R
C F Hodgson L
H A Hodgson
T L Hodgson SS L
R G Hodson
J B Holgate SS
Ralph Holliday L
Rupert Holliday L
F W Holmes L
W Hood SS
R Hope SS
L Hordern SS
F S Hornby L
J W Horsley L
H N Houghton
A S Houshold SS L
E E Houshold L
T H Houshold L
F J Howden SS
A Hutcheson L
F T Hyde L
T J Irving SS R
G Izatt SS
R H Jackson L
W Jackson L
J F Jacques L
H N Jenner SS R K
A C Johnson SS
W J Johnstone SS R
J Jones L
W W Jordan SS
J Joughin SS R
A S Joyner L
A Keachie L
E J Kean L
C G Kemp L
L E Kenmuir SS R
C Kennedy L
F E King R W
G F King L R
W W King
G B Kitchen SS
H J Kitchen L
W T Kitchen SS L
C D Knapp L
G F Kremer L
A H O Kruger L
C R Ladbrooke SS
W H Ladds L
J Laing SS L
G F Lane L
P P Lang L
R A Lang L
A Larsen SS
J O Larsen SS L
G Lawrence L SS
J Lawrence L
S W Lawrence SS
F W Lean SS L
W Leathern L
J Leddra SS
H P Lefebre SS
J T Legge SS R
P Lewis SS L
T Lewis SS L
G Liggett SS
R E Lightfoot L
D P Lindsay SS L
R A Lindsay L W
T J Locke SS R
W Long SS R
A H Loram SS R
C H Luja SS L
W E Lupton SS L
G Macfarlane SS
J McBlain SS
J R McCullough L
W A McCullough L
A S McDonald L
G McKellar L
N McKellar L
C K McKenzie L
L R McKenzie L
O S McKenzie L
R McKenzie L
W McLean L
F G H McLeod SS
A Madsen L
M Madsen L
G G Mann SS D
R J Marshall L
T W Martin SS L
A J Mason L
R J Mason SS R W
W F Mason L
H Meares L
G H Mellis L
E W Meyer L
F Meyer L
H F Meyer L
J Meyer L
A Miles L
A J Miller L
C E J Miller SS L W
H E Miller L
R M M Miller SS L K
W J Milliken L
H T Mitchell L
W J Mitchell SS L
W H Mitchell L
C Molyneux SS L
W E C Molyneux SS
S G Monckton SS R
R Money L
Q H Montgomery L
W R Moody L D
E B Moreland L
H D Munro SS R
J H Murray L D
T R Murray SS
G Newlands L
W C F Napier SS L
D D Newton L
T Newton L
A Nicholson L W
B Nicholson SS R
J B Nicholson L
W G Nunn SS R
D O'Brien SS
A H O Osborn SS
R Owen SS L
A Paine L W
F Palfrey SS
E C Palmer SS R
W A Paterson SS
G S Paton SS L
D Patton L D
J Paxton SS R
H J Peake SS R
J Pepworth L
H W Peters L
G J Player SS
B C T Pottow L
J N A Pottow L
J Price L D
S H Prince L
W E Quested L
F R Ralfe, R
G Rattray SS R
R J Raw R W
S W Raw L D
W G Raw L
W H Rawlings L
R Read SS
W L Read
W C Reeves SS
A B Richardson SS
J B Richardson L
G H Richardson SS L
W N Ridgway L
J Risley SS
S Robinson SS R
T Robinson
T J Robinson L
J Robertson
W D Roche SS L
W T Rochester SS L
E H Rose SS
L Ross L
E O Rowles L
B L Royal SS
F S Rundle SS P
E Russell R W
R C Samuelson L
H E Saner SS W
S Savage L
R Schofield SS
H W Seale R
S Schofield SS
D G Sclanders R
W J Sclater L
D A Shaw L
A G Shaw SS L
E H Shaw SS L D
J G Shaw SS L
W H Shaw SS R
W L Shaw R
G H Stepstone SS L
M A Shepstone SS L
F H Sherman SS R
G G Shores L
G F Simon SS L
W B Skottowe SS
C R Skottowe SS
P H Smallridge L
E E Smith SS L W
H Smith L
Jas Smith SS
J H Smith L
R Smith L
W C Smith L K
E P Smithwick SS
P F Smithwick
D W Smythe L
H G Snodgrass SS
J G Speirs L SS
J Spence L
F Spencer L W
G W Spencer SS
R Spencer L
D J Spillman SS
C E Stainbank SS L
F Stanbury SS R
B L Stead L
H P Stead L
A C Street SS
B J Stevens R
F Stevens R
F N Stevens R
A Stutters SS L
J Sullivan L
J Surgeson L
H G Swindon L
O Swindon L
W Sutherland L
W F B Sutherland SS L
J Symes SS
T Symes
W Symes L
G Symons SS R
H E Symons R
J Talanda SS
W A Talbot L
R M Tanner L
H Tarboton SS
F W Taunton SS
A E Taylor SS L
B Taylor L
C P K Taylor L
E Taylor R W
E R Taylor SS R
M Taylor L
R P Taylor SS L
W F Taylor L
W J Taylor L
J Taylor SS R
A E Taynton SS L
G W Teasdale R W
J Tennant SS R
A L Thompson L
H W Thompson L
A G Thomson SS L
G L Thomson L
F C Thomalla SS
W A P Thorne SS R
H Tillett SS
R Timm
P Tomlinson SS R
R Tomlinson SS L
R Trodd R
A H Trow SS L
A R Tucker SS L
H Turner SS L
C J Tytherleigh L
W J Ulyate SS
P J Upton SS L
H J Urquhart L
J P Urquhart L
F B Wade L D
H C Waite SS L
A Walker L
A M Walker SS R
H Walker SS L
H P Walker SS R
F W Walker SS R
H P Walsh
J D Walsh SS
L D Walsh R
F A Ward SS W P
H C Ward L
B W Warren SS R K
W S Warwick L W
T E Warwick L
R Watts SS L W
C W Webber L W
A F Weedon L
F Westermeyer L
J Westray L
H D Wheeler SS
L Wheeler SS L
S M Wheeler
G C White SS
W R A White SS
C C Whitelaw SS R
W Whitridge SS R
S J C Wilkinson SS
J Williamson R
T B Willoughby R
W J H Wilmot L
J L D Wilson SS
R S Wilson SS
A L Wingfield L
E A Woods R
F T G Woods R
M M Woods R
W H Woodward SS
J E Woolley SS L
B Wray L
D C Wright L
W E Wright L
A J Yeaman SS R
G Yirrell L
E W Young SS
E C Zunckel R
O M Zunckel R

Heritage Day: Wiki Loves Monuments Competition

If you haven't yet submitted an entry to the Wiki Loves Monuments Competition there are only 8 days left to do so. Have a look at photos entered so far:

http://wikilovesmonuments.co.za/?pk_campaign=Centralnotice

Not sure what to photograph? See the list of monuments for your province at:

http://wikilovesmonuments.co.za/wiki/Lists_of_monuments


Connect with your Heritage. Get your camera, phone or tablet, visit a heritage site and start clicking.

