Personalities, Surname S

Salisbury, Right Hon the Marquis of

He was born in Oct, 1861, and is the descendant of a family of statesmen and politicians, ranging from the Sir William Cecil of Queen Mary's time, and the famous Lord Burleigh of Queen Elizabeth's reign, to Marquis and Premier, whose eldest son the present Lord Salisbury is. He was MP for the Darwen Division of Lancashire from 1885 to 1892, and represented Rochester from 1893 until he succeeded to the Peerage. While in the Commons Lord Cranborne, to give him his then courtesy title, was a constant attendant, a hard working Member of many Committees, a regular supporter of the Conservative Government, and a good, though sometimes blunt, speaker. He identified himself mainly with Church matters, and was appointed chairman of the Church Parliamentary Committee in 1893, a post which he occupied until he became Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs in 1900; he also showed great Parliamentary interest in agricultural and Volunteer questions. In 1903 he went to South Africa as Colonel of the 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, his services being mentioned in despatches. Returning to England, he became Lord Privy Seal, and in March, 1905, he succeeded Mr Gerald Balfour as President of the Board of Trade.

Sandbach, Lieutenant Colonel A E, RE

Entered 1879; Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, 1898.  Staff service: ADC to Major General, Bengal, 1890-92; employed with Egyptian Army, 1897-98; Military Secretary to Viceroy, India, 1899; Special Service, South Africa, 1899; AAG, South Africa, December 1899.  War service: Egyptian Expedition 1882 (medal-with clasp; bronze star); Sudan Expedition 1885 (clasp); Burmese Expedition 1886-87 (medal with clasp); Sikkim Expedition 1888 (clasp); Hazara Expedition 1891 (Despatches; clasp); Nile Expedition 1898 (Despatches; Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel; Egyptian medal with clasp; medal); Boer War, 1899-1900; Special Service on Staff.

Sandwith, Dr Fleming Mant

Born near Bombay, Oct 11, 1853; was educated at Charterhouse, and studied medicine at St Thomas's Hosp. (M D Durham, FRCP Lond, MRCS Eng.). Dr Sandwith was attached in 1876 to the Serbian Army as National Aid Society Surgeon in the Turko-Serbian war, and received special gold medal for services after the battle of Zaitchar. In 1877-8 he was attached to the Turkish Army as Stafford House Surgeon in the Russo Turkish campaign; was present at the six days' fighting at the Shipka Pass, and was on General Val Baker's staff during his retreat from Tashkessen, across the Rhodope mountains (Turkish medal). Proceeding to Egypt for the cholera epidemic in 1883, he became Vice Director of the Sanitary Department of the Egyptian Government, being the first Englishman appointed to that service. At that time lunatics in the Government Asylum were kept in iron chains, and were subjected to much ill-usage, which Dr Sandwith was instrumental in removing. He was Prof, of Medicine and Senior Physician to Kasr-el-ainy Hospital until 1903, and on retirement became a consulting physician, and also was made Consulting Physician to the Khedive. Meanwhile, in 1900, he was Senior Physician of the IY Hospital at Pretoria during the war (medal with three clasps). He is now lecturer at the London School of Tropical Medicine, Corresponding Member of the Imperial Society of Medicine, Constantinople, and of the American Climatological Assn., and Membre de Vlnstitut Egjptien. Dr Sandwith is author of Egypt as a Winter Resort, History of the Kasr el Amy, 1466-1900, The Earliest Known Physician, and The Medical Diseases of Egypt. He married, in 1891, Gladys, daughter of Humphrey Sandwith, CB, DCL, MD.

Saunders, Major Frederick Anastasius, 3rd West Yorks Regiment

Born in London, 12 June 1859; and was educated at King Edward VI School, Gt. Berkhampstead, Herts. He commanded the second detachment of the First City (Grahamstown) Volunteers at Langeberg, Bechuanaland, in 1897 (medal), and during the Boer War acted as Station Staff Officer, as Adjt. of Marshall's Horse, and as Adjt. of the 1st City Volunteers, Grahamstown, which he now commands (Queen's and KSAs, three clasps). Major Saunders married: first, in 1882, Cissy, only daughter of Colonel Barnes, St Helena Regiment, and stepdaughter of the 11th Earl Lindsay; and second, in 1893, Lucy Anderson, daughter of Prof. J Meiklejohn, of St Andrews University, Scotland.

