Farmer's Guard

The Farmer’s Guard was first raised as the Burgher Police in January 1901 to protect an area around Bloemfontein.[1]  The British were making use of surrendered Boers who, “had for some time past been taking an active part in assisting British operations…in the capacity of scouts and spies”.[2] The Guard came under E Division, South African Constabulary.  Kitchener used the S.A.C. to enact a policy of pacification to “encourage as far as possible the resumption of civil life.”.[3] In the Orange River Colony two “protected areas” were declared; a radius of 25 miles around Bloemfontein and the country bounded by the Riet and Modder Rivers between the Kimberley and Pretoria railway lines. In these areas posts were established to protect roads to and from the railway and also serve as a base for operations against the enemy and the farms that supported them.[4]

In December 1901 they were re-named the Farmers’ Guard (medal roll) or Farmer’s Guard (on the medal), the apostrophe is mobile and also disappears. Their remit and status as civilian police remained the same.  They do not warrant an entry in Stirling’s “The Colonials” (William Blackwood, 1907) or Tylden’s “The Armed Forces of South Africa” (Africana Museum, 1954) because they were not part of the British army. Major E.N. Morris, S.A.C. was responsible for the Guard. Like most S.A.C. officers he was an experienced officer of the regular Army in the Devonshire Rgt. He had served in the Relief of Ladysmith attached to Thorneycroft’s Mounted Infantry. The men were enlisted on short contracts of three months, Baden-Powell suggested they be paid one month in arrears “so that the officers have some hold over them”.[5] The officers were from the S.A.C. as the Guard did not have any officers itself. There was one Superintendent, three Troop Sergeant Majors, five Farrier-Sergeants and a Medical Corporal. Like the S.A.C. they used the system of 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd class ranks for Troopers and Sergeants, but not apparently Corporals.

Organised into three troops; A, B and C. A fourth sub-unit simply named as “Second Farmers’ Guard” was created. On the medal rolls 28 men are not allocated to any sub-unit.

Troop	Strength
A	295
B	277
C	214
“Second”	72
Unallocated	28
Medal Roll Total	886

A further three men who are listed in the casualty roll could not be found on the medal roll bringing the total who served in the unit to 889. In June 1902 the strength of the Guard was 653.[6]

According to the medal roll 95% of the men did not serve in another unit indicating they were pre-war residents of the Orange Free State. How many were surrendered burghers is not known. Of 45 men who served in another unit 16 served in the National Scouts. Grundlingh states “615 Free State burghers” served in the Farmers’ Guard.[7] Recruitment for the S.A.C. was brisk, in February 1902 Baden-Powell recorded that 17 Australians landed at Durban stating they had been promised employment in the Farmers’ Guard by an S.A.C. officer on leave in Australia. Baden-Powell noted this officer had no right to make such a promise and that the “Farmers (sic) Guard was for local men only – ‘otherwise all recruits will want to go for it”.[8] At least one Australian served in the Guard; Trooper 48 Alfred J. Reeves came to South Africa with the 1^st contingent New South Wales Mounted Rifles. He served in the Guard as a 2^nd Class Trooper.

The unit apparently saw very little action. Only two men died as a result of enemy action, a further three were wounded. Most casualties occurred on 23 March, 1902 somewhere along the Modder River.

Name	Casualty	Notes
Bekker, HJ	Died of wounds 23 February, 1902	Buried Bloemfontein.
Bridgeman, R	Wounded 28 March, 1902
Calitz, J	Accidentally killed 23 March, 1902 Modder River	Buried Bloemfontein.
Clarke, JJ	Wounded 28 March, 1902 Modder River, died 29 April, 1902	Buried Bloemfontein.
Coetzee, C	Died of disease 18 November, 1902	Buried Bloemfontein.
Collins, PD	Wounded 28 March, 1902 Modder River
Froneman, L	Accidentally killed 17 December, 1901 Sanna’s Pos	No known grave
Nieman, HL	Wounded 28 March, 1902 Modder River

Images for this unit are very hard to find. After Pretoria The Guerilla War (volume 3 p.421) has this image of the “Burgher Police” capturing a Boer sniper. The location is given as Kroonstad which had its own burgher police established 8 weeks before the Burgher Police created at Bloemfontein in November 1901.

Grundlingh reproduces a picture of 12 Farmer’s Guards in an earthwork decorated with the message, “What/We/Have/We/Hold/E. R.”.[9]

The medal rolls were prepared and medals issued between 1905 and 1908 by the S.A.C. 871 QSAs were issued, the bulk in 1905. Just 15 medals have been noted for sale, the majority this century. As more 20^th Century medal catalogues are indexed no doubt more will surface.

