Personalities, Surname B

Babington, Major General J M

Entered 1873; Colonel, 1896.  Staff Service: AAG, Punjab, 1896-99.  War service:  Bechuanaland Expedition, 1884-85 (Despatches); Boer War, 1899-1901; AAG, afterwards Commanding 1st Cavalry Brigade.

From Transvaal War Album:  General Babington is in command of the 1st Cavalry Brigade, which has done such splendid work on the Western Frontier. When Colonel Pilcher inflicted his crushing blow upon the Boers at Sunnyside on January 1, 1900, General Babington moved out from the Modder River Camp in support, and after doing much fine work' on the Free State Border, he joined Major-General MacDonald at Koodoosberg, utterly discomfiting the Boers/ who fled as he approached. Afterwards the brigade took a notable part in the invasion of the Free State. The gallant officer's regimental service was with the 16th Lancers, which he joined as a subaltern twenty-six years ago. After nineteen years' service he attained the command of his regiment, which he held for four years, afterwards relinquishing it to take up the appointment of A.A.G. in the Punjab command. His promotion had been rapid, for he had command of a troop after seven years' service, during nearly three years of which he was adjutant, and he was a captain for ten years, being A.D.C. to the General Officer in Command at Aldershot before he was promoted to his majority, a rank which he held only two years. General Babington left the Punjab to assume the command of the Cavalry Brigade in South Africa. This is not his first service in the country, for he went through the Bechuanaland Expedition of 1884-85, and was mentioned in despatches for his good service. He will now reap the benefit of his former experience in South Africa, and it is to be hoped add to the laurels gained by him in that country fifteen years ago against the then troublesome and rebellious Bechuanas.

Bacon, Major W

This officer rendered notable service with the Queensland Mounted Infantry.

Bagot, J  F

JP, DL, MP for South Westmorland since 1892, County Councillor for Westmorland, Parliamentary Private Secretary to Financial Secretary to Treasury.  This gallant officer (serving with Yeomanry Cavalry) retired as Captain in Grenadier Guards in 1886.  Prior to that date he acted as ADC to the Governor-General of Canada in 1882-83 and 1888-89.  He is the eldest son of Colonel Charles Bagot, Grenadier Guards; was born in 1854, and married in 1885 to the daughter of Sir John Leslie, Baronet

Bailey, Abe, JP (Sussex), DL (City of London), Captain Sussex Imperial Yeomanry

Was born in Cape Colony in 1864. He is the only son of T Bailey, was educated in England, and proceeded first to Barberton and then to Johannesburg in the early days where he soon acquired large mining interests. He was an active member of the Reform Committee; was tried for high treason against the Govt, of SAR; was imprisoned, and only released on payment of the generally imposed fine of £2,000. At the commencement of the Boer War he served as Intelligence Officer with Lord Roberts, and took a prominent part in the formation and organisation of Roberts' Horse and the SA Light Horse, largely contributing to the expense of their equipment, and afterwards proceeded to the front with the rank of Major as second in command with Gorringe's Flying Column, which he was also partly instrumental in raising. After the war (in Oct, 1902) he was appointed to the command of Kitchener's Fighting Scouts. Mr Bailey entered the arena of Cape Colonial politics in 1902, when he was elected unopposed in the Progressive interest for Barkly West, the only constituency which Cecil Rhodes ever represented in the Cape Legislative Assembly. He was Whip of the Progressive Party, and was re-elected at the general election in Feb, 1904, retiring in 1905 with a view to devoting himself to Transvaal politics. In the summer of 1906 he came to England to lay the views of the Transvaal Progressive party as regards the new Constitution before the British Government. He is a keen patron of all forms of sport, racing in both South Africa and England, and indulges particularly in shooting and cricket. He was elected President of the Wanderers' Club (Johannesburg) in 1902, and is a member of the MCC and many other sporting clubs. He married Caroline, elder daughter of John Paddon, who died in 1902, leaving him with two children: John Milner (godson of Lord Milner) and Cecil Marguerite Sidwell (godchild of Cecil Rhodes).

Bainbridge, Brevet Major E G T, The Buffs

Entered 1888; Brevet Major, 1898.  Staff service: Employed with Egyptian Army, 1896-98; DAAG, South Africa, 1899-1900.  War service: Expedition to Dongola, 1896 (Despatches, November 1896); Nile Expedition 1897 (Despatches, January 1898; clasp to Egyptian medal); Nile Expedition 1898 (Despatches, September and December, 1898; Brevet of Major; clasp to Egyptian medal; medal); Boer War, 1899-1900; on Staff; Commanding Corps of Mounted Infantry.

Bale, His Excellency Sir Henry Bale, KCMG, KC, Chief Justice and Administrator of Natal

Henry Bale was born at Pietermaritzburg, Natal, on 12 January 1854, the only son of William E Bale, JP, who had emigrated to Natal from England in the late 1840’s, and was later Mayor of Pietermaritzburg.  Henry Bale was educated at the High School in Pietermaritzburg, and at Exeter Grammar School in England.  He was admitted an Attorney of the Supreme Court of Natal in 1875, and became an Advocate in 1878. When the Zulu War Relief Fund was formed in 1879, he became a Member of its Committee and one of its most active workers.  From January 1886 until the introduction of a responsible government in 1893, he was a Member of the Council of Education, and in November 1890 he was given a seat in the nominated Legislative Council.  Bale took a prominent part in the agitation for responsible government, and when full autonomy was granted to the Colony in 1893, the citizens of Pietermaritzburg elected him as their Member in the first Legislative Assembly.  He was twice offered the premiership of the Natal Parliament but declined on each occasion.  In October 1897 he accepted the position of Attorney-General and Minister of Education, which he held until the General Election of 1901.  In June 1901, Bale was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Natal and Judge of the Vice-Admiralty Court, becoming the first Natal-born man to accept the highest judicial post in the Colony, which he held until his death in 1910.  During the Boer War he was Chairman of the Natal Volunteer and War Relief Committee from 1899 to 1902; and Chairman during the same period of the Pietermaritzburg Association for Aid to Sick and Wounded.  As Chief Justice, Bale had the unique honour, as a Natal-born colonist, of acting as Administrator of the Natal government on several occasions, for example, in 1903 and 1904, when he went on extensive tours to establish personal contact between the people of Natal and the government.  Bale was also, in April 1904, the first colonial-born man to open the Natal Parliament.  Bale was appointed the Representative Member of Natal on the Council of the University of the Cape of Good Hope in June 1902.  He was a Fellow of the Royal Colonial Institute, and in 1910 he again accepted office as President of the Pietermaritzburg YMCA.  He became a QC in 1897, and later on the accession of King Edward VII a KC.  On 16 August 1901, Bale was appointed a KCMG, on the occasion of the visit of Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York to Natal, and also in recognition of the services he rendered to the Imperial Government as Procurator-General during the Boer war.  On the occasion of the Union of South Africa in 1910, Sir Henry Bale was awarded the Commemoration Medal that was specially struck and issued.  However, he was by now not a well man and a visit to England in August of that year was thought might be beneficial to his health.  He returned to Natal later in the year but the visit to England had not resulted in the improvement that had been hoped for, and, on 1 December 1910, Sir Henry Bale died.

KCMG, QSA (0) (His Excellency Sir H. Bale, Administrator of Natal), Union of South Africa Medal 1910.  DNW Sep 03 £1,900.

Balfour, Dr Andrew, MD, CM, BSc

Was born at Edinburgh in 1873. He is the son of T A G Balfour, MD, FRCPE, etc., Curator of the Museum of the Royal College of Physicians, Edin, who married Miss Margaret Christall, of Elgin, Morayshire, Dr A Balfour was educated at George Watson's College, Edinburgh, Edinburgh University, and Caius College, Cambridge, graduating MB, CM, Edinburgh, 1894. After practising privately and at the Fever Hospital, Edinburgh, where he was Assistant Physician, he went to Cambridge, taking DPH in 1897, MD (gold medal thesis) 1898, and BSc. in Public Health 1900. He went to South Africa as Surgeon in April of that year, being attached to the No. 7 General Hospital at Estcourt and Pretoria, and afterwards in charge of the British Garrison and Boer Laagers at Kaapsche Hoop, E Transvaal (medal and clasps). He returned in April, 1901, and took his MRCPE in 1902. In the same year he was appointed Director of Government Research Laboratories, Gordon Memorial College, Khartoum. He is also Med. Officer of Health, Khartoum, and Sanitary Adviser to the Sudan Civil Medical Service. Dr Balfour collaborated in the production of a book on Public Health, and is the author of By Stroke of Sword, To Arms, Vengeance is Mine, Cashiered; and Other War Tales, and The Golden Kingdom. He also wrote a war play, The Camp Catch. Dr Balfour was a Scottish International Rugby football player, a Cambridge 'Blue', and captained the Watsonian XV and the Edinburgh XV against the Paris team recently. He is a swimmer, and is fond of shooting. He married, Sep, 1902, Grace, daughter of G Nutter, of Sidcup, Kent.

