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Captain Alexander Lawrence Falls was born in 1849 and purchased his commission as ensign inthe 21st Royal Scots Fusiliers in 1867. During the Zulu War he was left behind with his company at Fort Napier, Pietermaritzburg. He led his company in the Sekukuni Campaign of 1879, taking part in the storming of the Fighting Kopje. At Potchefstroom he commanded C Company and was killed during the defence of the Landrost’s office on 16 December 1880, the first day of the Siege. According to Commandant Raaff, Captain Falls was in the passage between the office and the courtroom, leaning against the front door and talking to Raaff, when a bullet penetrated the soft wood hitting him in the heart. He blurted out “Oh God” and dropped dead. Source: “A Rain of Lead” by Ian Bennett, Greenhill Books, London 2001.

Joseph Taylor Bradley was the son of William and Susanna Bradley. He is recorded as having been baptised in Louth, Lincoln in England on 15 May 1844 although the English Census of 1871 records that he 31 years old suggesting that he was born in about 1840. At that time he was already serving with the 94th Foot, was married to Eliza Phillips, had one child, a daughter named Noretta who was born at Aldershot. Joseph Lehmann relates in The First Boer War how, after the engagement at Bronkhorstspruit 20 December 1880, Joubert, the Boer Commandant, was persuaded to permit two volunteers, Conductor Egerton and Sgt Joseph Taylor Bradley, to walk to Pretoria for medical assistance. They used the errand of mercy as a pretext for smuggling out the Regimental Colours. C/Sgt. Maistre and Sgt. Pearce were initially responsible for this concealment. When the Boers searched and inquired after the trophies, they were given a couple of banners that were used for decorative purposes in connection with garrison balls and theatricals. The Boers were delighted. Meanwhile, Egerton managed to wind the sacred prize around his body under his clothes. In Pretoria the Colours were maintained by the 21st Royal Scots Fusiliers until the Regiment was reorganized. Egerton was subsequently rewarded with a Commission in the 94th Regiment. Lehmann does not specify any award for Bradley. However, in so far as the Submission to the Queen on 26 March 1882 cites the battle of Bronkhorstspruit in connection with Bradley’s award, and in so far also as the service performed was associated with the saving of the Regimental Colours (as is the case with Bridgestock) it is reasonable to assume that the Bradley mentioned by Lehmann is the same as the recipient of the DCM. Today, the importance of “Saving the Regimental Colours” needs to be viewed in the context of Victorian military tradition. At that time, nothing could be viewed as being a greater dishonour to a Regiment than the loss of their Regimental Colours and conversely, no matter what the personal cost, nothing was more important than preserving the honour of their Colours. No less than four of the 20 DCMs awarded for the First Boer War were awarded as a result of the actions taken in preventing these from falling into the hands of the Boers at Bronkhorstspruit. Besides the awards made to Conductor Egerton and Sergeant Bradly awards were also given to Colour Sergeant Maistre and Sergeant Pearce who were initially responsible for their concealment. Bradley received his DCM from the Queen on 13 May 1882.

During this short War Boer forces besieged several towns. These included Pretoria, Potchefstroom, Lydenburg, Marabastad, Rustenburg, Standerton and Wakkerstroom. The number of casualties sustained by the British during these affairs, except for the Siege of Potchefstroom where they numbered more than 80 killed and wounded, was relatively light.

Not withstanding these severe defeats Colley was still filled with much misguided bravado and determined to avenge his ignominious defeats. With Sir Evelyn Wood now appointed as his second-in-command, he once again formed a second column at Newcastle. His troops were now joined by a significant number of additional troops including the 92nd Gordon Highlanders fresh from their successful campaign in Afghanistan. For some reason, perhaps only ever known to General Colley himself, he assembled a composite force of some 550 men and giving them barely three hours warning he set out under cover of darkness intent on surprising the Boers by occupying Majuba Mountain which overlooked the Nek and the Boer position. These forces reached the Majuba summit without too much difficulty but clearly his occupying force did not take effective precautions to counter a possible Boer attack. As soon as Joubert became aware of what had happened he determined that a move should be made to eject the British force from the summit. He entrusted this task to Commandant N.J. Smit and, taking full advantage of the cover afforded by the sparse scrub and dead ground, the Boers carried out a very methodical attack. The disastrous outcome of this battle is well known. General Colley was killed in the early afternoon, evidently having been shot by a single bullet in his head. Once again the British casualties were severe. Duxbury quotes: 92 being killed, 134 wounded and a further 59 taken prisoner. The Boers suffering just one killed and five wounded. A week later, in a cottage close by, Sir Evelyn Wood met General Joubert to discuss provisional peace terms. Less than two decades later Boer forces, this time better equipped and in much greater numbers, crossed over the Transvaal border. The concurrent sieges of Ladysmith, Mafeking and Kimberley had begun.

