Hi there I've recently been doing research on a Private William Unsworth No. 9573 2nd Manchester Regiment who died of wounds during the First World War on 30/05/1915. The CWGC site shows him as having served during the South African Campaign and I do know he was charged with loosing his medal whilst in barracks in 1904. Although I am not sure what medal this is as it isn't mentioned in his court proceedings. To confuse matters I believe there was also another William Unsworth serving definitely in the Boer War and I think he also became a casualty during WW1. Does anyone know how I can see if my chap served during the boer campaign? He was the son of Mr and Mrs Unsworth from 28 Claremont St in Salford if that helps and was 32 when he died of wounds received at Kemmel Hill. I have papers showing him attesting for service in 1904 but nothing earlier. If anyone can help I would be greatful. Chris
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MANCHESTER REGIMENT WILLIAM UNSWORTH - DID HE SERVE IN BOER WAR? - by: KFS
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Campbell shot and killed one - the story of William D. Campbell, Natal Police - by: Rory
William Dundas Campbell
Trooper, Frontier Armed and Mounted Police, Ninth Frontier (Ngqika and Gcaleka) War 1877-78.
Lieutenant, 1st Battalion, 3rd Regiment, Natal Native Contingent, Anglo-Zulu War 1879.
Lieutenant, Lonsdale’s Horse.
Trooper, Natal Mounted Police, Basuto Gun War 1880-81.
Inspector and Quarter Master, Natal Police, Anglo-Boer War
- Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal with Basutoland clasp to Tpr. W.D. Campbell, Ntl. M. Pce.
- Queens South Africa Medal with clasp Natal to Inspector W.D. Campbell, Natal Police.
William Campbell was a man who saw plenty of action in wars that spanned a 20 year period and which left an indelible mark on the South African landscape.
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1856 he came from an impressive lineage. His father, Henry Dundas Campbell, had been a Colonel in the British Army and, between the years 1835 and 1837, the Governor of Sierra Leone. He also had the distinction of being the grandson of Admiral Donald Campbell and his father, Henry, had been born at the Cape Station whilst Admiral Campbell was stationed there. To further cement the South African (or Cape colonial) link his grandmother was Margaretha Hendrina Van Renen, a lady of undoubtedly Dutch descent.
William’s father was a much-married man but it is fairly conclusive that he was the son of Henry’s second “wife”, Irish born Fanny Ladley. The word “wife” in placed in parenthesis because there is no evidence to suggest that Henry married this lady with the resultant implication that William was born out of wedlock.
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Campbell is the chap on the extreme left of the photo
According to the 1871 England census the Campbell family were resident at 36 Fenwick Road, East Dulwich. Campbell senior, listed as a retired Lt. Colonel in the Cavalry and all of 72 years of age was at home with Fanny, far younger at 45, and children Henry, George, Harriet, Edward and Norman. Of William there was, strangely, no sign although, with the passing of his father on 1 April 1872, he could have determined to explore his roots and set sail for South Africa where, in 1875, he joined the ranks of the Frontier Armed and Mounted Police as a Trooper with no. 35.
The function of this locally recruited multiracial force was to maintain law and order in the districts along the Cape Colony's frontier with the Xhosa kingdoms in the Transkei. The FAMP played a central role in the 9th Frontier War which was fought between 1877 and 1878 against the Gaika and Gcaleba tribes. These Xhosa tribes had long been a thorn in the flesh of the white frontier settlers, raiding their crops and stealing their livestock. By 1876, the FAMP had grown to have units stationed at Komga, Queenstown, Palmietfontein, Kingwilliamstown, Peddie, Butterworth, Kenhardt, Fort Murray, Ealing Post and Kokstad although it is not known where Campbell was stationed. As a fighting force they were organised for rapid mobility; lightly equipped and possessed considerable local knowledge enabling them to form a very effective police force for the rough and mountainous frontier terrain. In 1878 they were fully militarised, as a unit of the Colonial Forces, and renamed Cape Mounted Riflemen.
Whilst Campbell and his comrades were fighting the hordes on the frontier of the Eastern Cape a far more ominous and deadly build-up was taking place to the north east of the country. The Zulus, a fierce and war-like people, had expansionist designs of their own and, having swept most minor tribes before them over the course of the previous few decades, were now a very real threat to the sparsely populated white settlements in the Colony of Natal.
Matters came to head in late 1878 when skirmishing took place between Zulu impis and the British troops stationed in Natal. This led to a call for more troops to be sent from England and the raising of a number of local regiments. Campbell, at the age of 22 and on 6 December 1878, was commissioned into the 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Regiment, Natal Native Contingent, otherwise known as the N.N.C. as can be gleaned from the name – this body comprised disaffected black men of Zulu origin and were held by many in low esteem as a fighting force. Poorly armed (most were not issued with carbines) they were wont to panic and run in the face of an onslaught by a Zulu impi. Matters came to a head in January 1879 with the battle or rather massacre that took place at Isandlwana on 22 January.
In Ian Knight’s book “Zulu Rising – The Epic Story of iSandlwana and Rorke’s Drift” – Campbell warrants a mention. The chapter, “Kill me in the shadows” quotes from Commandant George Hamilton Brown, the Officer Commanding 1/3 N.N.C. – the battalion to which Campbell was attached.
“Far out on the plain Hamilton Browne had spotted Durnford’s retreat. His battalion, the 1/3rd, had been dispatched earlier that morning to return in order to assist in the packing up of the camp.
‘We marched very slowly on, the day was intensely hot, and my white non-coms who were on foot very fagged. They had had a very hard day the day before. However push on was the word, and at 10 o’ clock myself and Adjutant-Lieutenant Campbell, who were riding some distance in front, flushed two Zulus. They bolted and we rode them down. Campbell shot his one but I captured mine and on Duncombe coming up we questioned him,”
In another account of the scene before the battle the writer quoted that,
“Campbell shot and killed one while Hamilton-Browne captured the other. The Zulu was little more than a boy and very frightened. Under questioning he admitted to having come from the king’s army of twelve full regiments and that these were in position above Isandlwana camp. Hamilton-Browne immediately sent Lt. Pohl galloping back to Chelmsford with the alarming news.”
In yet another account, this by Ron Lock and Peter Quantrill in their book “Zulu Victory – The Epic of Isandlwana and the Cover –Up” page 177 refers to,
“Hamilton-Browne was given orders to return to Isandlwana, reconnoitring any dongas en route that might conceal the enemy. On arrival at Isandlwana he was to assist Pullein in striking the camp which was to move either partly, or in its entirety, to Mangeni Falls. There is confusion on this point.
Hamilton-Browne and his NNC moved off west down the Magogo Valley. The Qudeni-Isandlwana track back to camp was about two miles away to the south. He chose to strike across country cutting some distance off the ten mile slog to Isandlwana. The battalion had not gone far across the plain when Hamilton-Browne and his Adjutant, Lieutenant W.D. Campbell, riding ahead, flushed out two Zulu scouts.”
That Campbell played a role in the conflagration that was to embarrass an entire nation and cast aspersions on the prime of Great Britain’s army is not in doubt. He was, however, as far as can be ascertained, not on Isandlwana when the awful massacre of men took place although he would have been on hand soon after to see the enormity of the damage done and the terrible loss of life.
At some point hereafter Campbell took his leave of the NNC - the original three Regiments, totalling seven battalions, having been reduced to five battalions after Isandlwana – with many of the NCOs and officers transferring to Lonsdale’s Horse. Campbell was no exception acting on the staff of Colonel Bellairs, Major-General Butler and Major-General Clifford as a Lieutenant in Lonsdale’s Horse from 27 January 1879 seeing further action at Gingindlovu where he was described as being an expert driver of transport.
For his efforts he would have earned the South African General Service Medal with the clasp 1879 which was issued on voucher 455 on 26 June 1882 off the Natal Native Contingent roll. There is no record of this medal in existence however.
By the end of July 1879 the Zulu War as it became known was over with the King in exile and the tribes and their Indunas defeated. Campbell was now in the hunt for employment and, turning his attention to the Natal Mounted Police, he joined their ranks at Pietermaritzburg on 27 October of that year.
Supplying his brother Henry Dundas Campbell of 4 Glengall Terrace, Old Kew Road, London as his next of kin he claimed to be 23 years of age and was found to be 5 feet 8 inches in height with a light complexion, brown hair and blue eyes. He confirmed that he had been born in Scotland and, having been found suitable for the position, was assigned the rank of Trooper.
At home in England his family had been further scattered. At the time of the 1881 England census William’s older brother Henry, now 33 years old and his next of kin mentioned above, had married and was the patriarch of the family.
One of the first orders of business for the new recruit was as a member of the ex-Empress of France’s escort during her tour of Natal and Zululand to mourn the death of her son. Holt on page 86 of his book “The Mounted Police of Natal” wrote that,
“On the 29th April 1880, just as the cold weather began, the expedition left Pietermaritzburg. As many of the men who took part in the escort have left the corps and are scattered all over the globe, it may be of interest to mention that they consisted of: Sergeant Faddy (in charge); Corporals Burgoyne and W.J. Clarke; Troopers Berthold, W. Brown, W.D. Campbell, Cooper, F. Evans, Ford, Green, Heathcote, Hutton, Lockner, Longfield, H. Pennefather, Piers, Ravenscroft, Russ, Stevens and Wilmot.
Throughout the trip (seven weeks) the police turned out at dawn and had their tents struck and everything of their own packed by sunrise. The Empress travelled leisurely along the road, either riding on horseback or being driven by General Sir Evelyn Wood in a “spider” drawn by four horses.
By the way of Blood River, the party went to Kambula, to enable the Empress to visit Utrecht, where they experienced such violent wind and rain that the whole camp had to be struck and repitched in a more suitable place. The skeletons of the Zulus who were killed in the Kambula fight were still lying about when the Empress passed the place.”
The Empress Eugenie safely on her way back to England Campbell and his colleagues shared among them the £100 she had left for that purpose. It wasn’t long however before he was involved in an incident which became known as the Basuto Rebellion or Gun War.
When the Basutoland Rebellion broke out, the Natal Mounted Police were deployed to defend the passes in the Drakensberg against incursions from Basuto stock thieves. Those men who were considered to be on active service qualified for the award of the Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal. All, except one man, received the medal with the Basutoland clasp – there were only 29 of them in total.
Under Sergeant-Major Stean, the headquarters detachment left Pietermaritzburg on the 27th July, and two days later camped on the left bank of the Bushman's River, where they were joined by the Estcourt division, under Sub-Inspector Jackson. A few days afterwards the Greytown detachment arrived, under Inspector Mansel, and then came the men from Fort Pine under Sub Inspector Phillips ; the whole force being under the command of Major Dartnell.
On the morning of the l0th August the troops marched to the Blauw Krantz River, and as the transport wagons got into difficulties they did not reach camp until after dark, so no tents were pitched. This was unfortunate, for at midnight rain began to fall heavily, gradually turning to snow; and during the whole of the two days following the men were made intensely uncomfortable by a bitterly cold wind which swept off the snowclad berg.
On the 12th August the force crossed the Little Tugela, where they remained until the 8th October, patrols covering the Oliver's Hoek Pass and the Bushman's Pass. When the weather improved the troopers had a much better time at the camp, although the greatest difficulty was experienced in procuring fodder for the horses.