Ball, Major J W

This officer rendered valuable service with the Queenstown Rifle Volunteers.

Bam, Captain Sir Pieter Cauzius van Blommestein, Member of the Legislative Assembly, JP for Cape Town and District

Born at Cape Town July 29, 1869; was eldest surviving son of J A Bam (formerly Member of the Legislative Assembly for Cape Town), and was educated at the Normal College (Cape Town), the Diocesan College, Rondebosch, the South African College (C T), and Cheltenham College, England. He entered the Cape Garrison Artillery in 1892, from which he resigned in Aug, 1901, and served through the greater part of the Boer War, for which he holds the medal. Sir Pieter probably holds a record in having fought three Parliamentary elections in six months. In Jan, 1904, he stood as an Independent Progressive for Cape Town, and was beaten by a small majority. In March of the same year he unsuccessfully contested Victoria West against the Bond leader (Hon J X Merriman), but in the following July at the election for the two new scats for Cape Town, he was elected at the top of the poll by a large majority. He belonged to an old Dutch family, and was the youngest member returned to the House of Assembly for Cape Town.

Bannatine-Allason, Brigadier General Richard, CB

Of Logan, Cumnock, NB, and of the Naval and Military and Ayr County Clubs, was born at Glaisnock, Cumnock, NB, Sep 22, 1855, and is son of Richard Cunninghame Bannatine, of Glaisnock, descended from the Bannatynes of Karnes. He was educated at Wellington College and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and entered the Royal Artillery in 1875; served in the Afghan War in 1879-80, including the action of Shajui, the battle of Ahmed Khel, the action of Auzoo, and the famous march from Kabul to Kandahar (despatches, medal with two clasps and bronze star); the Sudan Expedition in 1885 as Brigade Major to the Royal, Artillery, present at the action of Hasheen and the advance on Tamai (despatches, medal With clasp and bronze star); and the Boer War in 1899-1902, including the advance on Kimberley and the action at Magersfontein, and the operations in the Orange River Colony (despatches and brevet of Colonel).

Bannerman, Captain Sir Alexander, RE, 11th Baronet

Of Brackley, Northants, where he was born Dec 16, 1870, was educated at Wellington College, and succeeded to the baronetcy Dec 3, 1901. He served for 32 years in Hong Kong and through the whole of the Boer War, being mentioned in Lord Roberts' despatches. He left England in 1903 on a special mission for the War Office to Japan.

Barker, Captain J, Royal Lancs Regiment

Served in the Boer War in 1899-1902 as Railway Staff Officer (KSA with two clasps).

Barnes, John Frederick Evelyn, CMG

Of Petermaritzburg, Natal, and of the Victoria Club, PMB, was born in Company Kilkenny, Jan 21, 1851. He is the son of F P Barnes, CE, and of Matilda, daughter of Reverend Leo. Armstrong, of Listerlyn, Company Kilkenny, and was educated privately and at Trinity College, Dublin. In 1871, having completed his term of pupillage, as also his second or senior Freshman year in Trinity College, Dublin, he began his career as an engineer under the County Surveyor of Antrim. In 1872, and for six years subsequently, he held the post of engineer and surveyor on the Irish estates of the Duke of Abercorn, also practising privately. He engineered the Flood Protection works on the Mourne at Strabane, the Strabane Waterworks, as also large sub-soil drainage and plantation schemes under the Public Works Loans Act. The land troubles of 1877-8 caused him to turn his attention to other fields of labour, with the result that in Feb, 1880, he landed in Natal, passed the examination, and obtained the licence to practise as a Government Land Surveyor in that Colony. In 1882 Mr Barnes was appointed Bore Engineer of Durban, and held that post for six years. He carried out the Umbilo Waterworks, many town improvements, and constructed over thirty miles of Streets and footpaths. At the Natal Exhibition of 1883 he was awarded a silver medal for specialities in concrete work, and prior to his entering the service of the Natal Govt, the Corporation voted him a bonus of £500 as a token of appreciation of his services. In Jan, 1888, he received the appointment of Assistant Colonial Engineer and Surveyor-General of Natal, and throughout the six years following he held frequent appointments as Acting Colonial Engineer, with seats on the Executive and Legislative Councils of the Colony. With the first responsible Govt, of Natal, Mr Barnes was entrusted with the charge of the Public Works Department That appointment he still holds under the title of Chief Engineer Public Works Department Throughout the Boer War his department lent valuable assistance to the military co-operating with the GOC lines of communication, the RE, the RAMC, and other branches of the service. His department raised and supervised a Pioneer Corps of Artisans for the building of bridges, forts, buildings, and such like; a Native Labour Corps of 3,000 Kaffirs for unskilled work, and an Indian Ambulance Corps of 1,200 Indian coolie stretcher-hearer. For these services Mr Barnes and the staff of his department were thanked publicly, and in despatches by Lord Roberts and by General Buller, while, on the recommendation of Governor Sir Henry McCullum, General Hildyard, and the Natal Ministry, of which Colonel Sir A H Hime was Premier, he received the Order of CMG at the hands of HRH the Duke of York. In 1904 he attended the St Louis Exposition as Commissioner for Natal, as a result of which the Natal Govt, published his Notes of a Visit Paid to the World's Fair, 1904. He married, in 1879, Mary Sanbach, daughter of E E Graves.

Barrett, William Herbert, JP

Was born Dec 10, 1860, at Crumlin. He was educated at Abergavenny Grammar School, and joined the staff of the London and NW Railway in 1875, but in 1879 he transferred to the Cape Government Railways and in Sep, 1900, to the Imperial Military, Railways. He is now traffic manager of the Central South African Railways at Bloemfontein and a JP for the ORC Mr Barrett served with the Duke of Edinburgh's Own Volunteer Rifles in the Basuto War in 1880-81 (medal), and also won the medal with clasps for Cape Colony, ORC, and the Transvaal in the Boer War, 1899-1902.

Barry, Major James David

Of Scribblestown Park, Castlerock, Company Dublin, and of Kildare Street Club, Dublin, was born in Dublin Apr 12, 1858, is eldest son of Rt Hon C R Barry, and was educated at Woolwich. He served in the RHA from 1877 to 1899, retiring in the latter year with captain's rank. In the interim he served as ADC to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland (1880-84). When the Boer War broke out he rejoined his regiment (Jan, 1900); commanded a mixed battery, received the QSA and three clasps, was mentioned in despatches, and was promoted Major. He married June 6, 1895, the Hon Florence Madeline, 2nd daughter of Lord Clanmorris.

Bartlett, Sir Ellis Ashmead, MP, Lieutenant, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment

Sir Ellis was born in 1849, and married in 1874 the daughter of Mr Walsh of Philadelphia.  He was MP for Suffolk from 1880-85, for Ecclesall Division, Sheffield, since 1885, and Civil Lord of the Admiralty from 1885-86, 1886-92.

Bateman, Walter Slade, JP

Served in the Boer War in 1899-1902 (medal). He served in the Convict and Prisons branch of the Cape Government Service from 1894-1901, was Secretary- to the Board of Management of the Somerset Hospital, Cape Town, from 1897-1901, and was a member of the Transvaal Tender Board from November, 1902, till Jan, 1903. In June, 1903, he was appointed Acting-Inspector of Prisons in the Transvaal, previously having held the post of Chief Clerk of the Prisons Department.

Beal, Lieutenant Colonel Robert, CMG, JP

Was the son of John Beal, a master mariner of Sunderland, and was born in the north country in 1858. Robert Beal went to South Africa in 1875, where he started farming. He served in the Gaika-Galeka Wars in 1878-9 (medal and clasp), and then became Clerk in the PWD in Cape Colony, being stationed at E London from 1881-3. In the following year he was employed with Fairbank and Pauling on the Queenstown-Aliwal North Railway. In 1884-5 he served in Sir C Warren's Bechuanaland Expedition, at first as trooper, afterwards being promoted Lieutenant, and Acting Adjutant of the right wing of the 3rd Mounted Rifles under Lieutenant Colonel Hugh S Gough. In Aug, 1885, he enrolled in the BBP as a trooper, leaving that regiment in April, 1890, as RSM to join the Pioneer Corps for the occupation of Mashonaland, commencing with the same rank; was promoted Lieutenant, and Acting Adjutant, June 10, 1890, the corps being disbanded in the following October. In 1891 he was appointed Inspector of Public Works for Mashonaland. He was elected Senior Lieutenant, in the Mashonaland Horse, and served with the Victoria Column through the Matabele War in 1893 as Lieutenant, afterwards returning in command the column (medal). On the formation of the Rhodesia Horse Vols., he was elected Senior Captain, being promoted Lieutenant-Col commanding in 1896. In that year he commanded a column from Salisbury and Gwelo for the relief of Bulawayo, and was second in command under Colonel Spreckle at the celebrated action of Umguza Drift on June 6, when 400 of the rebellious Matabele were left dead on the field-an action which practically broke the back of the rebellion. Colonel Beal commanded the Mashonaland Forces in the Mashonaland Rebellion in 1896-7, and on the arrival of Colonel Alderson, was placed in charge of the lines of communication, transport and supply from Beira to Salisbury, which was probably the most difficult part of the operations, owing to the guerrilla tactics employed by the rebels (mentioned in despatches, CMG and two clasps). In 1897 he was appointed Chief Inspector of Public Works for Rhodesia; JP for Mashonaland in 1898; was appointed Acting Manager of the Beira and Mashonaland Rlys. in 1901, and on the appointment of Mr Webberley as Manager, Colonel Beal became Assistant General Manager of the Beira and Mashonaland Rlys. and of the Rhodesia Rlys. (Northern extension), and Agent for the BSA Company in Beira. In the Boer War in 1899-1902, he organised the transport for the Rhodesia Field Force as Director of Transport with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (mentioned in despatches, and medal and clasp for Rhodesia). He still holds the hon. rank of Lieutenant Colonel Colonel Beal bears the reputation of being a man who will go anywhere and do anything, seemingly quite unable to recognise difficulties. His chief sports are big game shooting and yachting.

