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 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