Schermbrucker, Honourable Frederick Schermbrucker, Senior Member King William's Town, Cape House of Assembly

Son of the Honourable Christopher Schermbrucker; was born at Frankfurt-on-the-Maine; entered ranks of Bavarian Army as a private, with the privileges of a gentleman cadet, and fought among the Royalists during the disturbances in 1850-52, and gained his commission.  Since this time, he settled at King William's Town as German interpreter to the Resident Magistrate; subsequently, after many adventures, became editor of Bloemfontein Express, and, according to the Cape "Parliamentary Companion," he left Bloemfontein in a hurry, and was burned in effigy; he returned to King William's Town; volunteered for service in the Frontier War; appointed Commandant of the Amatola division; volunteered for service against the Zulus; commanded at Luneberg; was present at the battles of Zlobane and Kambula; distinguished himself on the Pemvani River; in 1880 accompanied Mr Sprigg to Basutoland to raise a police force; retired with that Sprigg Government; elected Member Legislative Council for the Eastern Province, 1882; re-elected 1884; became Commissioner Crown Lands and Public Works, Upington Ministry, 1884; successfully contested King William's Town general election, 1888.  He succeeded in raising several companies of German Colonists to go to the front in 1901.

Scobell, Henry Jenner, Lt Col, 2nd Dragoons

He was born in London, 2 Jan 1859.  He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the 5th Lancers in 1879, promoted to Captain in 1879 and Major in 1896.  He served in the Boer War (MID 4 times, Queen's medal 6 claps, King's medal 2 clasps).  During the South African War he served in both the Cape Colony and the Transvaal, capturing amongst others the Boer Commandant Lotter who was subsequently executed.  Colonel Scobell was more successful than any other leader in Cape Colony, but few officers have the gifts of resourcefulness and lightning-like decision which he proved himself to have while still a Major in the Scots Greys.  Promoted Lieutenant Colonel 1900, Colonel 1901, Major General  in 1903.  He commanded the Cavalry Brigade. Aldershot 1903-1907, was Inspector general of Cavalry 1907-1909, and GOC Cape Colony 1909-1911.  He commanded the 5th Lancers 7 Apr 08 - 3 Feb 12.  He died without issue 2 Feb 1912. 

KCVO, CB. QSA (6) RofK Paar Dr Joh DH Belf, KSA (2), 1910 Union of South Africa, 1911 Coronation, Russia Order of St Anne, 3rd class.  Edinburgh Museum.

Schreiner, Honourable W P, QC, CMG, Premier of Cape Parliament

Mr Schreiner, son of a Lutheran missionary and an English lady, was born in 1859.  He was the brother of Miss Olive Schreiner (Mrs Cronwright) the authoress whose anti-British proclivities are well known.  Mr Schreiner was educated in England, was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1882, and on his return to the Cape engaged in politics and became Mr Rhodes' Attorney-General.  In 1898 he became Premier, but his sympathies were not with the British, and his attitude caused him to be described as "the pro-Boer Premier of an Africander Government”.  He was married to the sister of Mr Reitz, formerly President of the Orange Free State.

Born in the Wittebergen Native Reserve, new part of the Herschcl District of the Cape Colony, in 1857. He is the youngest son of Reverend Gottlieb Schreiner, a German missionary of the LMS, and brother of the celebrated South African novelist, Olive Schreiner, now Mrs Cronwright Schreiner . Mr Schreiner received his preliminary education at Healdtown, in the Fort Beaufort District, Cradock, Bedford, and Grahamstown, proceeding thence to the Universities of Cape Town, Cambridge, and London, where he distinguished himself in scholarly attainments. He took a Senior in Law Tripos and the Chancellor's Legal Medal in 1881 and was called to the Bar of the Inner Temple in the following year, when he was also admitted an Advocate of the Supreme Court of the Cape Colony. In 1885, he was appointed Parliamentary Draughtsman; became Legal Adviser to the High Commissioner in 1887, filling this appointment until 1893, when he joined Cecil Rhodes' second Ministry as Attorney General, having in that year been elected as member for Kimberley in the Cape House of Assembly. He resigned the Attorney Generalship later in 1893; was elected member for Barkly West by the aid of the Bond vote in 1894, and again became Attorney General in Sep of that year. His relations with Mr Rhodes, which had been for many years of a cordial nature, were reluctantly broken off by the Jameson Raid, and he left the Cabinet, declining to accept the same portfolio in the new Ministry under Sir Gordon Sprigg. He became, however, Premier in 1898, retaining that position until June, 1900, the country receiving, under his Premiership, its first taste of Bond rule. How disastrous it proved to the Colony and all South Africa during those two years history painfully records. In the general election in Feb, 1904, rejected by his Bond friends, he failed to be re-elected to the House of Assembly, and he has since given up the idea of re-seeking election, on the grounds that the party organisation is rigidly on racial lines, and he cannot honestly pledge himself to either party, or feel confidence in their leaders. A South African to his heart's core, honest in his own views; and of an unsuspecting nature, he probably believed unreservedly in the integrity of those who used him, until he found how not only the members of his Cabinet were betraying his confidence, but his trusted friend, the President of the OFS, was deliberately contriving the ruin of the Colony. To his own want of suspicion of the motives of those around him is traceable the odium which followed his action—or inaction—at critical moments. He blindly dismissed the possibility of invasion, until his brother-in-law, ex-President Reitz, and his friend President Steyn rudely awakened him to the reality, and their burghers were within the Cape Colonial border. Duped on all sides from within and without, and nauseated by the Afrikander Party, Mr Schreiner resolutely retired from the political arena. To the student of South African politics, it has not always been clear whether Mr Schreiner's attitude was pro-Boer or pro-British. His tendency seemed to waver between the two extremes. Without being an actual member of the Afrikander Bond, he has on occasions been a supporter of and supported by that organisation; in fact, he has in some quarters been suspected of an inclination to follow the extremists in their desire to constitute South Africa an in dependent Republic. However that may be, it may be said that during his Premiership he neither prevented nor promoted the Boer War, though a strong man in his official position might possibly have done either He is said to have resisted British measures of coercion, and to have given no encouragement to anti-British aims. He neither stopped arms going into the Transvaal through Cape Colony, nor permitted an early organised defence of Kimberley and the Cape Colonial frontier, nor did he, by a display of resolution, appear to aim at convincing President Kruger that the Colony would tolerate no disloyal actions on the part of British subjects in the event of his issuing an ultimatum. In short, his halting methods of conciliation in the prewar period stood a very good chance of being misinterpreted by a large section of the British. Generally, he is looked upon as a man of high attainments and character (somewhat hampered as a politician by a crossbench habit of mind), with a racial bias towards the Dutch propaganda, and an intellectual sympathy with British methods and characteristics. Mr Schreiner has been delegated at various times to conferences between South African Govts.; was a member of the Jameson Raid Committee, and gave evidence before the BSA Committee of the House of Commons in 1897: He is a man of the keenest intellect, of brilliant parts, a practised speaker, and a successful lawyer. In fact, he is far better adapted to the business of the Bar and Beech than to the polemics and anxieties of administration. For the former nature and training have admirably qualified him, but for the latter he has neither temper nor tact. As a lawyer he conducted his cases with judicial discrimination, close argument, faultless logic, rich illustration and convincing clearness. Mr Schreiner combines a pleasing appearance with a charming personality, and is persona grata with all who know him, however they may differ from him politically. He is married to a sister of Mr Frank William Reitz , ex-President of the Orange Free State.

