Chris Boonzaier

Whatever the real story turns out to be... I am really, really eager to hear it. Cant wait for you to post it! best Chris

Hi, I dont suggest HE got it wrong... I believe it has been twisted by 4 generations of Authors, Warlord story writers, bloggers, wikipedia contributers to the point where someone who knows little about South Africa 1898-1907 understood something wrongly, passed it on to someone who changed it, heard by a third person who was half drunk and forgot half, who added some details before telling it to a guy who wrote editorials for "Victor" comics. best Chris

Some things to ponder though.... In 1904 South Africa and Germany (and Britain) were not in a state of war at all. The borders were on paper only and Boers wondered backwards and forwards as they liked. There really was not much at all to spy ON at that time. GSWA consisted of a few scattered schutztruppen units, some railway lines and a few small settlements..... nothing to hide, nothing to find. That he participated in the war as a driver, very possible, but I very, very, very much doubt he was passing for a Boer. Lets be realistic... anyone who has learned a foreign language gets very frustrated when the neighbour says "Well, my nephew John was a month in France and came home fluent in the language.... why does it take you years?" And you know that John can ask the way to the bathroom but needs to use sign language and make groaning sounds and squat to let a local know what he is asking.... Boer Dutch/Afrikaans did not even have text books in 1900... how did he learn the language in London? Anyone who has been to South Africa will know that your average Brit who moves down there could spend 50 years and still never be mistaken for a Boer/Afrikaaner... Seen that way, I think the REAL story is still not clear here... I would bet he DID work behind Boer lines in the war... but maybe not AS a Boer? Why would he try to do the impossible.... there were German, Swedish, Irish, and even American volunteers on the Boer side... surely easier to pretend to be one of them....? And a wondering Boer in GSWA? a very aloof and standoffish, SUSPICIOUS lot of people.... I would very much doubt that with even 4 years in country you could pass for one of them.... But there are tales of Irishmen and even the odd British deserter in the area... maybe if he passed as one of them? I am sure there is a real story, I would now not even doubt he may have gotten a medal of some sort.... but I think the story has been added to, changed, polished, gotten tarnished, repaired and cleaned over the last 100 years and all parts may no longer be original..... Best Chris

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I just got this from the son aver Ebay, I assume he was a caporal in 2eme REI which made the group a must for me.... probably by way of 1ere and 4eme REI? I think the star on the VM is gold The son is going to try and find some photos and letters for me. I saved it from being 5 lots on ebay buy buying 4 and tracking down the buyer of the 5th. The "Its not named so not researchable, French medals are just bits of metal because of this....." is of course just waffle when you get a nice group like this. He cut the pins of every one of the badges to mount them.....

Hi, I googled it again, it is a pretty kosher source, the Liddle Hart library for his bio, the silly claim for the EK from a forum. I think we can safely assume that he did serve in 04, just a question of did he get an award, and if so, what one.

I assume this book would clear it all up... James Eastwood, General Ironside (Pilot Press, London, 1940); Best Chris

Hi, an award of the EK was impossible as it was not awarded in this period, after the 1870 war the next awards were 1914... Campaigns in Africa did not get them (Other than during WW1) I am not sure where this was, found it googling a few hours ago. Best Chris

So maybe it is wrong to rule out his claims, it MAY actually be possible for 1904, a number of German books make mention of the expatriate Boers....

This may help, but totally wrong (EK?!!?!?!?) Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 3:27 pm Author: Poppy_Travel Don't forget General William Edmund Ironside. IRONSIDE, William Edmund (1880-1959), 1st Baron Ironside of Archangel and Ironside, Field Marshal Service biography Joined Royal Artillery 1899; South African War 1899-1902; transport section, German Army, Bondelzwarts War, South West Africa 1904; Staff Captain, South Africa 1908-1909; World War I 1914-1918; General Staff Officer Grade 3 1914; General Staff Officer Grade 2 1915; General Staff Officer Grade 1 1916; Commander, 99 Infantry Bde 1918; Commander-in-Chief, Allied Troops, Archangel, North Russia 1918-1920; Ismid Force 1920; North Persian Force 1921; Commandant, Staff College, Camberley 1922-1926; Commander, 2 Div, Aldershot 1926-1928; Commander, Meerut District, India 1928-1931; Lieutenant of Tower of London 1931-1933; Quartermaster General, India 1933-1936; General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command 1936-1938; Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Gibraltar 1938-1939; World War II 1939-1940; Inspector General of Forces 1939; Chief of the Imperial General Staff 1939-1940; Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces 1940; Col Commandant Royal Artillery 1932-1946 He was awarded the Iron Cross in SW Africa for the work he carried out while spying on the Germans disguised as a Boer transport manager.

