NICOL, ANDREW GEDDES BAIN, Captain,
was born in the district of Albany, Cape Colony, in 1878, son of William
Nicol, of Fife, Scotland, and A S Bain. He was educated at a County School
in the district of Albany; was a Stock Farmer up to the age of 21; mining
and managing electrical plant at Barberton. At the outbreak of the
Transvaal War he joined Bethune's Mounted Infantry at Maritzburg as a
Trooper; fought throughout Colenso, then in all tights up to the Relief of
Ladysmith; then with Buller into the Transvaal; back to Vryheid. He served
through Captain Goff's
disaster, and was one of the few who escaped. He was promoted Sergeant, for
this. He entered the Johannesburg Mounted Rifles as Lieutenant under Bruce
Hamilton and Colonel Stewart; served with Hamilton's Column, and assisted in
the capture of Cherry Emmett;
captured the notorious Boer Goetser, Landrost of New Amsterdam, Transvaal;
was awarded the DSO for the latter. He was created a Companion of the
Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 26 June 1902]: "Andrew Geddes
Bain Nicol, Captain, Johannesburg Mounted Rifles. In recognition of
services during the operations in South Africa". Captain Nicol recruited
for the Johannesburg Mounted Rifles, and organized the Volunteer Movement in
Johannesburg. He was a good game shot and rider.
