Anglo Boer War - Anglo Boer War - Recent Topics

Henry Charles Stacey Lloyd

Private, Ladysmith Town Guard – Anglo Boer War
Trooper, Natal Carbineers, - Bambatha Rebellion

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasp Defence of Ladysmith to Pte. H.C. Lloyd, Ladysmith Town Gd.
- Natal Medal with 1906 clasp to Tpr. H.C. Lloyd, Natal Carbineers

Henry Lloyd had an undeniably good pedigree. His grandfather was none other than Major General Banastre Pryse Lloyd who passed away in Pietermaritzburg on 22 November 1882. Lloyd’s obituary (in the Homeward Mail of January, 10th, 1883) indicated that “the General had determined upon the serious step of moving from Natal for New Zealand” and that “his death occurred on the very day that his intention to leave the Colony, and to sell his property here, appeared in our advertising columns.”

General Lloyd had arrived in Natal with his family in 1869, having retired from the Indian service. The obituary continued as follows and proves to be a perfect backdrop for when Henry enters the stage in our narrative,

“The presence here of his cousin, the late venerable Archdeacon of Durban, no doubt attracted his attention to Natal. Shortly after his arrival he was offered and accepted the post of Protector of Immigrants. In 1873 he filled an important official capacity in Weenen County during the Langalibalele Rebellion there, and in 1874 took office on Governor General Pine’s solicitation as Acting Colonial Secretary. Soon after his arrival the General purchased an estate, Brynbella, near Estcourt, and there his family resided. The death of his gallant eldest son, Llewellyn, in the attack on Hlobane was a great blow to his father. We may add that General Banastre Lloyd was only 62 years of age.”

The gallant eldest son Llewellyn referred to was Henry’s uncle who, according to The Standard of June 9, 1879, was Killed in Action in the attack on Hlobane Mountain in Zululand. “Llewellyn Henry Lloyd, aged 28, was Political Assistant to Colonel Evelyn Wood, V.C., Commanding No. 4 Column.”

So Henry had a reputation to try and live up to considering the exploits of his grandfather and uncle. Born in Hidcote, Weenen County, Natal on 5 August 1880 he was the son of Charles Banastre Lloyd, a Farmer by occupation and his wife Ellen. He would have been a mere two years old when his grandfather passed away and would not have met the uncle after whom he was named. When he was in his teenage years his father was appointed as Commissioner for Agriculture in Natal. Charles Lloyd was a confidant of Dr Watkins-Pitchford, the famous Veterinary Surgeon who wrote about his experiences later in the Siege of Ladysmith.

Indeed it is in this very Siege that we encounter Henry as a member of the Ladysmith Town Guard. Members of the Town Guard were enrolled from 19 September 1899, all taking the Oath of Allegiance to the Crown. Although the war between the two Boer Republics of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal against the might of the British Empire only commenced, officially, on 11 October 1899; the warning signs had been there for quite some time and the Colony was beginning to hold itself in readiness for the expected invasion from the north and west. Ladysmith was a frontier town and the only one in those parts with a reasonably strong (although events were to prove this number inadequate) military presence under Sir George White.

Including the members of the Klip River Rifle Association who were affiliated for the defence of the borough, the aggregate number of men who enlisted was 233. Mr T R Bennett was appointed commandant of the combined town defence, acting under the orders of Colonel W G Know CB, commanding the defences and daily drills were at once inaugurated, whilst the members were allowed to practice at the rifle ranges of the Klip River Rifle Association.

Nightly patrols were instituted in the town and guards posted on Convent Hill to give the alarm of the approach of the enemy and on and after the 18th of October the Guard took duty at the Railway Bridge Defences freeing up Imperial troops who might have been used for that purpose. On the night of 12th October the men were ordered to guard all the roads leading into the Borough, to prevent anyone from entering or leaving the town. This was quite a responsible task as the Boers were known to move quite freely about the place dressed, as they were, in civilian clothes as opposed to any form of uniform. This too was the case with the Town Guard who, although issued with rifles and ammunition, had no uniform of their own.

Regulations concerning the duties and conduct of the men were drawn up and approved of by Lieutenant General Sir George White VC, commanding the Forces in Natal, on the 16th of October. On the 28th the entire guard mustered in the defences at 4.30 am and remained under arms till 7 am – they were also on duty at the Bridge Head and adjacent defences during the engagement of Lombard's Kop on the 30th of October. From 5 November until 12 December the services of the Guard were not made use of however, on the latter date the men were again called out, and with the members of the Natal Government Rifle Association, placed under the command of Captain Young RE, Railway Staff Officer. At this point their strength was now 157 men, exclusive of those on the sick list. They were assigned the duty of guarding the river's bank on the South side of the town nightly – a potential scene of Boer infiltration.

