British POW's during the Boer War

[Brett Hendey]

In Brian Conyngham's thread on his collection of POW medals, azyeoman expressed interest in British POW's during the Boer War. Shown below is the Queen's South Africa Medal of one such man and his story.

TROOPER C C ALEXANDER, NATAL POLICE

(LATER WARDER, NATAL POLICE)

Queen’s South Africa Medal with three clasps (Natal, Transvaal, South Africa 1901).

Natal Rebellion Medal with 1906 clasp. (Medal missing.)

During the Anglo-Boer War, Alexander was one of the first casualties in the Natal theatre of operations, having been taken prisoner by the Boers on 14/10/1899, three days after the start of the War.

Charles Curling Alexander enlisted in the Natal Police (NP) on 15/9/1898 (No. 2209). He is recorded as having a “Good discharge from 1^st Middlesex Regt”. He provided testimonials from Captain Hughes of the 1^st Middlesex Regiment, and Superintendent Alexander of the Durban Borough Police. The latter may have been a relation, although Alexander was recorded as having “no kin”.

Alexander served throughout the Anglo-Boer War, except for a brief period with the Provisional Transvaal Constabulary, and was discharged from the NP at his own request on 15/12/1904, his character having been recorded as “Very Good”. After only about three weeks, he rejoined on 5/1/1905 as a Warder in the Gaol Department. He served throughout the Natal Rebellion of 1906. He was appointed Gaoler on 24/12/1907 and on 7/10/1910 he was “Re-engaged after 12 years”.

There is no known subsequent record of his service, although he might have been transferred to the South African Prison’s Department in 1913, after the Natal Police ceased to exist. No record of his service in the S A Prison’s Department has been found, but this Department’s early records are incomplete and the tracing of individuals is difficult.

While serving in the NP, Alexander was awarded the QSA with three clasps (Natal, Transvaal, South Africa 1901), and the Natal Rebellion Medal with 1906 clasp. The latter Medal was named to “Warder C.C.M. Alexander”, which is the only known reference to a third forename. The whereabouts of this Medal is not known. If Alexander did indeed join the S A Prison’s Department, it is possible that he would have qualified for the award of the S A Prison’s Faithful Service Medal.

Alexander’s service during the Anglo-Boer War is notable for the fact that he and several colleagues were taken prisoner by the Boers on 14/10/1899, thus becoming “what may have been the first P.O.Ws of the Boer War” (Droogleever 1993), as well as the first casualties on the British side in the Natal theatre of operations.

This incident was recorded by Clarke (1909/10: 503, 404) as follows:

“When war became inevitable, orders were issued to all Police Detachments in the Newcastle and Dundee Districts to hold themselves in readiness to abandon their camps, and retire on Dundee. On the 14^th October this mobilization actually took place, but at the request of the G.O.C. the Detachment at De Jager’s Drift was left to watch the movements of the Boers on the opposite side of the Buffalo River, and the doings of this detachment may well be left to Sergt. Mann, who was in charge, and who reports as follows:-

‘Some months prior to the outbreak of the late Boer War, the Detachment, which consisted of Sergeant Mann and Troopers Askland and Alexander, were kept busy patrolling the Transvaal border, and sending in reports as to the Boer movements to the Military authorities at Dundee. Later on, when the political situation became more strained, we were strengthened by the addition of Trooper Ferguson from Helpmekaar, Troopers Kenny and Harris from Hatting Spruit, and Trooper Attwood from Dundee, with the idea of keeping a more strict watch along the Border, our orders being to retire towards Botha’s Nek, midway between De Jager’s Drift and Dundee, in the event of the position becoming untenable. We had telephonic communication to Dundee, and were instructed from there to ring up every two hours both day and night. I think it was about the beginning of October, 1899, that the Boers formed camps at the Doornberg Hill, near De Jager’s Drift; they also occupied Messrs. McLagan and Maby’s railway construction camp just across the Border, and which was almost in sight of our camp. On the 14^th October, Saturday morning, early (about 6 a.m.), I had only been back in Camp a short while, having been watching at the Drift during the night with Troopers Askland and Ferguson, when I noticed a party of Boers, about 25 strong, coming towards the Drift, from the direction of Utrecht: it appeared as though they were intending to cross the river, but on arriving at the Transvaal Customs House they off-saddled there, and no particular notice was taken of this, as the same thing had been going on for weeks before. Of course at that time Dundee was occupied by the Troops, and information was at once sent by telephone, giving the numbers, etc., of this party of Boers.