The next day brought the detachment to the Umgeni River, which proved to be a serious obstacle, for it was in flood. The fact of going into the water did not worry the men, excepting those who could not swim, for they were as wet as ever they could be, but there were the rations to consider. The men's luck, however, was completely out, for in the crossing all the sugar, tea, coffee, and biscuits were destroyed.
In the middle of November Major Dartnell's detachment was moved in the direction of Dronk Vlei and the rain began as usual when they left camp. This time they had the additional worry of wagons. The troopers were all wet through when they reached Mabedhlane, and there they heard, sadly enough, that the wagons were stuck fast, some distance back. The only thing to do was to go back and pull the vehicles out. By sundown the weather had cleared up, and as there was no prospect of meeting any one, the men stripped their wet things off and marched back along the road naked. They found the wagons badly bogged, and after they had struggled for a while to get them out the task had to be abandoned. The tents, blankets, and food were taken off and put on to pack-ponies, which carried them to the camp.
The state of things at Dronk Vlei was no better. There, on the banks of the Umzimkulu River, the ground was so swampy that picket pins would not hold, so the horses had to be turned loose at night. The water became a sort of nightmare. When the men dug trenches round the tents they started springs. All the biscuits went mouldy, and there was no opportunity of getting fresh supplies.
The next move was to the Upper Umzimkulu, via Ipolela a wild, unpopulated district in those days. For six weeks the camp was pitched at Christison's Drift, and from there the narrow passes over the berg were kept under observation by patrols.
The Basutos made one raid into Natal, and the police executed a hasty night march to intercept them. A man named Kennedy and some native scouts had been surprised by the Basutos and murdered, but the raiders retired quickly on hearing of the movement of the police, and did not cross the border again at that time. Altogether a frustrating time for Campbell and his comrades but a necessary one to ensure the safety of the local population who were uneasy at the prospect of Basutos’ on their doorstep.
The natural order of things now having been restored Campbell returned to normal police work. There was time now for romance and, at the house of William Ritchie of Umhlali, north of Durban on 13 February 1888, he wed Elizabeth Christina Ritchie a 25 year lady from the district. At the age of 30 he was now a married man living in Pietermaritzburg. On 1 July 1894 he was promoted to the rank of Sub- Lieutenant and Quartermaster of the Natal Police.
All was now quiet on the Campbell front save for the odd incident which demanded his attention. Natal at this time was inundated with a wave of Indentured Coolie labourers brought in by the ship-load from India to work on the growing sugar cane farms dotting both the North and South coasts. An official body known as the Office of the Protector of Immigrants was established to check on the rights of these Coolies and to mediate between them and their employees. In essence this was a form of slave labour with the exception being that, after a period of time, the Coolie became a free man and could go about his business without let or hindrance.
On 14 March 1895 the indentured labourer Buldeo Sing, number 48907, appeared before Mr Louis Mason, the Protector of Immigrants. Having been duly cautioned he stated that,
“I am indentured to Mr Campbell (W.D. Campbell of Pietermaritzburg). I complain that my master has assaulted me on several occasions. The last assault was four days ago when my master got me by the throat and gave me several blows with his fist.
The man Mobabir was working closeby and heard the disturbance but did not witness the assault. My mistress is always angry with me and says she does not want me to remain. I also complain that I have to work up till half past seven, and eight o’ clock in the evening and also half days on all Sundays and I receive nothing for this work.”
Naturally this wasn’t the only reside to the affair – Mrs Campbell wrote to Mason on the same day from her residence at 349 Commercial Road, Pietermaritzburg as follows,
“Dear Sir
I am writing on behalf of my husband (who is sick in bed today) to inform you that this Coolie “Buldeo Sing” who was indentured to us three years ago, disappeared on Tuesday morning (the 12th) and has not been seen since. You will remember that my husband wrote to you at the end of last month requesting to know if you would allow him to transfer this Coolie to Mr P. Saunders of Tongaat.
His deserting remains a puzzle to us but he was a constant source of trouble, insolent to a degree, and had simply the work that any child could easily have performed. My husband has been a good master to him, seldom interfering with him and never striking him.
Will you be kind enough to let my husband know if we are expected to do anything in this matter, and if Buldeo Sing should have gone to Durban to see you (which is most unlikely!) will you kindly detain him there until you hear from my husband. I am extremely unwilling to have him back here if anything could possibly be done with him, and my only regret is that he did not desert before his passage money was paid up until 1896!
Awaiting your reply. I am yours very truly.
E Campbell”
The Protector wrote back to Campbell the next day enclosing Sing’s deposition and asking “whether there is any truth in his statement that he works all Sunday and gets no remuneration” He added that Buldeo Sing was returned to you yesterday in charge of a messenger.
Campbell, up from his sick bed was having none of this – he shot back a reply to the Protector on 16 March which read, “The Bearer delivered the Indentured Indian Buldeo Sing last night at 7 p.m. and I had him before Mr Barter, R.M. this morning. They wired you re: charge of assault preferred against me which I can assure you is entirely false.” This was followed by a long and rambling letter to Mason from Campbell dated 18 March as follows,
“Sir
I have the honour to acknowledge having received the deposition (which I return at your request) also your letter of the 15th. Before proceeding further I beg to inform you that the Indian “Buldeo Sing” arrived in charge of your Messenger on Friday evening at 7 p.m. and I had him before Mr Barter, R.M. for the city on Saturday morning, who remanded him until this morning. Awaiting further information from you, which information I received on my return to office from the Court, but too late to be of any use that day – Saturday.
I was completely astounded on perusing his deposition, as it from start to finish a tissue of falsehoods, however, I took the deposition and your accompanying letter to Mr Barter this morning, and, after examining the prisoner through the interpreter, he sentenced Buldeo Sing to two month’s imprisonment. I beg to state that he the prisoner was unable to substantiate a single statement of his deposition.
In case you are unaware of the fact I beg to inform you that this is the third time the prisoner has been confined in Gaol, Fist time, 7 days for absence and insolence. Second time do……. and fighting, and now two months. For the first two years of Buldeo Sing’s service, I must say he was a fairly good servant, but since I was obliged to come and live in town, he has had so very little to do, that he has got acquainted with a bad lot, and objects to work of any description, in fact he has suggested through his brother servant to me, to let him go away, until his period of five years expires and he will pay me so much per month to do so.
And now sir I shall be extremely obliged and happy, if you will be good enough to assist me in getting him transferred to somebody else (Mr Saunders, Tongaat is full up) on the expiration of his imprisonment as, I can assure you, I and my wife will be heartily pleased to be rid of him.
All went quiet until Mrs Campbell again addressed herself to the Protector. This was on 9 May 1895:
“Dear Sir
I am writing this at my husband’s request to inform you that the Indian “Baldeo Sing” shall be released from gaol on the 17th of this month and as we are still very anxious to have him transferred to someone else.
Yours very truly
E. Campbell”
In what was becoming a pattern Campbell followed this up with a letter of his own to Mr Mason on 16 May 1895 which read as follows,
“I am anxious not to have the Indian Buldeo Sing no. 48907 at my house after his release from gaol, I propose meeting him outside the gaol with his belongings on Friday morning 17th and sending him off by the 9.45 train to Durban, and will give him 1/- for his food and a letter addressed to you. I enclose the man’s Emigration paper, and would feel deeply grateful to you if you will kindly send the man on to Messrs. Hulett and Sons, Kearsney, under escort, if you consider it necessary, and to forward all papers in connection with the man’s transfer. This man has been a nuisance to me and I am anxious to wash my hands of him.”
With this parting shot the sorry saga of Sing came to an end.
These scenes of domestic disruption were coming to an end. Unbeknown to Campbell and many others the constituent parts of South Africa were about to be at war. Trouble had been festering between the two Boer Republics of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal on the one hand and Great Britain on the other for some time and this spilled over into open warfare on 11 October 1899. One of the first orders of business for the Boers was to invade Natal which they proceeded to do within a few days of war being declared. The Natal Police were much scattered when war broke – those detachments to the north were pulled into Dundee whilst a detachment of 25 men of the Field Force, stationed at Tugela joined the melee and were caught up, along with those from Dundee, in the Siege of Ladysmith. Yet others were part of Buller’s Relief Force but the vast majority continued with their policing duties but with the added responsibility of aiding the British and Colonial forces wherever they were to be found.
Campbell, now 44 years of age and no longer in the prime of youth was most likely stationed at Headquarters in Pietermaritzburg – a town bracing itself for a possible Boer incursion if Ladysmith fell. As the Quartermaster he would also have had to monitor and control the issuing of stores. Like many of his comrades he saw service only in Natal and was awarded the Queens Medal with that clasp in the rank of Inspector. Sadly it was issued posthumously in 1908.
On 16 September 1902, four months after the end of the Boer War, William Dundas Campbell passed away at his residence, 8 Greyling Street, Pietermaritzburg. He was only 46 years of age. He was survived by his three children – all minors at the time of his death – Harriet Mary (14), Norman Dundas (12) and my great great aunt Agnes Mignon who later married a Rapson.
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Trooper, Frontier Armed and Mounted Police, Ninth Frontier (Ngqika and Gcaleka) War 1877-78.
Lieutenant, 1st Battalion, 3rd Regiment, Natal Native Contingent, Anglo-Zulu War 1879.
Lieutenant, Lonsdale’s Horse.
Trooper, Natal Mounted Police, Basuto Gun War 1880-81.
Inspector and Quarter Master, Natal Police, Anglo-Boer War
- Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal with Basutoland clasp to Tpr. W.D. Campbell, Ntl. M. Pce.
- Queens South Africa Medal with clasp Natal to Inspector W.D. Campbell, Natal Police.
William Campbell was a man who saw plenty of action in wars that spanned a 20 year period and which left an indelible mark on the South African landscape.
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1856 he came from an impressive lineage. His father, Henry Dundas Campbell, had been a Colonel in the British Army and, between the years 1835 and 1837, the Governor of Sierra Leone. He also had the distinction of being the grandson of Admiral Donald Campbell and his father, Henry, had been born at the Cape Station whilst Admiral Campbell was stationed there. To further cement the South African (or Cape colonial) link his grandmother was Margaretha Hendrina Van Renen, a lady of undoubtedly Dutch descent.
William’s father was a much-married man but it is fairly conclusive that he was the son of Henry’s second “wife”, Irish born Fanny Ladley. The word “wife” in placed in parenthesis because there is no evidence to suggest that Henry married this lady with the resultant implication that William was born out of wedlock.
Campbell is the chap on the extreme left of the photo
According to the 1871 England census the Campbell family were resident at 36 Fenwick Road, East Dulwich. Campbell senior, listed as a retired Lt. Colonel in the Cavalry and all of 72 years of age was at home with Fanny, far younger at 45, and children Henry, George, Harriet, Edward and Norman. Of William there was, strangely, no sign although, with the passing of his father on 1 April 1872, he could have determined to explore his roots and set sail for South Africa where, in 1875, he joined the ranks of the Frontier Armed and Mounted Police as a Trooper with no. 35.