Beaumont, Hon William Henry

Was born in India, Feb 24, 1851; is the son of Lieutenant Colonel W Beaumont, of the 23rd Madras Light Infantry; was educated at Sherborne and Sandhurst, and joined the 75th (Stirlingshire) Regt: as Ensign in Aug 1870; Lieutenant 1870, and retired in Aug 1875. He became Private Secretary, to Lieutenant-Governor Sir Benjamin Pine, and Clerk to the Executive Council of Natal in 1873; acting RM Umlazi Divn., 1874; Governor's Clerk and Clerk to the Executive Council, Oct, 1875; Magistrate, 1878; Acting Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court for various periods from Feb 1895 to Oct 1902; Judge of the Special Treason Court, Oct 1901; 2nd Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of Natal, November 1, 1902, and Senior Puisne Judge, 1904. Judge Beaumont served with the Langalibalele Expedition, 1873; was Colonial Commandant of No. 1 District, Natal, at the commencement of the Zulu War. Jan 1879, when he raised native levies for the defence of the border, and a troop of mounted natives called the Newcastle Scouts (medal). He also served as Commandant of the Pietermaritzburg Town Guard during the Boer War (medal). He has always been an enthusiastic sportsman, and has during the last few years been Captain of the Maritzburg Golf Club. He was married, 1876, to Alice, daughter of Hon John Millar, MLC, of Durban.

Beckett, Colonel C E, CB, 3rd Hussars

Entered 1869; Colonel, 1898.  Staff service: DAA and QMG, Egypt, 1882; Brigadier-Major Cavalry Brigade, Egypt, 1882-83; Assistant Military Secretary to GOC Forces, Ireland, 1886-88; DAAG, Headquarters, Ireland, 1888-91; Assistant - Inspector General of Ordnance, Headquarters of Army, 1898-99; A A.G., Natal, 1899; AQMG, Headquarters of Army, 1900.  War service:  Egyptian Expedition, 1882 (Despatches; medal with clasp; bronze star; Brevet of Major, 4th class Medjidie); Sudan, 1884-85(clasp); South African War, Dundee, severely wounded.

Beit, Alfred

He was born in Hamburg in 1858, and after receiving a sound commercial education went with a few thousand pounds to Kimberley, where the great firm of Wernher, Beit, and Company was originally founded. But the discovery of the Rand Goldfields greatly increased the sphere of the firm's operations. Already exercising the greatest influence over the destinies of the De Beers Mines, of which he was a life governor Mr Beit soon began to acquire the control of a large proportion of the pick of the Rand outcrop claims, supplementing these holdings with a more or less continuous line of deep level claims along the main reef series, which were soon merged in the huge mining corporation known as the Rand Mines, Limited, of which Mr Beit was a Johannesburg director, with a scat on the London Committee. To mention the other mining undertakings which come entirely or partly under the aegis of Mr Beit's firm would be to name some sixty or more of the most prosperous and best managed of the and properties. At the time of his death Mr Beit was Vice-President of the British South Africa Company, since 1904; life governor of the De Beers Consolidated Mines, Limited; a director of the Beira Railway Company, Limited; Central Mining and Investment Corporation, Limited; Mashonaland Railway Company, Limited; Rand Mines Limited; Rhodesia Railways, Limited (see J R Maguire); Rhodesia Railways Trust, Limited and was on the London Board of the Consolidated Company Bultfontein Mine, Limited, and the HF Company, Limited.

But Mr Beit's interests were not limited to gold and diamonds, for few men have done more to extend the British Empire in South Africa than this great naturalised Englishman, who had been from the beginning one of Mr Rhodes' staunchest supporters in opening up the Northern Territory and preserving the road thereto for Great Britain. From the inception of the Chartered Company his brains and influence had always been at the service of the company; he had been for nearly the whole period a director of the company, although the unfortunate Raid made it desirable for Mr Beit to remain away from the councils of the board until he was re-elected by the shareholders a couple of years later. However, the death of Mr Rhodes made it more essential that such a man as Mr Beit should take a still more active part in the great colonising company, and he became its vice-president in 1904. His earnest desire to carry out the partially completed projects of his late friend and colleague had led him previously (in 1902) to make an extended tour through Rhodesia, the result being immediately reflected in the removal of most of the drawbacks under which the colonisers had been suffering. The old mining law was amended, the SO per cent, lien clause being reduced to 30 per cent., and such important reforms as throwing open the country to diamond prospecting, reducing the post and telegraph rates, instituting departments for Native Affairs and Agriculture, and, above all, the decision to hurry on railway construction, were decided upon. Mr Beit became Vice-President of the Chartered Company in 1904, thus very greatly diminishing the loss which fell to Rhodesia on the death of Mr Rhodes, and the transference of Earl Grey to Canada. A man with such responsibilities and interests needs to be something more than a financial genius, and perhaps one of his most fortunate attributes was his perspicuity in judging character and associating himself with the right people. Thus it is safe to say that no other firm contains such a combination of men of brains and financial probity as the firm of Wernher, Beit, and Company and the allied firm of H Eckstein and Company, who act as their Transvaal representatives, and between them they are perhaps second only to the house of Rothschild in the magnitude of their operations and the amplitude of their financial resources. Mr Beit's firm is, of course, not free from those attacks which are periodically directed against the great financial houses. In the case of the libel uttered by Mr A B Markham, MP , which was so unreservedly withdrawn, it is characteristic of the firm that they abstained from asking for the costs in the case. Mr Beit himself was reserved and was for many years somewhat delicate, as most men are who develop their intellectual strength at the expense of their physical force. Nevertheless, he had an extraordinary capacity for hard work, and while he commonly calculated in millions he had that grasp of detail which ensured his schemes being successfully carried through. Although German by birth, he was a naturalised Englishman, and apart from the huge tract of country which he helped to bring under the British flag, he had large ideas on such questions of national importance as technical education, to advance which he and his firm have contributed in princely fashion. Mr Beit's gifts for public or charitable purposes have been numerous and large. During the Boer War he was a munificent supporter of the ILH, and it was owing to his generous financial aid that the regiment was, after the relief of Ladysmith, re-horsed in time for it to take part in the relief of Mafeking.

Braamfontein Forest, Parktown, near Johannesburg, consisting of about 200 acres of free hold ground, valued at £200,000, was recently presented to the Johannesburg Town Council by Messrs. Wernher, Beit, & Company and Mr Max Michaclis (a former partner in the firm) for the purposes of a public park, which is now known as the Hermann Eckstein Park. In Sep, 1904, Mr Beit presented the magnificent Frankenwald model estate of 3000 acres, situated close to the dynamite factory, laid out for Messrs. Eckstein at a cost of over £100,000 by Mr Gcnth (Prince Bismarck's Chief Forester, who planted the Sachsenwald forests adjoining Johannesburg), to the Transvaal Government for educational purposes. Following hard on this came the announcement of his offer to Oxford University to found a Professorship of Colonial History. The terms of the offer were that Mr Beit would contribute the sum of £1,310 per annum for seven years for the maintenance of a resident professor and assistant lecturers; a prize of £50 for an annual essay on the Advantages of Imperial Citizenship, and the payment of examiners' fees; the purchase of books on the subject, the amount annually expended not to exceed £50. At the expiration of the seven years, if the Hebdomadal Council so desired, Mr Beit was to make the endowment permanent, and he had already given £350 to the Bodleian Library for the purchase of books and documents required in the study of Imperial History. 

Mr Beit was a great lover of pictures, and possessed an art collection which was amongst the most valuable in England. A year before his death he presented a Gainsborough worth £8000 to the National Gallery in Berlin, in addition to having given at least one large donation to help save a valuable picture from being sold out of England, whilst amongst his treasures bequeathed in his will were Rcvnolds's Lady Cockburn and her Children to the National Gallery; Reynolds's Mrs Boone and her Daughter, afterwards Lady Drummond to the Imperial Museum, Berlin; Polajuolo's bronze statuette of Hercules to the same museum; and Majolica plate from the service of Isabella Gonzaga d'Estc to the Art and Industrial Museum, Hamburg.

