POWs - Overseas Colonial Contingents

This post, using data collected by The Register, shows the numbers of captures of men from the Overseas Colonial Contingents - Australia, Canada, India, Ceylon and New Zealand. This includes those listed as "missing". There are 311 captures representing 309 individuals. Two men were captured twice:

Pte 201 FH Muir, 1st Queensland MI - Kroonstad June 5th and Elands River Post August 6th, 1900.
Sgt-Mjr 1 JG Price, 1st Queensland MI - Onverwacht Janaury 4th, 1901 and Familie Hoek December 6th, 1901 (as RSM 311 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.

The vast majority of data comes from the official published casualty rolls, but other captures have been gleaned from a variety of sources. Undoubtedly other names will appear with more research.


Two men do not have an exact capture date:
Pte Hemry, New South Wales Mounted Infantry (SAFF Casualty Roll)
Sgt 110 E L'Estrange, 1st NZ Mounted Rifles (London Daily News of September 4th, 1900 as having returned to Warm Bath August 30th)

Captures By Unit

Unit	Casualty Type	Total
Australian Commonwealth Horse	Prisoner of War	3
Australian Horse	Prisoner of War	4
Australian Horse	Prisoner of War - Escaped	1
Canadian Mounted Rifles	Missing	1
Canadian Mounted Rifles	Missing - Rejoined	21
Canadian Mounted Rifles	Prisoner of War	2
Canadian Mounted Rifles	Prisoner of War - Released	6
Canadian Scouts	Missing	1
Canadian Scouts	Prisoner of War - Released	3
Lumsden's Horse	Prisoner of War	11
New South Wales Citizens Bushmen	Missing - Rejoined	1
New South Wales Citizens Bushmen	Missing - Released	2
New South Wales Citizens Bushmen	Prisoner of War	7
New South Wales Citizens Bushmen	Prisoner of War - Released	1
New South Wales General Staff	Prisoner of War - Released	1
New South Wales Imperial Bushmen	Missing - Rejoined	5
New South Wales Imperial Bushmen	Missing - Released	1
New South Wales Imperial Bushmen	Prisoner of War - Escaped	1
New South Wales Imperial Bushmen	Prisoner of War - Released	8
New South Wales Lancers	Prisoner of War	10
New South Wales Mounted Infantry	Prisoner of War	1
New South Wales Mounted Infantry	Prisoner of War - Released	7
New South Wales Mounted Rifles	Missing - Rejoined	1
New South Wales Mounted Rifles	Prisoner of War	7
New South Wales Mounted Rifles	Prisoner of War - Released	14
New Zealand	Missing - Rejoined	1
New Zealand	Prisoner of War	1
New Zealand Mounted Infantry	Prisoner of War	31
New Zealand Mounted Infantry	Prisoner of War - Released	5
New Zealand Mounted Rifles	Missing - Rejoined	3
New Zealand Mounted Rifles	Prisoner of War	1
New Zealand Mounted Rifles	Prisoner of War - Released	2
New Zealand Rough Riders	Prisoner of War	2
Queensland Imperial Bushmen	Prisoner of War	1
Queensland Imperial Bushmen	Prisoner of War - Escaped	1
Queensland Imperial Bushmen	Prisoner of War - Released	28
Queensland Mounted Infantry	Missing - Released	1
Queensland Mounted Infantry	Prisoner of War	12
Queensland Mounted Infantry	Prisoner of War - Released	2
Canadian Field Artillery Royal	Missing	1
Canadian Field Artillery Royal	Missing - Rejoined	1
Canadian Dragoons	Missing	1
Canadian Dragoons	Prisoner of War - Rejoined	1
Canadian Regiment Of Infantry	Missing - Rejoined	2
Canadian Regiment Of Infantry	Missing - Released	5
Canadian Regiment Of Infantry	Prisoner of War	1
Canadian Regiment Of Infantry	Prisoner of War - Released	2
South Australian Citizens Bushmen	Prisoner of War - Released	3
South Australian Imperial Bushmen	Prisoner of War	3
South Australian Mounted Rifles	Missing	1
South Australian Mounted Rifles	Missing - Rejoined	3
Strathcona's Horse	Missing	3
Strathcona's Horse	Prisoner of War	11
Strathcona's Horse	Prisoner of War - Released	2
Tasmanian Bushmen
Tasmanian Contingent	Missing - Rejoined	1
Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen	Prisoner of War	1
Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen	Prisoner of War - Escaped	1
Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen	Prisoner of War - Released	2
Tasmanian Mounted Infantry	Prisoner of War	10
Tasmanian Mounted Infantry	Prisoner of War - Released	1
Victorian Bushmen	Missing	6
Victorian Bushmen	Prisoner of War	1
Victorian Mounted Infantry	Missing - Rejoined	2
Victorian Mounted Infantry	Prisoner of War	10
Victorian Mounted Infantry	Prisoner of War - Released	2
Victorian Mounted Rifles	Missing	3
Victorian Mounted Rifles	Missing - Rejoined	1
Victorian Mounted Rifles	Prisoner of War	9
West Australian Bushmen	Prisoner of War	1
West Australian Horse	Prisoner of War	1
West Australian Mounted Infantry	Missing	3
West Australian Mounted Infantry	Prisoner of War	5