Captain Molyneux, of the Natal Volunteer Staff, assumed command of the Town Guard on the 23rd of December, a system being arranged that each man should be one night on and two nights off and free rations were issued on the 29th of December and each succeeding day throughout the remainder of the siege. The term “rations” is used loosely for, as was well known, the town and its inhabitants were soon reduced to stale maize and tough horseflesh as a staple diet.

During the Boer attack on Wagon Hill on the 6th of January 1900 the whole of the Guard lined the defences from daybreak till 10 am, being under fire early in the morning. This was the Boer forces surrounding the town’s most effective attempt to break through the defences and, on several subsequent occasions the men were roused in the night to help to repel an expected attack. With the lifting of the Siege on 1 March 1900 the Guard was disbanded for all Defence purposes with the men allowed to go home.

Lloyd, at the age of 19 when the Siege commenced, had been assigned to Ward 1 under Ward Leader W.G. Hiscock. For his efforts he was awarded the Queens Medal with Defence of Ladysmith clasp. Where Lloyd went after that is not known as he does not appear in the Burger’s Roll for Ladysmith of 1904. He could, it must be assumed, have returned to his family farm near Estcourt which is equidistant between Ladysmith and Pietermaritzburg. What is known is that he became a member of the Natal Carbineers and was to see active service in what became known as the Bambatha Rebellion.

Five years after the cessation of hostilities between Boer and Brit Natal was not a happy place in which to find oneself. Expenses related to the Boer war had drained the Colonial fiscus and the powers-that-be happened upon a Poll Tax to increase revenue. In short this would be a tax levied against all black males over the age of 18 and would be payable to the various Magistrates when they called on their rounds. Quite naturally this didn’t go down too well in some quarters but, for the most part, the Zulu chiefs were quiescent and offered no resistance. This was not true however, of a hot-headed young chieftain called Bambatha – he rose in open revolt and incited many to follow him.

The Militia was called out in February 1906 to suppress the uprising and quieten things down after several Natal Policemen were murdered whilst assisting a Magistrate to collect the tax. The Natal Carbineers were one of these outfits called out at a few hours’ notice on 9 February. The men were on service from that date until they stood down on 31 March of the same year but the rebellion was far from over – it flared up again on a far larger scale in the Umvoti area around Greytown on 17 April and continued until Bambatha’s head had been severed after his capture in the Mome Gorge area of Zululand whence he had fled. After this the Carbineers were allowed to return to their normal pastimes. For his contribution Lloyd was awarded the Natal Medal with 1906 clasp.

Post-war he returned to the Midlands of Natal continuing to pursue his farming activities. On 16 April 1918 whilst the Great War was still in full swing and at the age of 37, he undertook a voyage to England aboard the “Gaika” disembarking at London on 15 April of that year. It was not immediately apparent why he undertook the trip.

Back in South Africa he seems to have given up the country lifestyle at some point. Perhaps it was too lonely an existence? Whatever the case, on 23 June 1930 at St. Peter’s Church in Pietermaritzburg, he tied the marital knot with Ruth Meanwell, a 34 year old Secretary living at 513 Burger Street, Pietermaritzburg. Lloyd was a 48 year old Civil Servant at the time of his marriage and many of his acquaintance must have thought that this day would never come.

Henry Lloyd was to live until a ripe old age passing away at Hillcrest Hospital on 5 October 1962 at the age of 82. He had been suffering with diabetes and a heart condition before that. His wife had predeceased him eight months previously and there had been no issue of the marriage. He asked that his remains be cremated in Pietermaritzburg and his only beneficiary was Marion Catherine Hill of Sheltered Vale, Blackridge, Pietermaritzburg.

Alfred William Ducat

Captain, 104th Regiment of Foot (Bengal Fusiliers)
Private, No. 8 Troop, Frontier Armed and Mounted Police, Ninth Frontier War
Trooper, No. 9 Troop, Cape Mounted Rifles
Lieutenant, Bakers Horse
Lieutenant, 2nd Battalion, Natal Native Contingent – Anglo-Zulu War
Private, Alexandria Town Guard, Anglo Boer War

- South African General Service Medal with clasp 1877/78 to Trooper A.W. Ducass (sic) Cape Mounted Rifles - served No. 9 Troop
- South African General Service Medal with clasp 1879 to Lieutenant A. Ducat, Natal Native Contingent - served 2nd Battalion
- Queens South Africa Medal to 13 Tpr. A.W. Ducat, Alexandria D.M.T.

Alfred Ducat was a much travelled man – both in the geographical sense as well as the one that concerns us most – the military sphere. Born on 14 May 1840 in Cheltenham, Gloustershire he was the son of Charles Ducat, a Medical Doctor in the Indian Medical Service and his wife Emily Matilda, born Lucas. When Alfred was baptised, a few months later, on 3 July 1840, the family were living at 36 Montpelier Terrace in Cheltenham.

