Personalities, Surname L

Lagden, Sir Godfrey Yeatman, KCMG, CMG, Commissioner of Basutoland

He was born Sep 1, 1851, and educated at Sherborne School A bare recital of his official appointments shows that he has had a busy as well as a distinguished public career. He entered the Civil Service in the GPO, 1869-77; went to South Africa in the latter year; was sent by Sir Bartle Frere to the Transvaal, where he was attached to Sir T Shepstone's staff after the annexation; was appointed chief assistant to the then Colonial Secretary, and Private Secretary, to the Administrator, Sir Owen Lanyon, 1875-81, and Secretary, to Executive Council. During the Boer War of 1881 he was present at the siege of Pretoria and was employed on the staff of the GOC HM forces there. He afterwards became Private Secretary to Administrators Sir Evelyn Wood and Sir Wilham Bellairs; was attached to the Royal Commission that sat in the Transvaal in 1881, and then became Secretary, to Transvaal Sub-Royal Commission on Compensation Claims, 1882. Sir Godfrey went to Egypt at the outbreak of war, and served as Special War Correspondent for the Daily Telegraph during the Egyptian Campaign, 1882-3, being present at all engagements, including Tel-el-Kebir, charge of Kassassin and occupation of Cairo; was appointed Assist. Colonial Secretary, Sierra Leone; employed on Special Financial Mission to Gold Coast, 1883. He accompanied Sir Marshal Clarke at the annexation of Basutoland, 1884, and assumed the offices of Secretary and Accountant of that territory; Assistant Commissioner, 1885; acted as Resident Commissioner, 1890; as British Commissioner, Swaziland, 1892; Resident Commissioner, Basutoland, 1892-1901. Sir Godfrey occupied important positions during the Boer War of 1899-01, and was several times mentioned in civil and military despatches, and was later Chairman of the Inter-Colonial South African Native Affairs Commission. It will thus be seen that Sir Godfrey Lagden has represented this country on various missions, but it was as British Resident in Basutoland that he made his reputation. "To use the power and influence of the chief as a means of governing and guiding the nation", was the motto of his rule, and it is claimed that his success has shown how a black population may be moulded and governed with its own consent. No greater evidence exists of Sir Godfrey's remarkable faculties for inducing in the native mind an appreciation of progressive measures than the result of the introduction of a Native Savings Bank and remittance agency established in the Transvaal in Sep, 1902, of which the natives have taken full advantage from its initiation. He indulges in most games and sports, played cricket for his county, and was engaged in first class football, athletics and rowing between 1869 and 1877. He has had considerable experience of big game shooting, and walked from the Cape Coast to Coomassie through the Ashanti country in 1883, shooting and collecting specimens. He married, in 1887, Frances Rebeka, daughter of the Rt Reverend Henry Brougham Bousfield, Bishop of Pretoria.

Lamb, Sir Archibald, 3rd Baronet

Sir Archibald Lamb, 3rd Baronet, the family Baronetcy having been created in 1795 was born in 1845, son of Charles James Savile Montolieu Lamb (who died in 1856 before his father the 2nd Baronet), his mother being the eldest daughter of Arthur Gray of Bersted, Sussex.  Archibald Lamb was married in 1875, to Louisa Mary Caroline, youngest daughter of the late Sir Henry E Durrant, Bart.  Archibald Lamb succeeded to the Baronetcy, on the death of his grandfather in 1860, in addition to inheriting 2700 acres of land. He was educated at Eton, and then Trinity College, Cambridge, and he joined the Army, rising to the rank of Major in the 2nd Life Guards, he was present in the operations in and around the Gold Coast, in the period immediately post the Ashanti Operations from 27th November 1896 to 14th June 1898, where he was employed on the Administrative Staff.  He received the rare East & West Africa Medal with 1896-98 clasp, believed to be a unique award to a serving member of the Life Guards.  He was employed with the Imperial Yeomanry at the time of the Boer War, and served as Major and 2nd in Command of the 14th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry, which comprised the 55th (Northumberland), 53rd (East Kent), 62nd (Middlesex), & 69th (Sussex) Companies. He took part with his unit in the operations in the Transvaal. Lamb seems to have retired from the Army shortly afterwards, and he did not see operational service in the Great War, however he was later made a Knight of the Order of Saint John, and in addition was a D.L. Sussex.