After the heavy set back at Laingsnek Colley withdrew his force to Mount Prospect to lick his wounds. With so many wounded it was vital that these were taken back to Natal for medical care. On 8 February several ambulances left for Newcastle with Colley mounting a strong escort to set them off on the most hazardous part of their journey. Not surprisingly the leaders of the Boer fighters were cock-a-hoop and when Colley’s force reached the high plateau known as Schuinshoogte they initiated an attack. Once again the British were no match for the Boers and during the ensuing fight which lasted throughout the afternoon they inflicted further losses of more than 140 killed and wounded on the already depleted British force. Nineteen days later they would achieve their real triumph.

Immediately on receiving the news of the disaster at Bronkhorstspruit Sir Owen Lanyon, the British Administrator of the Transvaal, proclaimed Martial Law. Despatches were immediately sent to Sir George Pomeroy-Colley in Pietermaritzburg, the Governor and High Commissioner and Commander-in-Chief of the British forces in Natal advising that Potchefstroom had also been attacked and that the available forces in Pretoria were too weak to respond to the Boer aggression. It is clear that Sir George Pomeroy-Colley had no wish to extend this conflict however, as a trained soldier, he considered that it was beholden on him to send reinforcements to Pretoria. Accordingly he assembled a force consisting of the 5 companies of each the 58th Foot and the 3rd Battalion of the 60th Regiment together with nearly 100 members of the 2/21st Regiment, a Naval Detachment and about 100 Officers and men of the Royal Artillery with a variety of guns. Mounted infantry men were drawn from the 58th and the 60th and together with some 70 members of the Natal Police his total force numbered about 1 400 all ranks. On the 26th January Colley, having crossed the Natal/Transvaal border, established camp at Mount Prospect, still some distance from Laingsnek. Fully aware of the cumbersome movements of the British force General Piet Joubert moved his force of some 2 000 burghers to the area immediately north of Laingsnek where three laagers were established. Although Colley’s reconnaissance scouts reported on the Boer positions on 27 January he decided never the less to push his way through the Boer positions. Intending to capture and occupy Engelbrecht’s Kop, a feature which commanded both the Nek and the left Boer laager, Colley entrusted his attack to the 58th Foot and his 70 mounted infantrymen under Major Brownlow. Foolishly he did not call on the experienced local men of the Natal Mounted Police. The British attack was a disaster and although only a small number (less than a 100) of the Boer force occupied the heights of Engelbrecht’s Kop they were well prepared and routed the attacking British force. Colonel Deane, who led the attack, was quickly killed – the total British casualties amounting to nearly 200 killed and wounded. It was a stunning victory for the Boers and as Colonel Duxbury wrote: “there was far worse to come.”

The British disaster at Bronkhorstspruit was the opening action of this conflict. Based at Lydenburg in the Eastern Transvaal Colonel Anstruther had received orders towards the end of November 1880 to move to Pretoria with two companies of the 94th Regiment and its Headquarters and Commissariat and Transport components. Needlessly delaying his movements he set forth with his force of approximately 250 all ranks on 5 December. His column reached Middelburg on 15 December and, although now specifically warned that caution should be exercised, he unwittingly rode into a pre-set Boer position at Bronkhorstspruit. He was approached by a Boer fighter under a flag of truce and handed an instruction to withdraw. Being given just two minutes to do so, he replied that “I have my order to proceed with all possible despatch to Pretoria, and to Pretoria I am going, but tell the Commandant I have no wish to meet him in a hostile spirit”. Firing started soon thereafter. The British casualties were high with at least 77 killed or died of wounds and more than 80 wounded. Lt. Colonel Anstruther and 3 other officers were all killed. The remainder of his force were taken prisoner.

