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My Gandfathers - by: SGRetired

May 17, 2017, 1:08 pm
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I am researching the Boer War history of my two grandfathers. One was Major CTW Grimshaw DSO whose details you have on your database. The other is Capt EO Collison MC. I have his Queens and Kings South Africa medals so know that he was there but do not have more information. He may not have been a Capt when he was in the Boer War, but was during WWI.
Can anybody help me please?
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Taken at Paardeberg - Stefanus Daniel Oosthuizen's story - by: Rory

May 18, 2017, 5:38 am
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Stefanus Daniel Oosthuizen

Burger, Potchefstroom Commando – Anglo Boer War

- Anglo Boer War Medal to Burg. S.D. Oosthuizen

Stefanus Oosthuizen was born of farming stock in about 1869, presumably in the area where he was to later farm for his own account and eventually pass away – the Gatsrand part of Potchefstroom or, to be more specific, at a place called Bankstasie on the farm Rooiplaat. His father Stefanus Daniel Adriaan Oosthuizen had been born in what was known as Port Natal whilst his mother, Johanna Cornelia Fransina Louisa Oosthuizen (born Basson) emanated from the Cape Colony making a young Stefanus a combination of several Boer cultures.


Thirty years later the threat of hostilities between two belligerents – the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek (or Transvaal) and its ally the Orange Free State on the one hand and the might of the British Empire on the other finally spilled over into open warfare on 11 October 1899. The Potchefstroom Commando, of which Oosthuizen and approximately 550 other able-bodied burghers of the Gatsrand formed part were told to meet at the farm Kleinfontein. The Potchefstroom Commando, consisting of burghers of the various field cornet wards of the district of Potchefstroom, defended the western front of the Transvaal under command of General Cronje, with Mafeking as the centre.

The Vorm B (the document completed by Boer combatants when applying for their medals) which was completed by Oosthuizen in July 1922 clearly states that he was “in the field” with effect from 29 September 1899. This could very well be true because the Boer forces had been preparing for conflict for quite some time before the first shot was fired in anger.

That the Gatsrand burghers would have no shortage of weapons for the war, was clear from Assistant Field Cornet JF van der Merwe’s order for 20 000 Mausers and 10 000 Martini Henry rifles on 24 June 1899, it was thus already apparent at that stage that preparations were under way for war. Each of the mounted burghers in the Mafeking area was issued/equipped with a Mauser and 100 rounds of ammunition, but each individual was responsible for his own food supplies. Field Cornet Martins assisted General Cronje as commandant. After a lapse of two months, the general received orders from government to move his troops to the south in order to help the Free State troops that were still at Belmont to stop the British advance.

General Cronje had hardly joined the Free State troops when government commanded him to join up with Generals De la Rey and Prinsloo. The Potchefstroom commando (of which the men of Gatsrand formed part) with, inter alia, Commandant MJ Wolmarans, JT Martins and TFJ Dreyer took up position at Magersfontein near Kimberley early in December 1899. On 11 December 1899, the Boer forces defeated the British troops. General Cronje’s forces excelled during the attack and, by way of special acknowledgement, they received a telegram of congratulations from President Paul Kruger. After the battle of Magersfontein, Cronje’s troops remained in the Kimberley area for the purpose of forcing the British garrison that was in the town to surrender. For these forces that took up position near the Modder River, these tactics actually amounted to a long time of inactivity.

In a letter to Assistant Field Cornet JF van der Merwe, Commandant JT Martins mentioned that little was actually happening at Modderfontein, except that the enemy would fire a number of bombs at them every day. These, however, passed overhead and caused nothing but clouds of dust. A burgher of the Gatsrand, Field (Combat) General LLM Breytenbach, was ordered by General Cronje to take up position farther down the Modder River with 300 men to prevent their being surrounded by the British.

But then came the Battle of Paardeberg – this action commencing on 17 February 1900 and ending with the surrender of 4000 trapped men under Cronje was a major loss to the Boer forces. Before contact was first made Cronje had reached Vendutie Drift managing to get his wagons half way across the swollen swiftly flowing river. When this convoy was attacked Cronje fought a successful rear guard action.
Marksmen took up positions in deep trenches on both sides of the river. British troops were unable to get at them and incurred heavy casualties. On the next day Lord Roberts took ill and General Kitchener took command ordering a frontal attack on the laagered wagons. This was a disastrous move which continued sporadically all day with needless loss of life.

Roberts resumed command and forbade any further frontal attacks instead shelling the Boer laager with as many as 70 guns. With over 40 000 troops at his disposal compared to Cronje’s 4000 the odds were heavily stacked against the Boers. General De Wet had arrived to help Cronje and took control of some hills a few miles away. Cronje was trapped. Roberts then sent a message to Cronje offering terms which included safe passage for the women and children accompanying his force, Cronje refused and the battle evolved into a siege with no way out for Cronje. This was to last until Cronje surrendered on 27 February 1900.

To the Gatsrand burghers, this surrender was a setback, since the majority of the mounted burghers of the area were taken prisoner along with Commandants JT Martins and MJ Wolmarans to be banished to, amongst other places, St Helena. This was the fate too of Burger Oosthuizen – he was taken P.O.W. and sent to St. Helena.

