Personalities, Surname R

Radnor, Earl of

Born in 1868. He acted as private secretary to the Rt Hon H Chaplin from 1890-2, and was elected MP for the Wilton Division in 1892-1900. Lord Radnor took part in the Boer War in 1900. In 1891 he married Julian, daughter of Charles Balfour.

Radziwill, Princess Catherine

She was born in 1858; she is descended from a princely Polish family, her father, Count Adam Rzewuski, having been formerly Ambassador at Madrid, and ADC to Czar Nicholas I Her mother was Mdlle Daschkoff. The Princess was a niece of Gen Skobeloff, and also of Mmc. de Balzac, wife of the great novelist at whose house in Paris she spent many of her early days. She was educated in the Parisian capital, and was betrothed at the age of fifteen to Prince W Radziwill, whom she married in 1873. She then resided mostly at Berlin, where she became intimately acquainted with the Emperor William II, the Emperor and Empress Frederick, and the present German Emperor, and moved in the highest Court and diplomatic circles in Germany and Russia. Taking up journalism, she started a weekly paper in Cape Town called Greater Britain. In May, 1902, she was convicted in Cape Town of forging Mr Cecil Rhodes's signature to a bill for £1,000, and was sentenced to two years' detention in a house of correction. She was released however, in Aug 1903, and in the following November obtained a writ against Mr Rhodes's trustees in respect of a claim against his estate for £1,400,000 under an alleged agreement dated about June 20, 1899. Princess Radziwill has published some novels in French and has contributed a good deal to the British and American Press.

Radziwill, Lieutenant Prince

Son of Princess Catherine Radziwill, and served in the Boer War as a trooper in KFS, having previously failed to obtain a commission. This, however, he gained eventually, was mentioned in despatches, and on the conclusion of the war returned to Russia.

Rawlinson, John Frederick Peel

He was born, Dec 21, 1860, and is youngest son of Sir Christopher Rawlinson. He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge was called to the Bar in 1884, joining the South Eastern Circuit, as QC, in 1897; represented the Treasury in Inquiry in South Africa as to circumstances connected with the Jameson Raid in 1896, and took evidence on that occasion it Cape Town, Pretoria, Johannesburg, Kimberley, and Mafeking. He has been a member of the General Council of the Bar since its formation; acted as Recorder of Cambridge in 1898; became Commissary of Cambridge University in 1900, and JP for Cambridgeshire in 1901. He contested Ipswich in the Conservative interest in 1900, and was elected member for Cambridge University in 1906.

Rethman, Major F J

Commanded Border Mounted Rifles, Ladysmith.

Rhodes, The Right Honourable Cecil John Rhodes DCL, MA

See his page.

Rice, Major D R, RE

Entered 1877; Major, 1896.  Staff service: Adjutant School of Military Engineering, 1892-95.  War service: Boer War, 1899-1900.  This officer, commanding RE in Ladysmith, was "indefatigable in his exertions both day and night."  Also designed the Rice blockhouse.

Rider, Reverend William Wilkinson

Born in England April 18, 1861. He became a Wesleyan Minister in 1882, serving for a short period in Newfoundland. In 1883 he went to South Africa; removed to Port Elizabeth in 1897, and for five years was a member of the Governing Committee of the Government Hospital there, also a member of the Board of Management of the many schools on the Grey Foundation. On the outbreak of the Boer War in 1899, he assisted in establishing a Local Refuge Relief Committee, caring for some thousands of fugitives. Of this he was elected Vice-President, assisting in the careful disbursement of the Mansion House Funds at this centre. During the Boer War, also, he was engaged at Modder River in conveying hospital and other stores soon after the disastrous battle at Magersfontein, and at Rensburg, supplying General French's force with numerous gifts when starting on their famous march to the relief of Kimberley and the surrounding of Cronje. He came to England in 1900 on a lecturing tour, dealing with South African history and the genesis of war, serving for a few months the Imperial South African Assn. Recreation: writing. He married, Aug 27, 1891, Elizabeth, daughter of Francis Bell, the founder of Stamford Hill, Natal.