E&W Africa (1) 1896-98 (Major Sir A. Lamb Bt. Admrs: Staff.) officially re-engraved, QSA (2) CC OFS Major. Sir. A. LAMB. Bt. 14/Imp. Yeo.  eBay Sep 07.

Lane, Captain A H, AVD

Took part in the Dongola Expedition in 1896 (Egyptian medal); and was SVO and Remount Officer for the 5th Division during the Boer War in 1899-1902.

Latham, Robert J

Formerly employed by the Board of Agriculture, and by the Surveyor of Taxes, Inland Revenue, London, afterwards serving as Clerk in the Accountant's Department of the Orange Free State and Cape Government Railways. He took part in the Boer War with the Prince of Wales' Light Horse (KSA and two clasps); and was appointed Clerk in the Land Settlement Department of the Orange River Colony in 1903.

Law, Colonel, the Hon Cecil Henry, CB

Born in London, November 25, 1849, and is 3rd son of the Hon H S Law. He was educated at Wellington College, and took part in the Afghan War in 1878-9, and served in the Boer War in 1899-02; is fond of sport and has played polo in India. He married, July 22, 1884, Alice, daughter of John H Astell, of Woodbury Hall, Beds.

Lawley, The Honourable Arthur, Administrator of Matabeleland

Born in 1860, and is a brother of Lord Wenlock, and a nephew of Duke of Westminster. He was at one time in the 10th Hussars, and for five years acted as Private Secretary, to the Duke of Westminster. Sir Arthur made his first hit as Secretary, to the Administration of S Rhodesia in 1896, and from 1898 until 1901 he was Administrator of Matabeleland, during which time he earned golden opinions by the happy tact which he exercised between the Chartered Company on the one part and the settlers on the other. The difficult questions of land tenure, native labour, and other matters which were the subject of local agitation owed much to the attention which he gave to them, and to the care with which he endeavoured to reconcile conflicting differences of interest. In the early days of the Boer War, he went in person to inform the chiefs of the outbreak of hostilities, and to explain the situation to them. During 1901-2 Sir Arthur Lawley acted as Governor of Western Australia, and he then returned to South Africa to take up the appointment of Lieutenant-Governor of the Transvaal, a most difficult post which called for diplomatic ability of no common order. In 1903, during Lord Milner's absence, Sir Arthur acted as High Commissioner in South Africa, and at the latter end of 1905 he was appointed to succeed Lord Ampthill, GCSI, as Governor of Madras. He married, in 1885, a daughter of Sir Edward Cunard, Bart.

Lawson, Brevet Lieutenant Colonel H M, RE

Entered 1877; Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, 1898.  Staff service: DAAG, Dublin District 1889-02; DAQMG Headquarters of Army, 1893-98; Specially employed with Egyptian Army, 1898-99; AAG, South Africa, 1899.  War Service—Egyptian Expedition 1884 (medal with clasp; bronze star; 5th class Medjidie); Sudan Expedition 1884-85 (Despatches; 2 clasps; Brevet of Major); Nile Expedition 1898, dangerously wounded; (Despatches; Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel; Egyptian medal with clasp; medal); Boer War, 1899-1900; on Staff; Ladysmith.

Lawton, Lancelot Francis

Son of Joseph Lawton. He was educated at the Jesuit College of St Francis Xavier, in Liverpool, and started his journalistic career on the Daily Mail. When the Russo-Japanese War broke out, he resigned and went to Tokyo, subsequently becoming attached to the staff of the Daily Telegraph. Mr Lawton served throughout the Boer War in 1899-1902 as a trooper and despatches rider, and was wounded twice.

Leary, Arthur Ernest

Acted as Clerk to the Resident Magistrate at Umtata, Cape Colony, and also at Mqandule in 1885; Assistant Resident Magistrate at Mqandule in 1886, and Assistant Resident Magistrate at Umtata in 1889. He was appointed Interpreter of native languages in the Eastern Districts Court, and Relieving Magistrate in 1895; took part in the Tembu and Pondomisc Rebellion in 1880-81 (medal); and the Boer War in 1899-1901, as Intelligence Officer to Major General Sir J T Maxwell (Queen's and KSAs with seven clasps). Subsequently he was appointed one of the Magistrates of Pretoria on the occupation of that town. He returned to Cape Colony in 1901, and was transferred to the Orange River Colony as Resident Magistrate at Harrismith in the same year.