At the time of the 1841 England census a 1 year old Alfred was at home in the house in Montpelier Terrace with his mother and a host of siblings and servants. Of his father there was no mention but in residence were siblings Emily Matilda (9), Claude (7), Walter Marden (4) and servants Anna Jones, Elizabeth Woodgat and Sarah Lane in what was clearly a prosperous household.

According to the 1851 Channel Island census the family had moved to St. Helen’s in Jersey where they had taken up residence at Belgrave House. Dr Ducat was described as a “Medical Graduate, Edinburgh – Not practising.” The number of dependants had swelled and now included, aside from a 10 year old Alfred and his parents, Emily Matilda (18), Jessie Constance (15 and previously unrecorded), Walter Marden (14) and new additions Cyril Hugh (7), Alice Rosa (6) and Albert (5). Mrs Elizabeth Lucas, mother-in-law was also about the house as were the usual coterie of servants, William Philips, Emiline Lane and Mary Lyons.

Quite what determined Ducat on a military career is not known but it was commonplace in Victorian England for the sons of gentlemen to go either into the church or into the army. This was especially true of younger sons who, according to the laws of succession at the time, stood no chance of inheriting their father’s estate. Whatever the case may be he decided on a commission in the Indian Army and in 1856 made his way east where, on 19 November 1856 (at the age of 16) he was accepted by the Directors of the East India Company as a Cadet for the Bombay Infantry. His father, then resident at 18 Kensington Square in Kensington London, was his sponsor.

Undergoing the requisite examination young Alfred confirmed that he had been educated at Kensington Grammar School and that he had been educated in the Classics and Mathematics. His father, Dr Ducat, late of the Bombay Establishment, was his next of kin and he had been recommended by his father. He was also armed with various testimonials which read thus:

“I have great pleasure in certifying that Alfred William Ducat has been brought up in religious principles and in accordance with the doctrines of the Church of England.

Payne-Smith, Clerk in Holy Orders and Headmaster, Kensington Grammar School” This was dated 19 August 1856 and written from 27 Kensington Street.

The next testimonial came from the very same Mr Payne-Smith writing more in his capacity as Headmaster of the School on 12 August 1856 – it read thus,

“I hereby certify that Alfred W. Ducat has been a scholar of Kensington Preparatory Grammar School for the last four months, and previously for the two terms of 1853, for some years, and has always been a well conducted promising boy, of whom I can speak in satisfactory terms.”

Ducat’s father also wrote certifying that “My son Alfred William Ducat was residing with me in Jersey from June 1855 to May 1856 and that his conduct was satisfactory.” Not exactly high praise from one’s own father but it did the trick and, already in possession of a Certificate signed by Professors of Mathematics and Classics; French and Fortification on 21 October 1856; Ducat was all set to commence his military career.

His rise in the military hierarchy, whilst not meteoric, was a steadily upwards one. Having been promoted to Ensign on 13 December 1856 he was a Lieutenant from 12 October 1857 and then a Captain with effect from 30 July 1862 with, according to the London Gazette of September 30, 1862, the 2nd Bombay European Light Infantry. On 18 August 1871 he was Gazetted into the 106th Foot to exchange with Captain Richardson. An interesting entry in the Statement of Contributions to the Bombay Military Fund mentions that he was sent on “Europe Duty” on 15 November 1871 and that he was there until returning on 31 October 1874.

Ducat’s military career was, however, coming to an end and, on the last date mentioned above, it was Gazetted that “Captain Ducat, 104th Foot, retires from the Service, receiving the value of his Commission”. The reasons why he resigned his commission are cause for speculation – he was, after all, only 34 years of age and in the prime of his life. To gain insight into the decision it is worth quoting from a history of the family penned by his grandson many years later. He wrote,

“In a letter to her cousin, Alfred Ducat (my father), Ethel Waller (born Ducat) wrote as follows about her uncle, my grandfather:

‘There were three things about your father that I have never quite forgotten:

- That he was always practising playing the coronet
- That everyone knew that he was Granny’s favourite and “spoilt darling”
- That he was the youngest Captain in the Army, with a brilliant career in prospect for him in consequence, but that he threw up his commission and resigned from the Army because it became his duty to inspect the married men’s quarters, which he declared, was not work for any gentleman to do – intruding into people’s homes, inspecting them. It caused consternation in his family’”

Whether or not that was the real reason is unknown but the scenario provided by the family is plausible.

After leaving the Army Ducat returned to England, to his mother’s home (his father had passed away in Hastings on 18 April 1864). Here he stayed for the period 1875 and 1876 and part of 1877. Sadly he invested in an ill-fated business venture and lost what little capital he had at his disposal. The chance to make a fresh start probably prompted him to leave England and journey to South Africa – where he had relatives on his mother’s side - which he did in June of 1877.