Rigby, Major P G, Sherwood Forresters

Percy George Rigby was born in London on 24 December 1871, the younger son of Major-General Christopher Palmer Rigby.  He was educated at Marlborough College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and received a commission in the Sherwood Forresters in November 1890.  In 1896 he was attached to the Royal Niger Company for the Bida-Ilorin Expedition; he was afterwards seconded for service with the West African Frontier Force, with the rank of Captain in 1897.  He next served in the Boer War, during which he was in command of his Battalion for four months.  For his services he was specially recommended by his CO for ‘repeatedly volunteering for special and dangerous service’.  He was twice mentioned in despatches (1900 and 1902) and in 1900 received the brevet of Major.  In 1902 he served in the Pekin Legation Guard and in 1905 was seconded for service with the 4th Battalion KAR, commanding the battalion with the temporary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.  He retired from the service in 1911 and took to apple growing at ‘Sans Souci, Kootenay Lake, British Columbia. With the onset of war, he rejoined the Army, serving with the 7th Battalion Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment).  He was killed in action on 10 March 1915, being shot through the heart by a sniper, near La Boutillerie, Armentieres, France.  He was buried in the Rue-David Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix.

East and West Africa (2) Niger 1897, 1897-98, Royal Niger Company Medal 1886-97 (1) Nigeria 1886-1897, QSA (4) CC OFS Joh DH, KSA (2), AGS (1) Nandi 1905-06.  With Canadian Memorial Cross, GV (Major P. Rigby).  DNW Dec 06 £600.

Rivett-Carnac, Lieutenant Colonel P T, West Riding Regiment. 

Entered 1873; Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, 1898.  Staff Service: Employed with Army Pay Department, 1884-89; Special Extra Regiment Employment, 1896-98; Station Commandant, South Africa, 1899.  War service: Egyptian Expedition 1884 (medal; bronze star); Operations in South Africa, 1896-97 (Despatches; Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel; medal with clasp); Boer War, 1899-1900; on Staff.

Roberts of Kandahar and Waterford, Right Honourable Frederick Sleigh, Lord Roberts, KP, GCB, GCSI, GCIE

Entered 1851; Field-Marshal, 25th May 1895.  Staff service: DAQMG, Indian Mutiny, 1857-58; DAQMG in charge of the Viceroy's Camp, 1859-60; DAQMG, Army Headquarters, India, 1860-65  AQMG, Bengal, 1866-67; AQMG 2nd Division, Abyssinian Expedition 1867-68; AQMG Army Headquarters, India, 1869-71; AQMG Looshai Expedition India, 1871-72; DQMG, Bengal, 1872-75; QMG, Bengal, 1875-78; Major General Afghan Campaign, 1878-79; Lieutenant General (local) Afghan Campaign, 1879-80; Lieutenant General Madras, 1881-85; Commander in Chief E Indies, 1885-93; General Commanding the Forces, Ireland, 1895-99; Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief the Forces, South Africa, 1899.  War service: Indian Mutiny, 1857-58 (Despatches, 15th December 1857; 16th January, 29th January, 22nd February, 25th May, 31st May, and 8th June, 1858; received the thanks of the Governor-General of India; medal with 3 clasps; Brevet of Major; 1 DG), NW Frontier of India Expedition 1863 (medal with clasp); Abyssinian Expedition 1868 (Despatches; 3Oth June, 3rd July, 10th July 1868; medal; Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel); Looshai Expedition 1871-72 (Despatches); Afghan War, 1878-79-80 (Despatches, 4th February, 2lstFebruary, 2ist March, 13th May, and 7th November, 1879; 16th January, 4th May, and 3rd December, 1880; received thanks of both Houses of Parliament, 4th August 1879 and 5th May 1881, and created a Baronet; thanked by Government of India and Governor-General in Council; medal with 4 clasps; bronze star; KCB, GCB); Burmese Expedition 1886 (thanked by Government of India; Despatches; clasp); Boer War, 1899-1900; Field-Marshal Commanding-in-chief the Forces in South Africa.  This wonderful officer, "the idol of the army and of the nation, and the greatest commander of modern times" was born in 1832.  He was the son of General Sir Abraham Roberts, GCB, and the daughter of Major Bunbury of Kilfeacle, County Tipperary.  He married in 1859 the daughter of Captain Bews, 73rd Foot.  He was created a Baron in 1892, in connection with his famous services in Afghanistan.  Owing to the popularity of his famous work, "Forty-One Years in India", the facts of his marvellous career are well known, but the book being the output of the most modest of men, it fails to do justice to the personal qualities which have made this great leader so deservedly celebrated and beloved.  A few lines from Mr Maclaren Cobban's 'Life and Deeds of Earl Roberts' express so ably the view of the multitude that it is a temptation to quote them.  "His successes as a general have not been merely warlike—could not be merely warlike; for he has an understanding and an imagination which compel him to look 'before and after' — to note how the necessity for war has arisen, and to consider how war may promote a more secure and perfect peace.  He has exhibited the mind of a statesman and an administrator, as well as of a soldier; and in the highest sense he has ever been an 'Empire-builder'; for he has not only made strong the borders of her Majesty's dominions in India and South Africa, but he has also consistently maintained and strengthened the ancient and inalienable British reputation for justice and truth, kindness and mercy—the intangible bonds, light as air but tougher than steel, which bind our widespread Empire together ...  And so we come to the fascination of his personality.  The Commander-in-Chief is a great soldier, but he is a greater man.  It is in his character as a man rather than as a soldier that he has won the unrestrained affections even of the army.  Since the 'little corporal', no great commander has held so entirely the confidence and devotion of all sorts and conditions of soldiers; but, while Napoleon imposed himself upon his embattled hosts as a kind of demigod, he who is most widely known as 'little Bobs' has impressed his soldiers as a man of men, as the best, the most sympathetic, the cleverest and dearest of comrades.  His regard for the soldier is so well known, that such a saying would be incredible of him as that which is recorded of the Duke of Wellington, who described the men who won his battles as 'the greatest scoundrels in Europe'.  It is, indeed, one of the rarities of history to find a successful leader of armies distinguished by such sweetness and such gentleness of temper, such kindness and such tact of conduct and of speech.  These qualities are commonly regarded as marking the ideal character of a domestic person, of a man of peace, and in bringing them into complete accord with the triumphant practice of war he who has been so widely known as Lord Roberts shows himself our 'own ideal knight'".