Schumacher, Raymond William

He was born in London in 1871. He was educated at Eastbourne under Mr F Schreiner, brother of the ex-Premier of the Cape, and at Harrow. He studied banking and finance in London, and for some years on the Continent before going to Johannesburg in 1894, where he entered the employment of the firm of Eckstein soon after his arrival, and he came a partner of that firm, together with Sir Percy Fitzpatrick, in 1898. Although not one of the Reformers, he gave evidence at Pretoria at the trial of the Committee in Feb, 1896, and was imprisoned for a few hours for refusing to divulge his thoughts! In 1899, before the war, he became Chairman of the Johannesburg Relief Committee. One of the last to leave Johannesburg when war broke out, he quickly returned, and served with the Rand Rifles as Captain, taking an active interest in encouraging rifle shooting among the British population on the Rand, and in the Transvaal Volunteer movement.

Scott, (6th Baronet), Sir Samuel E, MP, Imperial Yeomanry.

Selborne, Right Hon the Earl of

Only son of the distinguished jurist and statesman who was thrice Lord Chancellor, formerly known as Sir Roundell Palmer, and afterwards the first Earl of Selborne. William Waldegrave Palmer, the present Lord Selbornc, was born Oct 17, 1859, and was educated at Winchester and University College, Oxford, where he graduated a first-class in Modern History in 1882. He began his public career as Private Secretary, to his father when Lord Chancellor, and then served in the same capacity to Mr Childers at the War Office, and subsequently at the Exchequer in Mr Gladstone's second Ministry. In 1885 he entered the House of Commons as Liberal Member for the Petersfield Division of Hampshire, but when Mr Gladstone brought forward his Home Rule scheme Lord Wolmer (as the present Earl Selborne then was) joined the Liberal Unionists, and became the first Whip of the newly formed party. He entered Parliament in 1885, holding his seat until he succeeded his father (1895) in the Upper House, and rendering yeoman service, not only to the Union, but also to the cause of the Established Church when these were threatened by Mr Gladstone's Government It was during the course of the same Parliament (1892-5) that he backed Mr George Curzon's Peers' Disabilities Removal Bill, which was to offer to all peers' eldest sons sitting in the House of Commons the right to elect whether they would go to another place or remain where they were. Indeed, so determined were the supporters of this measure to cling to the Commons that they are popularly supposed to have sworn a secret oath that the first heir apparent implicated who would be summoned to the House of Lords was to be offered up as a test case. The victim proved to be Lord Selborne, and nothing but the Report of a Select Committee would induce him to enter the Upper Chamber. In 1895 Lord Selborne was appointed Und Sec. for the Colonics under England's great Colonial Sec, Mr Chamberlain, and retained that office until 1900—a period the most momentous in the history of South Africa, covering the Jameson raid, the Transvaal reform negotiations, and the first year of the Boer War . It was a period of hard work and of great responsibility, but Lord Selborne was more than equal to it, and he seconded Mr Chamberlain's strenuous efforts to awaken true interest for the Colonics in the Motherland with conspicuous success, both in the country and in Parliament. In 1900 Lord Selborne became First Lord of the Admiralty, in which position he has quickened promotion in the senior service, organised naval education, and most recently increased the power of the Fleet by its redistribution, and its efficiency by weeding out the obsolete ships of war. In March, 1905, Lord Selborne succeeded Lord Milner as High Commissioner for South Africa and Governor of the Transvaal and Orange River Colonies, and in the same month he was appointed an ordinary member of the First Class of the Knights Grand Cross of St Michael and St George. That a statesman who has occupied such high office in the Home Government, and who has given so many proofs of administrative ability, impartiality, and moderation should have succeeded to this arduous post, has given the deepest satisfaction to loyal South Africa and to all those who have Imperial interests heart. From the moment of his arrival in Africa Lord Sclborne has shown a laudable desire not only to study the problems of the country with the greatest care, but also to get in close touch with the people of every shade of opinion. In his younger days Lord Selborne was keen on cricket and football. He is a good shot, enthusiastic angler, and fond of the hunt. In 1883 he married Lady Beatrix Maud Cecil, eldest daughter of the Marquis of Salisbury.