Especially if you're in Natal ... we could be doing better. Some ideas for Durban photographers:

Greenacres Building

Quadrant House, Victoria Embankment

Natal Herbarium, Edith Benson Crescent

Soofie Mosque, Lower Bridge Road

Old Fort and Cemetery

Memorial at Intombi Cemetery
near Ladysmith

Old Court House, Durban

Boer War: Natal Mounted Rifles Part 2

WITH BULLER'S RELIEF FORCE

Sergeant
L Castera
Corporals:
A Austin (W)
H Bristow
Troopers:
H Austin
HG Bazley
WA Bird
HW Church
BC Davey
CH Gibb
G Gray
FW Higgins (W)
TR Harbottle
T Leech
S Bennett
FW Burke (W)
PAM Cox
L Caster
FF Churchill
G Caray
FW Roberts
PE Smith (W)
E Stephenson (W)
JF Thring
HK Vere-Hodge
P Wilson
CT Young

RECRUITS SINCE THE SIEGE
Troopers:
WJ Andrews
J Abraham
O Angus
WC Alder
CJ Arundel
J Burns
RW Beall
E Bristow
C Burrus
JA Burrus
JN Brown
G Brown
EW Burton
M Carroll
J Dunwell
J Davidson
W Eeles
WJ Freeman
SA Fraser
HP Forster
RE Garbutt
W Griffis
H Granger
GV Grice (D)
CA Howroyd
WT Howell
HW Hunter
JW Huntley
GO Hunley
E Holgate
J Herrick
WH Harber
W Jones
GE Jones
CR Jones
HA Joel
RV King
J Lloyd
H Lace
GA Logan
WH Moore
WB Millar
W Mitchell
CC Murchie
GF Morley
EE Nuttall
F Nicks
E Owen
G Olsen
EM Olsen
RT Paterson
DC Phillips
GH Perrin
L Price
S Robbins
FC Ruysch
G Rogers
TL Ruston
P Starling
GA Sefton
A Stewart
HAJ Scruse
T Sim
J Shields
H Thomas
D Tweedie
J Vincent
M Watson
GG Watson
HLR Watt
F West

H O N O U R ' S     R O L L
KILLED IN ACTION
Lieutenant
WJ Clapham, at Lombard's Kop
Trooper
G Schram, at Ladysmith
Trooper
JR Crickmore, at Ladysmith

DIED OF DISEASE
Corporal
J Parkhill, at Durban
Troopers:
VG Ash, at Ladysmith
GV Grice, at Maritzburg
PE Inman, at Maritzburg
S Harrop, at Ladysmith
G Thomas, at Ladysmith

WOUNDED IN THE FIELD
Sergeant-Saddler
H Bull, at Tinta 'Nyoni
Corporal
A Austin, at Tinta 'Nyoni
Troopers:
H Cullingworth, at Tinta 'Nyoni
AF Sander, at Lombard's Kop
Corporals:
P Lloyd, at Lombard's Kop
H Silburn, at Bester's Hoek
Troopers:
PE Smith, at Colenso
G Brauel, at Ladysmsith
Lieutenant
HWA Richardson, at Caesar's Hill
Corporal
PN Field, at Caesar's Hill
Trooper
P Addison, at Ladysmith
Lieutenant-Surgeon
RW Hornabrook, at Caesar's Hill
Troopers:
FW Higgins, at Acton Homes
E Stephenson, at Spioen Kop
FW Burke, at Spioen Kop

INVALIDED, BUT RETURNED
Captain
R Noble
Lieutenant
FO Stiebel
Sergeant-Saddler
H Bull
Trooper
H Cullingworth

GRANTED EXTENDED LEAVE
S: Sick
Lieutenant
J Abraham (S)
Sergeants:
AF Turner (S)
E Hillary (S)
Corporal
AJ Harvey (S)
Corporal-Trumpeter
AE Mears (S)
Troopers:
S Bennett
RE Garbutt
AH Johnson (S)
HD Matson (S)
C Sander (S)
FW Sander (S)
E Vall (S)

INVALIDED TO END OF WAR
Trumpeter-Major
P Carmont
Sergeants:
JP Griffiths
A Hilmer
J Whittaker
Corporals:
LE Knox
H Bellville
G Carmont
H Silburn
Trumpeter
R Rogers
Troopers:
GV Ash
LV Ash
CJ Allen
JA Airth
HV Adams
H Austin
E Agnew
CE Bryant
G Brauel
AC Brandon
BD Davey, Relief Force
HWM Gillespie
CH Gibb
W Hillary
JB Hobday
EL Jones
GS Jameson
P Kemp
J Koster
Kirby
E Lake
E Middleborough
HL Norton-Smith
LA Noel
A Nipper
GE Oddy
J Pittaway
WH Pay
HS Parkes
GH Perrin
C Pulford
JH Rode
W Rodgers
H Stuhr
AEO Schreiber
D Scully
A Sarsland
E Thompson
A Tomlin
A Theunissen
HJ Torlage

JOINED COMPOSITE REGIMENT
Major
RW Evans (promoted Lieutenant-Colonel)
Lieutenants:
FO Stiebel
D Brown
HWA Richardson
Leo C Adams
Q-M
AL Garbutt
R-S-M
GP Parry
Sergeant-Major
GT Hurst
Sergeant-Tailor
H Mulholland
Sergeants:
WA Russwurn
R Lyne
Corporal
ERH Lewis
Troopers:
BL Crawford
AW Evans
JB Grinstead
R Harger
O Nannestad
AG Redman
FW Higgins
T Leech
PE Smith
E Stephenson
J Abraham
CJ Arundel
M Carroll
SA Fraser
J Shields
J Vincent
F Eales
FW Burton
P Burns
G Jones
JD Lloyd
Mitchell
C Murchie
FA Routledge
GT Watson

IN CHARGE OF HEADQUARTERS
Bandmaster
GR Gibb

Relief parade, Ladysmith

For more on Ladysmith visit Brian Kaighin's pages at http://www.ladysmithhistory.com

