"Bonne renommee vaut
mieux que ceinture doree." Proverb.
REWARD
On the morning of
17th February, when Kekewich arrived at the military Headquarters in Lennox
Street, he found Porter (1st Cavalry Brigade) installed in his office.
French had left Kimberley early in the morning, having received instructions
during the night to head off Cronje, who had retired from Spytfontein in an
easterly direction; he had informed Kekewich neither of his intended
departure nor of the fact that he had instructed Porter to take over the
command in Kimberley from him. The report was at once current in the town
that Kekewich had been superseded; it had been spread by Rhodes and his
partisans, who were naturally delighted that their poison had done its work
so effectively. On the other hand, those who recognized the value of all
that Kekewich had done for the civil population of the Diamond Fields during
the four months of the siege and appreciated the difficulties with which he
had had to contend were dismayed. Porter felt the greatest sympathy for
Kekewich and did everything a loyal soldier could for one who was
undeservedly placed in a distressing position.
The Secretary of
State for War was quick to recognize Kekewich's services and a telegram was
received stating that he had been promoted brevet-colonel. It was perhaps
not unnaturally assumed now by Kekewick's friends that he would be early
selected for some important appointment or command. They had, however,
overlooked the fact that Rhodes, who still wielded great power, possessed a
very vindictive nature; he had at once got to work to do Kekewich as much
injury as possible. That evil influences were at work was soon manifest;
within a few days of the relief of Kimberley, Kekewich was ordered back to
the command of his battalion. This step cannot have been taken because Lord
Roberts was in any way dissatisfied with the manner that Kekewich had
carried out the onerous task entrusted to him. After Cronje's surrender at
Paardeberg, his Lordship had proceeded to Kimberley, where a reception in
his honour was held by the Mayor and Town Council on March 2nd. In the
course of a reply to an address of welcome on that occasion, the
Commander-in-Chief said:
"It is a great
pleasure to me to listen to the highly complimentary terms in which the
Mayor has alluded to that distinguished officer, Colonel Kekewich—(loud
cheers)—a name which I am delighted to see is received with so much
enthusiasm by you all, for on that officer devolved the responsibility of
carrying out the measures necessary for the defence of this great community.
Riding, as I did this morning, through the outlying portions of your town, I
could not help wondering how it was possible that the defence of such a
large and straggling place could have been maintained for so long a time,
and I think it is highly creditable, not only to Colonel Kekewich and those
who were immediately associated with him in the measures for the defence of
the town, but also to the soldiers of the Regular and Colonial Forces and
the many Volunteers who came to the front and behaved with so much heroism
during these eighteen weeks in which you have suffered so much" (applause).
Again, in his
covering letter, dated 20th March 1900, forwarding Kekewich's Despatch on
the Defence of Kimberley to the Secretary of State for War, Lord Roberts
reported:
"I am of opinion that
the greatest credit is due to Lieutenant-Colonel Kekewich for the able
dispositions which he made for the defence of Kimberley, an unwalled town
spread over a wide area; for his rapid organization of an auxiliary force,
which in conjunction with the Regular troops, enabled him to keep the enemy
in check; and for the tact, judgment, and resolution which he displayed
throughout the siege, I confidently recommend this officer to the favourable
consideration of Her Majesty's Government."
Nevertheless,
Kekewich continued for many months in command of the 1st Loyal North
Lancashire Regiment. It was not until 26th July 1901, that he was given
command of a Column, which he handled with the same success that he had
already achieved in Kimberley. It may be of interest to record that the step
referred to above was taken very shortly after a visit paid by Oliver, who
had ceased to be Mayor of Kimberley and was home on business, to Lord
Roberts, then Commander-in-Chief at the War Office. Oliver took the
opportunity, which his visit to England afforded, of calling on the
Commander-in-Chief to explain to him personally that many people on the
Diamond Fields were much grieved at the shabby treatment which was being
meted out to Kekewich after the very successful manner in which he had
performed his difficult duties in Kimberley. However, although Kekewich was
given command of a Column, yet he was not given local rank as were other
Column Commanders, many of them his juniors.
It was not only
Kekewich's military career that Rhodes attempted to affect prejudicially; he
did his best also to prevent the people of Kimberley showing their
appreciation in a tangible way of all that he had done for them during the
period of their isolation. A proposal was made by the Mayor of Kimberley
that a Sword of Honour should be presented to Kekewich from the town. On
hearing of this project Rhodes opposed it and told the Mayor to drop it; he
even intimated that the De Beers' employes would not be allowed to
subscribe. However, the number of those on the Diamond Fields who admired
the sterling qualities of Kekewich was so numerous that the sum required for
the presentation was quickly raised in spite of Rhodes' opposition. The
sword was in due course presented. Rhodes had on many of the occasions that
Kekewich had refused to allow him to interfere in military matters said:
"Kekewich, I will yet prove too strong for you." Unfortunately, it is the
case that, in some ways, Rhodes did prove too strong for Kekewich, who had
to pay the penalty for his whole-hearted devotion to the interests of the
Nation. It is true, of course, that many others have done so also. However,
the failure properly and adequately to recognize his services in Kimberley,
in no way caused his zeal and devotion to slacken. This characteristic of
the distinguished defender of Kimberley stands out so boldly that Lord
Kitchener in his final Despatch on the South African War was moved to place
his own appreciation thereof on record in the following terms:
" Brevet-Colonel R.
G. Kekewich, C.B., has through this long campaign maintained his high
reputation as a fine soldier of character, loyalty and discretion. He is
well qualified to hold high command."
Kekewich had, for the
Buffs, to which he was first gazetted, that deep affection which all good
soldiers have for their Regiment; he was immensely proud of their record and
traditions. It was my great privilege to serve under him during the days of,
perhaps, his severest trial, and it is my hope that this brief record of his
defence of Kimberley may help to inform those of his old Regiment how
considerable were the services he rendered during an exceedingly trying
period in the history of our Empire. Many distinguished soldiers have served
in the Regiment and held the proud position of Colonel of the Buffs; of \
these none deserves to be held in higher honour than Robert George Kekewich