The function of this locally recruited multiracial force was to maintain law and order in the districts along the Cape Colony's frontier with the Xhosa kingdoms in the Transkei. The FAMP played a central role in the 9th Frontier War which was fought between 1877 and 1878 against the Gaika and Gcaleba tribes. These Xhosa tribes had long been a thorn in the flesh of the white frontier settlers, raiding their crops and stealing their livestock. By 1876, the FAMP had grown to have units stationed at Komga, Queenstown, Palmietfontein, Kingwilliamstown, Peddie, Butterworth, Kenhardt, Fort Murray, Ealing Post and Kokstad although it is not known where Campbell was stationed. As a fighting force they were organised for rapid mobility; lightly equipped and possessed considerable local knowledge enabling them to form a very effective police force for the rough and mountainous frontier terrain. In 1878 they were fully militarised, as a unit of the Colonial Forces, and renamed Cape Mounted Riflemen.
Whilst Campbell and his comrades were fighting the hordes on the frontier of the Eastern Cape a far more ominous and deadly build-up was taking place to the north east of the country. The Zulus, a fierce and war-like people, had expansionist designs of their own and, having swept most minor tribes before them over the course of the previous few decades, were now a very real threat to the sparsely populated white settlements in the Colony of Natal.
Matters came to head in late 1878 when skirmishing took place between Zulu impis and the British troops stationed in Natal. This led to a call for more troops to be sent from England and the raising of a number of local regiments. Campbell, at the age of 22 and on 6 December 1878, was commissioned into the 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Regiment, Natal Native Contingent, otherwise known as the N.N.C. as can be gleaned from the name – this body comprised disaffected black men of Zulu origin and were held by many in low esteem as a fighting force. Poorly armed (most were not issued with carbines) they were wont to panic and run in the face of an onslaught by a Zulu impi. Matters came to a head in January 1879 with the battle or rather massacre that took place at Isandlwana on 22 January.
In Ian Knight’s book “Zulu Rising – The Epic Story of iSandlwana and Rorke’s Drift” – Campbell warrants a mention. The chapter, “Kill me in the shadows” quotes from Commandant George Hamilton Brown, the Officer Commanding 1/3 N.N.C. – the battalion to which Campbell was attached.
“Far out on the plain Hamilton Browne had spotted Durnford’s retreat. His battalion, the 1/3rd, had been dispatched earlier that morning to return in order to assist in the packing up of the camp.
‘We marched very slowly on, the day was intensely hot, and my white non-coms who were on foot very fagged. They had had a very hard day the day before. However push on was the word, and at 10 o’ clock myself and Adjutant-Lieutenant Campbell, who were riding some distance in front, flushed two Zulus. They bolted and we rode them down. Campbell shot his one but I captured mine and on Duncombe coming up we questioned him,”
In another account of the scene before the battle the writer quoted that,
“Campbell shot and killed one while Hamilton-Browne captured the other. The Zulu was little more than a boy and very frightened. Under questioning he admitted to having come from the king’s army of twelve full regiments and that these were in position above Isandlwana camp. Hamilton-Browne immediately sent Lt. Pohl galloping back to Chelmsford with the alarming news.”
In yet another account, this by Ron Lock and Peter Quantrill in their book “Zulu Victory – The Epic of Isandlwana and the Cover –Up” page 177 refers to,
“Hamilton-Browne was given orders to return to Isandlwana, reconnoitring any dongas en route that might conceal the enemy. On arrival at Isandlwana he was to assist Pullein in striking the camp which was to move either partly, or in its entirety, to Mangeni Falls. There is confusion on this point.
Hamilton-Browne and his NNC moved off west down the Magogo Valley. The Qudeni-Isandlwana track back to camp was about two miles away to the south. He chose to strike across country cutting some distance off the ten mile slog to Isandlwana. The battalion had not gone far across the plain when Hamilton-Browne and his Adjutant, Lieutenant W.D. Campbell, riding ahead, flushed out two Zulu scouts.”
That Campbell played a role in the conflagration that was to embarrass an entire nation and cast aspersions on the prime of Great Britain’s army is not in doubt. He was, however, as far as can be ascertained, not on Isandlwana when the awful massacre of men took place although he would have been on hand soon after to see the enormity of the damage done and the terrible loss of life.
At some point hereafter Campbell took his leave of the NNC - the original three Regiments, totalling seven battalions, having been reduced to five battalions after Isandlwana – with many of the NCOs and officers transferring to Lonsdale’s Horse. Campbell was no exception acting on the staff of Colonel Bellairs, Major-General Butler and Major-General Clifford as a Lieutenant in Lonsdale’s Horse from 27 January 1879 seeing further action at Gingindlovu where he was described as being an expert driver of transport.
For his efforts he would have earned the South African General Service Medal with the clasp 1879 which was issued on voucher 455 on 26 June 1882 off the Natal Native Contingent roll. There is no record of this medal in existence however.
By the end of July 1879 the Zulu War as it became known was over with the King in exile and the tribes and their Indunas defeated. Campbell was now in the hunt for employment and, turning his attention to the Natal Mounted Police, he joined their ranks at Pietermaritzburg on 27 October of that year.
Supplying his brother Henry Dundas Campbell of 4 Glengall Terrace, Old Kew Road, London as his next of kin he claimed to be 23 years of age and was found to be 5 feet 8 inches in height with a light complexion, brown hair and blue eyes. He confirmed that he had been born in Scotland and, having been found suitable for the position, was assigned the rank of Trooper.
At home in England his family had been further scattered. At the time of the 1881 England census William’s older brother Henry, now 33 years old and his next of kin mentioned above, had married and was the patriarch of the family.
One of the first orders of business for the new recruit was as a member of the ex-Empress of France’s escort during her tour of Natal and Zululand to mourn the death of her son. Holt on page 86 of his book “The Mounted Police of Natal” wrote that,
“On the 29th April 1880, just as the cold weather began, the expedition left Pietermaritzburg. As many of the men who took part in the escort have left the corps and are scattered all over the globe, it may be of interest to mention that they consisted of: Sergeant Faddy (in charge); Corporals Burgoyne and W.J. Clarke; Troopers Berthold, W. Brown, W.D. Campbell, Cooper, F. Evans, Ford, Green, Heathcote, Hutton, Lockner, Longfield, H. Pennefather, Piers, Ravenscroft, Russ, Stevens and Wilmot.
Throughout the trip (seven weeks) the police turned out at dawn and had their tents struck and everything of their own packed by sunrise. The Empress travelled leisurely along the road, either riding on horseback or being driven by General Sir Evelyn Wood in a “spider” drawn by four horses.
By the way of Blood River, the party went to Kambula, to enable the Empress to visit Utrecht, where they experienced such violent wind and rain that the whole camp had to be struck and repitched in a more suitable place. The skeletons of the Zulus who were killed in the Kambula fight were still lying about when the Empress passed the place.”
The Empress Eugenie safely on her way back to England Campbell and his colleagues shared among them the £100 she had left for that purpose. It wasn’t long however before he was involved in an incident which became known as the Basuto Rebellion or Gun War.
When the Basutoland Rebellion broke out, the Natal Mounted Police were deployed to defend the passes in the Drakensberg against incursions from Basuto stock thieves. Those men who were considered to be on active service qualified for the award of the Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal. All, except one man, received the medal with the Basutoland clasp – there were only 29 of them in total.
Under Sergeant-Major Stean, the headquarters detachment left Pietermaritzburg on the 27th July, and two days later camped on the left bank of the Bushman's River, where they were joined by the Estcourt division, under Sub-Inspector Jackson. A few days afterwards the Greytown detachment arrived, under Inspector Mansel, and then came the men from Fort Pine under Sub Inspector Phillips ; the whole force being under the command of Major Dartnell.
On the morning of the l0th August the troops marched to the Blauw Krantz River, and as the transport wagons got into difficulties they did not reach camp until after dark, so no tents were pitched. This was unfortunate, for at midnight rain began to fall heavily, gradually turning to snow; and during the whole of the two days following the men were made intensely uncomfortable by a bitterly cold wind which swept off the snowclad berg.
On the 12th August the force crossed the Little Tugela, where they remained until the 8th October, patrols covering the Oliver's Hoek Pass and the Bushman's Pass. When the weather improved the troopers had a much better time at the camp, although the greatest difficulty was experienced in procuring fodder for the horses.
The next day brought the detachment to the Umgeni River, which proved to be a serious obstacle, for it was in flood. The fact of going into the water did not worry the men, excepting those who could not swim, for they were as wet as ever they could be, but there were the rations to consider. The men's luck, however, was completely out, for in the crossing all the sugar, tea, coffee, and biscuits were destroyed.
In the middle of November Major Dartnell's detachment was moved in the direction of Dronk Vlei and the rain began as usual when they left camp. This time they had the additional worry of wagons. The troopers were all wet through when they reached Mabedhlane, and there they heard, sadly enough, that the wagons were stuck fast, some distance back. The only thing to do was to go back and pull the vehicles out. By sundown the weather had cleared up, and as there was no prospect of meeting any one, the men stripped their wet things off and marched back along the road naked. They found the wagons badly bogged, and after they had struggled for a while to get them out the task had to be abandoned. The tents, blankets, and food were taken off and put on to pack-ponies, which carried them to the camp.
The state of things at Dronk Vlei was no better. There, on the banks of the Umzimkulu River, the ground was so swampy that picket pins would not hold, so the horses had to be turned loose at night. The water became a sort of nightmare. When the men dug trenches round the tents they started springs. All the biscuits went mouldy, and there was no opportunity of getting fresh supplies.
The next move was to the Upper Umzimkulu, via Ipolela a wild, unpopulated district in those days. For six weeks the camp was pitched at Christison's Drift, and from there the narrow passes over the berg were kept under observation by patrols.
The Basutos made one raid into Natal, and the police executed a hasty night march to intercept them. A man named Kennedy and some native scouts had been surprised by the Basutos and murdered, but the raiders retired quickly on hearing of the movement of the police, and did not cross the border again at that time. Altogether a frustrating time for Campbell and his comrades but a necessary one to ensure the safety of the local population who were uneasy at the prospect of Basutos’ on their doorstep.
The natural order of things now having been restored Campbell returned to normal police work. There was time now for romance and, at the house of William Ritchie of Umhlali, north of Durban on 13 February 1888, he wed Elizabeth Christina Ritchie a 25 year lady from the district. At the age of 30 he was now a married man living in Pietermaritzburg. On 1 July 1894 he was promoted to the rank of Sub- Lieutenant and Quartermaster of the Natal Police.
All was now quiet on the Campbell front save for the odd incident which demanded his attention. Natal at this time was inundated with a wave of Indentured Coolie labourers brought in by the ship-load from India to work on the growing sugar cane farms dotting both the North and South coasts. An official body known as the Office of the Protector of Immigrants was established to check on the rights of these Coolies and to mediate between them and their employees. In essence this was a form of slave labour with the exception being that, after a period of time, the Coolie became a free man and could go about his business without let or hindrance.
On 14 March 1895 the indentured labourer Buldeo Sing, number 48907, appeared before Mr Louis Mason, the Protector of Immigrants. Having been duly cautioned he stated that,
“I am indentured to Mr Campbell (W.D. Campbell of Pietermaritzburg). I complain that my master has assaulted me on several occasions. The last assault was four days ago when my master got me by the throat and gave me several blows with his fist.
The man Mobabir was working closeby and heard the disturbance but did not witness the assault. My mistress is always angry with me and says she does not want me to remain. I also complain that I have to work up till half past seven, and eight o’ clock in the evening and also half days on all Sundays and I receive nothing for this work.”