Captures by Unit and Location

Date	Location	Unit	Number Captured
16/01/1900	Rensburg	Australian Horse	3
16/01/1900	Slingersfontein	Australian Horse	1
16/01/1900	Slingersfontein	New South Wales Lancers	9
09/02/1900	Jasfontein	Tasmanian Mounted Infantry	4
12/02/1900	Hobkirk's Farm	Victorian Mounted Infantry	11
20/02/1900	Paardeberg	Canadian Regiment Of Infantry	1
24/02/1900	Kuilfontein	Tasmanian Mounted Infantry	1
05/03/1900	Auchteetarn	Tasmanian Mounted Infantry	5
06/03/1900	Slingersfontein	New South Wales Lancers	1
21/03/1900	Not stated	Canadian Regiment Of Infantry	2
26/03/1900	Arundel	New South Wales Mounted Rifles	2
31/03/1900	Koornspruit	New Zealand Mounted Infantry	17
31/03/1900	Koornspruit	Queensland Mounted Infantry	5
07/04/1900	Spytfontein	New South Wales Mounted Rifles	1
23/04/1900	Bloemfontein (2)	Canadian Mounted Rifles	3
23/04/1900	Karrefontein	South Australian Mounted Rifles	1
30/04/1900	Bloemfontein (2)	Canadian Regiment Of Infantry	4
30/04/1900	Houtnek	Victorian Mounted Infantry	1
30/04/1900	Houtnek	Victorian Mounted Rifles	1
30/04/1900	Os Spruit	Lumsden's Horse	10
01/05/1900	Karee Siding	Victorian Mounted Rifles	1
01/05/1900	Marendellas	Canadian Field Artillery Royal	1
04/05/1900	Kareekloof	Victorian Mounted Rifles	1
05/05/1900	Bloemfontein (2)	Canadian Mounted Rifles	4
10/05/1900	Kroonstad	Canadian Regiment Of Infantry	2
10/05/1900	Nr Kroonstad	West Australian Horse	1
10/05/1900	Virginia Kopje	Australian Commonwealth Horse	3
10/05/1900	Virginia Kopje	Australian Horse	1
20/05/1900	Lindley	New South Wales Mounted Rifles	1
23/05/1900	Nr Kroonstad	South Australian Mounted Rifles	1
23/05/1900	Nr Pretoria	Victorian Mounted Rifles	1
26/05/1900	Driefontein	West Australian Mounted Infantry	4
27/05/1900	Houtnek	South Australian Mounted Rifles	1
28/05/1900	Nr Johannesburg	South Australian Mounted Rifles	1
29/05/1900	Nr Pretoria	Victorian Mounted Rifles	3
29/05/1900	Pretoria	Canadian Regiment Of Infantry	1
04/06/1900	Nr Pretoria	Canadian Mounted Rifles	1
05/06/1900	Kroonstad	Canadian Mounted Rifles	2
05/06/1900	Kroonstad	New Zealand Mounted Infantry	1
05/06/1900	Kroonstad	Queensland Mounted Infantry	3
12/06/1900	Pretoria	New South Wales Mounted Rifles	1
22/06/1900	Katbosch	Canadian Mounted Rifles	5
28/06/1900	Lindley	South Australian Imperial Bushmen	3
30/06/1900	Spitzkop (3)	New South Wales General Staff	1
01/07/1900	Waterval	Strathcona's Horse	2
05/07/1900	Greylingstad	Strathcona's Horse	6
05/07/1900	New Denmark	Strathcona's Horse	2
05/07/1900	Pienaars Poort	Victorian Mounted Rifles	3
11/07/1900	Bethlehem	West Australian Mounted Infantry	1
12/07/1900	Plat Kop	Strathcona's Horse	4
13/07/1900	Rietvlei	Canadian Mounted Rifles	1
16/07/1900	Rhenoster	West Australian Mounted Infantry	2
16/07/1900	Rietvlei	New Zealand Mounted Infantry	1
16/07/1900	Witpoort	New Zealand Rough Riders	1
18/07/1900	Pretoria	Lumsden's Horse	1
19/07/1900	Bloemfontein (2)	Canadian Mounted Rifles	1
19/07/1900	Paardeplaats	New South Wales Mounted Rifles	1
21/07/1900	Kosk's River	West Australian Bushmen	1
21/07/1900	Koster River	Victorian Bushmen	1
21/07/1900	Rustenburg (1)	New South Wales Citizens Bushmen	2
22/07/1900	Kosk's River	New South Wales Citizens Bushmen	5
25/07/1900	Klerksdorp	Tasmanian Mounted Infantry	1
26/07/1900	Rietvlei	New Zealand	1
26/07/1900	Rietvlei	New Zealand Mounted Infantry	17
01/08/1900	Magato Nek	Victorian Bushmen	2
01/08/1900	Not stated	New South Wales Mounted Infantry	5
05/08/1900	Elands River Post	New South Wales Imperial Bushmen	5
06/08/1900	Elands River Post	Queensland Mounted Infantry	2
11/08/1900	Nr Horensnek	New South Wales Mounted Rifles	2
12/08/1900	Kaalfontein	Queensland Imperial Bushmen	1
12/08/1900	Kaalfontein	Queensland Mounted Infantry	1
12/08/1900	Kaalfontein	Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen	1
18/08/1900	Buffelshoek	South Australian Citizens Bushmen	3
19/08/1900	Otto's hoop	New South Wales Imperial Bushmen	1
27/08/1900	Otto's hoop	New South Wales Imperial Bushmen	4
31/08/1900	Not Known	New South Wales Mounted Infantry	1
01/09/1900	Badfontein (1)	Strathcona's Horse	1
01/09/1900	Warm Bath	Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen	1
02/09/1900	Elands River	New South Wales Citizens Bushmen	3
02/09/1900	Elands River	Queensland Mounted Infantry	1
02/09/1900	Elands River	Victorian Bushmen	4
05/09/1900	Nooitgedacht	Canadian Mounted Rifles	6
08/09/1900	Nr Thabanchu	Victorian Mounted Infantry	2
10/09/1900	Nr Rustenburg	New South Wales Mounted Infantry	1
12/09/1900	Malopo Oog	New South Wales Citizens Bushmen	1
29/09/1900	Doornlaagte	Queensland Imperial Bushmen	1
07/10/1900	Nr Wonderfontein	Canadian Dragoons	1
24/10/1900	Zeerust	New South Wales Imperial Bushmen	1
27/10/1900	Jacobsdal (1)	Tasmanian Contingent	1
02/11/1900	Nr Belfast	Canadian Field Artillery Royal	1
07/11/1900	Nr Belfast	Canadian Dragoons	1
10/11/1900	Nr Frederikstad	Strathcona's Horse	1
11/11/1900	Ventersdorp	New Zealand	1
08/12/1900	Wolmarans Drift	New South Wales Imperial Bushmen	4
04/01/1901	Onverwacht (1)	Queensland Imperial Bushmen	1
16/01/1901	Nr Avontuur	Victorian Mounted Rifles	1
07/02/1901	Not Known	New South Wales Mounted Rifles	2
13/02/1901	Zwartkopjes	Queensland Mounted Infantry	3
19/03/1901	Nr Winburg	Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen	2
27/03/1901	Rondal	New Zealand Rough Riders	1
07/04/1901	Nr Pietersburg	New Zealand Mounted Rifles	1
16/05/1901	Grobbelaar Recht	West Australian Mounted Infantry	1
24/05/1901	Nr Bethel	New Zealand Mounted Rifles	1
01/06/1901	Blesbok Spruit	New Zealand Mounted Rifles	1
03/06/1901	Rietspruit (2)	Queensland Imperial Bushmen	2
06/06/1901	Graspan (2)	New South Wales Mounted Rifles	1
21/06/1901	Kaffirstad	Victorian Mounted Rifles	1
03/07/1901	Waterval Randbergen	New South Wales Mounted Rifles	1
13/07/1901	Witkopjes	New South Wales Mounted Rifles	1
15/07/1901	Wonderfontein	Queensland Imperial Bushmen	1
25/07/1901	Palmietfontein (9)	Queensland Imperial Bushmen	1
26/07/1901	Nr Heilbron	New South Wales Mounted Rifles	2
29/07/1901	Grunvlei	New South Wales Mounted Rifles	1
10/08/1901	Roberts Drift	New South Wales Mounted Rifles	1
17/08/1901	Zaaihoek	New South Wales Mounted Rifles	1
31/08/1901	Zand River	New South Wales Mounted Rifles	1
25/09/1901	Vaalkrans	New South Wales Mounted Rifles	1
27/09/1901	Bastersdrif	New Zealand Mounted Rifles	1
27/09/1901	Mokari Drift	Queensland Imperial Bushmen	12
12/10/1901	Kromdraai	Canadian Scouts	3
13/10/1901	Niemandskraal	New South Wales Mounted Rifles	1
21/11/1901	Nr Castrol Nek	New Zealand Mounted Rifles	1
23/11/1901	Familie Hoek	Queensland Imperial Bushmen	2
06/12/1901	Familie Hoek	Queensland Imperial Bushmen	3
20/12/1901	Nr Tafel Kop (5)	New South Wales Mounted Rifles	1
04/01/1902	Onverwacht (1)	Queensland Imperial Bushmen	6
13/02/1902	Nr Rolfontein	Victorian Mounted Rifles	1
25/03/1902	Nr Klerksdorp	Canadian Mounted Rifles	2
27/03/1902	Tafelkop	Canadian Scouts	1
31/03/1902	Boschbult	Canadian Mounted Rifles	4
15/04/1902	Oorbeitjesfontein	Canadian Mounted Rifles	1
31/12/2009	Not stated	New South Wales Mounted Infantry	1
31/12/2009	Not stated	New Zealand Mounted Rifles	1