Serjeant, Colonel William Charles Litton

Born at St Benet's Abbey in 1857, and is the eldest son of Captain Charles E Serjeant, 74th Highlanders. He was educated privately, and at Nelson House Grammar School, Devonport. From 1874-82 he served in the 2nd Devon Rifle Volunteers, and during that time raised and commanded a Cadet Corps. He also held a commission in the 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers from 1882-8. In 1884 he commanded the 1st Detachment of Methuen's Horse, and in the following year he took part in the Bechuanaland Expedition, serving with the Pioneer Regiment, Bechuanaland Field Force. He was second in command of the Cape Boys' Corps, Matabeleland Relief Force, in 1896, and commanded the attack on Babiyan's and Sikombo's strongholds, and at the action at Inyanda's Mountain (medal, and thanked by the Board of Directors of the British South Africa Company). Since 1890 he has commanded the 5th Battalion Rifle Brigade, and during Boer War he commanded that Regiment He acted as commandant of No. 3 section, Northern Division, on the Lines of Communication, and the Lace Mines, Valsch River Blockhouse Line from Jan, 1902, until the conclusion of war (QSA and three clasps).

Seton-Karr, Sir Henry, Knight, CMG, JP

Son of G Berkeley Seton-Karr, of the Madras Civil Service, who was Resident Commissioner at Belgaum, Southern Mahratta, during the great Mutiny. He was born Feb 5, 1853, in India, and educated at Harrow and Oxford, where he took honours in law and graduated MA In 1879 he was called to the bar, and practised on the Northern Circuit. He was elected to Parliament for St Helens, Lanes, in 1885, and has held his seat through five contested elections, increasing his majority from 57 to 1,878, until Jan, 1906, when he was defeated at the general election. He is greatly interested in State colonisation and the national food supply in time of war. He was elected as a member of the Royal Commission appointed to consider this subject in 1903, and originated the Sharpshooters' Corps for service in SA in 1899. During the years 1900-01-02 he acted as Vice Chairman and Hon Secretary, of the Sharpshooters' Committee, who sent out three and a half battalions (18th, 21st, 23rd IY) for service during the war.

Settrington (Lord), Charles H Gordon-Lennox, Second Lieutenant Life Guards

Extra ADC to Lord Roberts.  This officer was eldest son of the Earl of March, who was heir to the 6th Duke of Richmond.

Seymour, Lord Henry Charles

Second son of the 6th Marquis of Hertford; was born in London in 1878, and was educated at Cowley College. He entered the Grenadier Guards in 1898; was ADC to General Kenyon-Slaney in 1900; ADC to HE Viscount Milner in 1901, and is now Inspector in the Barotseland Native Police. He served in the Boer War, receiving the medal and clasps.

Sharpe, Lieutenant Colonel J B, RE

Entered 1872; Lieutenant Colonel, 1899.  Staff service:  DAAG for Instruction, Curragh Brigade, 1886-91.  War service: Afghan War, 1878-80 (Despatches; medal); Boer War, 1899-1900; with Kimberley Relief Force; Belmont; Enslin; Modder River; and Magersfontein.

Sitwell, Colonel W H 

Entered 1880; Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, 1898.  Staff service: Employed with Bechuanaland Border Police, 1891-93; DAAG, Guernsey, 1895-97; Special Service, Ashanti, 1895-96; Employed with Egyptian Army, 1897-99.  War Service: Afghan War, 1880 (medal); Ashanti Expedition 1895-96 (star); Nile Expedition 1897; Nile Expedition 1898, wounded (Despatches; Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel; Egyptian medal with 2 clasps; medal); Boer War, 1899-1900.