At about 9 a.m. Trooper Harris was sent to the Emjanyadu Hill on patrol, and he was subsequently captured. At about 11 a.m. a party of about 18 Boers crossed the River, and managed to capture our horses, which were then out grazing, and drove them across the River into the Transvaal. At first we could not understand why they had crossed without any warning, as we had not heard then of any action having taken place, or a shot fired. About half an hour later a party of our Mounted Troops appeared over the rise of a hill a mile from our Camp, on the main road, and halted there. The Boers from their position, which was higher than ours, must have seen these Troops some time before we did, and I suppose, thought they would take our horses while the opportunity still offered. I expect these Troops were sent out to reconnoitre the position at De Jager’s Drift, and also, perhaps, on account of my wire reporting the arrival of the party of 25 Boers from Utrecht direction. I could see the officer in command scanning the position with his glasses, and it evidently did not look very inviting to him, as he came no further, and almost immediately retired, galloping towards Dundee, the Boers being in close pursuit. It was towards midday when these Boers returned from the pursuit and recrossed the Border about a mile from our Camp.

This news was sent to Dundee, and I received instructions to remain at the post, and to secrete all arms and ammunition, and a party would be sent to our relief with fresh horses. While these orders were being sent the wire was cut. We could see from the Camp one of the enemy climbing the pole. At 2 p.m. a party of Boers, 20 strong, crossed the Border at the Drift, and galloped up and surrounded the Camp, taking us all prisoners, with the exception of Trooper Harris (away on patrol), and Trooper Ferguson, who managed to secrete himself, subsequently getting away wearing a Kafir blanket. We were taken to their Camp, about a mile from the Drift, and from there sent on to Vryheid by mule wagon.

We were not aware that a shot had been fired until the Boers themselves told us that an action had been fought at Maribago against an armoured train, on the 11^th October.

After the occupation of Pretoria, when some houses were being searched, a photo was found of Trooper Ferguson, showing him to have been at one time a Lieutenant in the Transvaal Staats Artillery – his proper name being Lean.’ “

Curiously, in view of Sergeant Mann’s statement, Clarke then goes on to record that the De Jager’s Drift detachment were made prisoners on the 13/10/1899, not 14/10/1899.

Thirteen members of the NP taken prisoner at De Jager’s Drift and elsewhere were held in Pretoria and released on 6/6/1900, when the city fell to the British. One man, Sergeant C W Collins, died in captivity on 23/4/1900 (Anon. 1980). Twelve of the ex-POW’s, including Alexander, were drafted into the Provisional Transvaal Constabulary and served with this force from June until August, with Alexander leaving it on 17/8/1900.

REFERENCES

Anon. 1980. The South African War Casualty Roll. The “Natal Field Force.”

Polstead, Suffolk: J B Haywood & Son.

Anon. No date. Natal Medal Roll 1906. Uckfield, East Sussex: The Naval &

Military Press.

Clarke, W J 1909/1910. A History of the Natal Police. The Nongqai: 503, 504.

Droogleever, R W F. 1993. The Q.S.A. and K.S.A. to the Natal Police: some

facts and figures. Journal of the Orders and Medals Research Society.

Spring 1993: 22, 23.

Medal Rolls under WO 100 for the QSA and KSA to the Natal Police. National

Archives, London.

Pietermaritzburg Archives Repository of the National Archives of South Africa –

Various papers indexed under ‘Natal Police.’

[brian conyngham]

Brett

We must have a serious chat over a few........ at Stokers!

Thanks for posting the QSA.