Ducat chose to settle in King William’s Town in the eastern part of the Cape Colony. The Eastern Cape had been beset for many years by strife occasioned by the marauding black tribes hell-bent on plundering and stealing whatever livestock and crops the hardy frontier settlers had managed to produce. Life was tough in these far-flung settlements and a number of so-called Kaffir Wars had been fought to try and bring these tribes to heel – many with only a modicum of success. No sooner had the Colonial authorities thought that they had suppressed these incursions another would flare up; this situation demanding an almost permanent military presence in the region.

Almost on his arrival Ducat enlisted with the No. 8 Troop of the F.A.M.P. – the Frontier Armed and Military Police - for service. Accepting the entry rank of Private one can only but wonder at his feelings on the matter having been a commissioned officer for many years before. Stationed at King William’s Town the F.A.M.P. were a para-military force established in 1855 to guard the frontier against the hordes mentioned above. In 1878, a year after his arrival, it became known as the Cape Mounted Riflemen and it was in No. 9 Troop that Ducat served. Mounted and mobile as they were it was still a desperately lonely life for these men who were tasked with keeping the frontier safe. They would be out on patrols in the wilds for days and weeks at a time with no form of company save for their mounts. Having been posted to Ibeka near Butterworth in what is now known as the Transkei in December 1877; he was soon in action at Umzintzani, about 12 miles from this Ibeki. This was in the Ninth Kaffir War which was fought against the Gcaleka tribesmen. Still with the F.A.M.P. at that point he was one of only 22 men from his regiment to participate in the action which was described, in ‘History of the battles and adventures of the British, the Boers and the Zulus in Southern Africa’ by D. C. F. Moodie as being a battle,

“In which our men so narrowly escaped being beaten that the country was completely roused. Public meetings were again held everywhere, vigilance committees were formed, and all the frontier towns were prepared for defence. Farmers and their families were" trekking " into laager. Everywhere there were protests of the strongest character against the way in which the Cape Government was acting. At a large public meeting held at Kei-road, the loyal inhabitants threatened to take the law into their own hands, and shoot every nigger found on their farms.-

On the road leading towards the month of the River Kei from Ibeka there was a place called Holland's Shop, a large trading-station; but at this time the whole station had been burned to the ground. A party of volunteers, consisting of infantry from Port Elizabeth, with one gun of the Graham's Town Artillery, together with No. 9 Troop, F. A. M. Police (including Ducat), left Ibeka on one of our customary patrols. This small force was under the command of Captain Bayley, who had recently been the adjutant of the 9th Regiment of Foot, and who afterwards became our colonel, when the F. A. M. P. were converted into the C. M. R. Our division had marched on with the police troop, forming an advance guard, when we suddenly came upon the Gcalekas in force. Inspector Bourne sent back at once a messenger to Captain Bayley, who brought his party forward at a double, and the whole of our force then took up a position on a small hill just, abreast of the ruins of Holland's Shop. This occurred about three o'clock in the afternoon of the 2nd of December.

south-africa-9th-xhosa-war-battle-of-umzintzani-1878-illustrated-london-FEYEYT.jpg

the Battle of Umzintzani

Whilst the infantry and artillery were getting into position, the police were engaged in doing a little desultory skirmishing. The Gcalekas were in great force, rapidly increasing in numbers on a ridge about half-a-mile off. Exactly opposite this ridge runs a small river called the 'Nabaxa. Along the banks of this, about half-a-mile nearer the sea, was a deep kloof or valley, out of which they could be seen coming up in great numbers. The police now advanced, and at something like 250 yards from the enemy commenced firing. The Graham's Town gun, which was well horsed, drove down to the assistance of the police, unlimbered, came into action, and peppered the niggers right merrily.

In the meanwhile the Cape artillery and the infantry were not idle. The artillery sent shell after shell into the hush, and the infantry fired at the enemy as the shells drove them out of their cover. They were thus forced out of their kloof, but effected a junction with their friends on the ridge. At this point part of them divided, and under cover of the ridge started off to outflank us. A party of police were despatched to stop this manoeuvre, and then the rest of the niggers charged right down the hill from the ridge, on to the gun and remnant of police that were left with it. There were not more than twenty police, and about eleven or twelve of the artillery. The Gcalekas who charged us numbered between 400 and 1000. When they reached within 150 yards, the order was given us to retire; the police mounted and retired except three men, whose horses had broken loose. Two of them reached the gun in safety, but the third, Wellesley was unfortunately shot in the hip, and was almost immediately assegaied. Though on his knees he fought hard, and killed four Kafirs before they finally despatched him. Several of the enemy were shot by the police and artillery, as they clustered round the poor fellow, stabbing him to death.