Leary, Lieutenant Colonel T G

This officer served with distinction with the Transkei Territories Contingent.

Leconfield, Lord

Of Petworth House, Sussex, and of 9, Chesterfield Gardens, London, W, was born in 1872, and is son of the 1st Earl. He is Lieutenant Colonel of the Sussex Imperial Yeomanry, and was formerly in the 1st Life Guards, serving in the Boer War in 1899-1900. Unmarried.

Leitrim, Earl of

Born in 1879, and is the eldest son of the 4th Earl. He served with the Imperial Yeomanry in the Boer War in 1899-1902; and married in 1902, Violet, daughter of Robert Henderson, a director of the Bank of England.

Leuchars, Lieutenant Colonel G

This officer commanded the Umvoti Mounted Rifles with distinction.

Leverson, Colonel Julian John, CMG

Born in London, May 16, 1853, and is son of G B C Leverson. He was educated at the RMA, Woolwich, and the Staff College, Sandhurst. He took part in the Egyptian Expedition in 1882; acted as special service officer with Sir Charles Warren's expedition in Bechuanaland in 1884-5, and was subsequently appointed one of the commissioners to settle the claims to land in British Bechuanaland in 1885-6. He went out to S East Africa in 1891-2 as British Commissioner for the delimitation of the boundary between the British and Portuguese spheres of influence; the differences, however, had to be settled by the Marica boundary arbitration, at which Colonel Leverson was present as British delegate. He went out to S East Africa again in 1898 to continue the work of frontier delimitation. Leverson has also served in other boundary commissions, and in the Intelligence div. of the War Office.

Lewis, Brevet Major Vernon, 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers

This officer, who lost his life at Pieters Hill at the age of twenty-eight, had seen a considerable amount of service, both with the Chitral Relief Force and with the West African Frontier Force.  He took part in operations on the Niger; was mentioned in Despatches, and honourably mentioned by the Colonial Office; he was awarded the medal with clasp, and the Brevet of Major, dated October 10, 1899, his commission as Captain bearing date of the preceding day.  Throughout General Buller's operations he greatly distinguished himself by his intelligence and daring, and through his exertions the passage of the Tugela, which ultimately proved to be the key to Ladysmith, was discovered.

Lightfoot, Ven Thomas Fothergill

He was born at Nottingham in March, 1831, and w as son of Robert Lightfoot, a lace manufacturer of that town. There also he was educated at the old Grammar School, and was afterwards engaged in journalistic pursuits. In 1854 he entered St Augustine's College, Canterbury, to be prepared for service in the Colonial Church. He was ordained Deacon by Dr Tait, at that time Bishop of London, in 1857, and went to SA as Missionary Curate of St George's Cathedral, Cape Town, and in 1855 was advanced to the priesthood by Dr Gray, then Bishop of Cape Town. In the year 1870 Bishop Gray appointed him Missionary Canon of St George's. In 1879 Archbishop Tait conferred upon him the Lambeth degree of BD, and he became Archdeacon of the Cape in 1885. Archdeacon Lightfoot has been an hon. Fellow of St Augustine's College, Canterbury, since 1883, and has acted as Vicar General of the Diocese of Cape Town on several occasions during the absence of the Archbishop. In the formation of a Synod, in the Colenso troubles, in the many difficulties of the S A Church, and during Boer War his advice was eagerly sought. His name was a household word in the Colony, and Mr Cecil Rhodes had a high opinion of him. He was a frequent contributor to the English Church Press.