Naturally this wasn’t the only reside to the affair – Mrs Campbell wrote to Mason on the same day from her residence at 349 Commercial Road, Pietermaritzburg as follows,
“Dear Sir
I am writing on behalf of my husband (who is sick in bed today) to inform you that this Coolie “Buldeo Sing” who was indentured to us three years ago, disappeared on Tuesday morning (the 12th) and has not been seen since. You will remember that my husband wrote to you at the end of last month requesting to know if you would allow him to transfer this Coolie to Mr P. Saunders of Tongaat.
His deserting remains a puzzle to us but he was a constant source of trouble, insolent to a degree, and had simply the work that any child could easily have performed. My husband has been a good master to him, seldom interfering with him and never striking him.
Will you be kind enough to let my husband know if we are expected to do anything in this matter, and if Buldeo Sing should have gone to Durban to see you (which is most unlikely!) will you kindly detain him there until you hear from my husband. I am extremely unwilling to have him back here if anything could possibly be done with him, and my only regret is that he did not desert before his passage money was paid up until 1896!
Awaiting your reply. I am yours very truly.
E Campbell”
The Protector wrote back to Campbell the next day enclosing Sing’s deposition and asking “whether there is any truth in his statement that he works all Sunday and gets no remuneration” He added that Buldeo Sing was returned to you yesterday in charge of a messenger.
Campbell, up from his sick bed was having none of this – he shot back a reply to the Protector on 16 March which read, “The Bearer delivered the Indentured Indian Buldeo Sing last night at 7 p.m. and I had him before Mr Barter, R.M. this morning. They wired you re: charge of assault preferred against me which I can assure you is entirely false.” This was followed by a long and rambling letter to Mason from Campbell dated 18 March as follows,
“Sir
I have the honour to acknowledge having received the deposition (which I return at your request) also your letter of the 15th. Before proceeding further I beg to inform you that the Indian “Buldeo Sing” arrived in charge of your Messenger on Friday evening at 7 p.m. and I had him before Mr Barter, R.M. for the city on Saturday morning, who remanded him until this morning. Awaiting further information from you, which information I received on my return to office from the Court, but too late to be of any use that day – Saturday.
I was completely astounded on perusing his deposition, as it from start to finish a tissue of falsehoods, however, I took the deposition and your accompanying letter to Mr Barter this morning, and, after examining the prisoner through the interpreter, he sentenced Buldeo Sing to two month’s imprisonment. I beg to state that he the prisoner was unable to substantiate a single statement of his deposition.
In case you are unaware of the fact I beg to inform you that this is the third time the prisoner has been confined in Gaol, Fist time, 7 days for absence and insolence. Second time do……. and fighting, and now two months. For the first two years of Buldeo Sing’s service, I must say he was a fairly good servant, but since I was obliged to come and live in town, he has had so very little to do, that he has got acquainted with a bad lot, and objects to work of any description, in fact he has suggested through his brother servant to me, to let him go away, until his period of five years expires and he will pay me so much per month to do so.
And now sir I shall be extremely obliged and happy, if you will be good enough to assist me in getting him transferred to somebody else (Mr Saunders, Tongaat is full up) on the expiration of his imprisonment as, I can assure you, I and my wife will be heartily pleased to be rid of him.
All went quiet until Mrs Campbell again addressed herself to the Protector. This was on 9 May 1895:
“Dear Sir
I am writing this at my husband’s request to inform you that the Indian “Baldeo Sing” shall be released from gaol on the 17th of this month and as we are still very anxious to have him transferred to someone else.
Yours very truly
E. Campbell”
In what was becoming a pattern Campbell followed this up with a letter of his own to Mr Mason on 16 May 1895 which read as follows,
“I am anxious not to have the Indian Buldeo Sing no. 48907 at my house after his release from gaol, I propose meeting him outside the gaol with his belongings on Friday morning 17th and sending him off by the 9.45 train to Durban, and will give him 1/- for his food and a letter addressed to you. I enclose the man’s Emigration paper, and would feel deeply grateful to you if you will kindly send the man on to Messrs. Hulett and Sons, Kearsney, under escort, if you consider it necessary, and to forward all papers in connection with the man’s transfer. This man has been a nuisance to me and I am anxious to wash my hands of him.”
With this parting shot the sorry saga of Sing came to an end.
These scenes of domestic disruption were coming to an end. Unbeknown to Campbell and many others the constituent parts of South Africa were about to be at war. Trouble had been festering between the two Boer Republics of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal on the one hand and Great Britain on the other for some time and this spilled over into open warfare on 11 October 1899. One of the first orders of business for the Boers was to invade Natal which they proceeded to do within a few days of war being declared. The Natal Police were much scattered when war broke – those detachments to the north were pulled into Dundee whilst a detachment of 25 men of the Field Force, stationed at Tugela joined the melee and were caught up, along with those from Dundee, in the Siege of Ladysmith. Yet others were part of Buller’s Relief Force but the vast majority continued with their policing duties but with the added responsibility of aiding the British and Colonial forces wherever they were to be found.
Campbell, now 44 years of age and no longer in the prime of youth was most likely stationed at Headquarters in Pietermaritzburg – a town bracing itself for a possible Boer incursion if Ladysmith fell. As the Quartermaster he would also have had to monitor and control the issuing of stores. Like many of his comrades he saw service only in Natal and was awarded the Queens Medal with that clasp in the rank of Inspector. Sadly it was issued posthumously in 1908.
On 16 September 1902, four months after the end of the Boer War, William Dundas Campbell passed away at his residence, 8 Greyling Street, Pietermaritzburg. He was only 46 years of age. He was survived by his three children – all minors at the time of his death – Harriet Mary (14), Norman Dundas (12) and my great great aunt Agnes Mignon who later married a Rapson.
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Nicholas Jacobus Zerbst - by: David Grant
Nice to see that this POW did have time to enjoy his hobbies whilst interned.
Not mine but I thought a beautiful piece of ephemera.
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Surname ZERBST
Name NICHOLAS JACOBUS
Age 28
Address PIET RETIEF
District PIET RETIEF
Where Captured CONGOLA DRIFT
When Captured 1901/02/25
Camp SATARA
Country India
Ship (To) Onbekend
Ship (Back)
Number 19423
Ref ID 17987
Not mine but I thought a beautiful piece of ephemera.
Surname ZERBST
Name NICHOLAS JACOBUS
Age 28
Address PIET RETIEF
District PIET RETIEF
Where Captured CONGOLA DRIFT
When Captured 1901/02/25
Camp SATARA
Country India
Ship (To) Onbekend
Ship (Back)
Number 19423
Ref ID 17987
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Try to post an image - by: stevec
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One or two George Perrot(t)s? - by: BereniceUK
Two articles in the same South Wales newspaper, four months apart - Sergeant George Perrot and Private George Perrott. The same man? I've looked on Find A Grave, but neither spelling is listed there.
"A smoking concert was held at the Royal Hotel on Monday evening for the benefit of Sergeant George Perrot, who has served his King and country for a period of seven years. After his return from India to his mother country, where he had a short stay for about four months, he was called away to serve in the late war in South Africa. Here again he served about two years and a half. Being a reservist, he was called up about the first, and sent immediately to the lines, where he distinguished himself in the relief of Ladysmith. There was a fair gathering present to appreciate the services of Sergeant George Perrot. Dr. T. L. Morgan, Clydach Vale, presided and eulogised the services of Sergeant George Perrot in South Africa."
(The Rhondda Leader, Saturday 1st November 1902)
"On Saturday week [7.3.1903] the death occurred of Private George Perrott, who died at the residence of his sister, Mrs. Rowlands, at 19, Queen Street, Ton, from pneumonia. Deceased had been for 14 years in the 41st (Welsh Regiment)), and only got off the Reserve list a fortnight before his death. During that time he spent several years in India. On the outbreak of hostilities he was ordered out to South Africa and went through the whole campaign, being present at six general engagements, and was wounded three times. On his return he received an enthusiastic reception at Tonypandy, and subsequently he resided with his sister. Since his return he had not been in the best of health, and about ten days prior to his decease he contracted pneumonia. He was a single man, 35 years of age, and latterly had been working at the Bwllfa Colliery. For his services in South Africa he received the late Queen's medal with six bars, and was one of the 24 selected to receive the pipes given by Queen Alexandra to the regiment. He was laid up with enteric fever when the chocolate boxes were distributed, but he received it about a fortnight before his death, and the King's medal will also be forwarded to his relatives. The funeral took place on Wednesday at Lethrddu Cemetery, Trealaw. Several of his old comrades acted as bearers, and a number of the 3rd (Pentre) detachment of Volunteers and the band turned out. Among the wreaths sent were one from his old comrades who fought with him side by side; one from Mr. D. J. Charles, reporter; and another from Mr. Auckland, Llanelly, late of Pentre. The Revs. J. Mathews, Pentre, and E. Richards, Tonypandy, officiated. At the graveside the usual custom at a military funeral of firing three volleys was gone through., the scene at the graveside being most affecting. The chief mourners included the father, brother, and three sisters."
(The Rhondda Leader, Saturday 14th March 1903)
"A smoking concert was held at the Royal Hotel on Monday evening for the benefit of Sergeant George Perrot, who has served his King and country for a period of seven years. After his return from India to his mother country, where he had a short stay for about four months, he was called away to serve in the late war in South Africa. Here again he served about two years and a half. Being a reservist, he was called up about the first, and sent immediately to the lines, where he distinguished himself in the relief of Ladysmith. There was a fair gathering present to appreciate the services of Sergeant George Perrot. Dr. T. L. Morgan, Clydach Vale, presided and eulogised the services of Sergeant George Perrot in South Africa."
(The Rhondda Leader, Saturday 1st November 1902)
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
"On Saturday week [7.3.1903] the death occurred of Private George Perrott, who died at the residence of his sister, Mrs. Rowlands, at 19, Queen Street, Ton, from pneumonia. Deceased had been for 14 years in the 41st (Welsh Regiment)), and only got off the Reserve list a fortnight before his death. During that time he spent several years in India. On the outbreak of hostilities he was ordered out to South Africa and went through the whole campaign, being present at six general engagements, and was wounded three times. On his return he received an enthusiastic reception at Tonypandy, and subsequently he resided with his sister. Since his return he had not been in the best of health, and about ten days prior to his decease he contracted pneumonia. He was a single man, 35 years of age, and latterly had been working at the Bwllfa Colliery. For his services in South Africa he received the late Queen's medal with six bars, and was one of the 24 selected to receive the pipes given by Queen Alexandra to the regiment. He was laid up with enteric fever when the chocolate boxes were distributed, but he received it about a fortnight before his death, and the King's medal will also be forwarded to his relatives. The funeral took place on Wednesday at Lethrddu Cemetery, Trealaw. Several of his old comrades acted as bearers, and a number of the 3rd (Pentre) detachment of Volunteers and the band turned out. Among the wreaths sent were one from his old comrades who fought with him side by side; one from Mr. D. J. Charles, reporter; and another from Mr. Auckland, Llanelly, late of Pentre. The Revs. J. Mathews, Pentre, and E. Richards, Tonypandy, officiated. At the graveside the usual custom at a military funeral of firing three volleys was gone through., the scene at the graveside being most affecting. The chief mourners included the father, brother, and three sisters."
(The Rhondda Leader, Saturday 14th March 1903)
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1092 Private William Rees, F Coy, 2-24th Regiment - by: BereniceUK
LETTER FROM ANOTHER "MISSING" SOLDIER.