Bakenlaagte - After the battle

On 30th October, 1901 Boer commandos comprehensively defeated the rearguard of a British column, killing its commander, Colonel Benson RA, and effectively putting the column out of action. This battle, at Bakenlaagte, Eastern Transvaal, is well known and well studied.

On this day (7th November), Major NE Young, RFA, a British Staff officer in Pretoria sent off a report to Lord Kitchener, the British Commander-in-Chief in South Africa. Kitchener forwarded it to the War Office, London who later released it to the newspapers.

Kitchener had asked Major Young to report on the:

 "the conduct of the Boers to the officers and men wounded in the action with Colonel Benson’s column at Bakenlaagte".

This is copied from the Morning Post, 13th December 1901, from FindmyPast. The report is worth careful reading and some research to consider the claims made by the British soldiers.

"Bakenlaagte Wounded

Ill-Treatment by Boers

The War Office has issued the following letters and reports relating to the ill-treatment of the British wounded at Bakenlaagte by the Boers.

From Lord Kitchener to the Under Secretary of State for War

Pretoria, Nov. 9.

Sir – I have the honour to enclose a report by Major Young, DSO, Royal Field Artillery, respecting the conduct of the Boers to the officers and men wounded in the action with Colonel Benson’s column at Bakenlaagte. – I have, &c.,

Kitchener

From Major NE Young, DSO, Royal Field Artillery, to the Military Secretary, Army Headquarters.