Boer War: Natal Mounted Rifles Part 1

NATAL MOUNTED RIFLES - BESIEGED IN LADYSMITH - ANGLO-BOER WAR 1899-1902

Abbreviations:
K: Killed
W: Wounded
D: Died


Major
Robert W Evans, Commanding
Captains:
R Noble, Adjutant
J Ritchie
C Henwood
H Sparks, MLA
W Murray Smith
Lieutenants:
FO Stiebel
D Brown
WJ Clapham (K)
HWA Richardson (W)
WH Smith
J Abraham
CS Adams
AG Knox
Leo C Adams
Q-M
AL Garbutt
R-S-M-
GP Parry
Q-M-S
H Higgs
Sergeant-Majors:
GT Hurst
GR Payne
S Garbutt
J Tweedie
G Keal
Trumpeter-Major
P Carmont
Sergeant-Farriers:
WB Orchard
H Martin
J Dingley
Sergeant-Tailor
H Mulholland
Sergeants:
AF Turner
FL Kruger, jun
W Gibb
CJ Hurst
T Wright
AH Gillham
G Stewart
R Stewart
WAB Russwurn
JTK Eggar
W Schwegmann
HB Shire
R Lyne
F Werner
Corporals:
P Lloyd (W)
ERH Lewis
LE Knox
H Bellville
G Carmont
AJ Harvey
J Parkhill (D)
H Silburn (W)
H Purser
TJ Drew
CC Pietersen
Sergeants:
W Shoesmith
JP Griffith
E Hillary
WH Bibby
F Brophy
Sergeant-Saddler
H Bull (W) (not in Ladysmith)
Corporals:
FW Freese
PN Field (W)
HH Hurst
HR Tunmer
SS Waller
Corporal-Trumpeters:
AE Mears
WH Bibby
Corporals:
CJ Landsberg
GA Larkan
H Worthingon
SA Brown
A Chiazzari
Trumpeters:
R Rogers
GE Beater
A Currie
Troopers:
VG Ash (D)
GV Ash
LV Ash
CJ Allen
JA Airth
JW Alcock
HV Adams
WH Attlee
AB Alexander
P Addison (W)
CC Allsopp
F Abrams
JH Andrew
E Agnew
B Bond
DA Bell
CE Bryant
V Bazley
G Brauel (W)
AW Evans, DCM
GO Edwards
HG Finch
C Forrest
JB Grinstead
OE Garbutt
HB Garbutt
CJ Goodwin
WF Gann
GJL Golding
HWM Gillespie
L Handley
JP Howroyd
W Hillary
R Harger
P Hoar
CB Herns
JB Hobday
EA Hopkins
JH Harries
PE Inman (D)
F Jones
EL Jones
AB Jones
AH Johnson
GS Jameson
J Kurz
J Koster
P Kemp
AC Brandon
FW Bannister
TF Brickhill
AT Burne
AW Cox
RH Clarence
JR Crickmore (K)
L Colenbrander
H Cullingworth (W)
GH Chudleigh
AH Crawford
BL Crawford
CR Daniel
F Dawson
HC Dinklemann
J D'Hotman
HE Essery
HD Ryder
FA Routledge
AG Redman
JH Rode
W Rodgers
JC Ratcliff
W Slatter
H Stuhr
C Sander
FW Sander
AF Sander (W)
HW Sander
HH Schwegmann
HF Schwegmann
AEO Schreiber
JF Stevenson
JG Kirby
FL Lucy
Edward Lake
J Morphew
J McDonald
E Middleborough
HD Matson
HL Norton-Smith
LA Noel
DM Nagle
A Nipper
O Nannestad
GE Oddy
J Pittaway
WH Pay
HS Parkes
A Pucher
S Sarsland
J Schmidt
GF Schofield
HE Smith
G Sharp
RG Scorey
E Thompson
G Twomey
A Tomlin
JW Tunmer
CF Tunmer
A Theunissen
HF Torlage
F Vahl
RK Watson
AC Westley
D Scully
CF Spradbrow
C Stewart
G Schram (K)
AW Starr
LH Studd
GH Wayne
W Winsor
CF Wilkins
W Waugh
A Walker
R Crosby-Wade

SIGNALLING DETACHMENT
Sergeant
HD Hemsworth
Corporal
JJ Flood
Troopers:
WB Flood
FM Piccione
C Roper

AMBULANCE DETACHMENT
Lieutenant-Surgeon
RW Hornabrook (W)
Vet-Lieutenant
ST Amos
Sergeant
J Whittaker
Corporal
RJ Kelly
Troopers:
GW Bradshaw
D Donaldson
J Donaldson
S Harrop (D)
N Jelseth
A McKenna
JG Pennell
C Pulford
RM Ridgway
G Thomas (D)

Ladysmith Town Hall damaged by shelling during
the Siege: Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902