We have received for publication the following letter, which has been received by Mr. Hopkin Rees, of Ystrad Rhondda, from his brother, whose name appeared in the official list of the killed at Isandula.
Rorke's Drift, February 20, 1879.
Dear Brother, - I now take the pleasure of writing these few lines to you, hoping to find you in good health, as they leave me at present, thank God for it. Dear brother, I am sorry that I have not write to you before, as I have not much chance, as we have been on the move ever since we have been in this country. Dear brother, this is to inform you that we have had a very heavy battle, on the 22nd of January, at a place called Isandhl. We were encamped there, and on the morning of the 22nd we marched out to meet the enemy, and we went about ten miles from the camp. We had left five companies 1-24, one company and a half 2-14 and some volunteers to guard the camp, with some of the native infantry and two guns R.A. About one o'clock we could hear some very heavy firing, and we looked in the direction of the camp. We could see that the enemy had been and attacked it. It lasted for about three hours, and we were ordered into camp about three o'clock. We started at once, and when we were within three miles of the camp the General met us and told us that the enemy had attacked the camp and killed all our men, and destroyed everything, and that we must retake the camp at the point of the bayonet. We formed up in battle order, and marched on to either take it or fall, and when we came within range the guns started shelling the place, and we took the camp without any loss. We stopped there all night, and at daylight next morning I saw one of the dreadfullest sights as ever a man seen. The dead were laying about in all directions, and every white man was cut into pieces, and their intrels cut out. We have heard that the number of the enemy that attacked the camp were between 15,000 and 16,000, the number of ours were about 900 white men and about 500 blacks, and only about nine white men escaped. The number of our loss is five officers, 10 sergeants, eight corporals, two drummers, 159 privates - total, 184 2-24th; 16 officers, and 403 non-commission officers and men - total, 419 1-24th, and about 69 of the Royal Artillery and two guns, making a total of 672 British soldiers, and about 230 Volunteers and mounted police, and about 350 natives. Roberts Stephens, from Trealaw, is amongst the dead. Dear brother, please to tell Rees Evans Cooker that his son Thomas is alive and well, and sends his best respects to him; and please to give my best respects to Henry Rees and his sons, and Sanders, and all my old friends, and accept the same yourself, from your affectionate brother, WILLIAM
REES
.No. 1,092, Private William Rees,
F. Company, 2-24th Regiment,
Natal, South Africa.
(The Weekly Mail, Saturday 12th April 1879)
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Matatiele European Reserve - by: QSAMIKE
Hi Everyone.......
Can anyone tell me how many medals were issued to.......
Matatiele European Reserve
It is a unit I had never heard of before, have read the write up in the Unit Information section......
The man I am interested in is E. Groom.......
Thanks
Mike
Can anyone tell me how many medals were issued to.......
Matatiele European Reserve
It is a unit I had never heard of before, have read the write up in the Unit Information section......
The man I am interested in is E. Groom.......
Thanks
Mike
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Interesting Items on Ebay...... - by: QSAMIKE
Good Evening Everyone........
Some very interesting items have shown up on ebay that I thought you might be interested in.......
This is one of the items but they are all from the same seller.......
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/QSA-KSA-Wepener-clasp...c:g:qmUAAOSwAPVZELq7
There are Town Guards, DMT and other SA Units......
Mike
Some very interesting items have shown up on ebay that I thought you might be interested in.......
This is one of the items but they are all from the same seller.......
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/QSA-KSA-Wepener-clasp...c:g:qmUAAOSwAPVZELq7
There are Town Guards, DMT and other SA Units......
Mike
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South African Constabulary badge - by: Rory
I picked up this item the other day and wondered if they were common-place? Also where they would have been worn.
![20170503_100019_resized.jpg]()
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Regards
Rory
Regards
Rory
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The Mafeking Matron - Katherine Gertrude Hill - by: Rory
This, to my mind, historically important medal comes with the kind permission of Keith Sparrow - the current custodian.
Katherine Gertrude Hill
Civilian Nurse and Matron, Victoria Hospital, Mafeking – Anglo Boer War
- Queens South Africa Me-dal (no clasp) to Nursing Sister K.G. Hill
Kate Hill was an extraordinary woman as were most who pursued a career in nursing in Victorian England and who had the added gumption to travel to South Africa to help the British forces in their hour of need.
What made researching her frustrating was the intermittent use she made of the name Catherine and the very few examples of where she made use of her middle name – one she does not appear to have been fond of.
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An Irish girl by birth – she was born in County Cork in 1871. Having finished her schooling she enrolled in Monkstown Hospital in nearby Dublin for her nursing training. She also worked at Adelaide Hospital in Dublin one of the most notable and forward-thinking hospitals of its time and one which would have given a young probationer nurse like Hill a solid grounding which would put her in good stead for the rigours she was shortly to face.
By the time October 1899 rolled round the war which had threatened between the two Boer Republics of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal finally erupted into open conflict. Britain, or certainly the British military presence in South Africa was woefully understaffed and inadequate to face the Boer onslaught. The Boers, in turn, were better prepared and made it their first order of business to try and take the major towns en route to both the Cape Colony and Natal.
Within days of war having been declared commandos headed for Mafeking, Kimberley and Ladysmith laying siege to these three centres and causing great hardship for their inhabitants. It was especially on the nursing front that the lack of expertise and staff was felt the most keenly. There were simply not enough trained and qualified nurses and doctors to cater for the needs of the military and civilian populations.
Whilst undergoing her training at Adelaide Hospital a young Katherine Hill met and worked with one of the most eminent consulting surgeons of his day – Dr (later Sir) Kendal Franks. Franks was a brilliant and very artistic man but one who was doomed to marry women whom he outlived. After he had lost his second wife at a young age he remarried for a third time but, again, to a woman who was in indifferent health. Determining to take her to South Africa where the climate would be better suited to her health he made the move in the late 1890’s. It is uncertain as to when Hill followed suit but the records indicate that she came out to South Africa to administer to Franks’ wife.
As already indicated the country was crying out for trained, experienced medical personnel and Nurse Hill came as a godsend to the sleepy town of Mafikeng, under siege from the Boers two days after the war had commenced. For details of how she was engaged we must turn to the October 28th 1899 edition of the Nursing Record and Hospital World. Here on page 53 we get a rough picture of conditions in Mafeking as follows,
“Miss Hill is the Matron, and Dr Hayes the medical officer of the Mafeking Hospital, which is a somewhat primitive place. The institution, just before the war, was in very low water, with an overdraft of £200. In an article on its behalf we read: - “If there is any wealthy and generous person who wants to do some real good, he might offer to supply some linoleum. Footsteps sound so loudly on the bare boards, and we all know how much noises worries invalids.”
The siege endured for a period of 217 days and was lifted only on 17 May 1900. Of military casualties there were not many – certainly not many shot and wounded by Boer bullets or cannon but, as can be imagined, foodstuffs and other vital supplies were soon in short supply. Colonel Robert Baden-Powell described the situation in his report published in the London Gazette of 6 February 1901. It read, in part, as follows,
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“General Cronje with an army of 3000 Boers and 10 guns, surrounded the place. On the approach of the enemy we sallied out and, in a sharp little engagement, dealt them a severe blow, by which they lost 53 killed and many more wounded, and which had a lasting moral effect. During the first phase of the siege, October and November, General Cronje made various attempts to take the place. These attacks we beat off without difficulty in every case and responded by sorties , varying their nature every time as far as possible, and making them so sudden and so quickly withdrawn as not to give the enemy’s supports time to come up and overpower us.
The enemy’s losses in this period were very heavy compared to ours.”
Baden-Powell went on to make specific mention of those whose conduct had warranted distinction – these mentions included the Victoria Hospital (Mafeking Hospital) and the Nursing Staff: Miss Hill (Matron) and three nurses, assisted by four volunteers and also by Mother Teresa and six sisters (nuns). So there it was – a 29 year old nurse had been catapulted into bearing the responsibility of a hospital in wartime with the full status of Matron.
Baden-Powell went on to say that,
“On outbreak of war I took over the town hospital, but at first the administration was not satisfactory, on account of want of supervision, over expense of sores, and sanitation. I therefore appointed an issuer and storekeeper and a sanitary inspector. Both Doctors and Nurses did excellent work. Always shorthanded, and frequently under fire. (All the hospital buildings were struck by shells and bullets), and the first convalescent hospital was wrecked and the second damaged by 94 pound shells.)
In another section of his report he mentioned that, “Miss Hill, the Matron of the Victoria Hospital, was assisted by a number of lady volunteers, in addition to her regular staff. The above ladies worked with the greatest zeal and self-devotion throughout the siege. The protracted strains of heavy work, frequently carried out under fire, told on most of them, Miss Hill being at one time prostrated by overwork. It was largely due to their unremitting devotion and skill that the wounded, in so many cases, made marvellous recoveries, and the health of the garrison remained so good.”
High praise indeed and, with such glowing testimonies of her skill and devotion being laid bare to the British public it was no small wonder that a Mention in Dispatches was followed by the highest accolade accorded to nurses in the Boer War – the award of the RRC – The Royal Red Cross decoration. Her services did not go unnoticed by civilians either – F.D. Baillie in his “Diary of the Siege” wrote that,
“The Red Cross flag, at the commencement of the siege floated over the railway embankment, the first dressing station, the refugee dressing station, the convent, which is fitted up as a hospital, and the Victoria Hospital. General Cronje stated, and with some show of reason, that he could only recognise one hospital. However prior to this he had sent many shells through the convent, possibly from its being a two-storied building and naturally a conspicuous mark. Consequently Victoria Hospital, always the main hospital, became the only one used throughout the operations. Dr Haves was the PMO, Miss Hill the Matron, and here, on behalf of the garrison of Mafeking, I must endeavour to convey our feelings of deep gratitude and admiration for the work done by this lady, the nurses and their assistants during the siege.
I can testify personally to their devoted care and attention to patients, and Britain may well be proud of them. One 94 pound shell went through the hospital wrecking a ward and killing a native boy. shells fell all around it, and bullets were continually hitting it, indeed, wounded and already wounded man, but these ladies continued their work undisturbed.”
The besieged garrison also, in indomitable British style, managed to produce their own newspaper. This sheet, entitled The Mafeking Mail was issued daily “shells permitting.” The Special Siege Edition dated Tuesday, December 12th 1899 carried an article on a sports meeting arranged no doubt to relieve the monotony of the siege.
The correspondent referred to “Miss Hill, the courageous and charming Matron of the Victoria Hospital, presented the very handsome prizes at the conclusion of the meeting, after which three hearty cheers for Miss Hill and three more for Colonel Baden-Powell ended a good days sport.” That Matron Hill immersed herself into the life of the town was beyond doubt – she appears to have been universally liked and respected and, in a letter from (religious) Sister Mary Stanislaus written to her brother on Christmas Day 1899 she writes how,
“A few shots were fired in the morning – the rest of the day was calm. Miss Hill, matron of the hospital, gave ingredients for a plum pudding.”
A week or so later this worthy nun, in another letter to her brother wrote that, “Trench life was hard on some of the sisters, others bore its inconveniences with no ill effects. Miss Hill, Matron of the Hospital, offered Reverend Mother a room for typhoid fever patients, but it was afterwards decided to house the fever-stricken in a downstairs room in the convent.”