"In 1902 Ironside was sent to South Africa and during the Boer War worked as a spy. These experiences later resulted in him being used as the model for Richard Hannay, the character that appeared in the novels of John Buchan. " Here he seems to arrive in 1902....

"Lord Ironside could speak 16 languages, once posed for two years (1900-02) as a Boer in the German army in Southeast Africa, so impressed his Prussian superiors that the young spy was awarded the German Military Service Medal." From TIME.... sounds like the start of some half truths, mix ups and gobbeldygook.... As soon as someone starts to claim 16 languages I begin to have my doubts...

I am very excited about the news of German awards to Boers!!! I never knew that. The Kalahari 07 bar is well known but for other awards I had no idea!! As for our man.... I assume that there is a bit of a mix up in all this. Technically he COULD have been in the North Western Cape and Southern Part of DSWA during the closing stages of the Boer war, there were Cape rebels around who fled across the border. But the Germans were total non players in the war it would have been the waste of a valuable spy (if thats what he was). What purpose would he have served in DSWA 03-04 spying? The British could have had little interest in the area, Only when the Germans built their radio station there that it became vaguely interesting. I suppose he could have been wondering around like a lost fart and ended up winning an award.... but where? For what? This IS a relatively famous man... I would not write any of this off just like that... but there must be SOME kind of evidence to be found?

Looks like the kind of pic an other rank would have quickly shot of a visiting personality.... One guy seems to have a life vest, as if he has just been dropped off on the ship (with news?) Imagination could run wild with this.... Looks like Brit naval officers and US soldiers?

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A pic from the photographer at Lockstedter Lager. I guess everone had their pic taken as this guy is number 195. there is a "1" on the shoulderboard. According to the back his name is Joseph Holland. Must have been somewhere between 1900 and 1914, I have no idea when... maybe someone can tell from the uniform? Best Chris

I agree with chip.... although if ever I founded a documented WW1 helmet with insignia I would give my left arm for it..... sigh.......

As a kid I was always fascinated by the concept of challenge coins... would have loved to have had a sacred 5th SFG coin... Nowdays they seen to be rather devalued.... A couple of my work colleagues tossed these over to me as they know I collect old army stuff... both were given at the airport to airport employees for just doing simple stuff like changing seats or checking in.... Bit of a devaluation of unit coins?

A very interesting career indeed... and well documented... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Ironsi..._Baron_Ironside But did he REALLY receive a medal? I have never read that Boers helping the Schutztruppe qualified for medals, and they did not JOIN the German army. Many Boers lived in German South West Afrika and rode transport routes for the Germans, or even fought alongside the Germans, but not as official German soldiers. There must be SOME record of what he did in Africa 1902-06. One has to be careful that later generations did not butter it up and add to it...

Interesting also because preliminary docs for WW2 were very seldom used and were forbidden at this late stage of the war (technically). So an unusual doc in many respects.

I think the bar is so great and unique because it is like it is.... it reeks of a certain history and care by the family. Any changes will simply be a remounted bar. Might as well replace the ribbons then, trade out a medal or two for ones in better condition etc... Just MHO ;-)

If I read correctly they stopped a boat that had armed men in it, having no proof of wrong doing they confiscated the stuff then had to release them. Not being the armed forces of the land of the free they did not have the option of saying "hmmmm... a dark skinned man in rags with a gun!" and making them disappear without trial to a Caribbean island until it was found out that they were whisked away and held for 5 years for nowt. Cowards and buffoons that they are they just had to respect international law....

I like the dark Patina on the front of the cross :-)) I am a patina kinda guy...