In his lifetime Mr Beit had ceaselessly been depicted by the extremist Press as the typical 'Randlord'—a callous bloodsucker, battening on the prosperity of South Africa from no other motive than a vicious propensity to evil. His will, however, showed the greatness of the man's ideas. It breathed a practical spirit of humanity, which stood as its maker's best defence. As Cecil Rhodes left his money to unite the Anglo-Saxon world in bonds of educational brotherhood, Alfred Beit bequeathed a sum of £l ,200,000 for developing Africa's means of communication. "I believe", said the testator, "that by the promotion, construction, and furtherance generally of railways, telegraphs (including wireless telegraphy), and telephones, and kindred or other methods of transmission of persons, goods, and messages, civilisation will be best advanced and expedited in Africa for the benefit of the inhabitants thereof, whether native or immigrant, and I know from experience how difficult it is at times to find the funds for the construction of such methods of transmission in new and undeveloped countries." His educational bequests included £200,000 for the Johannesburg University, a similar sum for Rhodesia, cash and shares worth nearly £140,000 for the College of Technology, London University; £25,000 to the Institute of Medical Sciences Fund, London University; £25,000 to Rhodes University, Grahamstown; £20,000 for educational and charitable purposes in the Transvaal; £l 5,000 for same purposes in or near Kimberley; and £15,000 for same purposes in Cape Colony (excluding Kimberley); besides which £10,000 went to the Rhodes Memorial Fund, Cape Town; £20,090 to King Edward VII Hospital Fund; £20,000 to Guy's Hospital; £20,090 for charitable purposes in London; £20,000 for charitable purposes in Hamburg; and £10,000 to the Union Jack Club, London.

It must be remembered that this will was drawn at a time when Mr Beit was still being constantly attacked by those who have made it their business to hold him up to the working man as the very type of unscrupulous financier who is supposed to be the curse of South Africa. But it is not by such attacks that he will be remembered. Long after they are forgotten the people of Great and Greater Britain will benefit by the farsighted philanthropy of Alfred Beit.

The executors named in the will were Mr Otto Beit, brother of the deceased, Mr Franz Voelklein, cousin, and Sir Julius Wernher, one of his partners. Other trustees were also named for carrying out certain definite objects. Mr Alfred Beit was not married. He was survived by his mother, who lives in Hamburg, of whom he was intensely fond.  He died in the early morning of July 16, 1906, a sudden termination to a prolonged state of ill-health

Bell, Charles George Harland, CMG

Employed as Clerk to the Resident Magistrate at Leribe, Basutoland, in 1871; acted as Resident Magistrate at Berea, in charge of the Basuto Chief Masupha in 1878; commandant of the Leribe lew from 1880-1; was appointed Resident Magistrate at Idutywa, Transkei, in 1882; Civil Commissioner and Resident Magistrate at Victoria East in 1893, and at Barkly West in 1895. In 1896 he acted as Fencing Commissioner; was appointed Resident Magistrate and Civil Commissioner at Mafeking in 1897, and Special Commissioner during the Langberg Rebellion in 1897. In 1900 he was appointed Resident Magistrate at Uitenhage. He was a member of the Treason Court and of the War Losses Commission in 1903, and was appointed Resident Magistrate at East London in 1904.

Bell, Captain Edward, Worcester Regiment

Edward Bell was born in Gibraltar 5 April, 1866, son of Major-General E W D Bell, VC, CB, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, a Hero of the Alma.  He was educated privately in Germany, joined the Warwick Militia in 1884, and the Worcester Regiment in 1886.  He served during the Boer War 1900, as Adjutant, CIV Mounted Infantry; took part in operations in Orange Free State, February to May 1900, including operations at Paardeberg, actions at Poplar Grove, Driefontein, and Karee Siding; operations in Transvaal, May and June 1900, including Johannesburg, Pretoria and Diamond Hill; operations in Orange River Colony, including actions at Wittebergen (Despatches, Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, Queen’s medal with 6 clasps). Promoted Brevet Colonel in 1907 and was engaged in the Remount Service, August 1914 to November 1921, including DADR in Western Command 1919-21 (CMG).  Colonel Bell was created a Freeman of the City of London in 1899, and died 5 February 1937.

CMG (n/b), QSA (6) CC Paar Drie Joh DH Witt (Capt Worcester Regt), 1902 Coronation.  DNW Dec 95 £650.   

Bell, William Henry Somerset

Was born near Fort Beaufort, Eastern Province, Aug 1, 1856. He is second son of Colonel Charles Bell, and grandson of Geo. Jarvis, solicitor, of Grahamstown. He was educated at Douglas, Isle of Man, and at St Andrew's College, Grahamstown. At the early age of fourteen he, in conjunction with an elder brother, aged 16, printed and published a small weekly newspaper called the Kariega News, which ran for a year, much of the plant being made by these two boys. In 1877 Mr W H S Bell served with the Albany Mounted Volunteers in the Galeka Campaign. He was admitted as an Attorney of the Supreme Court, Cape Colony, in 1879, and a Notary of the same Court in 1878. In 1884 he founded and became editor of the Cape Law Journal, of which he continued editor until 1896, when he went to England on account of ill-health; he resumed the editorship in the beginning of 1900, and still continues to occupy that position. He was a member of the Reform Committee in Dec, 1895; was arrested for high treason against the SAR on Jan 9, 1896, and lodged in the Pretoria gaol with some 63 other Reformers; was tried in April, 1896, and with 59 others was convicted of the minor offence of Laesae majestatis, and sentenced to two years' imprisonment, £2,000 fine, and three years' banishment. After serving about one month's imprisonment his sentence was commuted to a fine of £2,000. Towards the end of 1896 he gave up business in Johannesburg, and went to England for rest and change. In 1898 he became Chairman of the Estate Finance and Mines Corporation, Ltd, in London, which position he resigned at the end of 1899, and went back to SA, and devoted himself to improving the Cape Law Journal, and also compiled his Digest of the Cape Law Journal, a work of about 600 pages, published 1901. In that year he altered the name of the Cape Law Journal to the South African Law Journal, and in June of the same year he resumed in Johannesburg his practice as a solicitor. He joined the Rand Rifles, and was a captain in the force at the time it was disbanded. In 1902 he, in conjunction with Mr Manfred Nathan, LLD, compiled and published the Legal Handbook of British South Africa (about 750 pp.). He was one of the representatives of the ORC in the Inter-Colonial conference on the Companies' Law. He was a member of the firm of Ayliff, Bell & Hutton, and later of Bell & Hutton, in Grahamstown; of Caldicott & Bell, in Kimberley; of Bell & Mullins, in Johannesburg; and since 1901 he has been a member of the firm of Bell & Tancred, of Johannesburg. He has been a member of the Council of the Incorporated Law Society of the Transvaal for many years; he is also a member of the Council of the Incorporated Law Society of the Cape: Colony. He is a director of several companies, and Chairman of the African Book Company, Ltd He married Aug 3, 1880, Charlotte Elizabeth, daughter of Geo. Wood, jnr, of Grahamstown.

Bell, William Reid

Served in the Tasmanian Public Works Department as Railway Surveyor from 1883-5, and from 1887-8 acted as Inspecting and Superintending Engineer of the lighthouse there. He served in the Boer War (two medals and three clasps); was appointed Irrigation Engineer to the Transvaal Land Board in 1902, and is a member of the Institute of Engineers and Shipbuilders, and a Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society.

Bellairs, Captain Norman Edward Breton, RA

Was born November 12, 1869, at Gibraltar. He is son of Lieutenant General Sir William Bellairs ; was educated at Clifton College; served in the Boer War 1901-2, commanding the RGA in the ORC towards the end of the war. He subsequently was appointed Adjt. of the Cape Garrison Artillery.