 

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[1] Grundlingh, A. “Collaborators in Boer Society”, The South African War The Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902, Warwick P. ed (Longman, 1980) p.266

[2] The Times History of the War, vol. 5 (Sampson, Low, Marston 1907) pp.248-249

[3] ibid vol. 5 p.261

[4] ibid vol. 5 p.261

[5]  Ross, Hamish, Baden-Powell’s Fighting Police The S.A.C. (Pen & Sword 2022) p.55

[6] Ibid p.137

[7] Grundlingh op. cit. p.266

[8] Op. cit. Ross p. 115

[9] Op. cit. Grundlingh p.266

The Kaalboschfontein Mystery

A recent chat with fellow researchers on the death of Lt T.D. Pilkington 1^st Royal Dragoons raised the question, “Where is Kaalboschfontein?”.

Lt Pilkington was killed 11 July, 1900 when attached to the 2^nd Dragoons. The official casualty rolls show the place of death as Kaalboschfontein. This was copied into his entry by Mildred Dooner for the The Last Post, her biographical register of officer (and others) killed in the war. All other sources, including an epitaph on a memorial erected by his family show he was killed at Zilikat’s Nek (or Uitval’s/Nitral’s Nek). A British camp was overwhelmed, guns and soldiers were captured from the 2^nd Dragoons, Lincolnshire Rgt and O battery RHA. Interestingly, Dooner’s entry for another fatality at Zilikat’s Nek, Lt T. Conolly 2^nd Dragoons, states he was killed at Kaalboschfontein.

Only one other casualty is recorded in the official rolls at Kaalboschfontein; Trpr E.M. Sheppard French’s Scouts also killed on the 11 July, 1900. Trooper Sheppard is the unit’s only casualty on that day. French's Scouts were not known to be involved at Zilikat’s Nek. According to Watt In Memoriam, Sheppard has no known grave. Turning to the newspapers, they only show Kaalboschfontein for the 11 July, 1900 listing Trpr Sheppard, not Lt Pilkington or Conolly but Cpt C.J. Maxwell, 2^nd Dragoons who was severely wounded. [Morning Leader 16 July, 1900] Cpt Maxwell was wounded at Zilikat’s Nek as confirmed by the official casualty rolls. It is clear there was some confusion in compiling casualty returns that were published and made available to the newspapers.

Sheppard’s entry on the medal roll gives another location for his death, “Oliphantsfontein”. This unlocks the location of Kaalboschfontein. The war correspondent, Bennett Burleigh, writes about a fight at “Oliphantsfontein south of Irene” on 7 July 1900 involving the Imperial Light Horse and Canadian Mounted Rifles. [Warwick and Warwickshire Advertiser 14 July, 1900] The official casualty rolls use “Rietfontein” and “nr Rietfontein”. The Gazetteer [Jones & Jones 1999] has an entry for a Witklip (2) for an action on 7 July, 1900 matching that described by Bennett Burleigh. The Gazetteer entry for "Rietfontein" is Rietfontein (6) south-south-east of Pretoria from where the British column involved on the 7^th started. There is also an entry for Olifantsfontein (2) in the same area for a contact on 11 July which could account for the single casualty, Sheppard. Both Witklip (2) and Olifantsfontein (2) are south-east of Pretoria, Zilikat’s Nek is due west of Pretoria.

According to the Alphabetical Index to the Farms of the Transvaal which was published in 1904 but uses Jeppe’s pre-war 1899 maps of the South African Republic there is only one farm called Kaalboschfontein. Situated at latitude 26.00 South and longitude 28.30 East it is south of Rietfontein (6).  When casualty rolls were compiled in the field the location is often the place where the list was compiled and not the true location of the action that led to the casualty.

Based on Map 38, Official History of the War in South Africa 1899-1902 (Maurice & Grant, 1906)

Sergeant-Major's Fortune

The medal rolls we use on-line are taken from large bound ledgers that were in use for decades after the end of the war. Very occasionally you find a clipping from a newspaper inserted into the ledgers. It is heart warming to imagine a clerk who works on the medal rolls at home after a long day, or maybe on his lunch break, reading his local newspaper and taking notice of a story about a veteran of the war. Not only does he take note but gets his scissors, clips the story, brings it to work to slip into the relevant roll. These ledgers were living documents.