That Katherine Hill knew the hero of Mafeking was not in any doubt – the Nursing Record and Hospital World edition of 9 June 1900 (after the siege was lifted) under Army Nursing Notes mentions that,
“When Major General Baden-Powell, the great defender of Mafeking, addressed the garrison, after relief of the town, he spoke to each unit separately, commencing with the nurses, whom he complimented on their pluck and devotion, shaking hands most warmly with Miss Hill, the Matron of the Hospital. Happy Miss Hill!”
With Mafeking relieved a lady like Matron Hill was not going to stand idle – she moved on to Vryburg a short distance away and assisted at the hospital there for a period before moving down to Wynberg in Cape Town where she continued her sterling work. She was awarded, in addition to the RRC, the Queens Medal - sadly she was unable to sport the Defence of Mafeking clasp on her medal as nursing staff were deprived of this honour no matter how richly deserved.
Inevitably affairs of the heart took control and, on 27 June 1902, a couple of months after the cessation of hostilities, she wed a dashing 33 year old Lieutenant in the Cape Police – Claud Edward Wimble – at St. Cyprian’s Church in Kimberley. No longer a child herself at 31 years of age she signed herself “C.G. Hill” for the last time. In an obvious hurry to commence a family, Ernest Alfred Hugh Edward Wimble was born in Kimberley on 17 November 1902 – just over nine months after his parents had tied the knot.
In 1910 Hewitt Edward Mervyn was born to the couple – he sadly gave his life in the cause of freedom at El Alamein on 23 October 1942 as a Lance Corporal with the Rand Light Infantry. Perhaps Katherine Hill had been spared the news? There is no report on hand to inform us as to when and where she died.
![hilli.jpg]()
![hill.jpg]()
Katherine Gertrude Hill
Civilian Nurse and Matron, Victoria Hospital, Mafeking – Anglo Boer War
- Queens South Africa Me-dal (no clasp) to Nursing Sister K.G. Hill
Kate Hill was an extraordinary woman as were most who pursued a career in nursing in Victorian England and who had the added gumption to travel to South Africa to help the British forces in their hour of need.
What made researching her frustrating was the intermittent use she made of the name Catherine and the very few examples of where she made use of her middle name – one she does not appear to have been fond of.
An Irish girl by birth – she was born in County Cork in 1871. Having finished her schooling she enrolled in Monkstown Hospital in nearby Dublin for her nursing training. She also worked at Adelaide Hospital in Dublin one of the most notable and forward-thinking hospitals of its time and one which would have given a young probationer nurse like Hill a solid grounding which would put her in good stead for the rigours she was shortly to face.
By the time October 1899 rolled round the war which had threatened between the two Boer Republics of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal finally erupted into open conflict. Britain, or certainly the British military presence in South Africa was woefully understaffed and inadequate to face the Boer onslaught. The Boers, in turn, were better prepared and made it their first order of business to try and take the major towns en route to both the Cape Colony and Natal.
Within days of war having been declared commandos headed for Mafeking, Kimberley and Ladysmith laying siege to these three centres and causing great hardship for their inhabitants. It was especially on the nursing front that the lack of expertise and staff was felt the most keenly. There were simply not enough trained and qualified nurses and doctors to cater for the needs of the military and civilian populations.
Whilst undergoing her training at Adelaide Hospital a young Katherine Hill met and worked with one of the most eminent consulting surgeons of his day – Dr (later Sir) Kendal Franks. Franks was a brilliant and very artistic man but one who was doomed to marry women whom he outlived. After he had lost his second wife at a young age he remarried for a third time but, again, to a woman who was in indifferent health. Determining to take her to South Africa where the climate would be better suited to her health he made the move in the late 1890’s. It is uncertain as to when Hill followed suit but the records indicate that she came out to South Africa to administer to Franks’ wife.
As already indicated the country was crying out for trained, experienced medical personnel and Nurse Hill came as a godsend to the sleepy town of Mafikeng, under siege from the Boers two days after the war had commenced. For details of how she was engaged we must turn to the October 28th 1899 edition of the Nursing Record and Hospital World. Here on page 53 we get a rough picture of conditions in Mafeking as follows,
“Miss Hill is the Matron, and Dr Hayes the medical officer of the Mafeking Hospital, which is a somewhat primitive place. The institution, just before the war, was in very low water, with an overdraft of £200. In an article on its behalf we read: - “If there is any wealthy and generous person who wants to do some real good, he might offer to supply some linoleum. Footsteps sound so loudly on the bare boards, and we all know how much noises worries invalids.”
The siege endured for a period of 217 days and was lifted only on 17 May 1900. Of military casualties there were not many – certainly not many shot and wounded by Boer bullets or cannon but, as can be imagined, foodstuffs and other vital supplies were soon in short supply. Colonel Robert Baden-Powell described the situation in his report published in the London Gazette of 6 February 1901. It read, in part, as follows,
“General Cronje with an army of 3000 Boers and 10 guns, surrounded the place. On the approach of the enemy we sallied out and, in a sharp little engagement, dealt them a severe blow, by which they lost 53 killed and many more wounded, and which had a lasting moral effect. During the first phase of the siege, October and November, General Cronje made various attempts to take the place. These attacks we beat off without difficulty in every case and responded by sorties , varying their nature every time as far as possible, and making them so sudden and so quickly withdrawn as not to give the enemy’s supports time to come up and overpower us.
The enemy’s losses in this period were very heavy compared to ours.”
Baden-Powell went on to make specific mention of those whose conduct had warranted distinction – these mentions included the Victoria Hospital (Mafeking Hospital) and the Nursing Staff: Miss Hill (Matron) and three nurses, assisted by four volunteers and also by Mother Teresa and six sisters (nuns). So there it was – a 29 year old nurse had been catapulted into bearing the responsibility of a hospital in wartime with the full status of Matron.
Baden-Powell went on to say that,
“On outbreak of war I took over the town hospital, but at first the administration was not satisfactory, on account of want of supervision, over expense of sores, and sanitation. I therefore appointed an issuer and storekeeper and a sanitary inspector. Both Doctors and Nurses did excellent work. Always shorthanded, and frequently under fire. (All the hospital buildings were struck by shells and bullets), and the first convalescent hospital was wrecked and the second damaged by 94 pound shells.)
In another section of his report he mentioned that, “Miss Hill, the Matron of the Victoria Hospital, was assisted by a number of lady volunteers, in addition to her regular staff. The above ladies worked with the greatest zeal and self-devotion throughout the siege. The protracted strains of heavy work, frequently carried out under fire, told on most of them, Miss Hill being at one time prostrated by overwork. It was largely due to their unremitting devotion and skill that the wounded, in so many cases, made marvellous recoveries, and the health of the garrison remained so good.”
High praise indeed and, with such glowing testimonies of her skill and devotion being laid bare to the British public it was no small wonder that a Mention in Dispatches was followed by the highest accolade accorded to nurses in the Boer War – the award of the RRC – The Royal Red Cross decoration. Her services did not go unnoticed by civilians either – F.D. Baillie in his “Diary of the Siege” wrote that,
“The Red Cross flag, at the commencement of the siege floated over the railway embankment, the first dressing station, the refugee dressing station, the convent, which is fitted up as a hospital, and the Victoria Hospital. General Cronje stated, and with some show of reason, that he could only recognise one hospital. However prior to this he had sent many shells through the convent, possibly from its being a two-storied building and naturally a conspicuous mark. Consequently Victoria Hospital, always the main hospital, became the only one used throughout the operations. Dr Haves was the PMO, Miss Hill the Matron, and here, on behalf of the garrison of Mafeking, I must endeavour to convey our feelings of deep gratitude and admiration for the work done by this lady, the nurses and their assistants during the siege.
I can testify personally to their devoted care and attention to patients, and Britain may well be proud of them. One 94 pound shell went through the hospital wrecking a ward and killing a native boy. shells fell all around it, and bullets were continually hitting it, indeed, wounded and already wounded man, but these ladies continued their work undisturbed.”
The besieged garrison also, in indomitable British style, managed to produce their own newspaper. This sheet, entitled The Mafeking Mail was issued daily “shells permitting.” The Special Siege Edition dated Tuesday, December 12th 1899 carried an article on a sports meeting arranged no doubt to relieve the monotony of the siege.
The correspondent referred to “Miss Hill, the courageous and charming Matron of the Victoria Hospital, presented the very handsome prizes at the conclusion of the meeting, after which three hearty cheers for Miss Hill and three more for Colonel Baden-Powell ended a good days sport.” That Matron Hill immersed herself into the life of the town was beyond doubt – she appears to have been universally liked and respected and, in a letter from (religious) Sister Mary Stanislaus written to her brother on Christmas Day 1899 she writes how,
“A few shots were fired in the morning – the rest of the day was calm. Miss Hill, matron of the hospital, gave ingredients for a plum pudding.”
A week or so later this worthy nun, in another letter to her brother wrote that, “Trench life was hard on some of the sisters, others bore its inconveniences with no ill effects. Miss Hill, Matron of the Hospital, offered Reverend Mother a room for typhoid fever patients, but it was afterwards decided to house the fever-stricken in a downstairs room in the convent.”
That Katherine Hill knew the hero of Mafeking was not in any doubt – the Nursing Record and Hospital World edition of 9 June 1900 (after the siege was lifted) under Army Nursing Notes mentions that,
“When Major General Baden-Powell, the great defender of Mafeking, addressed the garrison, after relief of the town, he spoke to each unit separately, commencing with the nurses, whom he complimented on their pluck and devotion, shaking hands most warmly with Miss Hill, the Matron of the Hospital. Happy Miss Hill!”
With Mafeking relieved a lady like Matron Hill was not going to stand idle – she moved on to Vryburg a short distance away and assisted at the hospital there for a period before moving down to Wynberg in Cape Town where she continued her sterling work. She was awarded, in addition to the RRC, the Queens Medal - sadly she was unable to sport the Defence of Mafeking clasp on her medal as nursing staff were deprived of this honour no matter how richly deserved.
Inevitably affairs of the heart took control and, on 27 June 1902, a couple of months after the cessation of hostilities, she wed a dashing 33 year old Lieutenant in the Cape Police – Claud Edward Wimble – at St. Cyprian’s Church in Kimberley. No longer a child herself at 31 years of age she signed herself “C.G. Hill” for the last time. In an obvious hurry to commence a family, Ernest Alfred Hugh Edward Wimble was born in Kimberley on 17 November 1902 – just over nine months after his parents had tied the knot.
In 1910 Hewitt Edward Mervyn was born to the couple – he sadly gave his life in the cause of freedom at El Alamein on 23 October 1942 as a Lance Corporal with the Rand Light Infantry. Perhaps Katherine Hill had been spared the news? There is no report on hand to inform us as to when and where she died.
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Finding the elusive M.I.D. mentions - by: Rory
I have at least 2 M.I.D. chaps for the Boer War neither of whom I can find in any of the official sources i.e. London Gazette.
Mr Robert King was the District Engineer, Newcastle attached to Sir George White's staff at Ladysmith (no clasp QSA) - in biographical entry specific mention is made that he was M.I.D. for being of service in Ladysmith.
Captain Alfred Harry Wallis was the OC of the No. 2 Armoured Train on the Mafeking line (his QSA is to the Southern Rhodesia Volunteers) and, in his record of service mention is made that he was M.I.D. by both Colonel Plumer and Colonel Baden-Powell.
In both instances, as stated, I have been flummoxed and after a relentless search have come up empty handed.