Bellairs, Lieutenant-General Sir William, KCMG, CB

Was born August 28, 1828, at Honfleur. He is descended from the ancient family of De Beler, Bellers, or Bellars (as formerly variously spelt), of Melton Mowbray, and Kirby Bellars, Leicestershire, in which churches are still to be seen effigies of his ancestors. He is a son of Sir William Bellairs (d. 1863), a distinguished officer of the 15th King's Hussars, who saw much service during the Peninsular and at Waterloo, and was afterwards Exon of the Yeomen of the Guard at the Court of Queen Victoria. Sir William was educated privately, and entered the Army in 1846, retiring as a Lieutenant General in 1887. As Adjt. of the 49th (now the Royal Berkshire) Regiment, he was present at the battle of the Alma; as Captain at the Inkerman combat of the 26th October, and at the battle of Inkerman, where he led a charge with only three attenuated companies which overthrew and dispersed a strong Russian column-an episode related in Kinglake's brilliant pages. Later, when on the QM General's staff, he was present at the attacks on the Redan and fall of Sebastopol, being then rewarded with a brevet majority, French and Turkish honours, medals and clasps. He was one of the comparative few (about 100) combatant officers who fought through the Crimea from first to last. He subsequently served on the staff of the Adjutant and QM General's departments in the West Indies, Ireland, Gibraltar and South Africa; throughout the Kaffir and Zulu campaigns (South African medal, 1877-9, and distinguished service reward); then, as Brig. General Commanding the troops which successfully defended their seven isolated posts in the Transvaal-Pretoria, Potchefstroom, Rustenburg, Marabastad, Lydcnburg, Standerton, and Wakkerstroom-surrounded as they were, for three months, by greater Boer forces. Sir William has likewise acted in various civil capacities-as Inspector General of Police, Barbados, 1857; Local Inspector of Army Schools, Gibraltar, 1868-73; Colonel Secretary, Gibraltar, 1872; Administrator, Natal, 1880; Member of Executive Council, Transvaal, 1880-1 and Administrator, Transvaal, 1881, after the war. Sir William wrote The Transvaal War, 1880-1, published in 1885 (Blackwood), The Military Career, and has contributed to reviews, &c. In 1902 the King selected him for the Colonelcy of the Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment). Sir William was married: first,, in 1857, to Emily Craven, daughter of Wm. Barton Gibbons, JP, and second, in 1867, to Blanche St John, daughter of F A Moschzisker, PhD Sir William's eldest son, William G Bellairs is a Cape Colony and RM in the Cape, Colony. He has another son, Captain N E B Bellairs, RA, who took part in the Boer War, and a daughter, widow of Sir David Tennant, late Speaker of the Cape House of Assembly.

Bell-Irving, Lieutenant Colonel A, RA

Entered 1875; Lieutenant Colonel, 1900.  War service: Afghan War, 1878-80 (Despatches; medal with clasp); Boer War, 1899-1900. 

Bell-Smyth, Captain J A, 1st Dragoon Guards

Brigadier General John Ambard Bell-Smyth served during the Boer War, on the Staff as ADC to Lieutenant General Infantry Division, 9 October 1899 to 3 March 2000; Brigade Major, 1 May 1900 to 19 November 1900; also served as Adjutant to Kimberley Mounted Corps, 4 March 1900 to 30 April 1900; 1st Dragoon Guards, 10 February 1901 to July 1901; employed with Brabant’s Horse, and as Commandant, Middleburg. 2 January 1901 to 5 February 1901.  Advance on Kimberley, including actions at Belmont, Enslin, Modder River and Magersfontein. Relief of Mafeking, and operations in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, to 29 November 1900. (Despatches London Gazette 16 April 1901).  For his services in the Great War he was awarded the CB (London Gazette 1919); CMG (London Gazette 1916); Mentioned in Despatches three times (London Gazette 1 January 1916, 11 December 1917 and 5 July 1919).

[CB], [CMG], QSA (6) RofM Belm MR OFS Tr SA01 (Capt. & Bt. Maj., 1/Drgn. Gds.), 1914 Star (Lt. Col., 1/D. Gds.), BWM (Brig. Gen.), 1902 Coronation.  DNW Jun 00 £2,100.

Bemiester, Inspector J W

Of Cape Town, joined the service of the Cape Government Railways in 1865, and took a prominent part in doubling the Wynberg line under Cress well Clark . For eleven years he was in charge of the Cape Government Railway Traffic Department, Cape Town Docks, and for the last two years has been attached to the Staff of the Goods Department, Cape Town. He retired in 1906.

Bencough, Captain Douglas Henry Victor, Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Was born in 1878 and entered the Army in 1898. He served in the Boer War in 1899-1901, including the operations in the Orange Free State and the actions at Vet River and Zand River, the operations in the Transvaal, including the actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Diamond Hill, and the action at Belfast (QSA with five clasps).

Bennet, Brevet Colonel F W, Royal Engineers

Served in the Egyptian Expedition in 1882 (medal and bronze star); the Sudan Expedition in 1884-5, on the Nile with the Telegraph Department (Despatches, clasp, and Brevet of Major), and the Boer War in 1899-1900, on the Staff (despatches, and QSA with two clasps).

Bentinck, Lord Charles Cavendish Cavendish Bentinck, Lieutenant 9th Lancers

Special Service, South Africa, 1900.

 

Bentinck, Lord Henry Cavendish Bentinck, MP, Yeomanry Cavalry

Lord Henry, born in 1863, was the son of General Bentinck.  He married in 1892 Lady Olivia, daughter of  Earl of Bective.

Berrange, Major Christian Anthony Lawson, CMG

Joined the Cape Mounted Police in 1883, having previously taken part in the Galeka War in 1879 (medal and clasp), and the Basuto War in 1881. He also served in the Bechuanaland Expedition in 1896-7, and the Boer War in 1899-1902, as Second in Command of Colonel Scobell's column; took part in the defence of Kimberley and the relief of Mafeking (QSA with four clasps and KSA with two clasps). He commanded a detachment of Cape Police at the Coronation of King Edward in 1902 (medal); was appointed District Inspector of the Cape Police in 1903, and Commissioner in 1904.

Bethell, Lieutenant Colonel E H, RE

Entered 1873; Lieutenant Colonel, January 1900.  Staff service: Brigade - Major Royal Engineers, Headquarters, Ireland, 1890-95; Staff Officer Royal Engineers, South Africa, 1899.  War service:  Afghan War, 1878-80 (Despatches; medal).  Boer War, 1899-1900; on Staff.

Bethune, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Cecil

Born in 1855, and joined the 92nd Foot (the Gordon Highlanders) in 1875, exchanging to the 6th Dragoon Guards in 1887. He was subsequently Major in the 16th Lancers; served in the Afghan War in 1878-80, including the affairs around Kabul and Sherpur (medal with clasp), the Boer War in 1881, and the Boer War in 1899-1902, on the Staff, and as Special Service Officer, and he also raised and commanded Bethune's Mounted Horse; present at the relief of Ladysmith (despatches, QSA with six clasps, and KSA with two clasps). General Bethune commanded the Cavalry Brigade in South Africa in 1901, subsequently commanding the Eastern Sub District of Cape Colony. raised and commanded Bethune's Mounted Infantry. He is at present acting as Chief of the Staff, Southern Command.

Bingham, Major Honourable C E, 1st Life Guards, ADC

Entered 3rd Hussars 1882; Major, 1st Life Guards, 1898.  Staff service: ADC to Major General Cavalry Brigade, South Africa, 1899-1900; ADC to Lieutenant General Cavalry Brigade, South Africa, February 1900; DAAG, South Africa, May 1900.  War service: Boer War, 1899-1900; on Staff.

Bird, Christopher John, CMG, JP

Was born at Maritzburg Dec 30, 1855, and is son of John Bird, CMG, formerly Treasurer of Natal, whose father, Lieutenant Colonel C Bird, was formerly Colonial Secretary, of the Cape Colony. Mr C J Bird was educated in Maritzburg, and entered the Natal Civil Service in 1874. He was appointed Assistant Colonel Secretary, in 1888, and on the establishment of responsible government in 1893 was made Principal Under-Secretary. He is also Chairman of the Civil Service Board, and JP for Natal. He held a commission in the Maritzburg Rifles from 1885 to 1887, and received the Boer War medal for assistance rendered by the civil administration to the military in Natal in 1899-1902. He married in 1887 Edith, daughter of Win. Armstrong, MRCS Eng.

Blackbeard, Charles Alexander, JP

Of Posno Street, Beaconsfield, Cape Colony, and of the Kimberley Club, was born at Grahamstown, Dec 19,1848, his grandparents having settled in the Colony in 1820. He is an old resident on the Diamond Fields, has for many years taken a prominent interest in the municipal affairs of Beaconsfield, for which town he was several times elected Mayor. He was re-elected in 1902. He is also Chairman of the local Public School, the local branch of the SA League, and of the Kroonstad Coal and Estate Company, and Director of the Griqualand West DM Company In Freemasonry he is DDGM of Central South Africa, and Eminent Preceptor 'Diamond of the Desert'. He served as a trooper in the DFH in the Kaffir War of 1877-8, became Captain in that corps in 1889, and served as Captain and adjt. in the Beaconsfield Town Guard during the siege in the Boer War, and was mentioned in Colonel Kekewich's despatches. He married, Dec 8, 1875, Miss Annie Robinson McKay.

Blackett, Captain Ralph

he was born at Wimborne, Dorset, Sept 19, 1877, and is the son of Major General Sir E Blackett, Bart. He was educated at Clifton and Sandhurst, and joined the Army in Feb, 1897, served in the Boer War with the 14th Hussars under Sir Redvers Buller until the relief of Ladysmith. He was with General French's Cavalry Div. in the Orange Free State, and with General Elliott's columns in ORC, 1902 (QSA with five clasps, KSA with two clasps). Captain Blackett was appointed captain in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in Egypt, 1905.