Sivewright, The Hon Sir James, KCMG

Born at Fochabers, Elginshire, in Dec, 1848. He entered Aberdeen University in 1862 as a Bursar, and graduated MA in 1866. He adopted telegraphic engineering as a profession, and after passing first in the competitive examination of 1869 for the Indian Telegraph Service, he was appointed upon the acquisition of the British Telegraphs by the State a Superintending Engineer of the Southern Division of England in 1870. He was Secretary, to the Society of Telegraph Engineers, and was appointed gen. Manager of South African Telegraphs in 1877, from which he retired on a pension in 1885. He received the CMG on the conclusion of the Zulu War, and also earned the Zulu Medal with clasp for the three years 1877-78-79. After a short rest in England he returned to the Cape, and entered the political arena in 1888 as first member for Griqualand E, defeating Mr Zietsman by a large majority. On July 17, 1860, Sir James joined the first Rhodes Ministry without portfolio, but subsequently (Sep 1890) was appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands and Public Works and energetically supported his chief in the extension of the Cape railway and telegraphic systems northwards. His negotiation with the Transvaal Executive for the construction of the Bloemfontein-Johannesburg-Pretoria section railway was considered a diplomatic achievement of no slight merit. He received the KCMG on completion of railway communication with the Transvaal. Sir James went out of office in the disruption of 1893, but immediately after the Jameson raid was prevailed upon to return as Commissioner of Public Works in the Sprigg Ministry of 1896. He was one of the founders of the Johannesburg Waterworks Company; was largely responsible for the reduction of the SA cable rates, in worked hard for a high level of efficiency in departmental affairs, as well as in all business undertakings with which he has been connected. He was the pioneer of Cold Storage in the Cape and having decided to remain in his British home is devoting his energies to the development of the coal and iron measures of the East of Scotland. Sir James married, in 1880 Jennie, daughter of George Page, of Bloemfontein.

Skinner, Colonel Edmund Grey, CB (1908)

Born at Patna, Bengal, Jan 29 1850, and is son of Russell Morland Skinner, of the Bengal Civil Service. He was educated at Wimbledon School and at Sandhurst, and joined the AOD in 1867; accompanied the Perak Expedition in 1876 (medal with clasp) took part in the Egyptian campaign in 1882 being present at Kassassin and Tcl-el-Kebir (medal with clasp, Medjidieh, despatches); and was Chief Ordnance Officer at Suakim in 1885 (despatches, medal with clasp, brevet Lt. Colonel) Colonel Skinner retired in Oct, 1901, and was employed with the Remount Commission, USA from March to July, 1902. He married first, in 1878, Alice, daughter of F Gilliat Smith (d. 1902) and second, in November, 1904, Amy, daughter of T B Foreman, of Breadsell, Battle.

Sladen, Thomas Oliver Ramsay

Served in the Boer War in 1899-1902, in the Royal Artillery, and the 6th Mounted Infantry (medal and five clasps). He was appointed Clerk to the Resident Magistrate at Zeerust in 1902, subsequently becoming Public Prosecutor at Lydenburg.

Sloley, Herbert Cecil

Born at Calcutta, Feb 4, 1855. He is son of Robert Hugh Sloley, of Calcutta; was educated at the Greenwich Proprietary School, and proceeding to SA served with the Cape Mounted Riflemen and various Colonial Forces until 1884, when he was appointed Sub Inspector of Basutoland Police. He was promoted Inspector, 1886; Assistant Commissioner in Basutoland, 1888; Government Secretary, in Basutoland, 1895; and Resident Commissioner in Basutoland in 1901. He has seen considerable service in the field, and wears the war medal with clasp, 1877-8-9; medal with clasp for 1880-1, and the Boer War medal for 1899-1900. He married, November 18, 1886, Charlotte, daughter of John Dick, of Cape Colony and Scotland.

Smartt, Dr Thomas William, Member of the Legislative Assembly

An Irishman by birth, and trained for the medical profession, which he abandoned to take a more prominent role in Colonial polities. He was formerly a political adherent of Sir Gordon Sprigg, whose Ministry he joined from May to Oct, 1895, as Colonial Secretary; afterwards in June, 1900, becoming Commissioner of Public Works in Sir Gordon Sprigg's fourth Administration. Ever a staunch Progressive, he seceded from the Govt, on the Suspension movement, taking with him the main body of the Progressive party. Dr Smartt then for a long time bore the brunt of the hard work on behalf of the Progressives until, in June, 1908, Dr Jameson became the recognised leader of the party. In the general election in Feb, 1904, Dr Smartt defeated Sir Gordon Sprigg at East London (Cape Colony), and took office under Dr Jameson as Commissioner for Crown Lands and Public Works in the same month. Dr Smartt is a capable administrator and a fluent speaker.