Pretoria, 7^th November, 1901.

Sir, - I have the honour to report that, in accordance with your instructions, I have seen the wounded officers and men of Colonel Benson’s column now at Elandsfontein.

Out of a total of 147 wounded non-commissioned officers and men seen by me 54 had not been in the hands of the Boers. Of the remaining 93 men, 18 informed they had nothing to complain of, and in some cases they had met with kind treatment of an active nature. All represented that the commandant and those in subordinate command had protected the wounded in their immediate neighbourhood.

Seventy-five non-commissioned officers and men made complaint of ill-treatment of a more or less serious nature; nearly all of these had been robbed of whatever money they possessed, also of their watches and private papers. A very large proportion stated that their boots had been removed, and in those cases where the leg had been broken this caused intense agony. One man, Trooper Jamieson, of the Scottish Horse, whose arm was shattered, suffered terrible pain from the way in which his bandolier was removed; his arm has since been amputated. Many had been deprived of other articles of clothing, hats, jackets, and socks, in some cases being left with an old shirt and a pair of drawers only.

One man, Gunner Masham, 84^th battery Royal Field Artillery, was deprived of £3, a watch and chain, and his warm jacket and shirt; the process of removing the latter was very painful, as he was shot in the chest. Sergeant Ketley, of the 7^th Hussars, attached to the Scottish Horse, states that after having been wounded in the head and hip was shot with his own carbine in the arm by a Boer who was kneeling over him because he was unable to raise his arms when ordered to do so.

There are two evidences, Private Prickett, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, and Corporal Gower, 4^th battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 25^th Mounted Infantry, to the fact that a man named Private Foster of their corps was killed at five yards’ range, though he had put up his hands in token of surrender and was unarmed.

There is a consensus of evidence that the wounded lying around the guns were fired on by Boers, who had already disarmed them, for a long period after all firing in their neighbourhood from our side had ceased. This was done whenever a wounded man moved, and in this way Captain Lloyd, a Staff Officer, who had been wounded in the leg, met his death. Corporal Atkins, whose fingers had been shot away, states that he was ordered to show how to work the gun, but got off on representing that he could not stand.

Such of the officers as fell into the hands of the Boers met with similar treatment to the men. Lieutenant Bircham, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, informed me that while he was travelling in the same ambulance as Lieutenant Martin, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, since deceased, the latter told him that while he was lying on the ground with a shattered thigh his leg was twisted completely round so that the spur could be more easily taken off.

Even the late Colonel Benson was not respected. Though he was protected for some time by a man in authority, eventually his spurs, gaiters, and private papers were removed.

I forward herewith two specimen rounds of ammunition taken from the bandolier of a wounded Boer by Private Robinson, 2^nd Scottish Horse. They are Mauser cartridges.

I attach statements taken down by me from the officers and men in relation to the most serious cases. I was impressed with the idea that the statements made to me were true and not wilfully exaggerated, so simply were they made. There seems no doubt that, though the Boer commandants have the will, they no longer have the power to repress outrage and murder on the part of their subordinates. – I have, &c.,

NE Young, Major, Royal Field Artillery.

Officer’s Report

Captain CW Collins, Cheshire Regiment:

“I was signalling officer to Colonel Benson on the 30^th October. I was wounded, and lying near the guns about a hundred yards in rear of them. A Field Cornet came up, and went away without molesting me. AT about 5:30pm, or a little later the ambulance came and picked me up; my ambulance went some distance further, and Colonel Benson and some men were put in it. There seemed a lot of delay, which annoyed the colonel, and he asked to be allowed to get away. The delay, however, continued till a Boer came and took away Colonel Benson’s documents from his pocket, notwithstanding his protest they were all private papers, and that they had been seen by a commandant earlier in the day, who said they were not required. This man said it was all right; if they were private they would be returned.

CW Collins Captain

2^nd Batt. Cheshire Regiment”

Lieutenant Bircham, 4^th Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps, states:

“That he was in the same ambulance wagon as Lieutenant Martin, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (since deceased) and that the latter told him that when he (Lieutenant Martin) was lying on the ground wounded the Boers took off his spurs and gaiters. In taking off his spurs they wrenched his leg, the bone of which was shattered, completely round, so as to be able to get at the spurs more easily, though Lieutenant Martin told them where he was hit.

HM Bircham

Lieutenant King’s Royal Rifle Corps”

Lieutenant G Acland Troyte, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 25^th Mounted Infantry, states:

“I was wounded on October 25 in a rearguard action with Colonel Benson’s force, near Kaffirstad. The Boers came up and stripped me of everything except my drawers, shirt, and socks; they gave me an old pair of trousers, and later a coat. They left me some time to see if our ambulance would; as it did not they took me into a farmhouse, used as a temporary hospital, and there treated me as well as they could. Commandant Grobelaar’s family were there. There were also a sergeant and two privates in the same room. They had also been stripped, but were well treated in the house. They took a silver watch and gold ring. I was removed in the ambulance two days after.

G Acland Troyte

Lieutenant”

Lieutenant Reginald Seymour, 1^st Batt. King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 25^th Mounted Infantry, states:

“On 30^th October my company was sent back to the support of Colonel Benson’s rearguard. We occupied a hill on the right of the guns. I was wounded early in the day. In the evening, the company being ordered to retire, I was left behind with three others, two non-commissioned officers and one private; this was about 6pm. The Boers came up immediately. They took my greatcoat, gaiters, spurs, and helmet; they took the money and watches from the other wounded, but left them their clothes except the coat of one man. They then left us without assistance. Two Boers afterwards returned and took away a greatcoat belonging to one of our men which had been left over me. We were removed a few hours later in the ambulances. One of the party who stripped us was addressed by the remainder as commandant, but I did not know his name.”