Blackwood, Lord Basil Temple

He was educated at Harrow and Balliol College, Oxford, and was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1897. In 1900-1 he acted as Deputy Judge Advocate in South Africa, and from 1901-3 acted as Secretary to the Governor of the Orange River Colony; Acting Colonial Secretary there from May to Sep, 1902; Assistant Colonial Secretary in 1903, and again Acting Colonial Secretary for the Orange River Colony from April to Aug, 1903.

Blakeley, Robert Henry

He was born at Harbury, Yorks, November 8, 1867, is the son of William Blakeley, JP, was educated at Repton, and served with Roberts' Horse during the Boer War, when he was taken prisoner at Sanna's Post (Queen's and KSAs, five clasps). He is very fond of cricket, football, and hockey; is an authority on the Rugby game, and was for seven years hon. secy, of the Transvaal Rugby Football Union.

Blakeway, H M

he has been Resident Magistrate of Tarkastad, Cape Colony, for some years, and in the latter part of the Boer War (Dec 1, 1901) took over the administration of martial law in his district.

Blakeway, Oswald Munson

He was employed in the Chief Magistrate's Office at Umtata in 1893, and acted Chief Clerk to the Chief Magistrate at Tembuland in 1897. He served as Military Secretary, with the rank of captain, to the officer commanding the Transkeian Territories Forces from 1899-1902, and on the amalgamation of the territories he was transferred to Butterworth as Assistant Magistrate in 1902, subsequently being appointed Assistant Magistrate at Uitvlugt in 1900.

Blanckenberg, Reginald Andrew

Of Pretoria, Transvaal, was employed in the BSA Company's Cape Office in 1895, and in the Administrator's Office, Bulawayo, in 1896, acted as Private Secretary to the Administrator of Matabeleland in 1899, Private Secretary to the Administrator of Southern Rhodesia in 1901, Acting Secretary to the Lands Department and Accounting Officer in the Surveyor-General's Department in the same year, and Private Secretary to the Acting Administrator in 1902. Subsequently he was transferred from the Rhodesian service, and was appointed confidential clerk to the Lieutenant-Governor of the Transvaal, shortly after becoming private secretary to him.

Bleloch, William Edwin

He was born in London, Oct 2, 1863; is son of Robert Bleloch, of Hazleyshaw, Clackmannanshire, Scotland, and was educated at Saline Public School, Fifeshire. He entered commercial life at Glasgow in 1879; went to SA in 1889, spent five years travelling in Cape Colony, Orangia, and the Transvaal; settled in Johannesburg in 1894, and engaged in mining. On outbreak of war in 1899 he acted as war correspondent for the Standard with Lord Methuen's Kimberley Relief Column, then with Lord Roberts' Army to Bloemfontein and Pretoria. He was present at Graspan, Modder River, Magersfontein, Paardeberg, Poplar Grove, Driefontein, and all the fights up to Pretoria. He became Special Correspondent for the Morning Post, Sep, 1900, continuing to the end of the war. He wrote The New South Africa, published by Heinemann (1901). In 1902 he served on the Commission appointed to inquire into the Gold Laws of the Transvaal, and in May, 1902, became Joint Manager in Johannesburg of the United South Africa Association, Ltd He is a Director of the Federation Syndicate, Ltd, Orangia Main Reef, Ltd, New Transvaal Coy., Ltd, Jooste Claims Syndicate, Ltd, New Options Syndicate, Ltd, East Rand Gold Mine, and Alternate Director of The Premier Transvaal Diamond Mining Coy., Ltd His recreations are the study of geology and economics. Mr Bleloch was married on July 11, 1901.

Blenkins, William Bazett Goodwin

Of The Residency, King Williamstown, and of the Civil Service (Cape Town) and Senior (KWT) Clubs,. was born at. Bombay July 4, 1852, his father being Brevet-Major W B G Blenkins, CB, and his mother a daughter of H C Jarvis, formerly MLC Mr Blenkins was educated at the South African College and entered the Civil Service in 1871; was appointed RM at Mount Frere in 1880, additional RM for Kimberley at Du Toit's Pan and Member of Special Court 1882; was thereafter Cape Colony and RM at Murraysburg, Hay, and Herschel; became Divisional Inspector in the Attorney-General's Department in 1895; was appointed Cape Colony and RM at Cradock in 1897, and Cape Colony and RM and Registrar of Deeds at King William's Town in Aug, 1900. Incidentally Mr Blenkins has held various other appointments, including Secretary, to Special Commissioner with the Transkeian tribes in 1875; has acted as Chief of Police at Cape Town; was Special Commissioner on Agricultural Distress, Northern Districts, in 1899; Sub-Commissioner, War Losses Compensation Board, 1902, and Commissioner in 1903. He has also acted as visiting magistrate at the Convict Stations at East London and Cape Town. Recreations: walking, shooting, and fishing. He married, November 14, 1883, Mary, daughter of Reverend Geo. Chapman, some time Governor of Heald Town Training Institute.

Blunt, Captain Osmond Donald

Was born November 17, 1870, and entered the Connaught Rangers in 1898, exchanging to the Lancashire Fusiliers in 1900. He served in the Dongola Expedition in 1896 (despatches, medal, 4th Class Medjidie, and Egyptian medal with two clasps) the Expedition against the Mpezeni, British Central Africa, in 1898 (medal with clasp), and the Boer War in 1899-1900 as special service officer, and serving with the Rhodesian Protectorate Regiment (QSA with three clasps).

Boden, Captain Athoney Drummond

Boden was born Sep 24, 1872, and joined the Rifle Brigade in 1892. He served in the Boer War in 1900-2, including the operations in Natal and the Transvaal east of Pretoria (QSA with two clasps, and the KSA with two clasps).

Boger, Major R W, RFA

This officer served in the Boer War, his services being several times mentioned in despatches. He was subsequently employed at the Staff College, and in 1905 was attached to the Japanese Army in Manchuria.

Boggie, Alexander, FRCI

He was born May 8, 1861, at Liverpool, and was educated privately and at various public schools in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and London. Mr Boggie went to SA in 1869 with his parents. He was at the Diamond Fields with his father in 1871, when the Kimberley Mine was discovered. He returned to Scotland with his mother on the death of his father in 1875, and went back to SA in 1883. He joined in the rush to the Kaap Gold Fields in 1884; visited Swaziland in 1886, and opened negotiations with Umbandine, the Swazi King, with a view to getting a gold concession in his country. This he succeeded in doing, and as soon as this became publicly known the rush for concessions to Swaziland took place. In 1888 he visited the King of the Matabele on a similar errand. He was through the Matabele Rebellion, and during the Boer War acted as Special Correspondent for the Rhodesian Press in the Natal Campaign. Ever since the occupation of Rhodesia he has taken an interest in its affairs, both commercial and otherwise. He is on the local board of several gold mining, land, and other companies in Bulawavo, and is also on the Town Council and on the board of most of the local public bodies of that town. At various times he has taken part in hunting and exploring expeditions to various parts of South Africa.

Boggie, Captain William James

After some slight banking experience he joined the Queensland Defence Force, serving as Captain in the Queensland Artillery, and compiled the Gunners' Handbook. He also served during the Matabele War, 1896, commanding C Troop BFF, and being present at the storming of Thabas Amamba and with the Shangani, Wedzas, and Belingwe patrols (medal). During the Boer War he was recruiting officer for the 2nd Scottish Horse, and he also served in various operations in the Transvaal, ORC, and Cape Colony; served subsequently with the 5th Manchester Regiment; was comdt. at Karrecfontein and Riet Spruit at close of hostilities in 1902 (QSA, four clasps, KSA, two clasps) He commands the Southern Rhodesia Volunteers at Gwelo; is member of the Rhodesia Pioneer Assn., Director of the Gwelo Board of Executors and Building Sec, and Ed. of the Gwelo Times.

Boulby, Dr Anthony Alfred, CMG FRCS

Served in the Boer War in 1900, when he was in charge of the Portland Hospital; is surgeon and lecturer on surgery at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, and was appointed Surgeon to the King's Household in 1904. He is the author of many works on surgical subjects.

Bourne, Captain Henry Roland Murray

He was born in Worcestershire, June 18, 1874, and is son of Lt. Colonel R Bourne, JP, DL, of Cowarne Court, Herefordshire. He was educated at Radley and New College, Oxon, entered the Royal Scots as 2nd Lieut, in 1896, and obtained his captaincy in November, 1902. He was seconded for service under the Colonial Office in June 1902 when he was appointed Under-Secretary in the Colonial Secretary's Office, Transvaal.

Bowker, Major Charles Allan, JP, MB, CM

He was born at Tarrington, July 14, 1871. He was educated at Edinburgh University, and was captain of the Rugby team and cricket, and rowing member of the Avon Rowing Club. At Edinburgh he took first-class honours in anatomy, and was second prizeman in surgery. On graduating in 1896, he took a sea voyage to South Africa on account of health, and was acting District Surgeon, for Alfred County, Natal, until 1897, when he was appointed District Surgeon, and Indian Medical Officer at Lower Umzimkulu, and health officer at Port Shepstone; was gazetted Lieutenant-Surg, in the Border Mounted Rifles, and received his majority in 1904, in recognition of his services during the siege of Ladysmith, at Intombi Volunteer Hospital Camp. JP for Alfred County in 1897. He married Oct 13, 1894, Christina Mackay.