Born in India, Sep 30, 1832; is son of Sir Abraham Roberts, GCB, was educated at Eton, Sandhurst, and Addiscombe, and received his first commission as Second Lieutenant in the Bengal Artillery at the age of nineteen. He saw his first active service in the Indian Mutiny in 1857-8, taking part in the siege and capture of Delhi, where he was wounded, and in the actions, of Bolundshuhur, Allyghur, Agra, Kunoj, and Bundhera, and being present during the operations connected with the relief of Lucknow; the operations at Cawnpore; the defeat of the Gwalior contingents; the action of Khodagungc; the reoccupation of Futtehghur; the storming of Mecangunge; the action of Koorsee, and the operations which culminated in the capture of Lucknow. It was at Khodagunge that Lieutenant Roberts (as he then was) won his VC While following up the retreating enemy he saw a couple of Sepoys escaping with a standard. Galloping after them Roberts overtook them, when the men turned and faced him. Lieutenant Roberts seized the standard, cutting down the man from whom he took it. While this struggle was going on the other Sepoy levelled his musket point blank at him and pulled the trigger. Fortunately it missed fire, and the standard and the future Field Marshal were saved. The same day Lord Roberts rode up to the rescue of a Sowar, who was being attacked by a rebel armed with a bayonet. Small of stature though he was, Lord Roberts killed the Sepoy with one blow of his sword and brought the Sowar into safety. For his services Lord Roberts was several times mentioned in despatches; received the thanks of the Governor-General of India; medal with three clasps, and the brevet rank of Major. A few years later Lord Roberts was again actively employed in India in the North-West Frontier Expedition of 1863, being present at the storming of Laloo; the capture of Umbeyla, and the destruction of Mulkah (medal with clasp). He then served through the Abyssinian Expedition in 1868 (medal and brevet of Lieutenant Colonel), and the Looshai Expedition of 1871-2, playing his part in the capture of Kholel villages and the attack on the Northlang Range, and commanding the troops engaged at the burning of Taikoom (despatches). The Afghan War of 1878-80 next brought Lord Roberts into prominence, on which occasion he commanded the Kuram Valley Field Force at the capture of Pelwar Kotal. He carried out the reconnaissance to the summit of Shutar Garden Pass; defeated the attack by Mangals in the Sapari Pass; occupied the Khost district, and conducted the reconnaissance up the Kuram River. He then had command of the Kabul Field Force at the occupation of Kabul, his engagements in eluding the battle of Charasiah, and eventually commanded the whole force in the historic march from Kabul to Kandahar, after a series of brilliant victories inflicting a crushing defeat on Ayoob Khan. These splendid services were frequently referred to in despatches. He was thanked by the Government of India and the Governor-General in Council, and on his return to England at the age of forty-eight, he was loaded with honours; received the thanks of Parliament, and was created a Baronet, KCB, and GCB, adding another medal with four clasps and the bronze star to his other decorations. In 1883 he was appointed Commander in Chief in India, and in the following year after the capture of Mandalay, Lord Roberts commanded the Army in the Burmese Expedition, for which he was again thanked by the Govt, of India (dispatches and clasp). The Boer War had already been in progress a couple of months or so when Lord Roberts was asked to start on his famous journey which was to end at Pretoria. He arrived at Cape Town and proceeded up country with a sufficient force to necessitate the withdrawal of Boers from Ladysmith to contest his progress through the Orange Free State to the Transvaal, thus in a great measure relieving the opposition which Sir Redvers Buller had found so disastrous in his persistent endeavours to relieve Sir George White's force in Ladysmith. The Commander-in-Chiefs operations in the Orange Free State included the capture of General Cronje's forces at Paardeberg, and the actions at Poplar Grove, Driefontein, Vet River, and Zand River. Leaving Bloemfontein, Lord Roberts followed hard in the wake of the fleeing President of the South African Republic. He entered the Transvaal, and engaged the Boer forces about Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Diamond Hill on June 11 and 12, 1900. From July to November of that year Lord Roberts was principally occupied in that part of the Transvaal east of Pretoria, and his last big action was at Belfast on Aug 26, 1900. By this time the Boer States were apparently subjugated, and Lord Roberts returned home to be created an Earl and a Knight of the Garter, receiving also the QSA with six clasps. The assumption that the War was then practically over was open to question, and the obvious doubt was whether the apparent cessation of hostilities (see Christian de Wet) was not seized upon by the Government as a pretext to appeal to the country for another term of office. But in any case the indications did not point to the Commander-in-Chief being privy to any such merely political move. Since Lord Roberts retired from active participation in the affairs of the Army, he has been adding still more eminent services to his country by throwing all the weight of his authority and experience into an effort to arouse the British public to a sense of the dangerous in efficiency of the land defences of the Empire, and Great Britain has not been backward in recognising his efforts in this as well as in other directions The Crown has bestowed titles; he has received the thanks of the Govt, of India and of both Houses of Parliament; Universities have conferred honorary degrees; cities and boroughs innumerable have given their freedoms, and the Council of the Royal United Service Institution has appointed him their Chairman in succession to Admiral HSH Prince Louis of Battenberg. He was a member of the Committee of the Volunteer Commission in 1906. Lord Roberts published The Rise of Wellington, in 1895, and Forty-one Years in India, in 1897. He has always led an abstemious life, and has a magnificent constitution, of which he takes the greatest care. He rises every morning about six o'clock, and disposes of a considerable amount of work before breakfast. He is a nonsmoker, and now finds exercise and recreation in horse riding and cycling. Lord Roberts married, in 1859, Nora Henrietta, daughter of Captain Bews of the 73rd Foot. Lady Roberts, who is considerably taller for a woman than her husband is for a man, takes considerable interest in the Army Nursing Service.

