Townsend Family

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QSA no bar 868 Pte V. Townsend. Namqlnd T.G.; 
1914-15 Star Pte V.R. Townsend. Brands F.S Rfls.; 
BWM; AVM (Bil.) A/2ndC/W.O. V.R. Townsend S.A.M.C.C.;
WM; ASM 120264 V.R. Townsend; 
Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) (Geo.V)
C.M. 203 Pte A.C.S. Mjr V.R. Townsend S.A.M.Cyc.Cps., 
O’okiep Cape Copper Company Medal (bronze) impressed: “V. Townsend.”

 

Victor Robert Townsend was born in Namaqualand on 15 May 1887. He was a just a boy of only 14 years of age when he earned his QSA and Cape Copper Company medals in the defence of O'okiep in 1902.

 

He must have been one of the youngest recipients of the QSA, and his service may be compared to those boys of the Mafeking Cadet Corps under Baden-Powell in that other famous siege. 

 

He served in the Namaqualand Town Guard in the Boer War. The Town Guard was employed to man the defence works at O'okiep and Nababeep, for many months carrying out piquet, guard, escort and other duties.

 

For 30 days however, from 4 April 1902 they successfully defended the town against Boer forces under Smuts, van Deventer and Maritz. The war and the siege of O'okiep ended with the Peace of Vereeniging on 31 May 1902.

During World War I Victor Townsend served as a Private in Brand's Free State Rifles during the campaign in German South West Africa from 22 October 1914 until 4 July 1915. He subsequently reattested on 31 January1916 for service with the S.A. Motor Cycle Corps in German East Africa.

 

He was promoted Company Sergeant Major on 5 August 1918 and was released from service 12 February 1919. It would appear that at some time during his service in German East Africa that he was captured and held as a prisoner of war, as a note with his papers reads:

 

“To O.C. German Forces. Will you be so kind as to give Cpl. Townsend medical treatment, or have him sent into our Forces. You have the name of looking after all prisoners very well. Kind regards. 

 

Why don’t you chuck up the war here as it is only a waste of money and lives; take my tip and chuck it up.” The signature is unknown. It is not known when he was released however his release was most probably due to the fact that the German forces in East Africa had very limited facilities to hold Prisoners of War as captives.

He was subsequently awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his noteworthy service in East Africa. 

 

The recommendation for this award which was announced in the London Gazette on 3 June 1919 was made by Major Duncan McMillan, the Officer Commanding the S.A.M.C.C, and reads as follows:

“For general good work over 2½ years in the field. His patrol work has been fearless and his information reliable”.

This MSM is one of only 308 awarded to South Africans during World War I. Soon after the outbreak of WWII he once again attested at Johannesburg 5 November 1940 for service with the 4th Battalion of 1st Reserve Brigade.

 

Being much older than the military service age limit of 45 years, he gave his year of birth incorrectly as 1895. For a period he served in the 8th (POW) Battalion at  Zonderwater POW Camp. He was promoted Lance Corporal 26 April 1940, Corporal 15 December 1940, Sergeant 1 August 1941, and Acting C.S.M. 4 November 1941.

 

He was finally discharged at Pretoria on 19 January 1945 when he was nearly 60 years of age. In civilian life Victor was a farmer, and later a member of the staff of the College of Agriculture at Potchefstroom, and finally a Housemaster at Glen Agricultural College in the Orange Free State from where he retired in 1947. He died at Durban on 27 May 1960.

Edited June 17 by archie777

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QSA no bar Capt: W.W. Townsend. Namqlnd T.G.; 
O’okiep Cape Copper Company Medal (silver) impressed “W.W. Townsend”

 

The issue of QSA medal is confirmed on the relevant medal roll of the Namaqualand Town signed by Major J.L. Dean at O’okiep on 8 May 1903. 

 

This very rare Cape Copper Company medal in silver is one of only about ten known to exist. The recipient had three sons serving in the Namaqualand Town Guard. The eldest was wounded.

 

Of the ten known named silver Copper Company medals, this may be the only father and son to receive both, a silver and a bronze medal.

 

William Webster Townsend was born at Mowbray, Cape Town in 1845. He was employed as the Chief Cashier of the Cape Copper Company at O'okiep in Namaqualand. William Townsend was commissioned as a Captain in the Namaqualand Town Guard on 22 January 1901 (confirmed Cape Colony Field Order 435, dated 13 January 1901) and commanded No. 3 Position both before and during the Siege.

 

Kieran and Burke record that the Town Guard manned the defence works at O'okiep and Nababeep, for many months carrying out piquet, guard, escort and other duties. They successfully defended the town against Boer forces under Smuts, van Deventer and Maritz for the 30 days from 4 April 1902 until 4 May 1902.

 

It was during the Siege that Smuts was given a Pass to attend the Peace negotiations at Vereeniging which finally led to the declaration of the end of hostilities on 31 May 1902. William Townsend retired from the Cape Copper Company in 1919 and died a few years later at Cape Town on 11 November 1924 (Deceased Estate file Cape Town MOOC 6/9/2701 ref 6068).

 

He lies buried in the Maitland Cemetery in Cape Town (ref 21278A). His wife Rhoda Kearns, whom he married in Cape Town in about 1883, long outlived her husband and died on 8 April 1945. Rhoda was born on 20 January 1859 and she and William had ten children – no less than six daughters and four sons.