Men’s Statements

Private E Rigby, 4^th Batt. King’s Royal Rifle Corps, states the Boers took all his clothes except his shirt. This man is not quite able to speak yet.

No. 33262 Trooper Hood 2^nd Scottish Horse, states:

“I was wounded on 30^th October with Colonel Benson’s rearguard.. While I was lying on the ground the Boers came up and stripped me of my hat and coat, boots, 15s., and a metal watch. I saw them fire at another wounded man as he was coming to me for a drink. The guns were not removed until the ambulances cam up; as I was siting in the ambulance, it then being dusk, I saw them take off the guns. The ambulances were detained till twelve o’clock at night before returning to camp.”

No. 33345 Trooper Alexander Main, 2^nd Scottish Horse, states:

I was wounded on the 30^th October with Colonel Benson’s reargaurd. While lying on the ground the Boers came close up and stood about fifteen to twenty yards from where we were lying wounded round the guns. All were wounded at this time, and no one was firing. I saw the Boers there fire at the wounded. Captain Lloyd, a Staff Officer, was lying beside me wounded in the leg at this time; he received one or two more shots in the body, and shortly afterwards he died. I myself received three more wounds. I got into camp by myself.”

Trooper No. 33265 Jamieson, Scottish Horse says:

“The Boers took his boots and they hurt his shattered arm in a terrible manner while getting off his bandolier. His arm has been removed.”

No. 6127 Private Parrish, 1^st battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps, states:

“On 30^th October, while I was lying wounded, the Boers came and took my boots off. An officer of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, who was a prisoner, remonstrated, and they threatened to shoot him. Our ridge was not firing any more, but whenever a wounded man showed himself they fired at him. In this way several were killed; one man who was waving a bit of blue stuff with the idea of getting an ambulance received about 20 shots.”

No. 31362 Private Robertson, 2^nd Battalion Scottish Horse, states:

“He has no complaints except the loss of 30s., he took two rounds with split bullets handed to me from a wounded Boer’s bandolier who was lying beside him.”

No. 2563 Private Prickett, 4^th Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps, states:

“On the 30^th October I was lying wounded with Colonel Benson’s rearguard. I saw the Boers come up, and an old Boer with black beard and whiskers, and wearing leggings, whom I should be able to recognise again, shot my friend, Private F. Foster, 4^th Batt. King’s Royal Rifle Corps, by putting the muzzle of his rifle to his side. Private Foster had been firing under cover of an ant heap till the Boers took the position; he then threw away his rifle to put his hands up, but was shot all the same. When any of the wounded moved on the field after we had stopped firing they kept sniping at them.”

No. 33360 Private N.H. Grierson, Scottish Horse states:

“On 30^th October I was wounded and lying by the side of Colonel Benson. When the Boers came up they wanted to begin to loot; Colonel Benson stopped them, telling he had received a letter from Commandant Grobelaar, saying the wounded would be respected. Colonel Benson asked if he could see Grobelaar; they said they would fetch him, and bought up someone who was in authority, but I did not think it was Grobelaar. Colonel Benson told him the wounded were not to be touched, and he said he would do his best; he himself protected Colonel Benson for about an hour, but he was still there when a Boer took off Colonel Benson’s spurs and gaiters; then the ambulance came and we were removed. I did not see the gun removed. I was with Colonel Benson’s rearguard on 30^th October, 1901 just as I had mounted to change position I was hit in the right arm. I then dropped my rifle, being unbale to hold it, and turned towards the ambulance. I had to pass some Boers as I was galloping, and two or three of them shot me at about seven yards range, hitting my horse. These men must have seen I was wounded already.”

No. 4398 Sergeant Ketley, 7^th Hussars, states:

“On 30^th October I was attached to the 2^nd Scottish Horse with Colonel Benson’s rearguard. I was wouned in the head and hip just before the Boers rushed the guns. I was covered with blood. A Boer came up, took away my carbine and revolver and asked me put to put up my hands. I could not do this, being too weak with the loss of blood. He loaded my own carbine and aimed from his breast while kneeling and pointing at my breast, he fired and hit me in the right arm just below the shoulder. Nothing was taken, and I was not touched anymore.”

No. 2439 Private Bell, 4^th Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 25^th Mounted Infantry states:

“I was wounded through the hip with Colonel Benson’s rearguard on the 30^th October; when the Boers came up they took my boots off very roughly, hurting my wounded leg very much. I saw them taking watches and money off other men.”

No. 4153 Private C. Connor, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, states:

“I was attached to the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, I was lying beside the guns among a lot of our wounded who were not firing. Every time one of our wounded attempted to move the Boers fired at them; several men (about ten or eleven) were killed in this way. The Boers took boots and jacket. I was wounded in the hip.”

9564 Corporal P. Gower, 4^th Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 25^th Mounted Infantry states:

“I was on 30tjh October with Colonel Benson’s rearguard; I was wounded and unconscious, when I came to the Boers were stripping the men round me; a man, Private Foster, who was not five yards from me, put up his hands in token of surrender but was shot at about five yards’ range by a tall man with a black beard; he was killed. They also fired on the wounded after the latter had ceased firing.”