Brian

[azyeoman]

Hi Brett,

Thanks for posting this most interesting story! You've got me hooked on PoW research for the Boer War now. ; ) Wish I could join you and Brian for a few, but in my absence, have a few for me...

[Brett Hendey]

Here is the record of another British POW during the Boer War.

FRED LAWRENCE

7308 Private F Lawrence, 1^st King’s Royal Rifle Corps

India Medal (Relief of Chitral)

Queen’s South Africa Medal (Talana, Transvaal. Also entitled to Cape Colony

and Orange Free State, which are added loose on ribbon.)

King’s South Africa Medal (South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902)

837 Sergeant F Lawrence, Rand Rifles

1914/15 Star

War Medal

Victory Medal (Bilingual South African issue)

Lawrence’s British Army service papers have apparently not survived, so nothing is known of his date and place of birth, and his early life. His medals indicate that he joined the King’s Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC) in 1895 or earlier. He served until he was placed on the Army Reserve on 10 November 1902.

He evidently settled in South Africa some time after the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902). When he enlisted in the Rand Rifles in 1914, his forename was given as Fred and his next-of-kin was his wife, Emily, who lived in Woods Cottage, Kildare Road, Newlands, Cape Town. In 1921 he was employed as a painter in the Salt River (Cape Town) Workshops of the South Africa Railways. Nothing is known of his later life.

Fortunately, much can be learnt of Lawrence’s service with the KRRC, partly from his medals, but mostly because the history of this regiment has been diligently recorded by Irving A Mortensen of Sequim, Washington. Mortensen has made an almost day-to-day record of the activities of the KRRC during its periods on active service, so it is possible to infer the likely events that involved Lawrence, both in India in 1895, and in South Africa between 1899 and 1902. More detailed accounts of important battles are well covered by published and electronic media. In addition, Lawrence was made a prisoner-of-war during the Boer War and the experiences he would have shared with other men captured at the same time are well documented.

Information obtained from the sources referred to above is summarised as follows:

INDIA (1895 - 1896)

Chitral was on the North West Frontier of British India. It is in present-day Pakistan bordering on Afghanistan. In 1892, the ruler of Chitral died and a succession struggle ensued, which led in 1895 to the siege of the Chitral Fort. The Fort was manned by British officers and 420 Indian troops. A strong British force of over 15000 men was sent in two columns to lift the siege.

During March 1895, the 1^st KRRC, which included Lawrence, joined the 1^st Brigade of the Chitral Relief Force. On 1 April, the 1^st Brigade marched towards the Shalkot Pass and on the next day it moved to the Malakand Pass, which was attacked on 3 April. The battle that dislodged the enemy from the pass lasted five hours. The enemy force of about 12000 lost 500 killed, while British casualties were 11 killed and 51 wounded. KRRC casualties were four killed and four wounded.

After the battle, the crest of the pass was held by the 1^st Brigade. On 4 April, the 1^st Brigade moved into the Swat Valley, which was occupied to secure the lines of supply and communication.

On 20 April 1895, the Chitral Fort was relieved after a siege of 47 days. Afterwards, the 1^st Brigade remained in the Swat Valley to maintain the link between Chitral and the rest if India. On 15 May, the KRRC moved to the mountain range of Laram Kotal, where the men were employed in road-making and repair. A few days later, they settled at nearby Dostai to wait out the hot weather, during which there was a great deal of sickness in the camp.

On 25 September 1895, the KRRC started on its long march back to India and, on 5 October, it reached its base at Jullundur in the Punjab.

During the hot season between 9 April and 27 October 1896, the KRRC was based at Dalhousie, a hill station in northern India bordering on Kashmir. It then returned to Jullundur.

On 30 November 1896, the KRRC left Jullundur under orders to garrison the Cape and Mauritius, and it sailed from Bombay on10 December 1896.

SOUTH AFRICA (1896 – 1902)

On 28 December 1896, the 1^st KRRC arrived at Cape Town, where four companies disembarked for garrison duty at Wynberg. This group included Lawrence. The remainder sailed for Mauritius, where they were involved in the dramatic wreck of the SS Warren Hastings.