Oosthuizen, again referring to his Vorm B, confirms his date of capture as 27 February. He also confirms having fought alongside many of the names mentioned above in connection with the Potchefstroom Commando – these include Assistant Veld Kornet van der Merwe; Veld Kornet Maartens (Martens) and Kommandant Wolmarans. His medal application was recommended by Kommandant Dreyer.

At St. Helena on 15 June 1922 Stephanus (note the difference in spelling) Daniel Oosthuizen took the Oath whereby he swore to serve the interests of King Edward VII as a loyal subject. He returned to South Africa in September 1902 and continued farming having to start over again. An initial setback was the death of his father at the age of 66 in December that year – only 3 months after his return.

Forty years later and long dead, Oosthuizen’s spirit lived on in the form of his son, Johannes Josefus Oosthuizen who, on 18 June 1940, attested for service with the 1st Mounted Commando Regiment. A farmer his address was the same as his father’s all those years ago.







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City Imperial Volunteers ephemera part 2 - by: dunnboer

May 18, 2017, 7:42 am
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Having had cause to revisit my CIV archive, I thought I would share a few more items which I hope will be of interest. They are largely self explanatory I hope.

Note from Albermarle on CIV stationery



Cropped note signed by Alfred Newton, Lord Mayor.



CIV writing paper (unused)

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Anon: Natal Volunteer Record - by: Rory

May 18, 2017, 9:44 am
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Hello David

I know it's a mammoth task but any idea when the remaining pages/units will be added to the site?

I am looking for the Company of the DLI in which a Trooper W. Sutherland served.

Regards

Rory
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Medal reunited - by: Bristowe

May 20, 2017, 1:28 am
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My Grandfather served with Loch's Horse in the 2nd Boer War. He is entitled to the Queens South Africa Medal with three clasps. I know that his medals (including WW1 medals) were sold about 30 years ago. Can anyone suggest how I might go about finding who has them?
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The Armoured Train at Mafeking - Capt. A.H. Wallis - by: Rory

May 20, 2017, 12:08 pm
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Alfred Harry Wallis, M.I.D.

Captain, Western Division, Southern Rhodesia Volunteers – Anglo Boer War
Captain and O.C. 1st Armoured Train – South African Rebellion (1914)
Captain, South African Engineer Corps – WWI (German South West Africa)
Lieutenant, 281 Railway Company, Royal Engineers – WWI

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Rhodesia and the Relief of Mafeking to Capt. A.H. Wallis, S. Rhod. Vol.
- 1914/15 Star to Capt. A.H. Wallis, S.A.E.C.
- British War Medal to Lieut. A.H. Wallis
- Victory Medal (unilingual) to Lieut. A.H. Wallis

Alfred Wallis was a highly intelligent man and a Civil Engineer by profession as events will show. Born on 28 December 1869 in the leafy suburb of Claremont, Cape Town he was the son of George Wallis, a highly respected Architect and Builder and his wife Agnes (born Hall). His baptism, in St. Saviour’s Church in Claremont came on 2 March 1870.



As a young man Wallis attended the well-known South African College School (S.A.C.S.) in Cape Town after which he obtained his first appointment in the Cape Civil Service on 12 Jan 1897 where he was an Engineering Assistant in the City Engineer’s Office, Cape Town.

At some point he transferred to the Cape Government Railways and was an Assistant Engineer, Construction with them from 1897 until 1901. Whist assigned to the Rhodesian system of Railways stationed at Bulawayo he joined the Western Division of the Southern Rhodesia Volunteers on 1 August 1899 being appointed as a Lieutenant.

Wallis, like so many others, probably had almost no idea that in a matter of months his peace-time duties would evolve into active service facing a foe just across the border in his native South Africa. For many months hostilities had threatened between the two Boer Republics of the Orange Free State and their gold-rich ally, The Transvaal on the one hand and the British Empire on the other. This inevitably spilled over into open war and on October 9th, 1899, the Boers sent their ultimatum. On October 12th they cut the railway line south of Mafeking - at Kraaipan - and proceeded to invest Mafeking: the Territory was therefore cut off from the south.

For an eye-witness account of the role Wallis (and others) played in the relief of Mafeking, being held so bravely by Baden-Powell and his men, the Memoirs of J. Ellenberger written in 1949 and published in Rhodesiana Volume 11 are referred to. He wrote that,

“Almost at the same time as Mafeking was invested, a Boer force appeared near the junction of the Taung and Notwane rivers and proceeded to build a stone wall, or fort, on the top of the hill Sepitsi (whence the boundary between the Protectorate and Transvaal runs to Derdepoort on the Marico river) and some of the burghers, crossing into the Protectorate, cut the railway line near the hill Mohahabe (opposite Sepitsi).

Meanwhile an armoured train with Southern Rhodesia Volunteers under the command of Captain H. Llewellyn, of the British South Africa Police at Bulawayo, was daily patrolling the line as far south as the Metsimaswaana Bridge (nine miles from Gaberone's Camp). Further down the line the Boers on Sepitsi started shelling the armoured train as soon as they caught sight of it.



Coal was scarce and we used wood for the engine; its smoke was not as dark as smoke from coal and the wind was in our favour. There was one armoured truck in front with a Maxim gun pointing straight ahead, and one armoured truck at the back with a seven-pounder ready for action, the engine and a caboose in the centre. A speaking tube connected the O.C. (Captain Llewellyn, in the front truck) with the engine driver, and the whole train was camouflaged with green bushes securely fastened to it.