Bowles, Lieutenant Colonel H, Yorkshire Regiment

Entered 1876; Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, 1899.  Staff service: Staff Captain, Egypt, 1884-85; DAA and QMG, Egypt, 1885-86.  War service: Sudan Expedition 1884-85 (Despatches; Brevet of Major); Operations on NW Frontier of India (Despatches; Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel; medal with 2 clasps); Boer War, 1899-1900 (Despatches, May 1900); Paardeberg, wounded.

Boyd, Charles Walter, CMG

He was the son of Very Reverend A K H Boyd, DD, of St Andrew's NB, where he was born Apr 11, 1869. Educated at Fettes College, Edin, and at Edinburgh University, he read for the Scottish Bar, but drifted into journalism, contributing articles to the Saturday Review, Times, and various other journals and magazines. From 1895-97 he was Private Secretary, to the Rt Hon G Wyndham, MP, and from 1897-98 he acted in a similar capacity to Dr L S Jameson. He was also for some time Political Secretary, to Rt Hon C J Rhodes. He is now Joint Secretary, of the Rhodes Trust, Member of the Executive of the Imperial SA Association, and Member of the Committee of the SA Colonization Soc, and of the Victoria League.

Boyle, Colonel Lionel Richard Cavendish MVO

He was born at the Cape of Good Hope November 24, 1851; is son of Chas. J Boyle, of Kent, and grandson of Edmund, 7th Earl of Cork and Kerry. Colonel Boyle joined the Royal Navy in 1864, from which he retired some eleven years later. He commanded the Hon Artillery Company with rank of Lieutenant Colonel from 1896 to 1903, being promoted full Colonel a year before his retirement. He was previously manager of the South African Trust, and managing director of the Oceans Company, and is at present a director of the Beira Railway Company and the New-Colonies Synd. Colonel Boyle married, in 1883, Alice, daughter of the Reverend Richard T Pulteney, of Ashley, Northants.

Boyles, George J

Originally came from Lady Frere, Cape Colony; joined the Border Horse in Boer War ; was taken prisoner and released after four months' captivity by General French at Nooitgedacht. He then continued fighting on the British side, and gained a Lieutenant's Commission.

Brabazon, Major General John Palmer, CB, ADC to the Queen, Commanding Imperial Yeomanry, South Africa

Born 13 Feb 1843.  He entered 1862; Colonel, January 1899.  Staff service: Acting as Volunteer with rank of Captain, Ashanti Expedition, 1873-74; ADC (extra to Viceroy of India), 1877-79; Brigade-Major, Afghan Campaign, 1870-80; ADC to the Queen, 1889; Colonel on Staff; Commanding Cavalry Brigade, South-East District, 1899; Major General, Cavalry Brigade, South Africa, 1899-1900.  War service: Ashanti, 1874 (medal with clasp); Afghan War 1878-80 (Despatches; March, November, 1879; January, May, December, 1880; Medal with 4 clasps; bronze star; Brevet of Major); Egyptian Expedition, 1884 (Despatches; medal with clasp; bronze star; Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel); Sudan, 1884-85 (clasp); South African War, 1899-1900 (Despatches).  General Brabazon, born in 1843, was the son of the late Major Brabazon (late 15th Hussars), and the daughter of the late Sir W H Palmer, Baronet.

[CB], CVO, Afghan (4) PK, Char, Kabul, Khandahar, K2K Star, Egypt (2) El Tel Tamaii, The Nile, QSA (4) CC, Joh, DH, Belf.  RHQ

Bradford, Thomas

He was born in 1877. He is a professional hunter who has been in some of the wildest parts of Africa. In six months with two guns he shot 2,780 of heavy game, including elephants, lions, hippopotami, giraffes, leopards, rhinoceroses, etc. At his headquarters in Africa he has the carcase of an elephant that stands 1 Sft. 6in, high-said to be the largest elephant ever shot. Mr Bradford served throughout the Boer War (1899-02) in a Colonial corps.

Bradley, Lieutenant Colonel C E, North Stafford Regiment

Entered 1874; Lieutenant Colonel, 1899.  War service: Operations in Zululand, 1888; Boer War, 1890-1900.

Brady, John Banks

Served in the Boer War with the Imperial Yeomanry and as Lieutenant in Kitchener's Fighting Scouts. He was appointed Headmaster of Grey College School, Bloemfontein, in 1901, and Inspector of Schools in the Orange River Colony in 1904.

Brassey, Captain Honourable T Allnutt, BA, JP, West Kent Yeomanry Cavalry

Captain Brassey was the son of the 1st Baron Brassey and the daughter of 1st Marquis of Abergavenny.

Bridge, Colonel C H, CB, ASC

Brevet Colonel, 1898.  Staff service: DAQMG, Headquarters of Army, 1888-91; DAAG, South Africa, 1896-97; E District 1897-99; DAG for Transport, South Africa, 1899.  War service:  Egyptian Expedition 1882 (medal; bronze star); Operations in South Africa, 1896 (Despatches; CB); Boer War, 1899-1900; on Staff.

Bromley Davenport, W J P, MP, Yeomanry Cavalry

Born 1863.  Son of late Lieutenant Colonel W Bromley Davenport, MP

Brook, Major General E S, CB

He served through the Zulu War in 1879; the Boer War of 1880-1; commanded the 2nd Brigade of the Tochi Field Force in India in 1897-8, and was employed on special service during the Boer War . In 1904 General Brook succeeded Major General Miles in the command of the Cape Colony district, and acted as Administrator during the absence of Sir W Hely-Hutchinson.

Brooke, Lord

He was born in 1882. He entered the 1st Life Guards, and served in the Boer War with his Militia battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps, also being employed on the staff as ADC to Lord Milner. During the Russo-Japanese War he acted as one of Reuters's correspondents with the Russian Army in Manchuria for nine months, and has since recorded his experiences in a book. He is decorated by the Mikado and by King Edward.

Brookfield, Colonel Arthur Montagu, JP

Was born March 18, 1853, and is son of Reverend Prebendary Brookfield and of Jane, daughter of Sir C Elton. He was educated at Rugby and Jesus College, Cambridge, afterwards serving with the 13th Hussars from 1873 to 1880. From 1884 to 1900 he was Lieutenant Colonel and Hon Colonel in the 1st Cinque Ports Volunteers, and in the latter year, as Lieutenant- Colonel, commanded the 14th Battalion of IY in the Boer War . He commanded a Brigade at Kroonstad, and was in command of the convoy in the actions on June 25-27 between Kroonstad and Lindley, for which he was mentioned in Lord Roberts' despatch. He also relieved the garrisons of Katbasch and Honigspruit on June 22, and was mentioned in General Kelly-Kenny's despatch; was afterwards present at the actions at RetiePs Nek, and the subsequent occupation of Fouriesburg (medal and 3 clasps). Colonel Brookfield sat in Parliament from 1885-1903 for East Sussex, during which period he initiated and carried the Uniforms Act. He was Chairman of the Committee on Civil Employment for Discharged Soldiers and Sailors, and wrote The Speaker's A B C (1894). He was appointed HM Consul for Danzig July 27, 1903, is a JP for E Sussex, and a Knight of the Order of St John of Jerusalem. He married in 1877 Olive, daughter of J Murray Hamilton, of Dumfries and Buffalo, USA.

Brown, John, CMG

He was born Apr 27, 1844; is eldest son of John Brown, of Marlborough, Wilts; was educated at Streatham, and was articled as pupil to Sir John Coode at Portland Breakwater, and served under him as Engineer in charge of the River Bann Navigation Works in Ireland. He was for some time engaged on the Bristol and Exeter Railway under Mr Francis Fox, and for the last 30 years has been engaged on the Cape Government Railways. He married, Dec 3, 1867, Miss Augusta Sarah Rhodes.

Brownlee, William Thomson

He was employed in the Chief Magistrate's office in Fingoland in 1876, and during the Galeka War he had charge of the whole district, and also served in the field. In 1877 he was appointed to the Chief Magistrate's office at Transkei, and was twice appointed Resident Magistrate of the Tsomo district and once at Willowvale. He superintended the removal of Galekas from Bomvanaland into the Willowvale district. During the Tembu rebellion in 1880 he had charge of a section of the Tembu-Fingo border, and was on active service in command of a Fingo levy; also acted as Staff Officer to the officer commanding the Colonial Forces in Transkei (medal and clasp). In 1882 he was appointed Resident Magistrate at Qumbu; appointed Resident Magistrate at Idutvwa in 1893, and at Butterworth in 1896. In the Boer War in 1899-1902 he was Lieutenant Colonel commanding the Fingo levies, subsequently commanding the Tembuland Field Force and the Tembu and Fingo levies.