Boer War: Border Mounted Rifles list

BORDER MOUNTED RIFLES - ANGLO-BOER WAR 1899-1902

Abbreviations:
K: Killed
W: Wounded
D: Died

Majors:
JF Rethman, MLA, Commanding
W Sangmeister
Captains:
W Arnott, Adjutant, (W)
R Vause
JR Royston
Surg-Capt:
HT Platt
CA Bowker
Lieutenants:
L Trenor
James Gold
H Andreasen
JB Stuart
RW Wilson (W)
RG Archibald
FL Thring
Vet-Lieutenant
Power
Quarter-Master
WD Smith (D)
Tp-Sgt Maj
W Walton (W)
Quarter-Master
A Bousfield
Staff Sgt-Maj
C Mckenzie
Regt Sgt-Maj
Eaglestone
OR Sgt-Maj
JW Aiken
Hosp Sgt-Maj
J McClellan
Sgt-Maj:
RC Archibald
AW Fraser (W)
WTG Gold
J Hayes
Q-M-S
H Britten
Sergeants:
R von der Heyde
I Poss
A Ringo
RC Gold
H Rethman
HC Gold
EF Gibbens (W)
JR Greer
JR Hancock (D)
E Haajem
LW Langton
Cook-Sergeant
T Crocker (K)
Tlr-Sergeant
JF McAndrew
Tptr-Sergeant
A Barth
Farrier-Sergeants:
G Smith
A Watson
H Bakeberg
Sergeant-Sdler
A Harding
Corporals:
RN Arbuckle
F Bakeberg
A Borchard
J Anderson, Relief Force
GH Crookes
JH Garbers
CR Heslop
FO Howes
FAL Larkan (W)
Colin Wilson (W)
A Dobson
JH Dalgarno
C Gold
JL Gordon
Lance-Corporals:
P Lillebo
R Nilson
J Bazley
GE Boyce
Trumpeters:
H Alborough
TB Bremner
JS Collins
EF Glass
Shoesmith
Thos Wills
Troopers:
AO Andersen (D)
AG Andersen, Relief Force
W Alexander
OC Arbuthnot
Harold Archibald (W)
Dante Archibald, (W)
JWH Ashe (D)
R Appelgreen
A Alborough (D)
GN Alborough
WS Alborough
H Alcock
HO Alderson
J Adcock
W Austin
A Adams, at Ixopo
WF Betty, Colonial Scouts
R Burford, ex NNV*
WA Blandford
F Bazley
G Bazley
G Bakeberg
W Bakeberg
T Bell, Discharged
A Bjorseth
ES Clark
AE Clark
Geo Clark, Relief Force
HH Clarke
GK Cooper
DW Coutts, (D)
VE Clarence
P Comrie
A Crossley
CL Camp
EC Chittenden
H Clegg, ex NNV*
J Dehrmann, (W)
R Dawson
C Dagefoerde
NL Davey
HS Duyer
WN Everitt
RT Elliotte, Ixopo
R Ernshalt
RW Eastthorpe
CD Eva
GL Edmunds (W)
W Eyers
FC Fox (K)
W Fayers
S Fairness
T Fairness
FW Fell
GD Foubister
P Bjorseth
N Brudevig
WW Bailey
JE Brown
S Brown (K)
H Brown
JH Bradshaw
H Buhr
AW Britten
A Bosse
RN Boyd
GFH Brooke, W*
JR Balland
S Bernest
JH Cutliffe, drowned
W Cooper, ex-ILH
JH Gold, (K)
J Goddard
JA Greer
J Gabriel
P Garson
Wm Greig (D)
P Hardouin
W Hewitt
W Hewitt, ex-NNV*
F Hufft
G Hutcheon, ex-NNV*
TH Himes
EM Holte (D)
AG Hojem (D)
O Haajem
K Haajem
N Hogg
WH Hogg
J Hogg
CL Hammond
WH Frost
CC Foster
J Foster
WH Fairweather
WS Flack
CE Freeman
C Goddschalk
J Godwin
AG Goldstone (W)
T Grant
G Gibson
J Gibson*
WJ Goodridge (D)
WJ Gray
LH Gray
E Gray
W Letthuisen
R Lillebo
W Little
J Lupke
F Lupke
AG Langon
WH London
HW Larson
SG Lamb (D)
J Lassack
HR Mason, Relief Force
AV Mason
T Manning
CN Manning
LS Melville (D)
HK Melville (W)
Hugh Melville
A Melville
M Martinson
AR Mack
CA Hilton
J Houston
W Hardman
GJ Heslop
EP Heslop
JW Howes, (W) Relief Force
GD Hulley
PR Hulley (K)
FW Hulley
HW Hulley
O Inglebrigtsen
EJ Judles
R Jordan
WW Jay, Relief Force
HW Johnson
H Kisch, ex-NNV*
B Klusener
JW Kirkman, Relief Force
W Klapprott
J Kaiser
RO Koljes
AE Keith
WE Keith
J Lawson
BH Lawson (K)
G Lawson
TM Rethman
J Rossler
WJ Rigby
HM Raw
EE Raw
TA Robinson
AE Robinson
W Redshaw
TD Mack
W Mack
H Murray (D)
SS Maritz
E Marriott
AG Marwick
FR McDonald
R Moyles
JJ Millar
BW Martin
HH Munro
A McClure
H Norden (W), Relief Force
T Nourse
P Nilsen (K)
EG Oliver
G Oie
W Pullin, ex-Scout
E Poss
A Peddie
AS Purse
E Poily
E Pahr (D)
CR Pickard
N Pedlar
JC Pollock
C Shuttleworth
AH Shuttleworth
AF Shuttleworth
W Simmonds
T Stapleton
A Symes
TAB Taylor
C Taylor
H Rasmussen
E Reid, Colonial Scout
G Smith
W Smail
O Strauss (D W)
F Shutte
W Stow
J Smith
GH Stokes
L Somers
WR Somers
A Sutherland
GAB -Senegalden (D)
HC Stainton
J Simpson
GC Souttar
AH Stone
AJ Stone (W)
WJ Stone
AK Stone
RC Stone
ED Stewart (W)
CC Stuart (W), Relief Force
A Stuart (W)
GC Stafford
F Seymour
CF Thompson
Thies
BD Talbot
H Talbot
AC Thurston
FJ Thomas (W)
D Urquhart
W Uhlmann (D)
EW Velley
KM Vyvyan (D)
F Worden
EW Wywnn
CH Willson
J Watts
E Wardell
CH Willan
JD Watson
W Will
W Whitewright
WW Whitelaw
WF Whitfield
Geo Whitelaw
CJ Webb
A Walker
J Walker
WF Young

T H E     R O L L     O F     H O N O U R
KILLED OR DIED
Troopers:
S Brown, Tinta 'Nyoni
P Nilsen, Tinta 'Nyoni
SG Lamb, enteric, Dec 12
O Strauss, dysentery, Dec 17
Wm Greig, dysentery, Jan 5
H Murray, dysentery, Jan 5
FC Fox, Caesar's Hill, Jan 6
JH Gold, Caesar's Hill, Jan 6
BH Lawson, Caesar's Hill, Jan 6
PR Hulley, Caesar's Hill, Jan 6
Quarter-Master
WD Smith, enteric, Jan 13
Troopers:
W Uhlmann, diarrhoea, Jan 20
DW Coutts, enteric, Jan 21
AO Anderson, enteric, Jan 29
AG Hojem, enteric, Feb 2
Sergeant
JR Hancock, enteric, Feb 10
Troopers:
EM Holte, enteric, Feb 10
JWH Ashe, dysentery, Feb 13
LS Melville, enteric, Feb 24
KM Vyvyan, enteric, Mar 13
A Alborough, enteric, Mar 13
GA Behrens-Senegalden, enteric, Mar 16
E Pahr, tubercle of lung, Apr 13
WJ Goodridge, dysentery, Apr 23
JH Cutcliffe, accidentally drowned, Aug 11
Cook-Sergeant
TS Crocker, disease, Oct 11
WOUNDED
Sergeant-Major
Fraser, shoulder, Tinta 'Nyoni
Troopers:
GFH Brooke, arm, Tinta 'Nyoni
J Dehrman, head, Tinta 'Nyoni
JW Howes, arm, Tinta 'Nyoni
H Norden, leg, Tinta 'Nyoni
O Strauss, groin, Tinta 'Nyoni
CC Stuart, leg, Tinta 'Nyoni
HK Melville, lungs, Tinta 'Nyoni
JH Cutcliffe, ankle, Tinta 'Nyoni
AJ Stone, head, Tinta 'Nyoni
Sergeant
EF Gibbens, head, Lombard's Kop
Corporal
A Stuart, back, Lombard's Kop
Captain
Arnott, abdomen, Bester's Kop
Troopers:
GL Edmunds, lungs, Bester's Kop
AG Goldstone, lungs, Bester's Kop
FJ Thomas, head, Bester's Kop
Corporals:
FAL Larkan, knee, Caesear's Camp
Colin, Wilson, head, Caesar's Camp
Troopers:
Harold D Archibald, hip, Caesar's Camp
H Dante Archibald, throat, Caesar's Camp
Lieutenant
RW Wilson, thigh (twice), Colenso
Troop-Sergeant-Major
WW Walton, hand, on picket
Trooper
ED Stewart, hand and elbow, Maybole

ACCIDENTALLY INJURED
Lieutenant
JB Stuart, shot through foot, Oct 6
Sergeant
JR Hancock, injury to back, Oct 15
Troopers:
J Lawson, horse destroyed eyesight, Apr 27
WH Hogg, fractured forearm, Apr 27
Farrier-Sergeant
Bakeberg, fall, arm fracture, May 13
Troopers:
Sutherland, dislocated shoulder, May 13
HH Clarke, fall, sprained ankle, May 14
R Burford, fractured collar bone, May 20
Lance-Corporal
R Nilsen, fractured rib, May 23

JOINED COMPOSITE FORCE
Captain
J Royston
Lieutenants
L Trenor
J Gold
Troopers
A Harding
J Watts
HW Hulley
TA Robinson
O Arbuthnot
AW Britton
WH London
W Slow
G Bakeberg
F Bazley
H Buhr
S Bernest
WA Blandford
VE Clarence
HC Clegg
HS Duyer
RW Easthorpe
T Furness
C Gottschalk
TH Hines
WR Hewitt
JW Howes
NW Johnstone
EJ Judles
RO Kolges
P Levick
G Lawson
AE Lawson
FW Lawson
CM Manning
HH Munroe
G Oie
EG Oliver
E Poily
H Pedlar
CR Pickhard
H Rasmussen
EW Reid
TE Shuter
AH Shuttleworth
AF Shuttleworth
J Smith
H Stratford
D Ugatore
JH Vant
W Whitewright
CH Willan
W Will

* Natal Naval Volunteers

Border Mounted Rifles

Boer War: SA armed forces records at TNA Kew

THE FOLLOWING LIST SHOWS LOCAL ARMED FORCES (SERVING IN SOUTH AFRICA FOR THE BRITISH CAUSE) DURING THE ANGLO-BOER WAR 1899-1902, WHOSE RECORDS ARE HELD BY THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES, KEW, UK.