Lieutenant Wells, who was in command of the Graham's Town gun, waited until the natives were within fifty or sixty yards of his piece, and then fired a case shot into the midst of them. In the confusion that ensued the gun was limbered up, and retired at a gallop, with the two policemen, up a steep hill and rejoined the rest of our party. The enemy did not immediately come on again; but about five o'clock, or two hours before sunset, they again collected and charged the camp. The two guns now poured several rounds of case shot into them as they advanced, which they did too within a hundred and fifty yards, where they were able to take shelter behind some stones and ant-heaps, and from this position one man of the Port Elizabeth volunteers was shot dead. This was almost the only casualty that occurred up to this time. It was now sunset, but with the moon well up it continued tolerably light. The enemy every now and again advanced en masse, and poured a volley or two into the camp, wounding some of our side. They made a final charge about nine o'clock, coming close up to the guns, howling and firing independently; but finding our return fire too warm for them, they retired again into the kloof, and were seen no more that night.

Some Fingoes joined the camp during the same night, and the next morning went out as usual to kill the wounded men who were left. The loss to the enemy was between seventy and eighty killed, and we heard afterwards that from 150 to 200 wounded were removed during the night, as is their custom. The loss on our side was two killed, with four police and three volunteers wounded. The wounded were sent in during the day to Ibeka, and a permanent camp was formed about 300 yards from the scene of the battle. Large reinforcements of police were now sent out from Ibeka, and frequent patrols went from this place, now called Umzintzani from the name of a small river which flows close by. These patrols were constantly coming across small bodies of the enemy, Avho fled, after firing a few shots, at our approach.

While we are camped and waiting the orders to march, let me turn to notice some events which were happening on the other side of the Kei. Kiva, let me first remark, one of the most noted of the Gcaleka warriors, had broken through into the Colony, burning every store and farm-house on his way, and had joined the Gaikas, who were now in open rebellion. The communication from the Kei road and Komgha was blocked, and a policeman was shot whilst carrying despatches between these two places. A body of forty police, under charge of an officer carrying the Government despatches, was attacked and forced to retreat. At length Major Moore, with a detachment of the 88th and some twenty of the police, whilst escorting the mails, had a severe fight with the Galekas. The engagement lasted over two hours. We lost in it three men killed and several wounded, and a cart-load of ammunition, and narrowly escaped defeat, through the whole of his own force bolting. The Major managed, however, to lay the fault on the police, who were invariably made the scape-goats if any failure occurred. The V. C. was given to him for some act of gallantry in this remarkable action, and eventually he was made commandant of our force. His report of the action and the account given by a sergeant of the police engaged, who carried a man off the field on his own horse, differed very much. According to the statement of the police, the soldiers ran first, and the police followed them. I am afraid we did not appreciate Major Moore as highly as he estimated himself. He was slightly wounded in the wrist. The enemy in this fight were led by McKinnou, who had escaped when the disarmament of his tribe was attempted.

The day following Christmas Day we proceeded on our march. We were greatly extended, and on this occasion were divided into two columns. One column was placed under the command of Captain Upcher, and the other, or headquarters column, under Colonel Glyn. We marched over exactly the same ground as before, encountering the same difficulties of transport, and several times meeting the enemy, who made at no time any but a very weak and brief defence, and then fled. We captured immense herds of cattle. On one occasion about 1,200 women fell into our hands, and were sent into Ibeka. These poor things were in the most awful state of destitution from long hunger. They had been for some time living on the bark of trees, and such roots as they could grab up.

We returned ourselves to Ibeka on the 10th of January, 1878, having for the third time completely cleared Gcaleka land. During this patrol we had done on an average thirty miles a day, and had been well fed and looked after, and what we certainly appreciated, well employed. The hard work that fell to our lot we did not mind. Great, we found, was the contrast between the Imperial and Colonial authorities; for with the latter we had an overwhelming measure of work, but no food; while with the former the balance was well adjusted.’

As can be established from the account provided above, the skirmish at Umzintzani was quite an ordeal. Although the details are unclear as to what happened to occasion it, six months later, on 31 May 1878, Ducat was discharged with ignominy from the F.A.M.P. – blotting an otherwise perfect copybook. For his efforts he was awarded the South African General Service Medal with clasp 1877-1878 to the Cape Mounted Riflemen.

A civilian for the first time in many years Ducat didn’t have to wait long to don a uniform again. South Africa in the late 1870’s was in state of turmoil. It wasn’t only in the Eastern Cape that the natives were excited. The neighbouring Colony of Natal was also embroiled in a battle of its own against the Zulus – a far more war-like and aggressive tribe than the Gcalekas. Several units had been raised in the Eastern Cape which were now called upon to assist in what became known as the Zulu War. Baker’s Horse was no exception – it had been raised by Major J.F. Baker for the Ninth Frontier War and had been disbanded at the close of hostilities only to be raised again at Port Elizabeth in early 1879 for the Zulu War. On 21 February 1879, Ducat was commissioned as a Captain in this outfit and despatched to Natal. There must have been a palpable sense of relief in him with his elevation to this rank – a rank he had been accustomed to.