Brownlow, Major General William Vesey, CB

He was born in 1841, and is son of William Brownlow, of Queen's County, Ireland. He was educated privately; served in the Zulu War in 1879 with the 1st Dragoon Guards (medal and clasp, Brevet-Major); and in the Boer War in 1880-1, as Brig.-Major of Cavalry, being present at the actions at Laing's Nek and Ingogo (despatches and brevet of Lieutenant Colonel). From 1882 to 1901 he held several regimental appointments, and retired from the service in 1901. He married first, in 1881, Lady Anne, a daughter of the 10th Earl of Stair, and secondly, in 1904, Lady Kathleen Bligh, sister of the Earl of Darnley.

Bruce, Colonel David, CB, FRS, RAMC

He was born at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, May 29, 1855. Colonel Bruce was educated at the High School, Stirling, NB, and Edin University, where he took his MB CM, in 1881. He entered the RAMC in Aug, 1883; served in Malta from 1884-9, and while there worked at Malta fever, discovering its cause in the Micrococcus melitensis. He taught pathology and bacteriology in the Army Medical School, Netley, from 1889-94; served in South Africa from 189+1901, two years of which (1895-6) he spent in Zululand investigating the Nagano or tsetse fly disease. He discovered the cause of this disease to be a protozoon since named Trypanosoma Brucei, and showed that this parasite lived normally in the blood of the wild animals, whence the tsetse fly conveyed it to the domestic animals. For this addition to natural knowledge he was made FRS, and awarded the Cameron Prize of the Edinburgh University. In the Boer War he was at the siege of Ladysmith, and with General Buller in his march to Belfast. He was member of the Commission to investigate the cause of dysentery and enteric fever in the Army. He received special promotion (medal, 7 clasps); was appointed member of the Advisory Board, War Office, 1901, and Director of the Sleeping Sickness Comm., Royal Society, Uganda, 1903. He proceeded to Uganda and showed that sleeping sickness is a human tsetse fly disease, caused by Trypanosoma gambiense and carried by Glossina palpatis. For this he was awarded a Royal Medal by the Royal Society and made Brevet Colonel, Dec 10, 1903. In 1904 he was appointed Chairman of the Mediterranean Fever Commission of the Royal Society to direct investigation of Mediterranean fever. Colonel Bruce was married in 1883 to Miss Mary Elizabeth Steele, of Reigate, Surrey.

Bryan, Major Honourable G L, Imperial Yeomanry

This officer, born in 1857, was a son of the 3rd Baron Bellew.  He spent some years in the 10th Hussars, and served in the Nile Expedition.

Buchan, Lieutenant Colonel L

This officer served with distinction with the Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry.

Burdett-Coutts, W Ashmead Bartlett, JP, MP

This gentleman, whose dissatisfaction with the hospital arrangements in South Africa caused considerable stir in the country, acted as Correspondent of the Times.  Mr Burdett-Coutts, born in America in 1851, is mainly notable in consequence of his marriage with the Baroness Burdett-Coutts, one of the most benevolent and esteemed ladies of the Victorian Era.

Burmester, Charles Mansel

He was educated at Dulwich College, and entered the service of the Norddcutscher Lloyd Steamship Company at Bremen in 1898. He resigned his position in 1899 and joined the Imperial Yeomanry, serving with them in the Boer War in 1900-1 (QSA and four clasps). In 1901 he acted as Clerk to the Secretary of the Orange River Colony Administration, and as Clerk to the Colonial Secretary in 1902; acted as Chief Clerk in 1904, and again in 1905

Burney, Lieutenant Colonel Ernest Henry, CB, Royal Berks Regiment

Died at Neuilly, France, in the summer of 1905 aged forty-four, was present at the surrender of Kafr Dowar in the Egyptian Expedition of 1882 ( medal, bronze star). In the Boer War (1899-02) he commanded the 2nd. Battalion of the R Berks for twelve months, afterwards commanding a section of the lines of communication and a mobile column, taking part in the operations in the Transvaal and Cape Colony (QSA with three clasps, KSA with two clasps).

Burrows, Thomas W

The Champion Club Swinger of the World, was born in Australia; joined the Army, seeing service in Egypt, and early in 1900 volunteered for service with the 35th Company IY in the Boer War, going out as Corporal. On Feb 15-17, 1905, he performed the unique feat at the Canterbury Music Hall, London, of swinging clubs for forty-six hours without ceasing. The average speed of his intricate revolutions was 150 per minute, and he made nearly half a million whirls to secure the record.

Buston, Lieutenant Colonel P T, RE

Entered 1872; Lieutenant Colonel, 1899.  War Service —Afghan War, 1878-79-80 (Despatches; medal with 2 clasps); Hazara Expedition 1888 (Despatches; medal with clasp; Brevet of Major); Hazara Expedition 1891 (Despatches; clasp); Boer War, 1899-1900.

Butler, Lieutenant-General Sir William Francis, KCB

Born in County Tipperary, Ireland in 1838 and educated in Dublin.  At the age of 20 he entered the 69th Regiment at Fermoy and served between 1860-4 in Madras.  He served as intelligence officer under Colonel Garnet Wolseley in the Red River Expedition in Canada in 1870.  He stayed on in Canada to investigate conditions in the west at the request of the Canadian Government.  One of his recommendations led to the establishment of the North West Mounted Police.  His account of his time there was published in 'The Great Lone Land' in 1872.  Wolseley employed Butler in Ashanti in 1873 and he was to make his first visit to South Africa in 1875 when he again served under Wolseley who was Governor and High Commissioner.  He joined the staff of the War Office, and in 1877 he married Miss Elizabeth Thompson, the famous painter.  He next saw service in the Zulu War and in Egypt.  From 1893 to 1896 he commanded a brigade at Aldershot.  At the end of 1898, he was placed in command of the troops at the Cape, but generated resentment for suggesting a large forces would be needed to subdue the Boers.  He was criticised for his remarks and he resigned in September 1899.  He was placed in command of the Western district in England.  He retired in 1905 and died in Jun 1910.

He was born Oct 31, 1838. He has had a brilliant military career, including many years' service in different parts of The African Continent, since he joined the 69th Foot in 1858. His first active service was with the field force which repelled the incursion of the Fenians into Canada in 1870-1, and he was later employed as Special Commissioner to the Saskatchewan Indians. Sir William served throughout the Ashanti War, 1873-4; served in Natal in 1875, was DAQ MG to Army Headquarters, 1875-9, AAG and QMG South Africa, 1879-89; held the same appointments in the Western District, 1880-2; with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in 1882, and served in a similar capacity in the Nile Expedition in 1884-5. He commanded a brigade of the Egyptian Frontier Field Force in 1885-6, and held other appointments in Egypt till late in 1893. In November, 1898, he was appointed to the command of the Cape forces. It was during this command that he made the report as to the improbability of the available forces of the Cape being sufficient to successfully withstand an invasion of the Boers—a report or warning which was not well received at headquarters. General Butler took over the command of the Western District (Eng.) in Sep, 1899, and in 1905 took temporary-charge of the Second Army Corps during the absence of Sir Ian Hamilton in the East during the Russo-Japanese War. In the same year he relinquished his command. Sir Wm. Butler is a Liberal in politics, and a prospective candidate for East Leeds at the next election. Sir William Butler has written a considerable number of books, including The Great Lone Land—one result of his services in 1870—The Campaign of the Cataracts and the lives of General Gordon, Sir Chas. Napier, and Sir Geo. Colley. He married Miss Elizabeth Thompson, the distinguished painter of military subjects.

Buttery, J A

Died of appendicitis in Aug, 1906, was formerly chief subeditor of the Standard and Diggers' News in Johannesburg during the most exciting period of the diplomatic struggle between London, Cape Town, and Pretoria. He was the anther of Why Kruger made War; or, Behind the Boer Scenes. At the time of his death he was conducting the football and cricket department of the Daily Mail.

Byng, Lieutenant Colonel the Honourable Julian Hedworth George, 10th Hussars

He was born 1862, the son of the 2nd Earl of Strafford.  Educated at Eton, Byng was commissioned into 10th Hussars in 1883; Colonel, 1898.  Staff service:  DAAG, Aldershot, 1897-99;Provost-Marshal, South Africa, 1899.  War service: Egyptian Expedition, 1884 (medal with clasp; bronze star); South African War, 1899-1900, Commanding South African Light Horse.  Between 1910-12, he was Commander in Chief of the Eastern Command and was in command in Egypt before the Great War.  He commanded the Cavalry Corps in the BEF and later the 9th Army Corps during the Dardenelles campaign where he organised the withdrawal.  He was in command of the Canadian Army Corps when they won their famous victory at Vimy Ridge.  This was followed by comman of the 3rd Army where he attached with tanks for the first time at Cambrai in 1916.  He was promoted to General and raised to the peerage as 1st Baron Byng of Vimy and Thorpe-le-Soken in 1919.  He was Governor General of Canada between 1921 and 24 and Chief Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.  He was made Field Marshal and raised to Viscount.