The Durban Recruiting Committee and their Awards: mystery solved?

[sabrigade]

I am currently in South Africa on leave from Afghanistan and I have found time to work through my collection and to provide some interesting insight into this specific committee and the seemingly insignificant badges and certificates they presented to the citizens of Durban.

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THE DURBAN RECRUITING COMMITTEE

There were strong pro-war sentiments from the people of Natal when the First World War was declared. Fund raising and recruiting became a successful collaboration between the government and civil society. The purpose of the committee was to secure men for military service. Natal supplied a large number of men for military service and service was voluntary and not compulsory.

At the outbreak of the war, General Botha made a request for additional volunteers for the planned campaign in German South West Africa and also to take over the responsibilities of the imperial military garrison that had been withdrawn from South Africa.

To find information on the committee and related aspects proved very difficult and took a while to find and a lot more research may be required.

Natal was divided into two military districts at the time. District No 4 was inland at Pietermaritzburg and District No 5 was at the coast in Durban. Mass meetings were held in the two centers and General Botha’s initial request for 7000 volunteers was quickly satisfied and even exceeded. This enabled a second battalion of the Durban Light Infantry to be formed in Durban.

In Pietermaritzburg the Natal Light Horse was established and it consisted of men who had not been able to get into the other units.

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After the German South West African campaign and the internal 1914 rebellion had been successfully concluded, the Union of South Africa offered to send forces to assist in the campaigns in East Africa and in Europe. A Director for war recruiting was appointed and War Recruiting Committees were formed throughout the country. There were 141 of these committees. The committees consisted of mayors, counselors and other leading citizens of the specific town or city. Recruiting campaigns were particularly and specially planned and were conducted by selected personnel and officers.

The Durban Recruiting Committee was well known for the amount of work that was carried out during this time. Mass public meetings were held at the town hall and other venues. The most memorable occasion was a weeklong rally and a smoking concert held at a leading hotel in Durban. The town was also canvassed for potential manpower. Eligible manpower was regarded as men between the ages of 18 and 45 who were not already in active service. The committee utilized experienced military men and was therefore able to confirm who was medically unfit, in government service, employers who had confirmed them as key personnel, those with dependents, whose parents would not let them join and finally those who refused to.

Durban and Pietermaritzburg organizations were supportive of their employees who had joined and ensured that they did not suffer any monetary losses. Many municipal employees from both cities had enlisted.

The committee considered exemption badges for medically unfit potential candidates. This was to spare them from the humiliation of receiving the notorious “white feather treatment” where they would be accused of cowardice for not enlisting by the female population. Although other committees issued exemption badges, the Durban committee decided against it as there report stated that the men often neglected to wear them and therefore defeated the purpose of the badge. Other committees issued badges and this included the Durban branch of the Victoria League. These badges were usually numbered and were worn as lapel badges.

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High schools were encouraged to volunteer and proved to be a very enthusiastic source for recruitment. This group included scholars, old boys and even teachers. As the war continued and heavy losses were experienced, enthusiasm did not wane but memorials were set up at various schools.

At the “outbreak” of peace on 11 November 1918, celebrations in Durban continued for a week. The Recruiting Committees were amalgamated with returned soldiers Advisory Boards and Employment Committees. A dispersal camp was established in Durban for soldiers who returned from East Africa. Some committees issued Returned Soldiers lapel badges.

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DURBAN RECRUITING COMMITTEE BADGES

The Committee decided that a Badge was to be issued and presented to the “women of Natal” for the sacrifice that they had made in their support to the First World War. The words civilization and humanity were used.

The badges were to be given to wives and/or mothers or the closest blood related lady to a serviceman who had died, been incapacitated or who was still serving in the theaters of war where South African soldiers were deployed. Active service was a requirement.

The females were required to be residents in District 5 which was the Durban coastal region.

Ladies who complied with the requirements were requested to submit applications and details of the specific servicemen to the Committee. The details where possible were to include, where and if possible, force number, full names, unit in which served or still serving and other relevant information to assist the Committee.