Too late, fortunately for him, to be anywhere near Isandhlwana or any of the battles immediately thereafter (he does not appear to have been either at Hlobane or Kambula), he was to transfer regiments accepting a commission as a Lieutenant in the 1st Regiment of the 2nd Battalion, Natal Native Contingent on 17 June 1879. Both his previous unit as well as the 2nd N.N.V. were present at the Battle of Ulundi which brought the war to a close by finally breaking the back of the mighty Zulu Army.

On 17 June 1879 the invading British Army moved further into Zululand and further from its base at the border marching up the Ntinini valley and reaching the crossroads between Rorke’s Drift and Ulundi. The 2nd N.N.C. scouted out towards Babanango seeing some 300 Zulus and exchanging shots with them from there the Flying Column of which they were part descended over the next few days down to the Umhlatuze River where Fort Evelyn Wood was built. From a nearby ridge Ulundi, the capital of the Zulu nation could be seen in the hazy distance.

Thanks to a period of two weeks of fine weather the army slowly moved forward. On the 24th they reached a high point on the ridge camping there before an arduous march the next day through terrain which often put the invading force in an exposed and dangerous position. The Zulus, however, failed to make use of the opportunities for ambush and offered only token resistance along the way – they would skirmish but would not stand and fight although a report was received that they would make their stand at Ulundi itself. By the 27th the army was 16 miles from Ulundi itself – all the while the 2nd N.N.C. were providing scouts and spies to scour the countryside for the elusive Zulus.

The next day a Zulu force numbering some 20 000 was seen below on the plain advancing towards the British positions. Emissaries from the Zulu King were sent asking for terms but these were rejected and they were given three days in which to surrender. On 1 July the British force continued towards Ulundi over a very bad track – still the Zulu warriors would not attack obeying the three day truce. Ducat’s grandson, quoting him, stated that, “the night before the battle, the British troops were kept awake by the noise of the dancing and singing of the Zulu army”. This unearthly sound was the Zulu army being “doctored” into believing themselves to be invincible preparatory to battle.

On the 4th July the British army rose early. Men were awakened quietly and went about their preparations. The N.N.C. who had assegais as opposed to rifles were made ready taking their place with the Headquarters Column. The Column formed a “square” – a rectangular laager whose sides were comprised of double lines of infantry. In the distance the Zulus could be seen moving up to surround the position, estimated to be 25 000 strong. It was expected that they would attack in the “usual” way – chest and then horns in a double envelopment.

Ulundi burning

Sent out to taunt and goad the enemy, mounted men are allowed back into the square in the nick of time, suddenly the black hordes have surrounded the laager and black faces appear as close as 40 yards from the defences. The rifle and Gatling gun fire was tremendous and, undeterred, the Zulus come ever closer fully aware that this is their last chance for victory. The tempo of the firing increases and then, miraculously, the Zulu attack falters and then collapses.

The Zulus broke and ran for the hills and safety hotly pursued by the British lancers and others. Pursuit turned into butchery as the fleeing warriors tired the N.N.C. men getting in on the act as well. Within two hours the battle was over and the Zulu nation vanquished. Ducat had been on hand to witness and participate in the last real action of the war.

Peace now reigning he was awarded the South African General Service Medal with 1879 clasp for his efforts – this is also known as the “Zulu War” medal. Returning to his familiar Eastern Cape he joined the Alexandria Divisional Police on 1 March 1880, serving with them until they were disbanded exactly a year later. He next applied to, unsuccessfully, join the Cape Infantry before accepting an appointment as Inspector of the Albany Divisional Police where he served from 1 November 1881 until 5 December 1882 when the Cape Police came into being – replacing all the small independent forces that abounded.

He had, however, attempted to find an alternate position before then - on 3 May 1881 he wrote from Alexandria to the authorities as follows,

“Sir, Having heard that the Chief Constable at Jansenville has resigned I hasten to apply to be appointed in his stead for reference I may refer to John Campbell, Civil Commissioner and Resident Magistrate Cape Town – I enclose two testimonials. Trusting that my application may be successful.”
This effort coming to nought he wrote again from the Masonic Hotel in Alexandria on 14 May as follows,

“Sir, I believe the Chief Constable of Alexandria will shortly resign. Should the vacancy occur I beg to be appointed to the position and trust that my application will be successful. I forwarded testimonials with a former application. I have the honour to be etc. etc.”

Again this came to nought but he was not to be deterred. On 2 June 1882 he wrote to the Colonial Secretary from Grahamstown as follows,

“Sir, Understanding the Appointment of Chief Constable of Alexandria is about to become vacant I have the honour to submit my name as an applicant for the same.

I can obtain a recommendation from the Resident Magistrate of Alexandria. My name was submitted on a former occasion for the same appointment.
I have the honour etc. etc.”

Ducat, tired of being ignored or rebuffed took the bull by the horns and wrote to the Colonial Secretary on 15 August 1882 again from Grahamstown,

“Sir, Not having received any reply to my letter with reference to the organisation of the Rural Police and as the renewed period of service of the Albany Divisional Police expires on the 31st of this month I respectfully trust I may be informed to what position I shall be appointed in the new force.