No. 6153 Corporal Atkins, 84^th Battery Royal Field Artillery, states:

“I was with Colonel Benson’s rearguard on 30^th October, when the Boers came up to me and said, “Can you work this gun?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “Get up and show me.” I said, “How can I, I have on ehand taken away and I am wounded in both legs.” – this last was not true. He then said, “Give us your boots.”: he took them and my mackintosh. He took what money was in my belt. One of our men, Bombardier Collins, got up to try and put up a white flag as we were being fired at from the camp and by the Boers; as soon as he got up they began shooting at him. I saw a Kaffir fire three shots from about thirty yards off. ”

No. 15771 Bombardier Collins, 84^th Battery Royal Field Artillery, states:

“When lying wounded near the guns after the Boers had been up to them I tried to raise a white flag as our own people were dropping their bullets close to us. When I did this they fired at me.”"

END.

Tribute Medals: Borough of Barnsley

On eBay a Borough of Barnsley Tribute medal has been sold for £545. This medal is in Hibbard but when he published 1982 only one example was known to a "L-Cpl H Pearson".

The medal sold, the second example known, is to "Pte W Crossland".

The inscription does not identify the unit of the recipient. Hibbard states that  "L-Cpl H Pearson" served in the volunteer company, Yorks & Lancs Regiment. As Hibbard details Pearson's WW1 service in the Army Service Corps one may assume that the tribute medal named to him comes with Pearson's campaign medals.

"L-Cpl H Pearson" was Harry Pearson, 2 volunteer battalion York & Lancaster Rgt. His service number for South Africa was 7047. Pearson was born in Barnsley.

Following this line the medal just sold is to Willie Crossland also of the 2 volunteer battalion York & Lancaster Rgt. His service number for South Africa was 7026. Crossland was born near  Barnsley.

The inscription reads:

 'PRESENTED BY THE MAYOR & CORPORATION OF THE BOROUGH OF BARNSLEY TO PTE W CROSSLAND FOR SERVICES RENDERED DURING THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA AUG 22 1902'

A search of British Newspapers Archive has failed to turn up a newspaper report on the award. It is unknown if all the recipients were from the 2nd volunteer battalion Yorks & Lancaster Rgt or inhabitants of Barnsley.

To estimate the number of this Barnsley Tribute medals I used FindmyPast.  I searched for all men born in Barnsley, Regiment = "York and Lanc*", Service Number = 70*, Year = 1900; there are 23 hits. This is inexact as Willie Crossland is indexed by FmP for "Huddersfield", yet his papers show he was born in Gilroyd Dodson [?], Barnsley.

Bridging the Thukela, February 1900

As the Boers advanced into Natal they destroyed railway bridges and culverts, one such bridge was that over the Thukela (Tugela) river at Colenso.

The besieged town and northern Natal was isolated from railway traffic. The Boers held the Thukela river line as a defensive position from December 1899 to February 1900. British forces under General Sir R Buller VC made three failed attempts before gaining a foothold across the river to the east of Colenso on February 21st, 1900. Ladysmith was relieved six days later on the 27th.

While the battles raged on the hills just north of the river work began to build a railway bridge over the Thukela. Ladymith had been besieged since 28th October 1899 and, after four months, the garrison and civilians were starving, food and medical supplies would be needed immediately the siege was lifted. The river was within range of Boer artillery, yet civilians form the Natal government's Public Work Department, were bought in to do the work instead of using Royal Engineers. As it was the Engineers had built two pontoon bridges across the Thukela here under fire.

Work was begun on February 24th by one sub-overseer and 17 “mechanics”, their names are recorded on the medal rolls (WO100/279p238).  Supplies for the bridge were sent from Durban and work was expected to be completed in fourteen days. The bridge was was 600ft long and 30 ft high. In the end the bridge was completed in 20 days, a searchlight was lent by the Royal Engineers (who used some civilians themselves to operate the light) to allow work to continue at night. On two occasions the Boers shelled the bridge, no casualties or significant damage was recorded.




The first train to cross the bridge on March 19th was the Princess Christian ambulance train.

Each man who worked on the construction of the bridge was sent a congratulatory letter, the transcript reads:

"Public Works Department

Pietermaritzburg 24^th March 1900

Re-Construction of the Tugela Bridge

As you were employed on the re-construction of the Tugela Bridge, I have much pleasure in informing you that in an open letter, COLONEL RAWSON, R.E. was good enough to make the following satisfactory remarks:

“The Bridge was finished in good time to allow the waggons proceeding to Ladysmith to supply the wants of the town as it was relieved, and it was with much pleasure that I conveyed to Mr Rennie and the men working with him, the commendation of the Commander in Chief, Sir REDVERS BULLER on their excellent work.”

I need hardly say That I add my own acknowledgement of your good work, especially having regard to the fact that for some two days you were under shell fire.

Signed

JFR Barnes

Chief Engineer

Pub Works Department

To: Mr A Campbell"

Plans to re-build the bridge, and others destroyed by the Boers, were well advanced. British newspapers reported on the plans. The original railway bridge had been constructed in 1877 by the Patent Shaft and Axletree Company located in Wednesbury, a suburb of Birmingham. This company had also built the railway bridge at Frere which the Boers destroyed as well. They were awarded the contract to build a new bridge, an American company also tendered for the contract offering to build the bridge quicker, but the Government decided to stick with the original builders. The Shrewsbury Chronicle reported on the 19^th January that the first span had been completed and inspected and was planned for despatch to Durban in the week. All the spans, five for Colenso and two for Frere were anticipated to be completed in six weeks. The spans would be a total of 735 feet in length and weigh about 740 tons.

