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    sabrigade

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    Posts posted by sabrigade

      General Botha's Bodyguard: Constable H.S. Venter

      in Great Britain: Orders, Gallantry, Campaign Medals

      Posted

      At the outbreak of the First World War, the Union of South Africa agreed to occupy German South West Africa for the Imperial Authorities.

      The task was to be undertaken under the personal command of General Louis Botha, then Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa.

      General Botha requested that his bodyguard be formed from members of the South African Police.

      Initially, 50 mounted policemen were selected from the various police districts within South Africa.

      Unfortunately, before the campaign against the Germans could be initiated, an internal rebellion had to be suppressed in 1914.

      In this rebellion, many of Botha's former erstwhile comrades in arms from the Anglo-Boer War rose against him. Their number included General and Senior Officers from the then fledgling Union Defense Force.

      The Bodyguard had seen heavy and bitter fighting at Winburg and Nooitgedacht where one of its members was killed in action.

      After the Rebellion, the decision was made to increase the Bodyguard to approximately 100 members.

      This force consisted of approximately 50% English and 50% Afrikaans (Dutch) speakers.

      Police General Orders listed a total of 119 members who had been members of the Bodyguard during various periods.

      Of the 119 members listed, 3 were officers.

      No 4322 Constable H.S. Venter was seconded to the Bodyguard from 12 October 1914 until 31 December 1914 as a member of the South African Police.

      Venter therefore took part in the internal "Rebellion" operations in South Africa.

      From 13 January to 14 August 1915, he was seconded to the Union Defense Force for the duration of the German South West African Campaign.

      Venter had been a constable in the Heidelberg District of the Transvaal, known as the 37th District, before joining the Bodyguard.

      The Bodyguard embarked from Cape Town to Walvis Bay on 5 February 1915.

      They were on the "Galway Castle".

      The campaign was successfully concluded and the Force returned to South Africa.

      For his World War One service, Constable Venter was awarded the 1914-15 star, the 1914-20 British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

      The 1914-15 star was dispatched to him on 29 January 1921 and the other two campaign medals on 30 October 1922.

      Venter continued his service with the South African Police and received other medals.

      I am still continuing with my research on Venter as well as into this fascinating elite South African Police unit that served with distinction during World War One.

      I also have the Anglo Boer War Medal to his father, Corporal E.A. Venter.

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      Personalized Binoculars: Death of General Beyers: 1914 Rebellion

      in The Great War 1914 to 1918

      Posted

      Hi Chris,

      I have been working on his story for a while now, specifically with regard to the rebellion and Beyers role and the final action that cost him his life.

      I have been using the contemporary newspapers of the time as sources and have found some very valuable information.

      They provide a lot of the tactical details and timings that the well known references tend to forget or ignore.

      Regards,

      Will

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