If not out of place (the generally expressed wish being for the employment of Colonial men in these appointments) I beg to state that I am almost a Colonial being a grandson of the late Mr Charles Lucas of Albany and closely connected with several of the leading families of the Colony.

I have also had great Colonial experience having served through the Gcaleka and Zulu wars. After the Zulu War I was appointed Inspector of the Alexandria Divisional Police, since the resignation of Captain Jenkins I have held the appointment of Inspector of the Albany Divisional Police and the duties have been performed to the satisfaction of the Civil Commissioner and the Divisional Council.

Under these circumstances and being married I trust I may be appointed as Inspector to the Alexandria Division with which I am well acquainted failing which to any other Division. Trusting this application will meet with your favourable consideration.

A.J. Ducat, Captain late 104th Regt. Inspector Albany D.M. Police”

This request was submitted to a Captain Sississon – the Commissioner of Police, No. 2 District from whom no reply was seemingly forthcoming.
On 8 December 1882 Ducat wrote again as follows,

“Sir, I have the honour to submit the following for your consideration and trust you will see the great hardship and injustice of my case and that your sense of justice will prompt you to grant me a measure of redress.

I was for over a year the Inspector of the Albany Divisional Police having previously held a similar appointment at Alexandria and I fulfilled the duties in both places to the satisfaction of the Civil Commissioner and was more than once complimented at the Divisional Council Meetings on the manner the Police duties were carried on.

The services of the Divisional Police were continued till the arrival of Captain Sississon. Mr Huntley promised me his strongest recommendation and I had written several times to Cape Town requesting to be informed if I should receive an appointment in the new Force and not receiving any reply I spoke to Mr Huntley who apprised me that I need not feel uneasy as I should be appointed.

In the meantime Mr Walter Currie was appointed Inspector and I again applied to Mr Huntley who told me he had telegraphed to Cape Town and that I would receive my appointment on the arrival of Captain Sississon. When Captain Sississon arrived he offered me the appointment of Sub Inspector in the presence of Captain Simkins the Chief Constable of Albany which I accepted and concluded the matter was settled, but to my astonishment I was placed in Orders as Acting Sub Inspector and so continued until the 5th instant when I received a letter from Captain Sississon informing me that as my probationary services had not proved me to be efficient in the duties required, the Honourable The Colonial Secretary regrets that he cannot appoint me my services being dispensed with at a moment’s notice and an unjustifiable slur cast on my character.

I beg to state I have the highest testimonials from my late Colonel and others which I enclose and which fully prove my efficiency whereas Captain Sississon has only known me for one month and has given me no opportunity of proving my efficiency beyond a daily attendance at Stables and Drill.
When Captain Sississon had only been in Grahamstown three or four days and with no opportunity of judging he spoke unfavourably of me to Mr Huntley and from this taken in conjunction with his subsequent proceedings I can only come to the conclusion that he had an unjust and unreasonable prejudice against me.

I most respectfully beg that enquiry may be made into my case and if the facts are proved to be as I have stated that I may meet with that justice and consideration to which I am entitled as a Gentleman who held a Captain’s Commission in Her Majesty’s service and left it with the highest character, whereas I have been summarily dismissed without any charge whatever being made against me in a manner which would not be tolerated in the case of a common Coolie.

I have the honour etc. etc.”

To this earnest plea there must have been a reply obliging Ducat to write once more on 31 January 1883,

“Sir, I have the honour to inform you that I received a letter from the Colonial Office dated 10th January informing me that my remonstrance on the subject of the treatment I had received from Commissioner Sississon would receive due attention.

I have been two months out of employment and being in Grahamstown at great expense waiting the result of the inquiry and I trust I may receive some redress for the cruel wrong that has been done me in attempting to blast my character by the most unfounded charges. I received a letter yesterday from the Office of the Commissioner of Crown Lands and Public Works appointing me as Toll Collector at the Great Kei Bridge. This of itself is sufficient proof that the charges made against me by Commissioner Sississon are considered totally groundless.

I shall be put to heavy expense in moving with my family to the Kei and I trust the Government will take this into consideration.
I have the honour etc. etc.”

Ducat was proving to be a prolific correspondent, although admittedly his next letter was written five years later. Now ensconced as the Kei Bridge Toll Collector he wrote from there, on 6 March 1888 to the Under Colonial Secretary thus,

“Sir, Having heard that Captain Simkins the Chief Constable of Komgha is about to vacate that appointment, I have the honour to forward my application for the situation, I have applied for the appointment on two previous occasions and was informed that my applications had been noted and would receive attention in the event of a vacancy occurring.

I trust I shall not be overlooked on this occasion as I have been five years in my present situation of Toll Collector at Great Kei Bridge and am entitled to a change – In the event of my being appointed to Komgha my present situation would be at the disposal of the Government. I am well known to the Civil Commissioner of Komgha who is prepared to recommend me for the situation.”