Hi Megan, You're welcome Let me know where you need help Regards Archie

DTD: Komdt. C.H. Olivier Cornelis Hermanus Olivier was born in 1851 in the Graaff-Reinet district. He farmed in the Free State in the 1880’s and 90’s and was elected to the Orange Free State Legislature in 1893. During the first phases of the Boer War he was in action in Natal and later at Colesberg (rank not known). He was wounded in the left arm in the Roodepoort skirmish near Heilbron (28 May 1900) and awarded the Wound Riband. According to the Official History, Vol III, p476 Commandant Cornelius Olivier operated in the Central Free State in September 1900. By July 1901 General C. H. Olivier was appointed as a member of the Free State Executive Council in the place of Gen. Andries P Cronje who had been captured on 11 July 1901 in Reitz together with most of the government members and officials. It was in his capacity as member of the Executive Council that Olivier attended the peace discussions in Klerksdorp in April and Vereeniging in May 1902, and that he was one of the Free State signatories to the Peace Treaty. When he completed his Vorms “A”, “B” and “C” he correctly stated his rank as General. But, on Vorm “A”, this was downgraded to Kommandant by the Medal Advisory Board (no change made on Vorms “B” and “C”) and the DTD was issued accordingly. It is not known what rank is on the ABO, which has, unfortunately, been separated from the DTD.

The Peace Treaty that ended the Anglo-Boer War was signed at Melrose House, the residence of Mr George Heys, in Maré Street, Pretoria, between 11pm and midnight on 31 May 1902. On p207 of “The Peace Negotiations between Boer and Briton in South Africa” by Kestell and Van Velden the following is recorded: “When this had been done, Lord Kitchener and Lord Milner entered. The two Representatives of the British Government sat at the head of the table next to each other at the south side of the apartment. On the left of Lord Milner sat: Acting President S W Burger, State Secretary F W Reitz, Commandant General Louis Botha, General J H de la Rey, Mr J C Krogh, and General L J Meyer. On Lord Kitchener's right sat: Acting President C R de Wet, General C H Olivier, General J B M Hertzog, and Acting Government Secretary Mr W J C Brebner.”

As the war was coming to an end, Lord Kitchener moved part of “A” Division, South African Constabulary from Grenfell’s column back to their former area of operations in the Gatsrand to clear that district while the peace talks continued. On May 30, 1902, 250 men from “A” Division, including 16/A and 18/A Troops, were in action under Captain Fowler near Buffelsdoorn in the Gatsrand. After coming on a fresh spoor, the advance guard came under fire from some kopjes around a homestead at Deelkraal. Fowler attempted to surround the place, but the two wings of the encircling force mistook each other for the enemy. While the two wings exchanged fire, the Boers got through the cordon and slipped away. Trooper Edwin Woods was killed in the action. Lieutenant Ernest Tredennick and Trooper Percy Devereaux were mortally wounded. Both died at Buffelsdoorn the following day, the day the war ended. “No Colours, No Drums”, Jim Wallace p180.

After numerous Boer/British meetings and correspondence concerning peace negotiations during April 1902, it was finally agreed that the various Boer commandoes would elect 30 delegates each to represent the South African Republic and the Orange Free State. It was decided that these delegates would meet at Vereeniging on Thursday 15 May 1902. After lengthy deliberations, the 60 delegates appointed a 5-man Commission (Botha, De Wet, De la Rey, Smuts and Hertzog) to further confer with Kitchener and Milner. This Conference took place in Pretoria from 19 - 28 May when “Articles to terminate the present hostilities” were agreed on. These were put to the Vereeniging Delegates for final discussion on 29 May and put to the vote at 2pm on 31 May 1902. The motion to accept the British Peace Conditions was adopted by 54 votes to 6.