The Bakgatla tribe certainly kept open our lines of communication with Rhodesia and we took advantage of this to feel our way southwards. The armoured train (one of its armoured trucks was labelled "Hard Cases" and the other "Oom Paul's Pills") now patrolled to within a few miles of Gaberone's station.

A second armoured train was, by this time, running with ours. It was the Construction Train and on it was Mr. A. H. Wallis, a railway engineer, affectionately known among us as "Long Tom", owing to the length of the cigars which he was ever ready to offer to his friends.

He and his men kept the railway line in order for us, repairing all damage done by the Boers, and they had done a good deal of damage as we found on our way south later on. Among his men was a carpenter of the name of O'Shea who, in his spare time, very neatly repaired for me a Mauser carbine which Segale had brought back from one of his raids. Its stock had been shattered by a bullet and O'Shea fitted in the stock of an old muzzle loader; so good was his work that I used that carbine for the rest of the time I was in the Field, Segale supplying me with ammunition for it, and I had it for many years thereafter.

We eventually re-occupied Gaberone's. We could go no further for some time because the Boers had blown up the Metsimaswaana bridge and they were still on Sepitsi hill, barring the way. Then, from the direction of Tuli, where he had been operating, came an officer who was adored by all who served under him, Lieut.-Col. H. O. Plumer, later Field-Marshal Lord Plumer, who took command.

Reinforcements were now arriving fast from the north. Plumer's Column was already fairly long when we rode with it towards Lobatsi. The armoured trains could not reach the station on that day, however, as the Boers had, a few miles north of it, dug a deep hole in the track and pushed a truck into it. Wallis and his men were not long repairing the damage done there by the Boers; they worked all night, and we soon occupied Lobatsi.

We had cyclists as well now and they patrolled southwards along the railway, to report on the condition of the line and any movements of the enemy. It was not long before some of these scouts reported having been fired upon and that a Boer force was moving northwards towards Lobatsi. Colonel Plumer had, however, taken precautions: a strong detachment was posted on a ridge south of the Lobatsi Dam, on the right-hand side of the railway as one goes south, and Llewellyn had a 7-pounder on a hillock commanding the road from Sefhatlhane (Zeerust) and Dinokana to Lobatsi, which crosses the boundary between the Transvaal and the Protectorate at Gonku (Skaapkuil).

The attack came from the south, launched by the Boer force which the cyclists had sighted and which had been moving up along the foot of the hills on the left of the railway as one faces south. It was about 4 p.m. when they opened fire. The attacking Boers made no headway, however, and finally retired. Colonel Plumer must have realised that with the small force at his disposal -I think we were about 500 strong - it would be impossible to reach Mafeking by following the railway line. The Column rode out of Lobatsi, making for the Bangwaketse Reserve.

We were there two days only and then, by arrangement with Bathoen, the Column moved on to Sefhikile Pan, within the Bangwaketse Reserve, about half-way between Kanye and Mafeking. Kanye, however, remained the base for our supplies from Southern Rhodesia.

There was a fine sheet of water at Sefhikile and Colonel Plumer decided to remain there until such time as circumstances permitted an advance to Mafeking with some chance of relieving the town.

We were strongly entrenched at Sefhikile and the enemy had shown no inclination to come to the attack. It was Colonel Plumer who took the initiative at the end of March, 1900, with a view to ascertaining the approximate strength of the Boers besieging Mafeking. I believe he was about six miles from the town when the Boers fell upon him and drove him back to Ramathlabama; I am under the impression that he had left some heavy guns here, which halted the Boers.

Reinforcements had been steadily arriving while we were at Sefhikile - in small batches it is true, but by the end of April, 1900, our strength must have been about 700 of all ranks. We were crippled by malaria, however - some 200 cases a day I think the M.O. once told me - and it was horse-sickness season too.

Meanwhile Plumer knew that the defenders of Mafeking had no hope of being able to hold out beyond the middle of May. As that time-limit approached a message was received from Colonel Baden-Powell to the effect that although many of his men and what remained of his transport animals were in a state of exhaustion, yet he thought he might fight his way out if our column could assist in the operation and in the evacuation of women, children, and the sick.

May 14th and 15th were spent resting on the banks of the Molopo near Phitsane, messages to and from Colonel Baden-Powell being exchanged at night by means of runners. One message read: "May 16th. Southern and Northern Columns combined advance towards Mafeking at 6 a.m. to-day."

A halt was called at about noon. We had not met with any opposition so far and there was as yet no sign of the enemy. The day for which he had so long waited and toiled had at last come. The battle for Mafeking had begun.

Suffice it here to say that, after fighting our way forward throughout the afternoon of May 16th, on the northern side of the Molopo, and until dusk, every one of us imbued with the spirit of our Leader, we pushed forward under cover of darkness, without let or hindrance, and reached Mafeking at dawn on May 17th. A few hours later, the last of the Boers' strongholds about the town had been captured and the enemy was well on the run to the Transvaal-Mafeking had been relieved!

I believe that, when I left Colonel Plumer at Ootsi, he was busily arranging not only for the despatch of foodstuffs to Mafeking (Wallis and his men were actively engaged in repairing the last of the damage done to the railway line by the Boers) but also for the protection of the line. For months the armoured train continued to patrol and during the siege of Mafeking the trains from Rhodesia continued to operate as far south as the armoured trains could keep the line clear and in order, fire-wood being used occasionally for the engines; these trains were in the first instance "Military" trains but occasionally gave a lift to well-known civilians.”