Can someone please assist.
Regards
Rory
Mr Robert King was the District Engineer, Newcastle attached to Sir George White's staff at Ladysmith (no clasp QSA) - in biographical entry specific mention is made that he was M.I.D. for being of service in Ladysmith.
Captain Alfred Harry Wallis was the OC of the No. 2 Armoured Train on the Mafeking line (his QSA is to the Southern Rhodesia Volunteers) and, in his record of service mention is made that he was M.I.D. by both Colonel Plumer and Colonel Baden-Powell.
In both instances, as stated, I have been flummoxed and after a relentless search have come up empty handed.
Can someone please assist.
Regards
Rory
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Sergeant F. Care, South Wales Borderers - by: BereniceUK
THE ISANDHLWANA ANNIVERSARY.
Reminiscence of a Veteran Soldier.
A "County Times" representative had a chat with the veteran ex-soldier, Sergeant F. Care, 31, John-street, the Watton, Brecon, on Wednesday last week, which was the 34th anniversary of the battles of Rorke's Drift and Isandhlwana. As was briefly stated last week the ex-soldier has seen 29 years service in the British Army with the "gallant" 24th Regiment (S.W.B.), and is now in his 62nd year. He is a native of Northampton and joined the 2nd Battalion S.W.B. at Sheffield on January 7th, 1867, and took his discharge from the 3rd Battalion in September, 1896. Four years after he joined, the 2nd Battalion was ordered out to India to assist Lord Roberts in the Afghanistan campaign, but fortunately or otherwise, they found by the time they landed in India that peace had been declared. Instead of returning to England they proceeded to Madras, and were stationed there for two years. Subsequently they joined in the grand manoeuvres carried out by Lord Roberts at Bangalore.
From here on February 2nd, 1877, they were ordered to the old colony of South Africa; and "it was 34 years this morning" added the soldier with eyes kindling and cheeks burning, "that the grand column under General Thesiger, were ordered to leave Isandhlwana to march against the Zulu king's column. We were only 800 strong, whilst the Zulus were estimated to be between seventeen and eighteen thousand strong. We marched between 16 and 17 miles from Isandhlwana to a place near Ulundi. After bivouacking, we received sad news. Two gallopers came up to the Commanding Officer and informed him that our camp was on fire, and General Thesiger ordered us to make all speed back to Isandhlwana.
When we got within three miles of our camp we could see it in flames, and found afterwards that our comrades had met a terrible fate. We got ready for the attack and eventually had to take Isandhlwana off the Zulus at the point of the bayonet. It was a grim fight. I shall never forget it and don't want a similar engagement again. After re-capturing our camp we had to hold it against the Zulus until 3 o'clock in the morning. In the meantime we could see Rorke's Drift, three miles away, in flames, and surrounded by Zulus. As we were ourselves attacked we could not leave our camp to help; but at length a column was sent to their aid at Rorke's Drift and there we found our comrades severely cut up and their ammunition all gone. When General Thesiger reached those who had so gallantly held Rorke's Drift he warmly shook hands with the men, and was overcome with emotion. We did not stay long there as we had no food; it had all to come up from Capetown, but we helped to bury the dead. We waited for relief and eventually we left South Africa for Gibraltar. There we had new Colours sent, and Lord Napier, in the name of the Queen, presented them. From Gibraltar we were again ordered out to Afghanistan, but on landing at Bombay it was found that peace had again been declared and from here we went to Poona. Next we went to Secunderabad, where we were stationed for over three years. Then the Regiment was brought home to England and I was selected to act on the permanent staff of the 3rd Battalion S.W.B. stationed at Brecon. I was sergeant here for about 13 years and then took my discharge in 1896.
General Thesiger will, perhaps, be better remembered by the younger generation as Lord Chelmsford.
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Searching for what became of my great uncle - by: magnoliabloom
Hi all,
I have been on here before but quite some time ago. I had to create a new account as there is no way I could remember any of my previous sign on or password information. That being said...I am searching for my grandfather's brother---James Edward Hassett b. 1866, of the Royal Marines Light Infantry service number 2353. James was, according to my uncle, in South Africa in spring 1901 but my uncle said his father told him that James died in battle that spring. But I have not been able to find any documentation to support that story. The last entry on James' Royal Marines service record is 1894. I'm thinking that maybe he re-enlisted in the military, perhaps another arm of the service, closer to the onset of the Boer War.
Anne
I have been on here before but quite some time ago. I had to create a new account as there is no way I could remember any of my previous sign on or password information. That being said...I am searching for my grandfather's brother---James Edward Hassett b. 1866, of the Royal Marines Light Infantry service number 2353. James was, according to my uncle, in South Africa in spring 1901 but my uncle said his father told him that James died in battle that spring. But I have not been able to find any documentation to support that story. The last entry on James' Royal Marines service record is 1894. I'm thinking that maybe he re-enlisted in the military, perhaps another arm of the service, closer to the onset of the Boer War.
Anne
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Concentration Camps - by: barrySAN
I am currently writing a novel which begins with a British soldier in the Boer War.
I need to know if the Concentration camps were run by the British army. If so
what rank would the superintendent have been. Any information on reading material relating to the camps would be appreciated.
Thanks
Barry Sanbrook
I need to know if the Concentration camps were run by the British army. If so
what rank would the superintendent have been. Any information on reading material relating to the camps would be appreciated.
Thanks
Barry Sanbrook
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Medals to the Railways - by: rdarby
If I may, I would like to start a thread on medals to the railways in the Boer War. The war was partly caused by the desire to spread the railways through Africa. At that time the railway was a new concept, and was instrumental in opening up the country.
First is William Hoy, head of the railways in the Boer War. This group is of interest to me as Hoy more or less started the organisation that my father and his father spent their lives in. My railway interest only went as far as Lima models!
The picture and text is lifted from the DNW auction catalogue.
![hoy.jpg]()
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, K.C.B. (Military) Knight Commander’s set of insignia, comprising neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, and breast star, silver with gold and enamel appliqué centre, in Garrard, London case of issue; Knight Bachelor’s Badge, 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, hallmarks for London 1927; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knight of Grace’s set of insignia, comprising neck badge and breast star, by ‘JBC’, silver and enamel; Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Mr. W. W. Hoy. Imp: Mil: Rly:); 1914-15 Star (Col. W. W. Hoy. Staff.); British War and Bilingual Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Col. W. W. Hoy.); Union of South Africa 1910, privately engraved (W. W. Hoy. Gen. Man. Rlys. & Harbs., S. Africa.); St John Service Medal, silver (687 Asst. Commr. Sir William Hoy. S.A.R. & H. Dis. S. Africa S.J.A.B.O. 1918); Belgian Order of the Crown, Commander’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, both centres detached, the first with some chips to both wreaths, otherwise generally good very fine; together with S.A.R. badges (2), one gilt brass, one silver, and an S.A.R./S.A.S. badge in silver .
William Wilson Hoy was born at Portmoak, Kinross-shire, Scotland, on 11 March 1868, son of Robert Hoy, a Scottish farmer. He had only an elementary schooling and for the rest was self-educated. His life-long connection with with the railways began at the age of twelve, when as junior clerk he entered the service of the North British Railway Company in Edinburgh. In 1889 he joined the Cape Railways and in December 1890 he attended the opening of the Cape-Free State line at Bloemfontein. In 1892 he was appointed chief clerk to the transport manager at Kroonstad, and in June that year was transferred to Vereeniging. By March 1895 he was acting chief clerk to the general manager (Transport Section) of the Cape Railways and consequently returned to Cape Town. A few months later he was made general manager of this branch and thus became intimately involved in the tariff war between the Cape and Natal Railways and N.Z.A.S.M., a struggle which led to the temporary closing of the drifts in the Vaal River in 1895. After being appointed representative of the Cape Railway at Johannesburg in 1896, Hoy acted as assistant-manager of transport in Bulawayo and Kimberley from 1897 to 1898, going to Port Elizabeth in 1898 to take up the post of assistant-manager.
From June 1900 to June 1902, Hoy was controller of the Imperial Military Railway network in the Orange Free State and Transvaal Republic, with headquarters at Bloemfontein, creating a viable railway network from what remained of the Z.S.A.R. At the end of the war he was recommended to Lord Kitchener for an award by Lieutenant-Colonel Girouard, Director of Railways. Although his duties entailed much travelling, he nevertheless took an interest in municipal affairs and served on the Johannesburg City Council, 1901-02. When the railways were transferred back to the civil administration, Hoy acted as chief traffic manager of the Central South African Railways until 1910, introducing the section system in 1907. He represented the Railways at the international conference in Washington and was promoted assistant general manager in 1909. When he was made general manager of the South African Railways, he successfully melded the various systems into an integrated unit.
In 1914 he was appointed director of Military Railways, with the rank of Colonel, and made an important contribution to the campaign in German South-West African campaign, which depended on the ability of the Union troops to deploy rapidly into the field and for the lines of communication to be reliable. Hoy was one of the seven men present at the meeting called by Smuts in August 1914 to plan the invasion of South-West Africa, and the speed with which the South Africans advanced during the campaign and rebuilt the damaged railways in the desert took the Germans completely by surprise. He superintended the construction of the line between Prieska and Upinton which was completed in just 82 days. For these services Hoy was knighted and was created a Companion of the Bath. He accompanied General Louis Botha and J. C. Smuts to the peace conference in Paris in 1919 when Smuts received railway materials and three ships as a gift from Britain to the Union Government. During this visit to Europe he was made a Commander of the Belgian Order of the Crown and became a Knight of Grace of St John of Jerusalem, later becoming deputy commissioner of this order in South Africa.
His promotion to K.C.B. in 1922 was the last such distinction to a South African and represents an award for a grave episode in South African history, the 1922 civil strike commonly known as the Rand Revolt. It was a strike that threatened to engulf Johannesburg in anarchy and was put down with severity by the government. Measures included parts of Johannesburg being shelled by the Transvaal Horse Artillery and bombed by the South African Air Force. Without trains being made available to the government for the transportation of troops from Durban, what nearly amounted to a fully armed uprising could not have been contained. General Hertzog, who gained power from Smuts in 1924, subsequently banned South Africans from receiving knighthoods, a ban which remains on the Statute Books to this day.
During the post-war years, Hoy successfully guided the Railways through those critical times, acted as chairman of the Civil Aeronautical Council from 1921 to 1923, and in 1922 began to steer the first railway electrification project in South Africa, the route between Glencoe and Pietermaritzburg. He was chairman of the South African section of the Empire Exhibition of 1924-25. He was succeeded as general manager of the South African Railways and Harbours in March 1928, but his great contribution to the establishment and development of South African Railways and Harbours remains his lasting memorial.
Hoy married Gertrude Mildred Price, a daughter of Sir Thomas Price, in 1901. They had no children. He died in Cape Town on 11 February 1930, and is buried on Hoy’s Kopje, near Hermanus. A bronze bust of Hoy was placed at the entrance to Johannesburg railway station.
Sold with a quantity of research and a rare original bound volume containing ‘Netherlands Railway Concession, Cape Agreements, Regulations, Tariffs, Minutes of Meetings and O.F.S. Convention’, variously dated 1892-94, apparently Hoy’s own copy.
First is William Hoy, head of the railways in the Boer War. This group is of interest to me as Hoy more or less started the organisation that my father and his father spent their lives in. My railway interest only went as far as Lima models!