On this particular clipping the headlines proclaimed, "Sergeant-Major's Fortune Money Left to Six Charities", "Bachelor, Light Drinker and Smoker".

The rich Sergeant-Major was George James Smith who served as Sergeant-Major (Permanent Staff) 3365 3rd bn Yorkshire Regiment earning a Q.S.A. with with four clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901.

George was born in Southampton about 1858. He came from "a poor family...and was always very careful with his money". He enlisted for the Army in May 1879 at Aldershot, number 1752 19th Foot. In 1881 the 19th Foot became the Princess Alexandra's Own Yorkshire Regiment, the Green Howards. He served 20 years in England steadily rising through the ranks to Warrant Officer. On enlistment he worked as a clerk and no doubt his education and organisational abilities made him invaluable to the smooth running of a battalion. In 1897 he was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct medal (L.S.G.C.). George served for 15 months during the war, returning home in May 1901 for discharge in June after 22 years 34 days of exemplary service. He would have had five Good Conduct badges but his promotion to the senior ranks made him ineligible. His character was assessed as "Exemplary. Sober Steady & Absolutely trustworthy".

Three months after leaving the Army the award of a Distinguished Conduct Medal (D.C.M.) was gazetted. It was not published in Army Orders until January 1902. This award was for his exemplary career and not for any specific act of gallantry. Campaign service enabled commanding officers to successfully reward career soldiers who would otherwise have retired with only an L.S.G.C. medal. George retired to Southampton where he led a simple life, "his sole pleasure during his retirement was watching cricket." The newspapers reported, "He held the D.C.M. and the Military Medal" indicating courageous service in World War I. This is unlikely to refer to combat service in World War I, George would have been 56 in 1914. Maybe the L.S.G.C. or the Q.S.A. is the "Military Medal".

George's retirement was long and one would imagine a happy one watching cricket on warm sunny days with perhaps a pint of beer in hand. An idyllic existence. He died on 17th March, 1934 in Southampton. His will revealed an estate worth £13,500 - approximately £817,251.20 at today's prices (2025).  A huge sum for a soldier to accumulate, a Sergeant-Major earned 5 shillings (25 pence) a day. The estate was divided between six charities, the Green Howards Association and a friend.

Sources:
The Register of the Anglo-Boer War
Nottingham Evening Post 8th May 1934
Hampshire Advertiser 21st July 1934

Elandslaagte - the cavalry chargers

The battle at Elandslaagte on October 21, 1899 was critical to holding up the Boer forces bearing down on Ladysmith and southern Natal. British forces won the battle driving the Boers off the field and inflicting a physcological and physical defeat when the British cavalry charged through the retreating  Boers. The charge has gone down in history, a relatively rare use of lances and swords in a full blown cavalry charge. The young trumpeter Shurlock shooting three Boers with his revolver and one lance piercing two Boers. The British infantry did well too, charging and capturing the Boer positions. 

 A clasp Elandslaagte was issued for the Queen's South Africa medal. For medal collectors medals to men who took part in the battle are eagerly sought. Most highly prized are medals to the cavalry, the 5th Lancers and 5th Dragoon Guards. It is generally accepted that only two squadrons, one from each regiment charged and that there was another squadron of the 5th Lancers on the battlefield who did not charge. Therefore the odds on a 5th Lancer being a charger are 50/50.

What is less well known is that there was a third squadron of the 5th Lancers entitled to the clasp Elandslaagte. They did not take part in the battle which is perhaps why their role in glossed over. This information is critical to medal collectors, the odds on a 5th Lancer being a charger are reduced to1:3.

The regimental history of the 5th Lancers which has been re-printed and is widely available mention all three squadrons involved in the operations that led to the battle.

A (Cpt J.B.Scriven) took no active part "to the west of French" towards Bester's Station

C (Cpt M.P.R. Oakes) the squadron that did charge with 5th Dragoon Guards from the left

D (Cpt A. Parker) with the Imperial Light Horse "sent to clear a ridge running parallel to the main Boer position, and about two and a half miles to the south west of it...The Boers, under Pienaar, fell back towards their main position." They spent the rest of the day supporting the Imperial Light Horse.

A quick count of the Elandslaagte clasps to the 5th Lancers bears this out, 419 clasps were awarded. This equates to three strong squadrons not two. Eighty-six 5th Lancers earned the Defence of Ladysmith without Elandslaagte indicating a weak squadron left behind. In comparison 172 Elandslaagte clasps were issued to the 5th Dragoon Guards, another strong squadron.