NOMINAL ROLLS (i.e. soldiers' names)

Box No:        Unit:

WO 127/1       Ashburner's light Horse.
WO 127/1       Bechuanaland Rifles.
WO 127/1       Bethune's Mounted Infantry.
WO 127/2       Border Horse.
WO 127/2       Border Mounted Rifles.
WO 127/2       Border Scouts.
WO 127/3       Brabant's Horse.
WO 127/3       Brett's Scouts.
WO 127/3       Bushmanland Borderers, Hannay's Scouts and Scott's Railway Guards.
WO 127/3       Bushveldt Carbineers.
WO 127/4       Canadian Scouts.
WO 127/4       Canadian Scouts and Border Horse.
WO 127/4       Cape Colony Cycle Corps.
WO 127/5       Cape Medical Staff Corps.
WO 127/5       Cape Police.
WO 127/5       Cattle Rangers Corps.
WO 127/5       Clanwilliam Convoy Guard.
WO 127/5       Colonial Light Horse (2nd. Battn. Duke of Edinburgh's Own Volunteer Rifles).
WO 127/6       Colonial Scouts.
WO 127/6       Commander-in-Chief's Bodyguard.
WO 127/6       Cullinan's Horse, Herbert Mounted Rifles, Brett's Scouts, Port Alfred.
WO 127/6       Imperial Mounted Police.
WO 127/7       Damant's Horse.
WO 127/7       Damant's Horse and Orpen's Light Horse.
WO 127/7       Dennison's Scouts.
WO 127/7       Diamond Field Horse.
WO 127/7       District Mounted Rifles.
WO 127/7       Dordrecht Town Guard.
WO 127/7       Driscoll's Scouts.
WO 127/7       Duke of Edinburgh's Own Volunteer Rifles.
WO 127/8       Durban Light Infantry.
WO 127/8       Eastern Province Horse.
WO 127/8       Erroll's Scouts, part of Nesbitt's Horse.
WO 127/8       Franerburg Scouts.
WO 127/8       French's Scouts.
WO 127/8       Frontier Light Horse.
WO 127/8       Geoghegan's Scouts.
WO 127/8       Gorringe's Flying Column.
WO 127/8       Grigualand East Light Horse, see footnote to Kimberley Horse.
WO 127/8       Hannay's Scouts.
WO 127/8       Herbert Mounted Rifles.
WO 127/9       Herschel Native Police.
WO 127/9       Imperial Bearer Corps.
WO 127/9       Imperial Hospital Corps.
WO 127/10     Imperial Light Horse.
WO 127/10     Imperial Light Horse and Protectorate Regiment.
WO 127/10     Imperial Light Infantry.
WO 127/11     Imperial Yeomanry Scouts.
WO 127/11     Imperial Yeomanry Scouts, French Scouts, South African Mounted Infantry Forces.
WO 127/11     Johannesburg Mounted Rifles.
WO 127/11     Johannesburg Mounted Rifles and Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry.
WO 127/11     Kaffrarian Rifles.
WO 127/12     Kimberley Horse.
WO 127/12     Kimberley Light Horse.
WO 127/12     Kimberley Mounted Corps.
WO 127/12     King William Town Guard.
WO 127/12     Kitchener's Fighting Scouts.
WO 127/12     Kitchener's Fighting Scouts and Driscoll's Scouts.
WO 127/13     Kitchener's Horse.
WO 127/13     Loch's Horse, Ross's Machine Gun Battery, Imperial Yeomanry Scouts.
WO 127/13     Marshall's Horse.
WO 127/14     Menne's Scouts.
WO 127/14     Molteno's Town Guard.
WO 127/14     Montmorency's Scouts, Tucker's Scouts, Strubeh's Scouts, Border Scouts, Fraserburg Scouts, Warren's Scouts.
WO 127/14     Mount Coke Contiguent.
WO 127/14     Namaqualand Border Scouts.
WO 127/15     Natal Carbineers.
WO 127/15     Natal Medical Corps.
WO 127/15     Natal Naval Volunteers.
WO 127/15     Natal Royal Rifles.
WO 127/15     Natal Volunteer Ambulance Corps.
WO 127/15     Natal Volunteer Composite Regiment.
WO 127/15     Natal Volunteer Veterinary Corps.
WO 127/15     Nesbitt's Horse.
WO 127/15     Orange River Scouts.
WO 127/15     Orpen's Light Horse.
WO 127/16     Pietersburg Light Horse.
WO 127/16     Port Alfred Imperial Mounted Police.
WO 127/16     Prince Alfred's Guards Mounted Infantry.
WO 127/16     Prince of Wales Light Horse.
WO 127/17     Protectorate Regiment.
WO 127/17     Queenstown Rifle Volunteers.
WO 127/17     Railway Pioneer Regiment, 1st and 2nd Battalions.
WO 127/18     Railway Pioneer Regiment, 3rd and 4th Battalions.
WO 127/18     Railway Pioneer Regiment and Rhodesia Regiment.
WO 127/18     Rand Rifles.
WO 127/19     Reserves.
WO 127/19     Rhodesia Regiment.
WO 127/19     Rimington Guides, renamed Damant's Horse.
WO 127/19     Robert's Horse.
WO 127/19     Robertson District Mounted Troops.
WO 127/19     Ross's Machine Gun Battery.
WO 127/19     Rundle's Scouts.
WO 127/20     Scottish Horse.
WO 127/20     Scott's Railway Guard.
WO 127/20     Settle's Scouts.
WO 127/20     South African Light Horse.
WO 127/21     South African Mounted Infantry Forces.
WO 127/21     Steinsecker's Horse.
WO 127/21     Struben's Scouts.
WO 127/21     Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry.
WO 127/21     Tucker's Scouts.
WO 127/22     Umvet's Mounted Rifles.
WO 127/22     Utrecht Mounted Police.
WO 127/22     Vryburgh Scouts.
WO 127/22     Warren's Mounted Infantry.
WO 127/22     Warren's Scouts.
WO 127/22     Warwick's Scouts, Rundle's Scouts, Settle's Scouts, Geoghegan's Scouts, Clanwilliam Convoy Guard.
WO 127/22     Western Light Horse.
WO 127/22     Willowmore Town Guard.
WO 127/22     Zululand Scouts, renamed Colonial Scouts.