During April 1902, the main Boer body besieging O’Okiep was at Steinkopf: a very strong position, so well masked by hills and natural defences that it was impossible to ascertain the Boer strength. In addition, all attempts at getting on their flanks proved fruitless. On 26 April 1902 Lt-Col Caldwell made a reconnaissance towards the Boer positions. They were too weak to attack - four men were wounded. Again, on 28 April 1902, 2 companies of the East Surreys managed to advance to within 400 yards of the Boer positions and a company of DEOVR occupied a position from the koppies above Steinkopf. The British lost 4 killed and 3 wounded.

“During the night of 20 April practically the last action of any importance took place at Moolman’s Spruit, near Brindisi, Brandwater Basin. A force of Imperial Yeomanry of the 1st Battalion, together with about forty mounted South Staffords, under the command of Major Perceval, R.A., was ambushed by a large force of Boers, and suffered heavy loss. The force left at night, with the object of attacking a farm in which a small party of Boers was reported to be sleeping. The enemy, however, had evidently received information of the intention…and had taken steps to considerably reinforce their numbers... A tremendous fire was opened on the advancing troops who were endeavouring to take possession of the outbuildings round the farm. These, however, had been loopholed and the whole position barricaded and made well-nigh impregnable. Under these circumstances, the order was given to retire. Had it not been for the fact that a large number of the Boer horses had been shot, Major Perceval's force would in all probability have been annihilated… Casualties were heavy and included Captain Sir Thomas Fowler, who was killed, Captain Blackwood mortally wounded, and who died before reaching camp, Lieutenant Rawes severely wounded, Captain Thain and Lieutenant Leonard slightly wounded, four rank and file killed, twelve wounded, and twenty-eight missing. This fight is remarkable as being not only the last severe engagement of the Eighth Division, but also the final action of any importance in the campaign.” Moffett - "With the Eighth Division” p214 According to the SAFF Casualty Roll the British losses amounted to 8 killed or died of wounds and 17 wounded. On the Boer side 2 Burghers were killed while a daughter of Andries Olivier, the owner of the farm, lost her hand when a rifle which she was loading for the men inside the house accidentally exploded.

One of the last successful night raids was undertaken by elements of 5 columns, commanded by Col Rochfort, Royal Horse Artillery. By this stage of the war it had been learned that preparations for a raid should start well after dusk to prevent Boer scouts from observing and reporting on it. Rochfort then started at 6:30 pm on 15 April, rode some 44 miles mostly through bush country and entered Schweizer-Reneke (one of De la Rey’s chief bases in the Western Transvaal) before daybreak on 16 April 1902. The surprise was complete: according to the PoW Register 61 burghers, including a brother of De la Rey, were captured (not 57 as mentioned in official accounts). “A History of the British Cavalry, 1816 to 1919” Vol IV, by the Marquess of Anglesey.

Extract from Mentions from Col H Cooper, O’okiep to Lt Gen Sir J French, 6 June 1902: Engine Driver F. Gee, Conductor Treland, Stoker Olvisson and Assistant Conductor Van Wyk all deserve great credit for their pluck in taking a train up the line from Anenous to Brakputs near Klipfontein on the night of 15th April in order to bring down the men of the D.E.O.V.R. who were in a position from which they could not be removed during daylight due to the enemy's fire. H Cooper Col. Comd. N.F.F. O'okiep 4 June 1902.