A specific time and place would be announced to present the awards to the ladies.

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INVITATION FOR “WOMEN’S WAR BADGES” PRESENTATION

Miss C. Lister, sister of the late Corporal H. Lester, was invited by the Chairman and Members of the Durban Recruiting Committee.

The invitation was to a Soiree at the Durban Town Hall on 21 November 1918 at 19h30 where the Women’s War Badges were to be presented.

The invitation card was to be handed in as an exchange for the badge.

As Miss Lister kept her invitation, it is therefore unlikely that she received her badge and may not even have attended the function.

R.S.V.P was to be confirmed at the No 4 Committee Room at the Municipal Building in Durban.

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THE DURBAN RECRUITING COMMITTEE WOMEN’S WAR BADGES

It would appear as if there were two badges presented.

The first type of badge was presented to a lady in recognition of her soldier’s service to his “King and Empire”. In other words, the serviceman had not made the supreme sacrifice. The badge remained the same but was suspended from a blue, white and red ribbon.

The second type of badge was issued In Memoriam where a service man had died as a result of enemy action or where he had died of wounds or disease. The badge was suspended from a purple ribbon.

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http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2012/post-3034-0-69860500-1328960759.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2012/post-3034-0-35200200-1328960785.jpg

DURBAN RECRUITING COMMITTEE ROLL OF HONOR

A document was issued by the Durban Recruiting Committee in Durban on 21 November 1918.

This date coincided with the presentation of the badges to the female recipients of the committee’s badges.

The list included those South Africans who were killed in action or who had died of wounds or disease.

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IN MEMORIUM CERTIFICATE: CPL LISTER

Corporal Lister was one of 500 men, who joined the Natal Light Horse in August, 1914.

They enlisted for the German South West Africa campaign and were commanded by Lt-Col Royston.

During the campaign the Regiment served on the southern frontier and was part of the Central Force.

On 27 April 1915, a major engagement took place near and at Gibeon Station. The German forces were able to deliver heavy machinegun and rifle fire which resulted in heavy losses for the Natal Light Horse. 3 Officers and 21 other ranks were killed and 49 were wounded.

Corporal Lister was one of the other ranks that were killed in action. The Regiment was disbanded in June, 1915.

As part of the Durban Recruiting Committee’s ongoing program, a certificate was sent to his sister Miss C. Lister on a farm near “Gillette”.

The certificate is signed by the Chairman of the Recruiting Committee and the campaign details are hand-written “GSW Africa 1915” as is his name and unit.

Edited February 11, 2012 by sabrigade

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ORIGINAL ENVELOPE FOR THE LISTER CERTIFICATE

The envelope has “HANDLE WITH CARE” written on it in red and has the stamp “OFFICIAL FREE” postage from No 5 Military District.

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RARE LETTER SENT TO MISS LESTER BY THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE

This is the first letter of condolences that I have seen that was signed by General Smuts and not General Botha.

The letter was sent to her in June 1915 and is still in its original envelope.

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Envelope that contained the letter signed by General Smuts.

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CERTIFICATE FOR MEMBERS STILL SERVING

[brian conyngham]

William

This post makes interesting reading and fills in a few gaps in my research regards this organisation, thanks for the heads up at the recent JHB Military Fair.

Brian

[Mervyn Mitton]

Brian - welcome to GMIC. I hope we will see regular posts from you. I agree with you on Will's post - well researched

and provides answers to the many of these badges which are still around. Mervyn

[brian conyngham]

Thanks Mervyn

Have a number of these items but not the Purple ribbon issue, must keep the eyes peeled.

Been ages since I last visited your shop, hope you and Roy are fine.

Brian

[Brett Hendey]

Brian

Welcome to the GMIC. You have a lot to offer it, so I will look forward to your posts.

Regards

Brett

[brian conyngham]

Brian

Welcome to the GMIC. You have a lot to offer it, so I will look forward to your posts.

Regards

Brett

Thanks Brett for your kind words, will try and assist when ever possible.

Regards

Brian