Miscellanea 1899-1902
WO 127/23
WO 127/23     Coronation Contingents.
WO 127/23     Volume containing names of a few men from each of 49 units of the Local Armed Forces.

ENROLMENT FORMS:

Box No:        Unit:

WO 126/1       Ashburner's Light Horse Bechuanaland Rifles
WO 126/2       Bethune's Mounted Infantry. A-L
WO 126/3       Bethune's Mounted Infantry. M-Z
WO 126/4       Border Horse
WO 126/5       Border Scouts
WO 126/6       Brabant's Horse. A-B
WO 126/7       Brabant's Horse. C-D
WO 126/8       Brabant's Horse. E-G
WO 126/9       Brabant's Horse. H-I
WO 126/10     Brabant's Horse. J-L
WO 126/11     Brabant's Horse. Ma-Mi
WO 126/12     Brabant's Horse. Mo-P
WO 126/13     Brabant's Horse. Q-S
WO 126/14     Brabant's Horse. T-Z
WO 126/15     Bushmanland Borderers
WO 126/16     Canadian Scouts. A-J
WO 126/17     Canadian Scouts. K-Z
WO 126/18     Cape Colonial Forces (Colonial Defence Force)
WO 126/19     Cape Colony Cyclists Corps. A-C
WO 126/20     Cape Colony Cyclists Corps. D-H
WO 126/21     Cape Colony Cyclists Corps. I-Q
WO 126/22     Cape Colony Cyclists Corps. R-Z
WO 126/23     Cape Medical Staff Corps
WO 126/24     Cape Peninsular Regiment. A-D
WO 126/25     Cape Peninsular Regiment. E-L
WO 126/26     Cape Peninsular Regiment. M-R
WO 126/27     Cape Peninsular Regiment. S-Z
WO 126/28     Cattle Rangers
WO 126/29     [blank]
WO 126/30     Colonial Scouts
WO 126/31     Commander-in-Chief's Bodyguard. A-D
WO 126/32     Commander-in-Chief's Bodyguard. E-J
WO 126/33     Commander-in-Chief's Bodyguard. K-Q
WO 126/34     Commander-in-Chief's Bodyguard. R-Z
WO 126/35     Damant's Horse. A-D
WO 126/36     Damant's Horse. E-J
WO 126/37     Damant's Horse. K-Q
WO 126/38     Damant's Horse. R-Z
WO 126/39     Dennison's Scouts (Western Border Rifles)
WO 126/40     Driscoll's Scouts. A-C
WO 126/41     Driscoll's Scouts. D-J
WO 126/42     Driscoll's Scouts. K-P
WO 126/43     Driscoll's Scouts. Q-Z
WO 126/44     Duke of Edinburgh's Own Volunteer Rifles (Colonial Light Horse)
WO 126/45     Eastern Province Horse French's Scouts
WO 126/46     Frontier Light Horse. A-J
WO 126/47     Frontier Light Horse. K-Z
WO 126/48     Gorringe's Flying Column
WO 126/48     Herschel Native Police A-J
WO 126/49     Herschel Native Police K-M
WO 126/50     Herschel Native Police N-Z
WO 126/51     Imperial Bearer Corps.
WO 126/52     Imperial Hospital Corps. A-E
WO 126/53     Imperial Hospital Corps. F-M
WO 126/54     Imperial Hospital Corps. N-Y
WO 126/55     Imperial Light Horse and Imperial Light Infantry. A-Bo
WO 126/56     Imperial Light Horse and Imperial Light Infantry. Br-C
WO 126/57     Imperial Light Horse and Imperial Light Infantry. D-F
WO 126/58     Imperial Light Horse and Imperial Light Infantry. G-Hi
WO 126/59     Imperial Light Horse and Imperial Light Infantry. Ho-K
WO 126/60     Imperial Light Horse and Imperial Light Infantry. L-Mac
WO 126/61     Imperial Light Horse and Imperial Light Infantry. Mad-N
WO 126/62     Imperial Light Horse and Imperial Light Infantry. O-Ri
WO 126/63     Imperial Light Horse and Imperial Light Infantry. Ro-So
WO 126/64     Imperial Light Horse and Imperial Light Infantry. Sp-V
WO 126/65     Imperial Light Horse and Imperial Light Infantry. W-Z
WO 126/66     Imperial Yeomanry Scouts
WO 126/67     Johannesburg Mounted Rifles. A-Ca
WO 126/68     Johannesburg Mounted Rifles. Ce-F
WO 126/69     Johannesburg Mounted Rifles. G-I
WO 126/70     Johannesburg Mounted Rifles. J-Mac
WO 126/71     Johannesburg Mounted Rifles. Mad-Q
WO 126/72     Johannesburg Mounted Rifles. R-S
WO 126/73     Johannesburg Mounted Rifles. T-Z
WO 126/74     Kaffrarian Rifles and Kimberley Horse, A-K
WO 126/75     Kimberley Horse L-Z
WO 126/76     Kitchener's Fighting Scouts. A-B
WO 126/77     Kitchener's Fighting Scouts. C-F
WO 126/78     Kitchener's Fighting Scouts. G-H
WO 126/79     Kitchener's Fighting Scouts. I-Me
WO 126/80     Kitchener's Fighting Scouts. Mi-Q
WO 126/81     Kitchener's Fighting Scouts. R-S
WO 126/82     Kitchener's Fighting Scouts. T-Z
WO 126/83     Kitchener's Horse. A-C
WO 126/84     Kitchener's Horse. D-G
WO 126/85     Kitchener's Horse. H-L
WO 126/86     Kitchener's Horse. M-O
WO 126/87     Kitchener's Horse. P-Sp
WO 126/88     Kitchener's Horse. St-Z
WO 126/89     Marshall's Horse and Uitenhage Volunteer Rifles. A-M
WO 126/90     Marshall's Horse and Uitenhage Volunteer Rifles. N-Y. Menne's Scouts
WO 126/91     Midland Mounted Rifles. A-J
WO 126/92     Midland Mounted Rifles. K-Y126/9
WO 126/93     Namaqualand Border Scouts
WO 126/93     Natal Volunteer Ambulance Corps. A-H
WO 126/94     Natal Volunteer Ambulance Corps. I-Z
WO 126/95     National Scouts
WO 126/95     Nesbitt's Horse. A-C
WO 126/96     Nesbitt's Horse. D-K
WO 126/97     Nesbitt's Horse. L-S
WO 126/98     Nesbitt's Horse. T-Z
WO 126/98     Orange River Scouts
WO 126/99     Orpen's Light Horse
WO 126/100   Pietersburg Light Horse
WO 126/101   Prince of Wales' Light Horse. A-D
WO 126/102   Prince of Wales' Light Horse. E-J
WO 126/103   Prince of Wales' Light Horse. K-P
WO 126/104   Prince of Wales' Light Horse. Q-Y
WO 126/105   Protectorate Regiment
WO 126/106   Railway Pioneer Regiment. A-B
WO 126/107   Railway Pioneer Regiment. C-F
WO 126/108   Railway Pioneer Regiment. G-J
WO 126/109   Railway Pioneer Regiment. K-M
WO 126/110   Railway Pioneer Regiment. N-Sm
WO 126/111   Railway Pioneer Regiment. Sn-Z
WO 126/112   Rand Rifles. A-G
WO 126/113   Rand Rifles. H-O
WO 126/114   Rand Rifles. P-Y
WO 126/115   Rhodesian Regiment. A-K
WO 126/116   Rhodesian Regiment. L-Z
WO 126/117   Roberts' Horse. A-D
WO 126/118   Roberts' Horse. E-J
WO 126/119   Roberts' Horse. K-P
WO 126/120   Roberts' Horse. R-Z
WO 126/121   Ross's Battery and Loch's Horse
WO 126/122   Scottish Horse. A-C
WO 126/123   Scottish Horse. D-G
WO 126/124   Scottish Horse. H-L
WO 126/125   Scottish Horse. M-Ri
WO 126/126   Scottish Horse. Ro-Z
WO 126/127   Scott's Railway Guards and Cape Railway Sharpshooters. A-F
WO 126/128   Scott's Railway Guards and Cape Railway Sharpshooters. G-M
WO 126/129   Scott's Railway Guards and Cape Railway Sharpshooters. N-Z
WO 126/129   Settle's Scouts
WO 126/130   South African Light Horse. A-B
WO 126/131   South African Light Horse. C-D
WO 126/132   South African Light Horse. E-G
WO 126/133   South African Light Horse. H-J
WO 126/134   South African Light Horse. K-Mac
WO 126/135   South African Light Horse. Mad-O
WO 126/136   South African Light Horse. P-R
WO 126/137   South African Light Horse. S-To
WO 126/138   South African Light Horse. Tr-Z
WO 126/139   South African Mounted Irregular Forces. A-J
WO 126/140   South African Mounted Irregular Forces. K-Z
WO 126/141   Steinaecker's Horse
WO 126/142   Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry. A-F
WO 126/143   Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry. G-N
WO 126/144   Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry. O-Z
WO 126/145   Town Guards and District Mounted Troops. A-Ba
WO 126/146   Town Guards and District Mounted Troops. Be-Bo
WO 126/147   Town Guards and District Mounted Troops. Br-Ci
WO 126/148   Town Guards and District Mounted Troops. Cl-Da
WO 126/149   Town Guards and District Mounted Troops. De-E
WO 126/150   Town Guards and District Mounted Troops. F-Go
WO 126/151   Town Guards and District Mounted Troops. Gr-He
WO 126/152   Town Guards and District Mounted Troops. Hi-Ji
WO 126/153   Town Guards and District Mounted Troops. Jo-La
WO 126/154   Town Guards and District Mounted Troops. Le-MacF
WO 126/155   Town Guards and District Mounted Troops. MacG-Mi
WO 126/156   Town Guards and District Mounted Troops. Mo-O
WO 126/157   Town Guards and District Mounted Troops. P-Q
WO 126/158   Town Guards and District Mounted Troops. R
WO 126/159   Town Guards and District Mounted Troops. Sa-Sm
WO 126/160   Town Guards and District Mounted Troops. Sn-Ta
WO 126/161   Town Guards and District Mounted Troops. Te-Va
WO 126/162   Town Guards and District Mounted Troops. Ve-Wh
WO 126/163   Town Guards and District Mounted Troops. Wi-Z1
WO 126/164   Warren Mounted Infantry
WO 126/165   Western Light Horse
WO 126/166   Western Province Mounted Rifles. A-L
WO 126/167   Western Province Mounted Rifles. M-Z