The Under Colonial Secretary, Mr G Philip wrote to a Mr Tudhope from The Castle on 20 March 1888 in this connection stating,

“I have been asked to try and get Captain A. Ducat who is now employed at Great Kei River moved to some better situation and more favourable climate. The power of doing so is of course in your hands. I am not personally acquainted with Capt. Ducat, but I know his relations in England, and I believe he is a good officer and that his wife and child are in very bad health and much in need of a change of residence.

In writing thus to you, I feel that I have no claim on your good offices, but I think if you could consider it right to act on my request that much good may result. Believe me yours faithfully.”

An annotation in the margin of this letter read, rather cryptically, “Dear Mr de Smidt, I don’t recognise this name as that of my office or our Department.” (Henry de Smidt was the Paymaster General of the Cape Colony and became the Under Colonial Secretary in 1891. John Tudhope served as Colonial Secretary from 1885 until 1889)

On 11 January 1893 a Mr Roos wrote to Henry de Smidt in connection with a request he had received from Ducat for the Chief Constable position at Bathurst. The letter read thus,

“Dear Mr de Smidt

If anything can be done for Capt. Ducat, I hope you will do so, especially as Mr Sauer, to whom I also mentioned the matter, seems to have no objection to grant him this transfer.

He keeps writing and wiring me, and he hopes that there is no truth in the report that a C.M.R. has been offered the appointment. The poor fellow seems to be anxious about this transfer upon consideration of health.

He has just wired me asking on how matters stand and has paid for a reply.

Yours faithfully (excuse haste I am in the midst of important work)

The next chap to enter the fray was Ducat’s old nemesis about whom we have heard much but from whom we have yet heard nothing. Writing to the Under Colonial Secretary, Cape Town in January 1883 he was scathing in his feedback stating,

“I have nothing to add to my former report on the matter of Mr Ducat’s discontinuation of temporary service, but it is necessary to place on record refutations to certain statements made by him in his marginal replies to C.O. Letter No. 4/1781 under date 4th instant.

1. As Mr Ducat informed me that he was aggrieved by the appointment of Inspector Currie, when advised that the Colonial Secretary had declined to appoint Mr Ducat in informing him of the fact verbally, I gave him the opportunity of withdrawing his application for employment, on the ground adduced. This he failed to do, and I was this forced to write him officially that Government declined to accept his services. This disproves, I think, the charge of “want of consideration.”

2. I made no engagement with Mr Ducat further than that his name should be submitted for employment as Sub-Inspector in the Force – This was done and pending the reply he was employed at the rate of pay attached to the Post for which he had applied.

3. On the occasion referred to in my report when I was unsuccessful in obtaining Mr Ducat’s services, the Assistant Resident Magistrate was with me, and expressed his belief that he (Ducat) was in his house. No request was made to me to wait a few minutes as is alleged, and allowing that Mr Ducat was absent as stated, I consider that on his return, (after the expiration of a few minutes) having been told that I required his services, or had enquired for him, he should have at once reported himself for duty.

Had Mr Ducat been regularly employed should have required an explanation of his reasons for not having done so.

4. Mr Ducat’s sobriety is not impeached, it is however remarkable that he considers it necessary to produce a Medical Officer’s certificate on this head.

5. The omission of matters of importance from the Diary remains and this was brought to Mr Ducat’s notice verbally, and on it being found that a careless record was persisted in, his attention was directed by letter to the requirements of the Act of Parliament on this duty, but without a favourable result. As Mr Ducat did not come to the Police Office before 10 a.m., and was seldom to be found when wanted after 2.30 p.m., the work accomplished may have seemed to him “ridiculously small”, on the contrary however, it was very considerable.

Joseph Sississon
Commissioner of Police, District No. 2”

With that parting shot no further word was heard from either party. Ducat seems to have prevailed in both his request for a transfer although he still languished at Kei Bridge until 31 October 1889. From there his Record of Service indicates that he went as Chief Constable to Carnarvon from 1 November 1889 until 28 February 1890 and then on to Peddie from 1 March 1890 until 7 March 1892. From there on he went to Alice from 8 March 1892 until 6 April 1895 and then to Port Alfred, Richmond and finally back to Alexandria where he was from 21 December 1895 until 30 June 1905. In all of these places he was the Chief Constable.

During his time at Alexandria the Anglo Boer War broke out in October 1899. In keeping with most other small Eastern Cape rural hamlets, a Town Guard was formed to counter any threat of Boer incursions into the district. Ducat was a member of the Town Guard with the rank of Private earning himself the Queens Medal for services rendered.

Alfred William Ducat passed away at Farm 86A in the Nahoon area of East London on 14 November at the age of 81 years. His wife of many years Elizabeth Augustine Montgomery Leontine had predeceased him. He was survived by his children Alfred Ducat and Norah Mary Ducat.
A life well lived.

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