Smithers, H Langworthy Hampden

Born on March 19, 1857, at Brussels. He arrived in Natal in 1867 with his parents, when he devoted his attention to learning farming. He went to the diamond fields in 1870, and to Pretoria in 1874. He was commandeered by the Boers in 1875, and served on commando. He joined the Transvaal Civil Service in 1870, and was appointed to the special service of the Postal Department by Sir Owen Lanyon. In 1880-81 he took part in the defence of Pretoria and was present at the engagements near that town. In 1881 he returned to the diamond fields, and went to Koffyfontein in 1892, where he was very successful as a digger. On war breaking out he was commandeered by the Boers to fight against the English, but he fled the country, passing through the Boer lines to the Gordon Highlanders' camp at Graspan. He returned later, and took a prominent part in the defence of Koffyfontein, becoming OC, Koffyfontein Defence Force, on the retirement of Major Robertson, KLH. He was elected Mayor of Koffyfontein, and made JP for Fauresmith by the British Government. He married, June 5, 1884, Elsa, eldest daughter of Mr Dietrich, of Sea Point, near Cape Town. He has five children. His eldest son served 19 months against the Boers.

Smyth, Major Nevill Maskelyne, VC

Born in 1868, and is a son of Sir Warington Smyth, of Marazion, Cornwall, and brother to Herbert Warington Smyth Secretary, of the Mines Department at Johannesburg. He was educated at the Royal Military College, and entered the Queen's Bays in 1888; served in the Zhob Valley Expedition in 1890-91; the Dongola expedition in 1896, attached to the Intelligence Department (despatches, 4th class Medjidie and Egyptian medal with two clasps); the Nile Expedition in 1897 (clasp); Nile Expedition in 1899 as Orderly Officer to the GOC Infantry Division of the Egyptian Army; present at the battles of the Atbara and Khartoum (despatches, medal, two clasps to Egyptian medal, and VC); also took part in the Nile Expedition in 1899 as Intelligence Officer to the Flying Column; took part in the operations at Shukaba, Blue Nile, and the operations which resulted in the final defeat of Khalifa; actions at Abu Aadcl and Om Dubriekat (despatches, two clasps to Egyptian medal, and 4th class Osmanieh). Major Smyth served in the Boer War in 1902. including the operations in the Transvaal and Orange River Colonies (brevet of Major). He was promoted Major to the Carabineers in 1903.

Solomon, Hon Sir Richard, KG, KCB, KCMG, CB

Born at Cape Town, Oct 18, 1850. He is son of Reverend E Solomon, a missionary in the Transkei territories. He was educated at the SA College, and at St Peter's College, Cambridge (23rd Wrangler), and was called to the Bar of the Inner Temple in 1879. He accompanied Lord Rosmead as Legal Adviser to Mauritius on the Commission of Enquiry in 1886; was Chairman of the Mining Commission; and Member of the Native Law Commission. He entered the Cape Parliament in 1893, as member for Kimberley and Tembuland. In 1896 he was retained with Advocate Wessels to defend the Reform prisoners. He was Attorney-Gen, of the Cape Colony from 1898 to 1900, in which year he received his knighthood. Sir Richard was appointed Legal Adviser to Lord Kitchener, CLC in SA, and to the Transvaal Administration from 1901 to the end of the Boer War, for which services he received the CB He was then appointed Legal Adviser to the Transvaal Administration (1901-2). He represented South Africa at the Delhi Durbar in 1902-3 (gold and silver medals), and has been a member of the Executive and Legislative Councils and Attorney General of the Transvaal since 1902, in which capacity he has had an onerous task to perform in the framing and adapting the laws to the new conditions. He married Mary Elizabeth, daughter of the Reverend J Walton, and sister of Sir Lawson Walton, KC, MP Their only child, Mary Gwendoline is married to Sir E P C Girouard .

Somerville, James Herbert Gustavus Meredyth, see 2nd Baron Athlumney

Sondes (2nd Earl), George E Milles, DL, JP, Imperial Yeomanry

Lord Sondes, who is one of the gallant many who hastened to volunteer for the front, was born in 1861.  He was the son of the 1st Earl and the daughter of Sir Henry Stracey, Baronet

Spreckley, Colonel, Rhodesian Regiment.

Sprenger, Major C F

This gallant officer of the Cape Mounted Rifles lost his life during the Siege of Wepener.

Sprigg, Major Howard

He was born at Ipswich, 26 June 1845, and is younger brother of Sir J Gordon Sprigg, whom he joined on his farm on the Cape frontier in 1863. He was farming and teaching until 1882, except during his campaigning periods. In 1873 he raised a troop of Kaffrarian Volunteers at Maclean, and was appointed to the command with rank of Lieutenant, becoming captain in 1876; transferred to Frontier Mounted Rifles in 1877, and to 1st Cape Yeomanry in Sep, 1878 served in these corps through all the native wars of 1877-8-9, and Basuto War of 1880-1, with local rank of Major during last few months; was mentioned in despatches several times by Comdt. (now General) Brabant and General C M Clarke, and held many staff appointments during these wars. The Yeomanry being disbanded at end of 1881, he was gazetted as Captain Cape Infantry in 1882, and served in that regiment and Cape Mounted Riflemen till 1894, all the time in the Native Territories. On the latter date was transferred to Civil Service, and appointed RM of Bizana, Pondoland, where he remained till February, 1905, when he had to retire on account of ill health, being specially thanked by the Govt, for services. Major Sprigg has no particular recreations, and has been a local preacher (not connected with any particular denomination) for more than twenty years. He married in 1874 Elizabeth Jane, eldest daughter of J O Bate, of East London, Cape Colony.