Robertson, Captain James R D

Took part in the Karene Expedition, Sierra Leone in 1898-9 (medal with clasp), and the Boer War in 1902. In 1906 he was appointed Assistant District Commissioner in Southern Nigeria.

Robertson, S W

He took part in the Mashonaland Rebellion in 1896 (medal); joined the Kimberley Light Horse as Lieutenant, in 1899, and commanded the garrison at Koffyfontein from 1900-1901 (despatches, QSA with four clasps and KSA). He was appointed Assistant Resident Magistrate at Koffyfontein in 1900; Resident Magistrate at Hoopstad in 1901, and at Thaba Nchu in 1904.

Robinson, Major Ernest Rokeby

Born in Brussels, Jan 30, 1872, son of Major John Robinson, of Lydd, Kent; was educated privately; joined the 4th Royal Irish Rifles, and has seen service in the Niger-Sudan Campaign, 1896-7 (mentioned in Sir Geo. Goldie's Report, medal and clasp); commanded the Artillery in the operations on the Niger, 1895-8 (R Niger Company's medal and clasp); Ebusa-Upinam Expedition, 1898 (clasp); Sierra Leone Rebellion as Adjt. of the SLFR, 1898-9 (medal and clasp); Boer War as Adjt., Staff Captain and DAAG Imperial Yeomanry 1900-1902; (two medals with three and two clasps). He married, Jan 19, 1901, Minnie Edith, daughter of John Crochett, of Wimbledon and Singapore.

Rolleston, Dr Humphrey Davy

He was born June 21, 1862, at Oxford, and is son of Dr G Rolleston FHS He was educated at Marlborough, St John's College, Cambs., and St Bartholomew's Hosp. In 1893 he was elected Assistant Physician, and in 1898, Physician to St George's Hospital; went out to South Africa in 1901, and acted as Consulting Physician to the Imperial Yeomanry Hospital in Pretoria (medal). He married, Jan 15, 1894, Eila, daughter of F M Ogilvy.