Passages to Natal 1865: Government-aided scheme

PUBLIC AID TO IMMIGRANTS:

Free Passages are not granted in England to Natal. People resident here can, however, nominate their relations or friends for assisted passages in the Emigration Commissioners' ships, on giving to the Colonial Government a guarantee for the repayment of the passage monies, at the rate of £10 per statute adult, within 12 months after the landing of the immigrants. Married persons, with the members of their families over 12 years of age, are required to repay the advance at the rate of £10 per annum. Any excess of passage-money beyond the £10 is made good out of colonial funds.

When the Emigration Commissioners have colonial funds in their hands for the purpose, they can likewise grant assisted passages to eligible candidates, provided such candidates can pay to the Commissioners, before embarkation, towards their passage, for each adult person of the age of 12 years and upwards - 2 children between the ages of 1 and 12 counting as an adult - £3 pounds 6s and 8d, with £1 for bedding and mess utensils on the voyage. The immigrant must however enter into a bond to repay to the Colonial Government £6 13s and 4d for each such adult, at a rate of £10 per annum in the case of a family. In the case of a single individual, the amount is to be repaid within 12 months after arrival.

This scheme has not latterly been promoted to any particular extent; although now that the tide of emigration from Great Britain is about turning from America in consequence of the long-continued war, and directing itself into other channels, we think that it may be again advanced with benefit to the colony. English people in general, if not the Scotch and Irish, have become convinced that there is no safety for life and property in the North American states; Canada has never been a resort for any large numbers of the poorer emigrating class; and the southern colonies are gradually becoming better known than formerly, and more highly appreciated.

[from The Natal Almanac & Yearly Directory 1865]

Rennie's Aberdeen Line brought
 many colonists to Natal.

Passengers to Natal: 1866

The arrival at Natal of the Aberdeen Direct Clipper, Umgeni, one of John T Rennie’s line, was reported in the Natal Mercury of 27 February 1866. A passenger list in the Shipping Intelligence column offers an example of how information as well as pointers towards further research can be gleaned from such a source.*

A group of Government Immigrants on board is a reminder that the scheme introduced in 1857, enabling those already settled in Natal to nominate and stand surety to others wishing to settle in the Colony, was still operating. The sureties could be relatives or prospective employers to whom the immigrants were contracted.

There were cabin passengers on the Umgeni, too, notably three missionaries including Rev. August Prozesky who worked among the Zulus at Konigsberg (Newcastle, Natal) from 1868 – 1900, and built the Lutheran Mission Church there.**

Passengers per Umgeni from London (as reported in the Natal Mercury):
Cabin: Revds. Carl Richter, Theodore Glockner and August Prozesky; Mr and Mrs John Gavin and child, Mrs Robert Forrest, Mrs Payne, Miss A Hubbard.

Government Immigrants:
Mrs E E Parker
Mrs E Gadd
Mrs F Hansen
Mrs S Keith
Messrs:
Bath
Campbell
Goodwin
Hosking
McCabe
Milne
Thos Williams
Misses:
M A McIntosh
M Mullins
M Roper
A Forester
Mr & Mrs Barrett
Mr & Mrs Drew & infant
Mr & Mrs Harmsworth
Mr & Mrs Harmsworth jnr
Mr & Mrs Jacob & 4 children
Messrs Hansen (2)
M Cleeves

Selecting a few names at random, interesting stories emerge: Thomas Bath was contracted to the sugar planter John Vacy Lyle of the farm Fenton Vacy on the North coast of Natal. A by-product of this estate was the fiery Fenton Vacy rum. The 19 year-old Maria Roper, whose surety was the tailor Ebenezer Beves, later became Mrs Beves: whether this was planned prior to Maria’s arrival in Natal, or a case of love at first sight, history doesn’t relate.