Note on Sources

All the men involved in building the trestle bridge can be found on The Register.

Newspaper reports can be found in:
The Scotsman 26-02-1900
South Wales Daily News 24-02-1900
Western Morning News 24-02-1900
Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser 22-03-1900 - reported the Princess Christian ambulance train crossed on the 21st March.
Bromyard News 22-03-1900
Bury Free Press 06-01-1900

Image of the destroyed bridge is in the public domain.
Image of the trestle bridge under construction is from With the Flag to Pretoria p458
Image of the Princess Christian ambulance train crossing is from the Digital Railway Images of South Africa

An actual copy of the letter sent to the building crew can be seen on this thread.

Tribute Medals: Holborn Engine Works

A "new" tribute medal has appeared on eBay. The medal is not in Hibbard's Boer War Tribute Medals: The Definitive Work (Constantia Classics (1982)).

 


The tribute was presented to Ralph Charles P Coulthard who served as Sapper 5861 1st Newcastle Volunteers RE attached to 12 Field Company. He was awarded a QSA with J,DH,Bf,CC,OFS,SA01 clasps, I have not noted the medal for sale. His service papers are catalogued on FindmyPast under number 5858.

Ralph Coulthard was born in St Andrew's, Newcastle in 1880 (or 1882 according to census information), the son of James and Sarah Coulthard. He enlisted for Short Service, one year, to serve in South Africa on January 19th, 1900. He was serving in the Newcastle Volunteers RE.
Ralph was working as a fitter apprenticed to G Gray (or Grey), Holborn Engine Works for five years. Holborn Engine Works made ships engines.

There were 52 men from the Newcastle Volunteers who went out in March 1900 to serve with the 12th Field company RE. They served until May 1901, in that time they served in the Cape Colony, Orange Free State and the Transvaal.

Ralph was awarded the QSA with the clasps: Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast, Cape Colony, Orange Free State and South Africa 1901.

Repeated Gallantry: brave veterans of the Anglo-Boer War

During the Anglo-Boer War there were only three gallantry awards available to the Army; Victoria Cross, Distinguished Service Order and the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

78 Victoria Crosses and 2092 DCMs were awarded. The number of gallantry DSOs has not been calculated and they are excluded here.

Thousands of ABW veterans went on to serve in other wars, notably the First World War. The tables below show the gallantry awards subsequently won by ABW veterans.

Further details on these men are available on The Register.

You can see which ABW veterans went on to win their first gallantry awards (and other orders and campaign medals) using the search in The Research Centre.

VC winners - who subsequently won a second VC (1):

Name	Rank	Number	Unit	Remarks
Martin-Leake, A	Surgeon-Captain		South African Constabulary

DCM winners - who subsequently won an MC (50):

Name	Rank	Number	Unit	Remarks
Acraman, WE	Colour-Sergeant	3070	Grenadier Guards
Axten, S	Sergeant	3172	Cameron Highlanders
Beckett, AC	Corporal	27995	Engineers, Royal
Bell, WC	Lance-Sergeant	6380	Fusiliers, Royal
Belt, CB	Quartermaster Sergeant	2814	South Staffordshire Regiment
Boast, ST	Quartermaster Sergeant	1989	South Lancashire Regiment
Bradley, SGL	Colour-Sergeant	328	Middlesex Rifle Volunteers
Brown, A	Sergeant-Major	2623	Dorset Regiment
Burke, J	Sergeant-Major	43	Dublin Fusiliers
Carney, TP	Drummer	5748	East Yorks Regiment
Chalmers, J	Sergeant	4978	Scottish Rifles
Clarke, AJ	Sergeant	3012	Norfolk Regiment
Collier, A	Sergeant	3513	18th Hussars
Croydon, AC	Colour-Sergeant	4401	Lincolnshire Regiment
Dakin, E	Colour-Sergeant	4649	Royal Lancaster Regiment
Downing, S	Sergeant	2689	Devonshire Regiment
Dunn, JC	Trooper	8376	Imperial Yeomanry
Finney, W	Colour-Sergeant	3154	Manchester Regiment
Forbes, HN	Sergeant	4216	5th Lancers
Harford, CE	Regimental Quartermaster Corporal Major	1284	Royal Horse Guards (The Blues)
Harris, CB	Sergeant	2481	Horse Artillery, Royal
Hazelgrove, A	Drill Sergeant	1703	Grenadier Guards
Hazelwood, J	Colour-Sergeant	4588	South Staffordshire Regiment
Hodgkinson, C	Sergeant	3496	Worcestershire Regiment
Hudson, J	Colour-Sergeant	398	Irish Guards	also awarded bar to DCM
Jones, TA	Colour-Sergeant	3871	Sussex Regiment
Langrish, W	Sergeant	3433	Scottish Rifles
Leavens, FC	Sergeant	3254	East Surrey Regiment
MacWhinnie, NH	Sergeant	5177	King's Own Scottish Borderers
Marsden, WH	Lance-Sergeant	4956	Shropshire Light Infantry
Moncrieffe, JA	Sergeant	252	Imperial Yeomanry
Moore, J	Sergeant	4204	King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
Nicholl, RA	Corporal	26794	Engineers, Royal
Parker, EA	Sergeant-Major	1726	Welsh Fusiliers, Royal
Pepper, AL	Colour-Sergeant	2624	Norfolk Regiment
Percy, HJ	Colour-Sergeant	3046	East Surrey Regiment
Reid, W	Quartermaster Sergeant	3479	Inniskilling Fusiliers
Richardson, JT	Quartermaster Sergeant	2547	Norfolk Regiment
Roberts, FG	Colour-Sergeant	4930	Scots Fusiliers, Royal
Ross, T	Sergeant-Major	8322	Scots Guards
Rouse, AW	Sergeant-Major	5365	Berkshire Regiment
Routh, PG	Sergeant	314	Strathcona's Horse
Scaife, J	Corporal	2622	Gloucester Regiment
Seaton, W	Colour-Sergeant	4440	Derbyshire Regiment
Shea, JPL	Colour-Sergeant	4236	Durham Light Infantry
Simpson, W	Colour-Sergeant	6867	King's Own Scottish Borderers
Watts, AF	Sergeant	87933	Field Artillery, Royal
Wenham, E	Sergeant	9283	King's Royal Rifle Corps
White, EO	Colour-Sergeant	2877	Border Regiment
Withers, J	Corporal	3250	Leicestershire Regiment