Early in May 1899, the entire regiment was assembled in Pietermaritzburg, where the 1^st KRRC Mounted Infantry Company was formed on 10 May. Lawrence became a member of the 96 man MI Company.

On 26 September 1899, with the outbreak of war threatening, the 1^st KRRC left Pietermaritzburg for Ladysmith, where it arrived on 2 October. A few days later the men marched on to Dundee.

On 11 October 1899, when war was declared, the 1^st KRRC was camped at Dundee.

For the next week, the KRRC MI was kept busy scouting by day and serving as picquets at night.

On 20 October 1899, the Battle of Talana was fought. The dismounted men of the KRRC took a prominent part in dislodging the Boers from the top of Talana Hill, which overlooks Dundee, and they suffered many casualties.

Before the battle, a 22-man section of the KRRC MI, including Lawrence, had been sent to escort the 18^th Hussars maxim gun detachment. Another three KRRC MI men accidentally joined them. These men, together with two troops of the 18^th Hussars and most of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers MI Company, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel B Möller of the 18^th Hussars, were sent to cut off the retreating Boers behind Talana Hill. Möller, who ignored advice from more experienced subordinates, led his force in a northerly direction away from Talana Hill and was soon cut off by a numerically superior Boer commando with artillery support. After a futile effort to escape back to the British lines, Möller was forced to surrender. In addition to six men killed, the 18^th Hussars had 90 men captured, while about 80 men of the RDF MI and 25 KRRC MI were also taken prisoner. The prisoners were transported by train to Pretoria. They were released when British forces occupied the town on 5 June 1900.

Humphry (1999: 23) has this postscript to Möller’s disastrous finale to the Battle of Talana:

“Ironically, before sailing for South Africa the 18^th Hussars had bet another regiment £500 that they would be in Pretoria first. They were – but not in the way they had anticipated!”

After their release, Lawrence and the other captured men of the KRRC MI, were sent to recuperate as a guard detail at Vredefort Railway Station, about 100 miles south of Pretoria.

On 25 November 1900, they were reunited with the 1^st KRRC MI, which was engaged in scouting and escort duties, first in the Orange Free State, and later in the Transvaal. There were frequent contacts with the Boers.

On 18 October 1901, in order to increase the size and effectiveness of MI operations, the 25^th (KRR) Mounted Infantry Battalion was formed at Middelburg in the Transvaal, and the 1^st KRRC MI became No. 1 Company of this Battalion. It operated with Colonel GE Benson’s Column of mounted infantry, infantry and artillery. The Intelligence Officer was Colonel A Woolls-Sampson, Imperial Light Horse, who was assisted by Native Scouts.

During the next 10 days, contacts with the Boers were more frequent and intensified as the column moved forwards. The contacts culminated in the action at Bakenlaagte on 30 October, when a determined attack by the Boers under General Louis Botha resulted in positions being overrun, with many casualties, including Colonel Benson, who was mortally wounded. No. 1 Company KRRC MI was heavily engaged. The battle ended in stalemate, with the Boers holding high ground, but too exhausted to attack the positions still defended by the British, who in turn were unable to recapture the lost ground. The Boers eventually withdrew with two captured guns, but releasing 100 captured British soldiers as they went. The remnants of Benson’s Column also withdrew from Bakenlaagte to regroup. The British lost seven officers and 60 men killed, and 16 officers and 149 men wounded, of whom five officers and 11 men subsequently died. Between 25 and 30 October, the 25^th (KRR) MI Battalion had 57 casualties out of a total of 364 officers and men.

On 12 November 1901, the reformed column under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Mackenzie resumed its sweep across the south-eastern Transvaal. Mackenzie’s Column was joined by others in the harassment of the Boers, and eventually culminated in the attack and capture of a large Boer convoy near Standerton on 21 December. Captured were 23 Boers, 20 wagons, 20 carts (and others destroyed), 2000 cattle, 1000 sheep, and many horses. Mackenzie particularly commended the 25^th (KRR) MI for its role in this affair. No. 1 Company (KRR) contributed in a marked way to the day’s success and for his role its commander (Captain Crum) was later Mentioned in Despatches (LG 25.4.1902).