Annie Forester appears to be a solo passenger but in fact, aged 8, was travelling with her mother and stepfather, Mary and George Drew and the Drews’ infant son, Ernest. Fanny Hansen, with her two sons Benjamin and George, was joining her husband, William Hansen, a bricklayer who had settled earlier in Durban. The Barrett couple – John and Sarah - were going to employment on a farm at Weenen. John Campbell’s surety was the mason, William McIntosh, in Pietermaritzburg. Mrs Parker is a mystery passenger as she doesn't appear in the immigration records; perhaps she called herself by a different surname  for her new start in the Colony.

John Gavin, a well-known colonist who originally arrived in Natal on the Globe, made more than one voyage between the Colony and England. He was to meet a dreadful fate in 1875, falling into a pan of boiling sugar juice.

The Aberdeen Clipper Umgeni, 1864

The ship Umgeni brought further immigrants to Natal in five sailings between 1866 and 1874. The following year she was re-rigged as a barque - fewer crew members were then required to sail her. She ended her career as a coal hulk at the port of Durban.








*   Stating the obvious? Perhaps, but a blog visitor asked: ‘What’s all the fuss about passenger lists? They’re just lists of names.’ Indeed.

** The book Hope Farm: Mission Stories was translated from the German by Prozesky’s great grandson Oscar Prozesky.

Heritage Month: Desecration of Prince Imperial Memorial and Intombi Military Cemetery

Prince Imperial Memorial: damage (Natal Witness)

In July 2012 it was reported that the memorial to the Prince Imperial, near Nqutu in the Dundee district, had been the target of vandals for the second time in six months. The marble cross marking the site was destroyed and the supporting structure seriously damaged.

This served no purpose: the site is a memorial – there are no human remains buried there and nothing of value is hidden below the surface.

The Prince Imperial

The cross commemorates the death of Prince Louis Napoleon who was the only son of the Emperor Napoleon III and the Empress Eugenie, and was also the great-nephew of Napoleon I.

The Prince Imperial, who had been educated towards a military career, obtained permission from Queen Victoria to sail to South Africa with British reinforcements as a special observer during the Anglo-Zulu War, arriving in Cape Town on 26 March 1879 and later continuing his journey to Durban and subsequently to Pietermaritzburg. He was attached to the staff of Lord Chelmsford as an extra aide-de-camp; the responsibility for the Prince’s safety rested heavily on Chelmsford, especially as that young gentleman was an enthusiastic soldier.

In June, the Prince was among a detachment, including Lieutenant Carey, sent to choose a camp for the army’s march on Ulundi. During this patrol the troops came under surprise attack and the Prince was killed. His body was recovered and returned to England. A year later the Empress Eugenie sailed to South Africa to visit the place where the Prince had died, and where the commemorative memorial had been set up.

Intombi Military Cemetery: damage (Natal Mercury)

The incident at the Prince Imperial memorial site followed hard upon the heels of the desecration of the Intombi Military Cemetery near Ladysmith, earlier in the year. A grave was dug up, creating a hole 2m deep, and a headstone was damaged.

From the photograph taken at the site the headstone appears to be one of the distinctive Border Mounted Rifles’ memorials. I believe the headstone could be that of William Dixon Smith, Lieutenant Quartermaster of the BMR, who died at Intombi in January 1900 – not a faceless soldier to me, but a real person, whose Siege letters I’ve read and whose life and family history I have researched in depth. The situation is deplorable no matter which grave has been disturbed.

A spokesman for Amafa/Heritage KZN believes that buttons, badges and other military items were the object of the illegal excavations, though such items would not have been buried in this formal cemetery. It was therefore wasted effort on the part of the vandals and restoration of the damaged section will be expensive. It is an offence to remove any relic from a battlefield or grave site and any person found guilty of the crime faces a prison sentence; there is a reward offered for information leading to a conviction.

A disturbing aspect of the incidents is that, according to Amafa, relic hunters pay locals to unearth valuable collectors’ items from these sites. This may be the case in certain instances but if relic hunters are knowledgeable about collecting militaria they would presumably do their homework before delegating any excavations: it seems unlikely that a site such as the Prince Imperial memorial would be targeted since no militaria could be expected to be found where no body lies buried.

What price heritage?


Footnote:

In an earlier refurbishment programme at Intombi Military Cemetery, the cross (seen left) which should have been attached to a Border Mounted Rifles memorial has instead been cemented onto the plinth of an unknown soldier of the 2nd Battn Rifle Brigade. A number of memorial stones to men of the Border Mounted Rifles now lack the surmounting cross bearing the famous Boot and Spur of that regiment.

Heritage Month: Matjiesfontein and James Logan

The Lord Milner Hotel, Matjiesfontein, built in 1899, became
a British military hospital during the Anglo-Boer War.

Matjiesfontein is in the Klein Karoo, an extraordinary Victorian town which embodies the spirit of heritage in an all-encompassing manner.

Founded in 1884 by the Scottish railwayman-turned-entrepreneur James Douglas Logan, Matjiesfontein was transformed from a small railway halt in the middle of nowhere to an outpost of the British Empire visited by the rich and famous. These included Olive Schreiner, who lived in the town for two years, Rudyard Kipling, Lord Randolph Churchill, Cecil Rhodes as well as, during the Anglo-Boer War, high-ranking British Army officers such as Roberts and Haig.

Stories and legends of Matjiesfontein are legion, and the career of James Douglas Logan is well-documented. However, sources are hazy about his parentage. In the cemetery near Matjiesfontein, where Logan and family members lie buried, his memorial inscription mentions that he was born at Reston, Berwickshire, Scotland in November 1857.

Reston, in the parish of Coldingham, was a busy railway station and junction, an ideal spot for a railwayman's beginnings. In all likelihood, the birth entry for a James Logan dated 26 November 1857, to parents James Logan (railway labourer) and Elizabeth nee Dunn, is the relevant record. The precise place of birth is given as Muirmontrig (a small village in the parish of Coldingham - Reston was in the same parish). In 1861 the Logan family were still in Coldingham parish, James then aged 4. His father's occupation was unchanged.

It seems James junior followed in his father's footsteps, working for North British Rail before emigrating to South Africa. He had intended going to Australia, but fate took a hand: the ship he sailed on was wrecked and Logan remained at the Cape where he found work as a porter at the Cape Town railway station. He rose to the position of District Superintendant in the Cape Government Railways but other opportunities beckoned. After gaining some experience in the hotel trade, he bought land in an unlikely area over 200 kilometres north of Cape Town and developed his 'paradise in a desert': Matjiesfontein.

David Rawdon bought the entire town in the late 1960s and it was declared a National Monument in 1979.

Photos of Matjiesfontein courtesy of Syd Oram