Lipp, Charles, JP

Born at Fochabers, Scotland, in 1861; is son of John Lipp, of Fochabers, where he was educated at Milne's Institution. After a bank training in the Aberdeen Town and County Bank he went to S A in 1882. He joined the Cape of Good Hope Bank, and rapidly rose to the position of Manager of their Kimberley branch in 1899, in which year he was appointed JP for Kimberley. He became Manager of the Kimberley branch of the African Banking Corporation in 1892, and was promoted to the management of the Johannesburg branch in 1898, which position he still fills. He remained in that town during the war, and was appointed JP for the Witwatersrand in 1908. He married, in 1890, Miss Harvey, of Aliwal North.

Logan, Hon James Douglas

Son of Mr James Logan, of Reston, Berwickshire, where he was born November 26, 1857. He was educated at Reston, and started life as a railway clerk on the North British Railway. He then went to sea as an apprentice on a sailing ship, and was wrecked at Simons Town twenty-five years ago. Joining the Cape Government Railway service as porter, he came to be stationmaster, at the then new Cape Town Station, and worked through the different grades of the service until he was appointed District Superintendent over the railway from Touws River to Prince Albert Road. Leaving the railway service, he purchased the Frere Hotel, Touws River, started a wholesale wine and spirit store in Cape Town, and soon became refreshment and advertising contractor on the Cape Government, OFS, and Rhodesian Railway systems. Matjesfontein, on the Karoo, he transformed from a state of barrenness to a condition of fertility by means of diamond drilling for water, converting the locality into a charming residential resort. His gardens at Matjesfontein and Tweedside, where he has also been successful in boring for water, now contain orchards unequalled in the Colony.  Mr Logan was elected member of the Cape Legislative Assembly for Worcester in 1894, and in 1898 was returned as the representative for the NW Circle in the Legislative Council, and at the last election (November, 1903) he was returned for the Western Circle, which he now represents in the Legislative Council. During the Boer War he raised and commanded a corps of District Mounted Troops, and was present at the engagements of Belmont, Modder River, Ronsburg, etc. He is a keen sportsman, a first-class shot, and very fond of cricket. He was instrumental in bringing Lord Hawke's cricket teams of 1894 and 1898 to SA, and conducted at his own expense the tour of the SA Amateur Cricket XL in 1901, which showed up very creditably. Mr Logan married, Sep 9, 1878, Emma, daughter of C H Haylett, of Cape Town.

Long, Colonel C J, RHA

Colonel Long is a gunner of much distinguished service, and it is impossible not to admire the gallantry that led him into the crucial mistake made in the handling of the guns at Colenso on December 15. Upon that unfortunate occasion Colonel Long was dangerously wounded. It was intended that he should come into action covered by the 6th Brigade, but the 14th and 66th Batteries were led into the open, where they were subjected to a fire in which it was impossible for men to live. The story of the gallantry displayed in the effort to recover the guns is well known, and will become famous. Colonel Long entered the Royal Artillery in 1870, and became a captain ten years later, at the time of the Afghan War, in which he served, and he obtained his majority in 1886. He took part in the Nile Expedition of 1898, and was at the battle of Khartoum as Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding Egyptian Artillery. For his good service he was mentioned in despatches, received the brevet of colonel, and was thanked by both Houses of Parliament. In October, 1899, Colonel Long was appointed to command the Royal Artillery upon the staff of the Natal Field Force with Sir George White, but, on his arrival in Natal, took charge of the lines of communication at Estcourt. He was engaged in the operations in Southern Natal, and served with Sir Redvers Buller's column in the advance to the Tugela. When the General sent his despatch concerning the unfortunate engagement of December 15, he stated that Colonel Long was so dangerously wounded that his report upon the loss of the guns could not be obtained.

Longford (5th Earl), Thomas Pakenham, Captain, 2nd Life Guards

Lord Longford, who served with the Yeomanry Cavalry, was born in 1864.  He was the son of the 4th Earl and the daughter of Lord Dynevor, and was married in 1899 to the daughter of the 7th Earl of Jersey.

Lonsdale (5th Earl), Hugh Cecil Lowther

This patriotic peer who served as AAG with the Imperial Yeomanry, has occupied the positions of Honourary Colonel of 1st Cumberland Volunteer Artillery since 1884, and Honourary Colonel 3rd Battalion Border Regiment since 1891.  He was born in 1857, and married in 1878 the daughter of the 10th Marquis of Huntly.