The picture and text is lifted from the DNW auction catalogue.
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, K.C.B. (Military) Knight Commander’s set of insignia, comprising neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, and breast star, silver with gold and enamel appliqué centre, in Garrard, London case of issue; Knight Bachelor’s Badge, 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, hallmarks for London 1927; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knight of Grace’s set of insignia, comprising neck badge and breast star, by ‘JBC’, silver and enamel; Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Mr. W. W. Hoy. Imp: Mil: Rly:); 1914-15 Star (Col. W. W. Hoy. Staff.); British War and Bilingual Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Col. W. W. Hoy.); Union of South Africa 1910, privately engraved (W. W. Hoy. Gen. Man. Rlys. & Harbs., S. Africa.); St John Service Medal, silver (687 Asst. Commr. Sir William Hoy. S.A.R. & H. Dis. S. Africa S.J.A.B.O. 1918); Belgian Order of the Crown, Commander’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, both centres detached, the first with some chips to both wreaths, otherwise generally good very fine; together with S.A.R. badges (2), one gilt brass, one silver, and an S.A.R./S.A.S. badge in silver .
William Wilson Hoy was born at Portmoak, Kinross-shire, Scotland, on 11 March 1868, son of Robert Hoy, a Scottish farmer. He had only an elementary schooling and for the rest was self-educated. His life-long connection with with the railways began at the age of twelve, when as junior clerk he entered the service of the North British Railway Company in Edinburgh. In 1889 he joined the Cape Railways and in December 1890 he attended the opening of the Cape-Free State line at Bloemfontein. In 1892 he was appointed chief clerk to the transport manager at Kroonstad, and in June that year was transferred to Vereeniging. By March 1895 he was acting chief clerk to the general manager (Transport Section) of the Cape Railways and consequently returned to Cape Town. A few months later he was made general manager of this branch and thus became intimately involved in the tariff war between the Cape and Natal Railways and N.Z.A.S.M., a struggle which led to the temporary closing of the drifts in the Vaal River in 1895. After being appointed representative of the Cape Railway at Johannesburg in 1896, Hoy acted as assistant-manager of transport in Bulawayo and Kimberley from 1897 to 1898, going to Port Elizabeth in 1898 to take up the post of assistant-manager.
From June 1900 to June 1902, Hoy was controller of the Imperial Military Railway network in the Orange Free State and Transvaal Republic, with headquarters at Bloemfontein, creating a viable railway network from what remained of the Z.S.A.R. At the end of the war he was recommended to Lord Kitchener for an award by Lieutenant-Colonel Girouard, Director of Railways. Although his duties entailed much travelling, he nevertheless took an interest in municipal affairs and served on the Johannesburg City Council, 1901-02. When the railways were transferred back to the civil administration, Hoy acted as chief traffic manager of the Central South African Railways until 1910, introducing the section system in 1907. He represented the Railways at the international conference in Washington and was promoted assistant general manager in 1909. When he was made general manager of the South African Railways, he successfully melded the various systems into an integrated unit.
In 1914 he was appointed director of Military Railways, with the rank of Colonel, and made an important contribution to the campaign in German South-West African campaign, which depended on the ability of the Union troops to deploy rapidly into the field and for the lines of communication to be reliable. Hoy was one of the seven men present at the meeting called by Smuts in August 1914 to plan the invasion of South-West Africa, and the speed with which the South Africans advanced during the campaign and rebuilt the damaged railways in the desert took the Germans completely by surprise. He superintended the construction of the line between Prieska and Upinton which was completed in just 82 days. For these services Hoy was knighted and was created a Companion of the Bath. He accompanied General Louis Botha and J. C. Smuts to the peace conference in Paris in 1919 when Smuts received railway materials and three ships as a gift from Britain to the Union Government. During this visit to Europe he was made a Commander of the Belgian Order of the Crown and became a Knight of Grace of St John of Jerusalem, later becoming deputy commissioner of this order in South Africa.
His promotion to K.C.B. in 1922 was the last such distinction to a South African and represents an award for a grave episode in South African history, the 1922 civil strike commonly known as the Rand Revolt. It was a strike that threatened to engulf Johannesburg in anarchy and was put down with severity by the government. Measures included parts of Johannesburg being shelled by the Transvaal Horse Artillery and bombed by the South African Air Force. Without trains being made available to the government for the transportation of troops from Durban, what nearly amounted to a fully armed uprising could not have been contained. General Hertzog, who gained power from Smuts in 1924, subsequently banned South Africans from receiving knighthoods, a ban which remains on the Statute Books to this day.
During the post-war years, Hoy successfully guided the Railways through those critical times, acted as chairman of the Civil Aeronautical Council from 1921 to 1923, and in 1922 began to steer the first railway electrification project in South Africa, the route between Glencoe and Pietermaritzburg. He was chairman of the South African section of the Empire Exhibition of 1924-25. He was succeeded as general manager of the South African Railways and Harbours in March 1928, but his great contribution to the establishment and development of South African Railways and Harbours remains his lasting memorial.
Hoy married Gertrude Mildred Price, a daughter of Sir Thomas Price, in 1901. They had no children. He died in Cape Town on 11 February 1930, and is buried on Hoy’s Kopje, near Hermanus. A bronze bust of Hoy was placed at the entrance to Johannesburg railway station.
Sold with a quantity of research and a rare original bound volume containing ‘Netherlands Railway Concession, Cape Agreements, Regulations, Tariffs, Minutes of Meetings and O.F.S. Convention’, variously dated 1892-94, apparently Hoy’s own copy.
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5909 Pte Harry Cosgrove Royal Lancaster (kings own) Regt (clasps CC, OFS, SA01) - by: buxton blade
I have his memorial Plaque from Gallipoli 1915 - be nice to reunite them
Wayne
Wayne
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4th Batt Royal Lancaster (Kings Own) Regt - by: buxton blade
I have an interest in a man who was in the 4th Batt and embarked for South Africa 11 Jan 1900 and returned 11 Jul 1901.
Can anyone inform me of what they did during this period (based, skirmishes etc)
He has a medal with clasps CC, OFS and SA01.
Sadly he was KIA 05 Jun 1915 with 1st Lancs fusiliers in Gallipoli (after surviving the bloodbath on the first day landings 25 April on W Beach)
Regards
Wayne
Can anyone inform me of what they did during this period (based, skirmishes etc)
He has a medal with clasps CC, OFS and SA01.
Sadly he was KIA 05 Jun 1915 with 1st Lancs fusiliers in Gallipoli (after surviving the bloodbath on the first day landings 25 April on W Beach)
Regards
Wayne
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Thomas Coombes, of Ystrad, Rhondda; guilty of "Illtreating a sheep" - by: BereniceUK
I couldn't find any other press reports, wartime or other, relating to this man. Can we identify him and his regiment? The Welsh Regiment?
"Illtreating a sheep by kicking it" was the charge preferred against Thomas Coombes, (30), colliery labourer of Ystrad Rhondda. Coombes has only recently returned after serving at the front, and previous to this saw six years' service in India. The plea put forward by defendant for the defence was that he was drunk at the time. Whenever he took a drop of drink he did not know what he was about. A witness, Lewis Lewis, spoke to seeing defendant kick the sheep. He was then holding on to it by its horns. The sheep pulled him over and he then held on by one hand and punched the sheep with the other. For the defence the defendant urged that the sheep came to his fowl cot and broke a nest of eggs for him. He was drunk at the time, and although he remembered nothing of the affair then, he was told that he had illused the sheep.
Stipendiary (to Supt. Cole): Is there any reason to suppose that he does know what he is about when he takes drink?
Supt.: I don't know, sir.
P.C. Ashton said he had examined the sheep, its horn was bloodshot, and blood oozed from it. The inside of the bottom jaw was bruised, and blood was flowing freely from the mouth and nostrils. It seemed to be in great pain and exhausted. Defendant asked to be allowed to put in his character from the Army.
Upon examining same, the Stipendiary said they were excellent references. He found from them that he was entitled to decoration for services in South Africa. He advised defendant to keep them and added that he seemed to be a most excellent and useful young man.
Defendant said he had been in the Army 13 years, and his sheet was a clean one. He remembered nothing about the incident for which he was summoned. For the future he would abstain from taking any drink whatever.
The Bench imposed a fine of 30s.
(The Pontypridd Chronicle and Workman's News, 27th April 1901)
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"Illtreating a sheep by kicking it" was the charge preferred against Thomas Coombes, (30), colliery labourer of Ystrad Rhondda. Coombes has only recently returned after serving at the front, and previous to this saw six years' service in India. The plea put forward by defendant for the defence was that he was drunk at the time. Whenever he took a drop of drink he did not know what he was about. A witness, Lewis Lewis, spoke to seeing defendant kick the sheep. He was then holding on to it by its horns. The sheep pulled him over and he then held on by one hand and punched the sheep with the other. For the defence the defendant urged that the sheep came to his fowl cot and broke a nest of eggs for him. He was drunk at the time, and although he remembered nothing of the affair then, he was told that he had illused the sheep.
Stipendiary (to Supt. Cole): Is there any reason to suppose that he does know what he is about when he takes drink?
Supt.: I don't know, sir.
P.C. Ashton said he had examined the sheep, its horn was bloodshot, and blood oozed from it. The inside of the bottom jaw was bruised, and blood was flowing freely from the mouth and nostrils. It seemed to be in great pain and exhausted. Defendant asked to be allowed to put in his character from the Army.
Upon examining same, the Stipendiary said they were excellent references. He found from them that he was entitled to decoration for services in South Africa. He advised defendant to keep them and added that he seemed to be a most excellent and useful young man.
Defendant said he had been in the Army 13 years, and his sheet was a clean one. He remembered nothing about the incident for which he was summoned. For the future he would abstain from taking any drink whatever.
The Bench imposed a fine of 30s.
(The Pontypridd Chronicle and Workman's News, 27th April 1901)
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Searching for any information about my great grandfather - by: Casper
My great grandfather Charles Herbert Hogan apparently fought in the Siege of Ladysmith. I have a book that Col Park sent to him after this battle ( it is a book about the battle) I have been unable to find any information about my grandfather. I think he was in the 1st Batalion of the Devonshire Regiment.
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searching for a great uncle in the 2nd boer war - by: magnoliabloom
Hi all,
I have been on here before but quite some time ago. I had to create a new account as there is no way I could remember any of my previous sign on or password information. That being said...I am searching for my grandfather's brother---James Edward Hassett b. 1866, of the Royal Marines Light Infantry service number 2353. James was, according to my uncle, in South Africa in spring 1901 but my uncle said his father told him that James died in battle that spring. But I have not been able to find any documentation to support that story. The last entry on James' Royal Marines service record is 1894. I'm thinking that maybe he re-enlisted in the military, perhaps another arm of the service, closer to the onset of the Boer War.
Anne
I have been on here before but quite some time ago. I had to create a new account as there is no way I could remember any of my previous sign on or password information. That being said...I am searching for my grandfather's brother---James Edward Hassett b. 1866, of the Royal Marines Light Infantry service number 2353. James was, according to my uncle, in South Africa in spring 1901 but my uncle said his father told him that James died in battle that spring. But I have not been able to find any documentation to support that story. The last entry on James' Royal Marines service record is 1894. I'm thinking that maybe he re-enlisted in the military, perhaps another arm of the service, closer to the onset of the Boer War.
Anne
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