Baden-Powell too in his Despatch which appeared in the London Gazette of 9 February 1901 made specific mention of Wallis on page 896 – under the heading Armoured Trains he wrote:-

“We armoured ordinary long-bogey trucks with steel rails (iron ones not being bullet-proof) to a height of 5 feet, with loopholes and gun ports. I had three prepared at Mafeking under the able direction of Mr. More, Resident Engineer, Bechuanaland Railway, also three at Bulawayo by Mr Wallis, Resident Engineer.”

With Mafeking relieved Wallis’ war continued with his appointment in command of “D” Squadron of the Southern Rhodesia Volunteers with effect from 19 December 1900. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in the field on 17 November 1900. His Queens Medal was issued off the S.R.V. (Western Division) Armoured Train roll with his name also appearing under the “D” Troop roll. Returning to his civilian occupation with the Railways Wallis was promoted to Acting District Engineer, Maintenance and then to District Engineer- a post he held from 1902 until 1905. In 1904 he was transferred to De Aar in the Northern Cape as District Engineer, in the Cape Government Railways but returned to Rhodesia where, on 13 February 1905, he was required to resign his commission on civilian transfer with the Railways from Rhodesia back to, of all places, Mafikeng, the very town he had helped to relieve 5 years before.

On 19 September 1905 he was appointed Acting Resident Engineer on a salary of £525 pounds p.a. + 100 pounds p.a. local allowance + quarters – a princely sum for those days. Wallis and the other Rhodesia System officials were the only ones who received local allowances. According to the Cape Civil List, "From Vryburg a line of railway owned by the Rhodesia Railways Ltd, extends to Bulawayo, the Victoria Falls and on to Broken Hill. The section of this line from Vryburg to Bulawayo, exclusive, is worked for the Company by the Cape Government." This was Wallis’ domain.

There was time for love and romance as well – on 31 October 1906 in the Church at Charlton Terrace in Doornfontein, Johannesburg and at the age of 36 he married Florence Jane Rogers, a 32 year old spinster. His address was supplied as Mafikeng whilst hers was 145 Van Beek Street, Johannesburg.

It was at this time that his other interests began to take prominence – in 1908 he published “a section along the railway from Cape Town to Victoria Falls (published in The Geographical Journal, 1910, Vol 36 (3), pp. 339 – 343). That same year Wallis sent a sample of calcareous tufa from Wondergat, some 30 kilometres east of Mafikeng to the South African Museum in Cape Town. This was to be a sign of academic pursuits still to come. In July 1910 he was promoted to District Superintendent in the newly created South African Railways & Harbours.

Settling down to his scientific studies and starting a family made Wallis a busy man. His peaceful existence in the rural setting of the Northern Cape was soon to be disturbed some four years later with the outbreak of the Great War in August 1914. At the age of 44 he was soon back in uniform. According to his service card in the South African National Defence Force Archives in Pretoria Wallis was enlisted as a Captain with the South African Engineer Corps and Officer Commanding No. 1 Armoured Train. His next of kin was his wife, Florence Wallis of 3 East Grove, Mafikeng and he was taken on strength on 23 October 1914.

Context of South Africa’s participation in this war is required – it must be remembered that, a short 12 years earlier the Boers had been at the throats of the British forces and people in South Africa and there were still many, especially in the old Orange Free State and parts of the Transvaal who were vehemently opposed to South Africa siding with the British in this conflict.

There old Generals Botha and Smuts were now, respectively, both the Prime Minister of a united South Africa and its Defence Minister. It was they who persuaded parliament to support the British cause and it led to a rebellion in the aforementioned places with Commandoes taking up arms against their own countrymen. Botha was now required to suppress this by using force against his own people and some of the local regiments were called out to execute this order.

There were four Armoured Trains employed for both this purpose and for service in German South West Africa – “The Scott” under Captain Dixon was with the Northern Force, the “Erin” under Captain Stanton was standing by at Bloemfontein; the “Schrikmaker” under Captain Adams was to proceed to the Northern Force and, finally, No. 1 Armoured Train “Trafalgar” under Captain Wallis was to be with Central Force but first it had to assist in the quelling of the rebellion in the Orange Free State working from Bethlehem. A source tells us that on 14 November 1914 “There was a certain liveliness on the Reitz-Frankfort line where the Armoured Trains “The Trafalgar”, “Erin” and “Schrikmaker”, excellently armed with quick firers and picked marksmen, and carrying powerful searchlights did excellent work in conjunction with the mobile forces. The rebels tried on one occasion to cut off “The Trafalgar” but a running fight ensued and the rebels lost heavily.”



With the rebellion squashed Botha and Smuts could turn their attention to the conquest of German South West Africa. No. 1 Armoured train and Wallis were duly sent there as part of the Central Force embarking aboard the S.S. “Colonial” on 18 December 1914. An article which appeared in a British newspaper at this time best explains quite what role the train and its personnel played. Under the heading “In South Africa – Burton Latimer Man and German Treachery” it read as follows,

“Staff Sergeant Reg. Boardman, son of Mr J. Boardman of Burton Latimer, who is with the South African Engineer Corps, took part in several engagements in Cape Colony and the Orange River Colony (sic) during the recent rebellion, being on armoured train No. 1, “The Trafalgar”, under Captain Wallis.