The qualification for the clasp hints at it not simply encompassing the actual battlefield, "All troops at Elandslaagte on 21st October, 1899, who were on the right bank of the Sunday's River and north of an east and west line through Buys Farm [south of Elandslaagte].", there is no left or west boundary. "Buys Farm" was the farm RietKuil owned by one Johannes Petrus Buys. The farm was primarily to the east of the railway and extended north to the Modder Spruit and west just to the other side of the railway line. The farm was used by the British to hold cattle and there was a camp about Modder Spruit Siding, called by one soldier "Buy's [sic] Farm Camp, Modder Spruit".

Thanks to Elné Watson for identifying Buys Farm and Rory Reynolds for additional information.

Cape Garrison Artillery - view from the medal roll

The standard reference for colonial units is Stirling's The Colonials in South Africa (London, William Blackwood, 1907) which is widely used. I have taken the text below from Stirling and added nuggets from the scarce but useful The Armed Forces of South Africa, Major G Tylden (Johannesburg, Africana Museum, 1954). To this is added information derived from The Register and especially it's casualty roll and medal roll.

Raised 1891 as the Cape Garrison Artillery and Engineer Corps. The “Engineer Corps” was dropped from 1897. Volunteer status was dropped in January 1899. Mobilised in October 1899, the strength being 373. Throughout the war they did much good work. During 1900 they were chiefly employed on the western railway and west of the line. A section was for some months operating under Sir C Warren and other leaders against the Griqualand rebels. The corps assisted in garrisoning various important posts. Some were in Jacobsdal when that town was attacked on 25th October, and some were in the relieving force. In his telegram of 31st August 1900 Lord Roberts deals with an attack on Kraaipan station, in which he remarks: "Sergeant Southrood, Cape Garrison Artillery, behaved with great gallantry".

In 1901 detachments of this corps garrisoned, along with the Cape Town Highlanders and various locally raised troops, the towns in the extreme west of Cape Colony and sundry posts right up to the border of German South-West Africa, which were successfully held against repeated attacks.

A detachment was part of the little garrison of O'okiep. These men are unfortunatley not able to be identified.

Lieutenant J C Campbell of the CGA was, when serving with an armoured train, unfortunately killed in an accident north of Pretoria on 8th May 1902.

The Mentions gained by the corps were:

LORD ROBERTS' DESPATCH: 2nd April 1901.—Driver Rodger (DCM).

LORD KITCHENER'S DESPATCH: 23rd June 1902. — Lieutenant Colonel T E Lawton (DSO); Captain J Sampson; Company Sergeant Major W G Duncan; Sergeants W Lewis, RGA, F C Honey, W Carruthers (DCM), W Vye (DCM).

There are a total 958 names on the QSA roll of the Cape Garrison Artillery (WO100-240). Apart from Kitchener’s Horse above a number of men served in other South African units. But men from “overseas” units such as Lord Strathcona’s Horse (1), Army Service Corps (2), Canadian Infantry (1), Canadian Artillery (1), Royal Scots Fusiliers (1 officer), Royal Irish Regiment (1) and a sailor from HMS Monarch chose to join the CGA. Trpr 8457 RJM Horne of the Imperial Yeomanry secured himself a commission in the CGA.

The unit only suffered 10 battle casualties with just one man being killed, Gnr 637 GM Stephens at Brugspruit, four wounded and the remainder missing or POW. Three died of injuries and a further 17 died from disease.

The medal rolls reveal an unexpected and startling statistic, of the 958 men who served with the CGA 76 are marked as deserters – 7% of the unit. The medal roll simply states “deserter”, no place or date is given. Deserters were additionally marked “no medal”, one may assume the desertion took place during the war. The CGA was demobilised on 30 June, 1902 releasing every enlistee but continued as a part-time unit.

None of these men are noted in the Official casualty rolls – more new data only available in The Register. However, it raises the question, “why are they not on the official casualty rolls?”. Was the unit admin slack in that respect or as the unit was not involved in the front line then these desertions were not considered for “casualty reporting”? Every deserter was an original enlistee in the CGA which may indicate they were simply bored with rear echelon soldiering. Only nine deserters have been traced to serve in another South African unit.

Given the unit’s lack of frontline service they did not earn any battle bars as a unit. A QSA with a battle bar indicates service in another unit such as Kitchener’s Horse. State clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State are common, Transvaal, less so.

Given the flow of men into and out of the unit the King’s South Africa medal is scarce to the CGA. There are 444 men on the roll.

When researching the history of a unit the medal roll should not be ignored as a source of new information and insights.