DCM winners - who subsequently won a bar to the DCM (16):

Name	Rank	Number	Unit	Dated Bar
Boyd, W	Private	3493	Middlesex Regiment	'14th JUNE 1915'
Burley, JE	Lance-Corporal	4	West Australian MI
Carney, TP	Drummer	5748	East Yorks Regiment
Cownie, S	Private	6411	Royal Scots	Also won an MM
Howells, A	Private	5771	South Wales Borderers
Hudson, J	Colour-Sergeant	398	Irish Guards	'10th -11th AUGUST 1915', also awarded MC
Hudson, WG	Sergeant	2208	Devonshire Regiment
Lawn, JW	Private	5516	King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry	'29th SEPTEMBER 1915'
MacDonald, A	Drummer	4938	Hampshire Regiment	'19th OCTOBER 1914'
MacKie, JD	Colour-Sergeant	1980	Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
MacKinnon, A	Sergeant	2541	Cameron Highlanders	'25th-27th SEPT. 1915'
McIntyre, WL	Colour-Sergeant	2794	Highland Light Infantry	'30th JULY 1915'
Noble, A	Colour-Sergeant	3042	Durham Light Infantry	'31st JULY 1915'
Shields, W	Gunner	95011	Garrison Artillery, Royal	'28TH JANUARY 1916'
Skinner, J	Colour-Sergeant	4853	Seaforth Highlanders
Wing, FW	Sergeant	3802	5th Lancers

DCM winners - who subsequently won an MM (3):

Name	Rank	Number	Unit	Remarks
Cownie, S	Private	6411	Scots, Royal	Also won a second bar to the DCM
Donnelly, JP	Private	3269	East Yorks Regiment
Holmes, W	Sergeant	5433	Dublin Fusiliers

A failed escape attempt? - Sgt Delaney, Royal Irish Fusiliers

Eighty British soldiers are recorded as having escaped from captivity, from about 10,000 soldiers captured. But, only 6,000 POWs were kept for any length of time. After September 1900, most British POWs were kept for a short period of time, some only long enough to be stripped of useful arms, ammunition, clothing, food and valuables before being set free to hobble barefoot and nearly naked back to camp.

A post on angloboerwar.com featured the exploits of two escapers of the New South Wales Lancers, Troopers Ford and Whittington. The text and images come from "the first 150 pages of Volume 62 of The Graphic, July to December 1900." A report was carried in the newspapers in June from which the account in The Graphic relies on heavily.

Trooper Milverton Ford had his account published in The Sydney Mail Saturday 30 June 1900 which is transcribed here. He notes they were joined by: "a sergeant of the Royal Irish Fusiliers, who had seen service in India and Omdurman". The report in The Graphic names him as "Sgt Delaney".

Whittington and Ford arrived safely in Delagoa Bay, Portuguese East Africa, but what happened to Sgt Delaney and who was he?

In the report published by the Sydney Mail Ford says that Delaney split from them after four days, "Parting as friends", heading south towards the railway at Bronkhorst Spruit. No further mention is made of him. However, the report published in the Daily Mail (Perth, Western Australia) two weeks earlier on 16th June, states that "Near Middelburg they missed Sergeant Delaney". Middelburg and Bronkhorstspruit are nearly 100km apart in a rough east-west line; Bronkhorstspruit is not south from Middelburg. There is definitely some confusion in Ford's account or the re-telling by the journalist who recorded it.

There was only one Sergeant Delaney of the Royal Irish Fusiliers captured in the war, 4245 C Delaney. The published Natal Field Force simply shows him as dying in Pretoria on 21st May, 1900, no record of him being captured. However, he must have been a POW to have died in Pretoria before the city was captured on 6th June, 1900. Delaney was most likely a POW at Nicholson's Nek on 30th October, 1899, although he was also present at Talana ten days prior.

Contemporary newspapers published confusing information about Delaney's exact date of death. The Army & Navy Gazette, 16th June, and The Times, 11th June, both state the date as 21st May,  but in the Army & Navy Gazette edition published 14th July it states "30-04". Only the latter publication shows the cause of death as peritonitis.

If this is the same Sgt Delaney as escaped with Ford and Whittington then he must have been re-captured by the Boers and returned to the POW camp. Ford recounts that "some of these who had attempted to escape before us contracted fever, and gave themselves up soon afterwards, returning to camp only to die". Delaney became ill and died a prisoner, one of 76 British soldiers to die as a POW, he is buried in Petronella. Sgt 4245 Delaney served in the 1898 Sudan campaign. Unfortunately no service papers have been traced.