Writing to his sister, Miss V Boardman, he gives the following account of his experiences:

‘I am still at Railhead (he says) on construction. We have now occupied Aus, but not quite repaired the line as far as that place. The Germans have blown up every rail, and in some places have taken away the whole lot, sleepers and everything. They have shown no fight at all and are simply retreating everywhere. We had a Captain De Meillon of our Intelligence Corps, who was shot whilst scouting. The Germans buried him at Aus, and when our troops occupied this place, they naturally were eager to visit his grave, but the dirty Germans had actually laid mines all around, knowing quite well we should go the spot, and thinking that they would get a good few of our men. However they were discovered before any had been exploded. Our men also found Hottentot scout boys strung up in a row.”

The tribulations and ardours of operating in a climate like that took its toll and Wallis was sent down to Luderitzbucht Hospital suffering with Diarrhoea on 21 February 1915. His period of active service ended on 7 April 1915 and he was released to return to the Union where, on arrival, he was transferred to the Engineering Branch resuming duty from 31 March 1916. Home again he immersed himself in his work and, according to the South African Society of Civil Engineers, Session 1917, he presented a paper (in 1916) entitled “Railway Water Supplies”.



One would think that, considering his age, his thoughts would turn to remaining at home but Wallis was made of sterner stuff – on 17 April 1918 he wrote from his home in Mafeking to Right Honourable J.C. Smuts, P.C. as follows,

“Dear General Smuts

I have no doubt you will recollect me when I tell you that I commanded No. 1 Armoured Train “Trafalgar” during the 1914 trouble in the Transvaal and the Orange Free State, and was directly under your orders at Pretoria.

As you know, I am a Civil Engineer by Profession and am in the service of the South African Railways as District Superintendent at Mafeking.

I am desirous of offering my services in the National Crisis, and I enclose, herewith, some of my papers, from which you will see that I was a Lieutenant in the Southern Rhodesia Volunteers at Bulawayo in 1899, and that I was promoted in the field to be a Captain in 1900, having served with the Rhodesia Force under General Sir Herbert Plumer, in which force I was Captain commanding No. 2 Armoured Train, and was mainly engaged in repairs to the line between Mochudi and Mafeking.’

I enclose also a letter which Sir Lewis Mitchell handed me on my return from Luderitzbucht in the South West Campaign. I also enclose a Certificate from Mr S.F. Townsend the Resident Engineer under whom, I served during the 1900 War.

I am 48 years of age, but am of a hardy and tough constitution, and am especially anxious to do something in the present crisis. My experience in 1914 with the Armoured Train “Trafalgar” are well known to you, as well as my service in German South West where – an Armoured Train not being of service, I was in charge of the re-construction of the line from Tschaukaib to Aus, after whcu I was recalled to civil duties, owing to the heavy rainy season on the Vryburg – Bulawayo line.

I shall be exceedingly grateful to you if you could arrange to have my services accepted by the War Office and I will be prepared to come on receipt of a cable.

I also enclose a testimonial from Colonel Panzera, Resident Commissioner of the Bechuanaland Protectorate, and I also enclose a copy of a letter which Sir George Farrar handed me to hand to you, which unfortunately, I have never had an opportunity of presenting. Sir George tore open the letter and asked me to read it, and I kept a copy of the same by his permission. The original was posted to you in Pretoria shortly after I returned.

Yours obediently

A.H. Wallis”

(The Sir George Farrar referred to had died in an unfortunate railway related incident in German South West Africa)

The testimonial from Colonel Panzera was dated from his office as Resident Commissioner, Mafeking on 12 October 1915 and read:-

“To Whom it May Concern

I have much pleasure in testifying as follows from personal and intimate knowledge and observation extending over fifteen years, of Mr A.H. Wallis, late Captain S.R. Volunteers.

I first met Captain Wallis at the Relief of Mafeking and cannot speak too highly of his ability and untiring zeal in repairing and reopening Railway Communications. I subsequently was much associated with this Officer in Railway Work, as I was representing the Imperial Government under the Imperial Subsidy; and I know of his good and gallant work recently in connection with the Rebellion and in S.W. Africa, in the Campaign against the Germans.

He was selected in October last year to command No. 1 Armoured Train “Trafalgar” in the Free State and Transvaal, being engaged with the enemy on six occasions. After that Captain Wallis was performing arduous and responsible duty in S.W. Africa until recalled on urgent civil duty to the centre.

Of course details of his Military work are available from the officers under whom he served, but I can personally state after many years experience of officers and men, that I conscientiously believe Captain Wallis to be an exceptionally able and zealous Officer; absolutely reliable; full of resource and initiative; gallant in action, respected and a good Leader, who wins the confidence of his men.

I have always felt towards him the greatest personal friendship and can impartially strongly recommend him for any duties under the Royal Engineers, being perfectly sure that he would be of invaluable assistance from his long and varied practical knowledge and experience.
F.W. Panzera, Colonel, B.P.P.”

With connections as weighty as these it was small wonder that the High Commissioner’s Office in London (Mr Helbert) wrote to Captain Ryott. Light Railways, Room 25, War Office, Charing Cross on 1 June 1918 as follows,

“Dear Captain Ryott

I attach a copy of a letter sent to General Smuts by Mr A.H. Wallis, Mafeking

Mr A.H. Wallis is a very well-known Railway Engineer and holds excellent qualifications, and I attach copy of his record of services, together with one or two testimonials given to him by very well-known men.