Sprigg, Right Hon Sir John Gordon, GCMG (1902), PC (1897)

He was born at Ipswich, in 1830; Sir Gordon started business in a shipbuilder's office, afterwards joined Gurney's shorthand staff, and in 1858 went to South Africa for the benefit of his health. He settled in the Division of East London (CO), and entered the Cape Parliament as member for East London in 1873. He was appointed Colonial Secretary, and Premier on the dismissal of Sir J C Molteno in 1878, and resigned in 1881 on the Basuto question. In 1884 he became Treasury General in Sir Thomas Upington's Ministry, and succeeded him as Premier in 1886. In the following year Mr Sprigg, as he then was, was made KCMG, and soon after was appointed Privy Councillor. Sir Gordon resigned in 1890, but on the reconstrnction of the Rhodes Ministry in 1893 he joined it as Treas., and was practically Acting Premier. On Mr Rhodes' retirement in Jan 1896, he became actual Premier until Oct 1898. In June, 1900, he succeeded Mr W P Schreiner as Premier, also combining the office of Treas. In the general election in Feb, 1904, Sir Gordon was defeated by Dr Smartt at Fast London (Cape Colony) by a majority of 9S4, and the Progressives being in a majority in the new House of SO against the Bond 4S, he tendered his resignation of the Premiership, Dr Jameson being called upon to form a new Ministry. Formerly the political chief of the Progressives, he was throughout the difficult times following the Boer War accused of pandering to the Bond party, whose tolerance only enabled him to maintain a majority, he being repudiated by five sixths of the Progressives, who seceded on the Suspension question. It is certainly on record that Sir Gordon and his entire Ministry voted with the Bond on more than one occasion. This alliance, however, was simply a makeshift, and although it suited the Bond party to keep Sir Gordon in power, it did not deter that organisation from assisting in four Govt, defeats on divisions during the last short session of 1902. He created much dissatisfaction amongst his earlier followers by his refusal to sanction a fresh registration of voters in view of the fact that in many districts hundreds of disfranchised voters were still on the register as late as Sept 1902 On the occasion of his defeat (November 8, 1902) on the question of increasing the Cape Colonial Forces, however, Sir Gordon Sprigg's appeal to the Bond caused their withdrawal of the amendment and the passing of the vote as originally printed; and elicited the Premier's thanks to the Bond for its generosity. Since then Sir Gordon has been wavering in his allegiance between the Bond and the Progressives, and has thus not been a source of strength to the Loyalists in Cape Colony, although his dogged adhesion to office in the face of many real difficulties may have saved them from still greater dangers. Sir Gordon is a practised and effective Parliamentary debater, and has cultivated a leas aggressive manner than marked the parliamentary methods of his earlier political days. His range of ideas cannot be said to be broad, but his devotion to the business of the Colony has always been most exemplary. He was created GCMG on the occasion of the King's Coronation; he is DCL of Oxford, and Hon LLD of Edin University He is a widower, having married a daughter of Mr J Fleischer. Lady Sprigg died in 1900.

Sprigg, Will Gordon, JP

Born Aug 14, 1866, at Melbourne, where he was educated. He is a nephew of Sir J Gordon Sprigg, and commenced business in Melbourne; afterwards (in 1888) travelling to the Cape, where he entered the Cape Civil Service. After five years he resigned this service and returned to Melbourne, where he became associated with the YMCA. In 1894 he was appointed gen. Secretary, to the Cape Town Branch of the Association, and in 1902 took charge of the YMCA work at Johannesburg. He is also Secretary, of the SA Council of YMCAs, Travelling and Organising Secretary, for South Africa, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Witwatersrand Church Council. During the last. Boer War he worked hard in connection with the YMCA to provide comforts for the forces in the Transvaal. He married, in 1905, May Jeanette, daughter James S Goch, of Johannesburg.

St Clair, Lieutenant Colonel W A E, Royal Engineers

William Augustus Edmund St Clair was first commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers in April 1873.  He commanded No 4 Company Bombay Sappers and Miners in Afghanistan and was present at Sibi, the Nari Pass, Kandahar, Harnai and Chapper Rift.  During the Egyptian campaign he served with the 10th Railway Company where he was detailed to survey and stake out the line for the Suakin-Berber Railway.  On completion of this project the 10th Company commenced work on the 18 inch railway and took charge of the water supply at the base.  They later prepared the armoured train that patrolled the line.  The railway line was never fully completed, due to the withdrawal of the British Forces, and as a result all the tracks were pulled up and shipped back to England.  St Clair served as a Staff Officer during the Boer War and was advanced to a Brevet of Colonel in February 1904, retiring in August 1905.  He was re-called for home service during the Great War and served on the General Staff (not entitled to Great War medals), and was Mentioned in Despatches London Gazette 12 February 1918.