On 6 April, Kitchener put Colonel Ian Hamilton in command of another drive to try to trap De La Rey’s fighters. The plan was to ‘squeeze’ the Boers against the British mobile columns and a line of blockhouses and entrenchments at Klerksdorp. Colonel Robert Kekewich, who was in command of one of Kitchener’s columns, dug in on the hillside at Rooiwal on 10 April with about 3000 mounted infantry, supported by 6 field guns and 2 pom poms. The Boers had scouted the Rooiwal position earlier and found it weakly defended. Ignorant of the subsequent British deployment, one of their commandos, under Commandant Potgieter of Wolmaransstad and General Kemp, therefore decided to overrun the British position early on the morning of 11 April, thereby escaping Hamilton’s ‘drive’. Potgieter had around 1,700 men, all mounted riflemen. At about 7:15 am on 11 April they charged the British position on horseback, firing from the saddle. A British picket of 40 mounted infantry was overrun, suffering 20 casualties. Kekewich’s position was a strong one, but the sight of the charging Boers panicked some of the inexperienced British troops and a number of Yeoman units fled the scene of the battle and were not stopped until they were a mile away from the fighting. A certain Lieutenant Carlos Hickie managed to stop the stampede with a mixture of pleas and threats. In addition, a number of regular British officers on the scene were very critical of the ‘wild’ shooting of their men. In spite of this, the Boer charge was stopped some 30 metres from the British line by artillery and rifle fire. Among the dead, sprawled in the grass, was Commandant Potgieter, wearing a distinctive blue shirt. He and 50 of his men were killed in the charge. The surviving Boers made good their retreat. Boer fire, delivered from the saddle, had produced about 50 casualties in the British line. Ian Hamilton and Rawlinson arrived on the scene just as the fighting was ending. However, Hamilton delayed the pursuit of the Boers as he feared that the retreat was a ruse and that his men would fall into Boer ambushes. At about 9:45, or 90 minutes after the Boer charge had been repulsed, Hamilton sent his mounted troops in pursuit of the enemy. They captured a further 50 Boers and re-captured the artillery lost at Tweebosch. Kitchener had issued orders that Boers captured wearing British uniforms were to be shot. However, although a number of wounded Boers were indeed wearing khaki, Hamilton ordered that they be spared.

“On 8 April 1902 Commandant Nicko Groenewald came to me and asked for 50 men to collect mealies near Mapog’s old stadt. He also wanted to take the wagon and maxim in case of an attack by the tribesmen. I gave my approval. After while I became concerned… Near my camp was a rocky hill and I climbed to the top. This enabled me to see their destination, which was about 5 miles away, with my binoculars. Somewhat later I heard sounds of the maxim firing and then a man on horseback approached. I realised there must have been problems. It was Faan Abrahams and he said Comdt Groenewald had been killed. It was a great shock to me: he was my right hand, always faithful and brave. The whole commando mourned him. The tribesmen attacked them and after being shot back, they retreated into a cave. Commandant Groenewald, fearless as always, charged the cave where a tribesman shot and killed him. His men had major problems in retrieving his body.” Freely translated from “Oorlogsherinneringe (“War Memoirs”) of General Chris H Muller, p160-1.

“In his despatch of 8th April 1902, Lord Kitchener says that Colonel Lawley sent out Colonel Fanshawe with three squadrons of the Queen’s Bays and 30 National Scouts to make a detour preparatory to co-operating with his own advance. At 3.15am Fanshawe rounded a farm, where several Boers were captured; he then went on and tried to surround a laager, but the enemy were on the alert and he “was received by a very heavy fire, and realising that he was in the presence of superior numbers, ordered a gradual retirement upon Leeuwkop. Close fighting then went on for several hours. The Bays, who were skilfully handled, retired steadily by alternate squadrons, whilst the Boers followed, pressing the withdrawal with the greatest determination and persistence.” Leeuwkop was found to be in the enemy’s hands, and Fanshawe had to make for another ridge, “where he received the timely support of the 7th Hussars and Colonel Lawley’s guns.” The Boers then fell quickly back. “In this affair, although the Bays were capably handled and displayed steadiness and gallantry in face of superior numbers, their losses were, I regret to say, heavy. Two squadron-leaders and 10 non-commissioned officers and men were killed, and 5 officers and 59 men were wounded.” Stirling: British Regiments in South Africa 1899-1902.