General Smuts has directed me to place Mr Wallis’ name before you, and then if you wish to make use of his services perhaps it will be possible for you to cable to him and arrange his passage. Or, failing that, if you will let me know whether you can employ his services I can cable and he will have to make his own arrangements about passage.

Yours sincerely”

The upshot of all this was that Wallis was granted a temporary Commission in the Royal Engineers as Lieutenant, Railway Troops (attached to 281 Railway Construction Company) with effect from 17 July 1918. Interestingly the letter confirming his appointment was addressed to J. Boardman Esq,. The School House, Burton Latimer, Kettering. Those who have followed this account closely will recall that it was a Boardman from Burton Latimer who wrote to his sister detailing his experiences with the Armoured Train in South West Africa….

Wallis never got as far as serving in the Western Theatre of the war – he was England-based throughout the remainder of the war and was released from service on 13 July 1919 relinquishing his commission on that date. As an aside – his Attestation papers for Commissioned rank revealed that he had suffered from malarial fever at some point in his life and that he read “small print and does drawing work” with glasses. He was also 6 feet in height and weighed 141 pounds. For his efforts in the war he received the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Now having finally finished with the military he resumed his civilian pursuits with vigour. His main interests were in meteorology and climatology which led to a number of significant publications: “An investigation of evaporation over free surfaces of water in inland South Africa” was published in the Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa in 1920, Vol 8 pp 283-292 and he continued to publish papers on a regular basis. He was a Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society by 1917 and was in 1924 was a member of the Astronomical Society of South Africa. In later years he was transferred to first Windhoek and then Kimberley before retiring to Cape Town.

After a long and fruitful life Alfred Harry Wallis passed away of heart failure at the age of 76 years and 2 months on 25 February 1946 at the “Elizabeth Nursing Home” in Mouille Point, Cape Town. His wife had predeceased him having passed away on 27 November 1927. He was resident at the Civil Service Club in Cape Town and was survived by his three children – Harry William Hayward Wallis, Florence Winifred Faith De Beer and John Gusterson Wallis. He is buried in St. Saviour’s Church cemetery

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Battle of Congella - the very first (and very small) Anglo-Boer War - by: Brett Hendey

May 20, 2017, 11:30 pm
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Yesterday, Durban's Saturday newspaper 'The Independent' carried a report on the forthcoming 175th Anniversary on 24 May of an event that had a profound affect on the later history of Natal. Parts of this report have been copied below:



The most significant result of this very small Anglo-Boer War was the proclamation in May 1843 of Natal as a British Colony, and the posting in its capital, Pietermaritzburg, of the first permanent British garrison, the 45th Regiment of Foot. The subsequent garrison regiments, and many others, would fight in three wars in Natal - the Anglo-Zulu War (1879), the 1st and 2nd Anglo-Boer Wars (1880-81 & 1899-1902). They helped to imbue Natal with British culture and traditions, which, with the exception of Rhodesia, was unique in southern Africa, and which, sadly for some of us, is now fading away.

Brett
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Medal to a participant of the Battle of Congella - by: Brett Hendey

May 20, 2017, 11:52 pm
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Probably the rarest of all the medals awarded for service in Natal is one to a man present at the Battle of Congella in 1842. One such medal was sold in 2013 at the City Coins Auction 63:


I wish it was in my collection!
Brett
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Griffith Thomas Griffith, British Army to the U.S. Army - by: BereniceUK

May 21, 2017, 2:17 am
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Would he be the man listed as 21724 Trooper Griffith Thomas Griffiths, 81st Company, 21st Btn, IY.

"Mr. Griffith Thomas Griffith, New York, son of Mr. Thomas Griffith, Ivy House, Corwen, has been gazetted as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Lieut. Griffith was on active service with the British Army throughout the South African War."
(Yr Adsain, 25th June 1918)
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Henry Corrie Jackson, 59th Coy. Imperial Yeomanry - by: BereniceUK

May 22, 2017, 10:40 am
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Died at Boshof, South Africa, on 26th May 1900, aged 20. The window is in St. John's Church, St. John's in the Vale, about 3½ miles south-east of Keswick, Cumberland/Cumbria.
The Merchant Taylors' School which he attended must be the one that was at Charterhouse Square in London until 1933, then moving to Northwood, as Jackson isn't named on the ABW roll of honour at MTS, Crosby, Merseyside.







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Breytenbach's History of the Boer War, volume II, chapter 9 now loads - by: djb

May 22, 2017, 2:38 pm
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Staatsartillerie History - by: QSAMIKE

May 23, 2017, 9:51 am
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Hi Everyone.......

Does anyone know of a book on the history of the Transvaal Staatsartillerie, in English of course, or of any possible articles written on the subject??????

Thanks

Mike
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A Prince Alfred's Guardsman in the Natal Police - George Arthur Hewitt - by: Rory

May 23, 2017, 12:20 pm
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George Arthur Hewitt

Private, Prince Alfred’s Volunteer Guard – Anglo Boer War
Trooper, Natal Police, Bambatha Rebellion

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasp Cape Colony to 1684 Pte. G.A. Hewitt, Prince Alf. Vol. Gds.
- Natal Medal (Bambatha) with 1906 clasp to Tpr. G.A. Hewitt, Natal Police

George Hewitt was born in Wavertree, Lancashire in 1879 the son of Frank Hewitt, a Railway Breaksman by occupation and his wife Eliza. At the time of the 1881 England census a 2 year old George (initially called Arthur as per his middle name) was at home with his mother, father and younger brother Harold 44 Moorgate Street in West Derby, Liverpool.