Romilly, Lord

He died on June 23, 1905, was the only child of the 2nd Baron, and was born in 1860. From 1886-8 he was attached to the 7th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps, and served in South Africa in 1900-1. He married, in 1897, Violet, sister of Sir Philip Grey-Egerton.

Ronan, Barry

Born in Dublin, May 3, 1863; joined the RA at the age of sixteen, passing a number of Artillery College examinations. He abandoned the Service for journalism in 1881, and has since been on the staff of most of the leading South African journals, being at present sub-editor of the Natal Witness. He is also known as a cartoonist, and besides several short stories has published The Passing of the Boer, and The Kingdom of Kruger. He acted as Secretary to Sir F Carrington in Bechuanaland during the formation of the Rhodesian Pioneers, and in a similar capacity under Sir Thomas Tancred on the Delagoa Bay Railway, and during the Boer war he was on the Intelligence Department. He married, in 1904. Miss Frances Kennedy, of Kokstad.

Ross, Archar Russell, JP

He was born a Queenstown, Cape Colony, Oct 23, 1863, and was educated at Lovedale, Cape Colony. He went up to the newly discovered Rand goldfields in 1886; returned to the Cape Colony in 1893, and commenced sheep farming, but two years later was appointed Native Commissioner for the Makoni District. He served as Lieutenant, in the Umtali Volunteers during the 1896-7 rebellion in Rhodesia, and in 1900 was sent to Australia by the Rhodesian Government to bring 1,000 head of cattle for Rhodesia. He was appointed a Lieutenant in the S Rhodesia Volunteers in 1903, and a Special JP for the Makoni District, as well a JP for S Rhodesia. He married, in 1898 Louisa Jane, daughter of Thomas Laxton.

Ross, Sir Charles Henry Augustus Frederick Lockhart

He was born 4 Apr 1872 in Scotland and died on 29 Jun 1942 in St Petersburg, Florida.  He succeeded to the title of 9th baronet of Balnagowan.  Sir Charles was a marksman and won prizes for shooting at Eton, where he designed his first sporting rifle.  He later produced several high velocity rifles which were highly regarded by sportsmen.  He served during the Boer War with the Ross Machine Gun Battery, which was equipped with guns designed that he designed.  In 1910 he set up a company in Quebec to produce a military rifle, the Ross Rifle, which was used by the Canadian Army during the Great War.  While Sir Charles made a fortune from this enterprise, the soldiers who had to use the rifle found it too unreliable for use in the field.  He was pursued for tax and this led him to declare his Balnagown estate as US territory and thus outside British jurisdiction to avoids these demands.  Click here for information on the Ross Rifle.

Rosslyn (James Erskine), Earl of

A descendant of John Erskine, Earl of Mar, and of the first Duke of Lennox. Lord Rosslyn has had a varied career, having been a Guardsman, an actor, editor of Scottish Life, and a war correspondent; was present at the relief of Ladysmith, and was for nine weeks a prisoner of war in Pretoria. His career on the stage commenced in a very obscure part; in fact, as a super at fifteen shillings a week, but his talent soon asserted itself, and, he coming to London, made a distinct hit in Trelawny of the Wells. In 1904 Lord Rosslyn became unpaid Private Secty. to the Secretary for Scotland.

Rowland, Frederick

Born 13 April 1871; was educated privately, and went to South Africa in June, 1889, engaging in commercial pursuits in Cape Town, Durban, Lindley, Bloemfontein and Johannesburg. He acted as Secretary, of the Chemical and Metallurgical Society in 1896; became Secretary, of the Uitlander Council on its inception in 1889, and remained such until the outbreak of the war; was secretary of the committee formed for the purpose of raising Irregular Corps in Natal; became Lieutenant, of Bethune's MI on formation; Captain and Quartermaster in November, 1900; resigned April, 1902, to take up appointment in the Mines Department of the Transvaal. This he vacated in the following November to enter the service of H Eckstein and Company He is also Secretary, to the Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of SA, and Associate of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries, Eng. While on active service he married, Aug 6, 1900, Maud Mary Peutney, a nurse in the Natal Volunteer service through the siege of Ladysmith.

Roxburghe (8th Duke), H John Innes-Ker, Lieutenant Royal Horse Guards

This young nobleman, born in 1876, son of 7th Duke of Roxburghe and the daughter of the 7th Duke of Marlborough, was originally in the 4th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.  He then served in the Household Cavalry Composite Regiment.

Royston, Colonel W

Commanding Natal Volunteer Force.  This officer and his force reflected "the highest credit on the Colony of Natal".