Boschbult is 27 kilometres from Ottosdal on the Delareyville road. Two British columns, about 1 800 men strong with four field-guns, under Lieutenant-Colonels Cookson and Keir, with Cookson in command, leaves camp at 02:00 on 31 March. They move along the Brakspruit with Damant’s Horse and the Canadian Mounted Rifles leading. At about 10:00, they pick up the tracks of a party of horsemen and Damant’s Horse follow at a stiff pace towards Boschbult with the Canadians waiting for the transport. Suddenly their quarry who has reached support, turns around and the British draw fire from the front, as well as from both sides of the spruit. Cookson immediately orders his force to form camp at Boschbult’s two homesteads, on the bank of the Brakspruit. The British dig in and form a screen of mounted men in a semicircle towards the north. General De la Rey’s men are encamped at Roodewal, the neighbouring farm. The burghers, commanded by Generals Liebenberg, Kemp, Du Toit and Celliers, are quickly reinforced to a strength of about 2000. At 13:30 Kemp and Celliers’ horsemen emerge from the thicket on the north bank and advance at a walking pace in an extended line. At the same time their artillery, four field-guns and a pom-pom, open up from a scrub-covered rise to the south-west. They immediately score hits on the target around the farmhouses, while the British artillery make no impression on the thin line of advancing horsemen. The mule drivers panic and in their attempts to get away, the mules stampede, causing confusion in the camp and upsetting part of Cookson’s mounted screen. Trying to exploit the disarray on the eastern side, Liebenberg, galloping from the Boer field-guns, crosses the spruit upstream of the British position, swings left and launches a spirited attack from the north-east. He is repulsed and falls back northwards to join Kemp and Celliers’ line. At about 15:30 Cookson orders his screens to fall back on the main position which has been completely fortified. Their retreat signals a general Boer charge in all sectors, but the British resist furiously from their strengthened positions. General De la Rey arrives late on the battlefield and assesses the situation. Convinced that little can be gained by further charges, he calls off the attack at 17:00 and the burghers disappear. Kitchener sends Lowe’s column from Driekuil, but they meet bewildered fleeing stragglers and mule drivers and when they hear the firing diminishing, they are convinced that Cookson has been overrun and they return to their camp. According to WO 108/372 (SA Surrenders) the British lose 1 Officer and 13 men killed, 8 Officers and 78 men wounded, and 3 Officers and 80 men taken prisoner. About 400 horses and mules were killed. The Boers lose 6 killed with some 15 men wounded. Anglo-Boer War: A Chronology by Pieter G. Cloete.

Extract from page 408 of the Regimental History of the Hampshire Regiment. “At the end of March, the battalion at last got away from Barberton, moving to Johannesburg on relief by the 1st Welch. The move was marked by a bad railway accident, 42 men being killed and 38 more injured when a driver lost control of his engine on a steep incline near Barberton, the train running off the line at a sharp curve. The men behaved admirably; no panic ensued, and all worked splendidly to rescue the wounded and clear the line, Sergeant Drover’s coolness and good example being conspicuous. E Company was hardest hit losing 24 killed, but the Volunteer Company with 10 killed and 25 wounded had the most casualties. This company was at the time under orders to return home, being replaced by a third Volunteer Company, or rather half-company, which had left England in March and joined the battalion soon after its arrival at Johannesburg.

There is a brief reference to this skirmish in “The Colonials in South Africa”, p147: “On 24 March at Rhenoster Valley a detachment of Marshall’s Horse was badly cut up, losing 7 men killed and 1 officer and 7 men wounded.” Further details are in Taffy & David Shearing’s booklet “General Jan Smuts and his Long Ride” p182: “In faraway Fraserburg (Commandant) Neser ambushed a patrol of Marshall’s Horse at Renostervlei. Jasper Rupping told us that his father was sent to Bakoondkraal to fetch fodder and warned Neser he had spotted four scouts ahead. They were part of a patrol of Marshall’s Horse who were on the Sutherland-Phisanterivier road, climbing up the steep track to Renostervlei. Riding without scouts, they reached the top where Neser and his men lay hidden in the renoster veld. They opened fire and nine men were killed and a further eight wounded. The survivors regrouped, and the fight continued all day. They fled when it was dark. Neser and his men were remounted and rearmed”. Neser, in his Memoirs (Christiaan de Wet Annale, No. 7), covers the skirmish against Lt Col Callwell’s Column in detail and claims that they took approximately 100 men prisoner.

QwaQwa Police Medal for Faithful Service Awarded for 10 years Service No Warrant has yet been traced. 500 of these medals were ordered in July 1993.

QwaQwa Police Medal for Merit No Warrant has yet been traced. Awarded for 20 years Service 500 of these medals were ordered in July 1993.

QwaQwa Police Foundation Medal Awarded to members of the QwaQwa Police for service rendered towards the establishment of the QwaQwa Police Warrant by the Chief Minister of QwaQwa, signed by the Minister of Police on 4 June 1985. This medal was also awarded to 16 members of the South African Police, including the designer W.O. (F) Theresa Diedericks of the SAP.