Ten years later, at the time of the 1891 England census the family had moved to Birkenhead in Cheshire where Mr Hewitt was now working as a Carter. The family home was at 157 St. Anne Street, Birkenhead and George was now a 12 year old schoolboy followed by Harold (11) and younger brother and new addition Arthur (probably the reason why he was known as George once more)

Like many young men of his era Hewitt came to the realisation that to get ahead he would have to leave the comfort of his home and spread his wings. Great Britain was, in those days, exactly that – an Empire whose presence was felt in every corner of the globe. The sky was literally the limit for those with an adventurous spirit and Hewitt chose, as his destination, the sunny climes of South Africa. Settling in the Eastern Cape part of the country he appears to have chosen Port Elizabeth (previously known as Algoa Bay) as his springboard.

Every town worth its name had a local militia unit or regiment to which young men flocked. Belonging to one of these created not only a kindred spirit among them but was also an occasion to socialise and meet fellows of their age and inclinations. The Port Elizabeth local regiment was the Prince Alfred’s Volunteer Guards – so named after one of Queen Victoria’s sons.

Soon after the Anglo Boer War commenced in October 1899 Hewitt enlisted and was deployed on garrison duties in and around Port Elizabeth – the fear being very real that the Boer forces would work their way south sweeping all before them. It became apparent that there was a dire need for more than just infantry men and the Mounted portion of the Prince Alfred's Guard came into being formed from the Prince Alfred's Own Volunteer Rifles on 11 Feb 1900 from two sections of the infantry and detached from the infantry portion from that date. During the time it was detached from the infantry headquarters, it was regarded as a separate unit - except with regards to drawing pay.

It was to this body of men that Hewitt belonged. Their exploits were many but Hewitt’s war was to be one confined to the Cape Colony and not sallying forth with his comrades into the Orange Free State and Transvaal hunting down the elusive Boer commandos. Assigned no 1684 and the rank of Trooper he was to see service with them until taking his discharge on 16 October 1901. For his efforts he was awarded the Queens Medal with Cape Colony clasp.

The Boer War over on 31 May 1902 Hewitt set his sights east and headed for Natal where he joined the Natal Border Police - a temporary unit, which was established to keep the peace in the new territory known as the Utrecht-Vryheid district of the Transvaal which was annexed to Natal in late 1902. His stay there wasn’t destined to be a long one as the unit was disbanded and, on 11 July 1903 he presented himself at the headquarters of the Natal Police in Pietermaritzburg where he enlisted for service with that illustrious body.

Assigned no. 3064 and the rank of Trooper he provided his mother, Mrs E. Hewitt of 5 Brook Place, Birkenhead as his next of kin.

Having seen action in the Boer War Hewitt would not have dreamt that ere long he would be taking up arms again – on this occasion against a very different foe. Natal after the Boer War was cash-strapped and in desperate need of revenue. The powers-that-be hit upon the novel idea of imposing a poll tax on the head of every black male in the Colony aged 18 and below. The amount of £1 per head levied in this manner was calculated to relieve their fiscal distress.

The idea was grudgingly accepted by the Zulu chiefs and Indunas in the main but there was resistance. This was artfully exploited by a young hothead and minor chief called Bambatha who went about the land fomenting revolt and inciting others to open defiance and rebellion. The magistrates, with an escort of Natal Policemen, were tasked with collecting this tax and, in one instance, two policemen were murdered whilst executing their duties. The Natal Militia were called out in early 1906 but, after a short while, the rebellion subsided and they were stood down only to be called out again in greater number when Bambatha, who had been recruiting support in Zululand, showed his hand.

The Natal Police, Hewitt included, were part of the force that eventually brought Bambatha and his men to book – in the densely forested Mome Gorge in Zululand – here the Natal men surrounded the Zulu force opening fire with both rifle and cannon until the Zulu were decimated and Bambatha’s severed head was bought out as proof of his demise. With this the rebellion fizzled out and the men were allowed to return to their normal duties. For his efforts Hewitt was awarded the Natal Medal with 1906 clasp.

Back “on the beat” Hewitt was considered for promotion and re-engaged on 11 July 1908 – 5 years after he had commenced duty. Stationed at Headquarters in Pietermaritzburg he was not always the model policeman. There are two entries in his Defaulters Sheet – in February 1909 while stationed at Greytown he was absent without leave twice – firstly on 2 February 1909 when he returned late from pass and was confined to barracks for 14 days by Inspector Lyttle. Secondly, and shortly after completing his first punishment, he went absent without leave on the night of 19/20 February, for which he was confined to barracks for 10 days by Inspector Dimmick.

On 1 April 1910 Hewitt transferred to the Gaol Department stationed at the Point Prison in Durban where he was to remain for the rest of his tenure. After 1913 he was transferred to the newly-created South African Prisons Department and on 6 April 1914 was granted permission to marry Florence Lilian Fleming a 25 year old lady living at 318 Point Road, Durban. This ceremony took place at Christ Church – Hewitt was described as being a 35 year old prison Warder.