 

Three of his sons also served in the Town Guard, and a fourth son, Frank Webster Townsend, was too young to serve but did so later in World War I in German South West Africa and German East Africa.

The three older sons were: 
115 Sergt. William Frederick Worcester Townsend (he seldom used the name Frederick, and his name appears on the medal roll as W.W. Townsend) who was slightly wounded defending Fort Shelton on 22 April 1902. (Deceased Estate file Cape Town MOOC 6/9/16317 ref 4153/49) 

47 Corpl. James Nolloth Townsend, born 3 July 1877 who was employed on outpost duty prior to discharge (Deceased Estate file Cape Town MOOC 6/9/24479 ref 795/58). His QSA medal was issued as 655 John N. Townsend with the Namaqualand Border Scouts.

868 Pte. Victor Robert Townsend who also served in both WWI and WWII. He was awarded the MSM during WWI. 

The youngest son Stanley Wrentmore Townsend was too young to serve at O’okiep, but did serve with the 2nd Infantry (Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Rifles) in German South West Africa 1914-15, and with the 9th S.A. Infantry in German East Africa 1915-17 during WWI. 

 

In the case of William Webster Townsend there is much to be gained in addressing this task as his family made a significant contribution to the early British life in Cape Town and in a subtle way contributes to the story of the medal for the Defence of O’okiep.

 

William’s uncle, Thomas Lock Townsend, was his father’s half-brother. One might say: “So what?”

 

Numerous Cape references record that he was the first British silversmith who emigrated to the Cape in 1815. A few years later William’s father, John Townsend, who was born in Kent in about 1800, arrived in the Cape in 1821 on the ship Duke of Marlboro and joined his half-brother and together, they operated the leading silversmith business in Cape Town at that time.

 

The abolition of slavery of course resulted in the payment of significant sums to slave owners and much of the silver coins they received in compensation were subsequently turned into silver tableware and other Cape Silver which are keenly 
sought after collectables today.

 

David Heller describes John Townsend “as one of the top five Cape silversmiths”. The Townsend brothers were ingenious business men, their businesses at one time extending to a hotel and auctioneering business in addition to being goldsmith, silversmith, jeweller and watchmaker. It would seem also that in order to satisfy the wishes of the English clients they imported a series of silver hall marking tools which today account for most of the so-called forged or pseudo British Hallmarks which were somewhat prolifically stamped on items of Cape Silver which were produced in their workshops.

William’s father John Townsend married Elizabeth Bauman (born 1810) at St. Georges Church in Cape Town on 10 July 1826. Their marriage produced 10 children, William Webster Townsend being their youngest child. Unfortunately, the businesses conducted by the two brothers did not prosper and when John’s half-brother died in 1849 he left insufficient estate to cover his funeral costs.

John Townsend had also became embroiled in a number of court cases, mostly due to bad debt, and following soon after his wife Elizabeth’s early death on 26 September 1846 and his brother’s death in 1849 he stated that he had "insufficient means to support his 10 children".

 

He moved to O’okiep in Namaqualand in 1852 as Manager of the Spektakel Copper Mine, but was insolvent by 1868. After the death of his first wife he remarried twice before his death at Mr. Heath’s house in O’okiep on 14 February 1875.

 

He reportedly fathered no less than 24 children by his three wives, the last at the age of seventy four years, and was buried in the cemetery at Springbok.

William Townsend was a keen Mason and had a lifetime of membership of units of the Grand Lodge of England. He was first initiated in the Namaqua Lodge No. 1023 by his father, the Worshipful Master, in 1866.

 

This Lodge ceased to exist by 1870. The Phoenix Lodge of Namaqualand was inaugurated in 1885. William was one of fifteen Foundation Members and served as the Secretary and Treasurer and by 18 November 1886 he had been advanced to the position of Worshipful Master.

 

Numerous details referenced to him are included in the Centenary Celebration Souvenir booklet of the Phoenix Lodge. At Grand Lodge District level William served as Senior Grand Warden 1903, Grand Registrar 1899, Grand Standard Bearer 1898, Grand Pursuivant 1887 and as Grand Steward 1886.

In 1919 he was presented with an illuminated address and a cheque conveying the appreciation of his many years of distinguished service and the affection and esteem in which he was held by all brethren. This illuminated address was presented to him on his retirement and his leaving the Lodge after 34 years.

 

Interestingly the names of the following known recipients of the Cape Copper Company medal in silver also appear as office bearers of the Phoenix Lodge, namely H.G.S. Willman, P. Thompson, J. Burrows and Dr. R.N. Howard

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Frank William Townsend was born in Namaqualand in 1889. He was the third son of William Webster Townsend.

Frank Townsend served as Private No. A6401 with the 2nd Infantry (Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Rifles) during the campaign in German South West Africa from 6 October 1914 to 31 July 1915.

He subsequently re-attested at Potchefstroom on 17 December 1915 for service with 9th S.A. Infantry of the S.A. Expeditionary Forces in German East Africa.

 

Discharged owing to ill health at Wynberg Camp, Cape Town 20 February 1917. His occupation is given as clerk. Accepted for the Flying Corps in May 1918 but failed to pass the medical test.

 

He was employed for many years by the Standard Bank in South Africa and in Rhodesia, and died at Cape Town in 1951.