Loveday, Richard Kelsey

Born at Pietermaritzburg in 1854. Left to his own resources very early in life, and having poor health, he went to Pretoria in 1872, and entered the Deeds Office of the SAR in 1873, becoming Master and Registrar of the High Court under the British Administration after the annexation. In the Boer War of Independence he was second in command of the Pretoria Rifles, who were besieged in Pretoria. On the Transvaal regaining self-government Mr Loveday's services were dispensed with, though he subsequently held important positions in the Transvaal. He was elected unopposed member of the First Volksraad for the Barberton Goldfields in 1890 and 1891, and was the only member of the Chamber of British descent. He was a strenuous opponent of the Kruger regime and its attendant abuses. In the sessions of 1893 and 1894 he rendered great services to the Progressives, and in the course of the debate on the Franchise in 1895 he dealt exhaustively with the question, and exhorted the Raad to appeal to the country on the matter. He is a member of the First Legislative Council of the Transvaal Colony and director of several public companies.

Lowe, Lieutenant Colonel W H M, 7th Dragoon Guards. 

Entered 1881; Lieutenant Colonel, 1899.  Staff service: Special Service, Burmese Expedition 1886-87.  War service: Egyptian Expedition 1882 (medal with clasp; bronze star); Burmese Expedition 1886-89 (medal with 2 clasps); Boer War, 1899-1900.

Lowther, Claude, MP

Son of Captain F W Lowther, RN, and was born in 1870. He was educated at Rugby and Fribourg, and was an Attache in the Diplomatic Service for some years. He held a Captaincy in the Cumberland and Westmorland Yeomanry in SA. He was appointed ADC to Sir Charles Warren, who recommended him for the VC for saving the life of a comrade at the battle of Fabers Put. He successfully contested the Eskdale Division of Cumberland in 1900. Captain Lowther is a well-known litterateur and dramatist.

Lugard, Lady (Flora Louise)

Born at Woolwich, Kent, is the daughter of Major General George Shaw, CB, by Marie Adrienne Junot Desfontaines, and was educated privately. She is the author of Castle Blair and other books.  In 1890 she joined the staff of the Times, and was for ten years head of the colonial department of that paper, which post she resigned in 1900.  Lady Lugard always took a great and active interest in SA matters, and was believed to receive a large share of Cecil Rhodes' confidence in respect of his political schemes for the development of SA.  She gave long and important evidence before the Commission which inquired into the events leading up to the Jameson Raid.  She was married, June 11, 1902, to General Sir Frederick Lugard .

Lyne, Michael John

Acted as Junior Assistant in the Postal Service in 1884; was appointed Clerk to the Civil Commissioner at Uitenhage in 1889, at Kenhardt in 1892, and at Port Elizabeth in 1895. In 1896 he was appointed Assistant Magistrate at Port Elizabeth, and at Cape Town in 1899. He acted as Secretary to the War Losses Compensation Commission in 1900-1; became Civil Commissioner and Resident Magistrate at Clanwilliam in 1902, and Resident Magistrate at Kuruman in 1902.

Lynn, Captain

Chief Constable of Tarkastad, and during the Boer War was in command of the Tarkastad Town Guard (medal).

Lysaght, Lieutenant Colonel J D 

Entered Army Pay Department 1881; Lieutenant Colonel, 1899.  War service: Sudan Expedition 1885 (medal with clasp; bronze star); Boer War, 1899-1900.

Lysons, Lieutenant Colonel Henry, VC

Born in 1858, and son of General Sir D Lysons, GCB he was educated at Wellington College, and entered the 90th Light Infantry at the age of twenty; served in the Boer War in 1879 as ADC to Brig. General Wood; present at the actions at Nungen Nek and Inhlobana Mountain, and at the battles of Kambula and Ulundi (despatches, medal with clasp, and VC); and the Sudan Expedition in 1884-5, employed with he Egyptian Army (medal with clasp and bronze star). He had only had ten months' service, and was only twenty-one, when he gained the Victoria Cross on the Inhlobana Mountain, charging a cave occupied by hundreds of Zulus. In 1890 he passed the Staff College, and, after holding various staff appointments, he is now soldiering in Jhansi. He married Vanda, daughter of C B Treffry.