The long awaited promotion came on 1 July 1918 when he was appointed Head Warder (which entitled him to an extra 6/- per day) but on 19 December 1919 he was reduced to the rank of Warder – the reason for this demotion not being recorded. Seven months later he would appear to have ingratiated himself with his superiors and, on 20 July 1920 was promoted to 1st Class Warder the rank he was to retire with on 30 November 1922.

No doubt in celebration of his enhanced status Hewitt and his wife undertook a sea voyage to England returning to South Africa aboard the Kenilworth Castle from Southampton on 5 November 1920. He is listed on the ship’s manifest as being a Warder.

The Hewitt’s had no children and when George Arthur passed away at Addington Hospital in Durban on 20 August 1945 at the age of 66 years 10 months he left his wife all alone at their residence 95 McCord Road, Overport, Durban. She in turn passed away on 31 January 1964.







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Private Thomas Walsh, 4th Cheshire Regiment - died in South Africa - by: BereniceUK

May 24, 2017, 1:47 pm
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Defrauding the War Office.

At Stockport yesterday Mary Roden was sent to prison for fourteen days for falsely personating a relative of Thomas Walsh, private in the 4th Cheshires, who died in South Africa. Ann Moran was similarly punished for aiding and abetting. Walsh's mother, after receiving notice of her son's death, died in the workhouse, and Roden continued to correspond with the War Office, signing herself "Mary Walsh," to which Moran attested before the local priest, to secure his signature to the papers, thus obtaining deceased's back pay.

(Evening Express, 4th December 1901)

I see that there's a Private T. Walsh, 4th Cheshires, listed in the forum name search, but not as having died. Does anyone know anything about him, please?
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Gunner Sydney Golding 94th Imperial Yoemanry 36363 - by: ELLYDOG

May 25, 2017, 5:53 pm
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It is getting close to my trip to South Africa. Can anyone give me any information on this soldier as to where he may have seen action, etc.


Ron Wainwright ( Grandson living in New Zealand
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Robert Edwards - by: Gloria

May 26, 2017, 3:28 am
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Hi, I am researching my GF Robert (Francis) Edwards whose obituary (died 1936 in Lismore, Australia) indicates that he served in the Boar War (British army). Parents were Robert (William) Edwards and Louisa Yardley (born Cape Town). I can find no evidence that he was in the Boar War and would appreciate any guidance to confirming if he enlisted, served or for some reason left the army around 1900. Robert was born in Middlesex England in 1874, and around 1900 made his way to Australia, possibly landing in Fremantle or Albany Western Australia. His whereabouts after 1891 (when he was 16 yrs old in Mile End Old Town London) is a mystery, and the only lead I have is his obituary, which I attempting to prove correct or not. Thank you.
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Interesting postal cover 1902 - Colonel Carter(Wilts) &Theophilus Shepstone - by: kivey

May 26, 2017, 9:36 am
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I was wondering if anybody could shed a little light on this interesting postal cover I recently purchased with some other pieces of Boer War ephemera. My problem is the correlation between the date and the sender. According to my basic research, Theophilus Shepstone died in 1893 which therefore indicates that this letter has taken at least 9 years to be delivered or there is another Theophilus Shepstone. Both scenarios seem unlikely so I was wondering if anybody could offer an explanation. Yours in anticipation, Keith Ivey
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Pennsylvania Mining Disaster 1904 - by: Rory

May 27, 2017, 4:04 am
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One never knows what story's hide behind a medal!!

Yesterday I acquired a QSA to a Fred Stockman of the Prince of Wales Light Horse with clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State and South Africa 1901.

I asked our very own Kevin Asplin to obtain his attestation papers at Kew and what a surprise they contained!! Stockman, who I am guessing was a Russian Jew, was a Seaman off a ship in Durban harbour when he attested for service with a Cape-based unit.

Having taken an early discharge he headed north where, thanks to another friend Cam Simpson, I know he enlisted with the B.S.A.P. in Rhodesia. All of this was pretty standard stuff and hardly overwhelming but what piqued my interest was the annotation scrawled across his attestation paper - it read:-

"Killed in a coal mine explosion at Harwick, PA, USA 25/1/04 - Administrator of Estate Mr. E.A. Arthur, Attorney at Law, 314 Frick Building, Pittsburg, PA., U.S.A."

Does anyone else have a medal to a chap who was killed in this incident? I think it's a rare find.







Regards

Rory
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Royal Welch Fusiliers Regimental Museum, Caernarfon - by: BereniceUK

May 27, 2017, 10:59 am
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New Umvoti Mounted Rifles/ Natal Voluntary Composite Regiment medal - by: Rory

May 27, 2017, 11:45 am
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Herewith the QSA with clasps Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal and Laing's Nek to 270 Corpl. W.E. Meek.

He enlisted on 1.10.00. as a Sergeant with the Natal Volunteer Composite Regiment (No.26) and was promoted to Lieutenant on 22.1.01. where he was Officer Commanding No1 Troop, No1 Squadron. Meek was an interesting chap who was accidentally wounded in action (shot in the arm) at Dundee on 30 June 1901

He was commended for his actions near Nondweni on 28.7.01 and at Nqutu, Zululand in Aug 01.He also saw action with Boers near One Tree Hill, Natal on 26.9.01. and was Discharged (unit disbanded) on 31.7.02.

He is missing his KSA if anyone knows its whereabouts.

Regards

Rory







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