The Column continued to be active in the Transvaal until near the end of the war, when it moved through the Orange Free State and into the Cape Colony.

When the war ended on 31May 1902, the 1^st KRRC was in the blockhouse line near De Aar in the Cape Colony. A great deal of movement and reorganisation of the KRRC regiments in South Africa took place after the war and all that is certain about Lawrence is that he was finally discharged on 10 November 1902.

Lawrence had survived the first set-piece battle of the war (Talana) as a POW, and he also survived, apparently unscathed, a major battle of the guerrilla phase of the war (Bakenlaagte), and the capture of the Standerton Convoy.

SOUTH AFRICA (1914 – 1915)

Lawrence’s service during World War I was apparently mainly with F Company, Rand Rifles, in German South West Africa. His previous military experience counted in his favour, since, judging from his record card, he was given the rank of Sergeant at an early stage.

Information gleaned from the Internet shows that, although the formation of the Rand Rifles was published in the Government Gazette on 4 December 1914, recruiting had begun earlier. In Lawrence’s case, enlistment was on 20 October 1914.

There is another anomaly involving Lawrence. The Rand Rifles are recorded as having embarked in Cape Town for passage to German South West Africa on the Galwey Castle, which arrived in Walvis Bay on Christmas Day, 25 December 1914. Lawrence travelled to GSWA much later, embarking in Cape Town on the SS City of Athens on 17 April 1915.

An entry on Lawrence’s card records his service with the Rand Rifles as being from 20 October 1914 to 30 June 1915. From 1 July 1915 to 26 July 1915 he was with the “Rly Regt”, possibly ‘Railway Regiment’, although no such regiment could be traced.

No record could be found of any action involving the Rand Rifles. For at least some time, the regiment guarded a railway siding between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. This siding was named ‘Rand Rifles’ and still exists, with a small holiday resort having grown up around it.

The GSWA campaign ended on 9 July 1915 when the Germans surrendered. Most of the units that had participated returned to South Africa and were demobilised. Many men later re-enlisted for service in German East Africa and Europe, but there is no indication that Lawrence was one of them.

All that is known about Fred Lawrence came from military records of one form or another. He did have a wife and was employed after World War I ended, but the record of his later years is as blank as that for the early ones.

CITED REFERENCE

Humphry, David. 1999. Talana. Part II. Möller’s Folly. Medal News. October 1999.

Brett Hendey

16 July 2013

[Mervyn Mitton]

Two well reasearched and interesting posts. We appreciate your time Brett. Mervyn

[azyeoman]

Hi Brett,

As always, well researched and well written; fascinating history. Thank you for posting. I sincerely hope you'll continue with more. I'm curious as to why many men didn't want to serve in E. Africa after having served in GSWA?

Thanks,

John

Edited July 16, 2013 by azyeoman

[Chris Boonzaier]

It reminds me of the Gentlemen war.... There is an account of the later stages of the war where the boers could not take prisonners... so they let the captured British soldiers go... De la Reys commando once captured a British soldier for the 3rd Time... De la Rey wanted to send an official complaint to his commander...

[Brett Hendey]

John

Having been established in 1910, the Union of South Africa was still a new country in 1914-18, so its military organisation was in some disarray. The volunteer regiments of the old colonies stood down after the 1914 Rebellion and GSWA campaign and new sets of regiments were raised for the war in GEA and Europe. It was probably a minority of men who did not re-enlist after 1915 in one of the new units.

Chris

You are right about the 'gentlemanly' actions, even late in the war when the British 'scorched earth' policy and 'concentration camps' were causing much hatred and bitterness amongst the Boers. As is often the case, the gentlemanly acts were between men who met face to face in the field in, or just after the heat of battle.

Regards

Brett

[brian conyngham]

Brett

A great write-up and thanks for posting!

One can but wonder if the £500 bet was ever paid?

Regards

Brian