CMG (n/b), Afghan (0) (Lieut, R.E.), Egypt (1) Suakin 1885 (Captn, R.E.), QSA (4) CC OFS Tr SA01 (Lieut.-Col., Rl. Engrs.), Khedive’s Star 1884-86.  DNW Feb 98 £650.

Stallard, Advocate, C F

He was born in 1871, and was educated at St Edward's School and at Oxford, being called to the Bar in 1895. He first came before the public in 1895 as a candidate for the London County Council, but being unsuccessful at the poll went to South Africa with the CIV, and afterwards joined Paget's Horse. Subsequently, during the Boer War, he was for a short time in the Government service, and commenced to practice as an advocate in 1902. At the General Elections for the Transvaal Legislative Assembly in 1907 Mr Stallard stood for Turffontein as an Independent.

Stanley (Lord), Edward George Villiers, MP

Born in 1865, and comes of a family of politicians, his grandfather, Lord Derby, having been thrice Premier, while his uncle, his father, and Lord Stanley himself all attained Cabinet rank while still under forty years of age. But the Stanleys have been men of mark in public life for centuries. It was the grandson of Sir John Stanley, the warlike Treasurer of the Household of Henry IV, who became the first Lord Stanley in 1456. Two of his sons were among the most famous men of their day. One was said to be the richest and most rapacious subject in the kingdom, and the other was the brave soldier who fought at Bosworth and became the first Earl of Derby. The present Lord Stanley was educated at Wellington College, and at the age of twenty became a Lieutenant in the Grenadier Guards. Four years later he was appointed ADC to his father, who, as Lord Stanley of Preston, was then Governor-General of Canada. Returning home he began his Parliamentary career in 1892 as Member for the Westhoughton division of Lancashire. He was re­elected in 1895, and was for four years one of the Parliamentary Whips. In 1899, however, he accompanied Lord Roberts to South Africa as Chief Press Censor, later on combining with this office the duties of private secretary to the C in C. It was here that his tact stood him in such good stead. Impatient war correspondents, spurred on by relentless competition, hummed round him demanding that their cables should be immediately passed. Lord Stanley was urbane yet firm, stern at times, but always courteous. It is an interesting commentary on the ability with which he discharged his duties that, although loud complaints were heard in England as to the rigour of the censorship, in South Africa he was on good terms with almost all the correspondents, whose duty to their journals and their country he was successful in reconciling. During his absence in South Africa Lord Stanley was again re-elected for Westhoughton. On relinquishing his duties in the Transvaal he was recommended by Lord Roberts for the important post of Financial Secretary to the War Office, which he only left in 1903 to take up the more important office in succession to Mr Austen Chamberlain of Postmaster General. In this Department he inaugurated two great policies— the settlement of the telephone question and the wireless telegraphy contract. Recently he came into conflict with the staff of the GPO and his firm attitude of resistance gained him at any rate, the approval of ratepayers. At the General Election in 1906 Lord Stanley was defeated by the Labour candidate, Mr W T Wilson, by over 3,000 votes. On his return from Canada Lord Stanley married Lady Alice Montagu, daughter of the seventh Duke of Manchester. Lady Alice shares with her husband his political instincts and ambitions, and if they are realised Lord Stanley may yet follow in the footsteps of his famous grandparent, and become Prime Minister of Great Britain.

Stevenson, Sir Edmund Sinclair

Born at Geneva, July, 1850, and is son of W Ford Stevenson, FRS He was educated at London, Edinburgh, and abroad; served in the Kaffir War in 1879-80 as medical officer in charge of troops (medal), and in the Boer War ; late Physician-in-Ordinary to the High Commissioner, and was formerly President of the Medical Council for the Colony, and of the British Med. Ass. and South African Med. Congress. He married, in 1882, Emmy, daughter of John Easton, and great-granddaughter of Sir Benjamin Durban.

Stewart, Dr John Storer Percy

He was attached to the Irish Hospital in the Boer War in 1900, and is a Lieutenant in the Transvaal Volunteer Medical Staff Corps. Since 1901 he has acted as Assistant Medical Officer at the Pretoria Hospital.

Stoehr, Frederick Otto

Born in 1871. He was educated at Trinity College, Oxford, and Guy's Hospital, where he acted as clinical Assistant and Assistant house surgeon to Sir Downing Fripp in 1899-1901. For two years he served as Civil Surgeon to the South African Field Force.

Stokes, Sir William

This eminent surgeon devoted himself to the wounded, and by his skill saved many lives and mitigated much suffering.

Stoneman, Lieutenant Colonel J, ASC

Lieutenant Colonel, 1894; DAAG Ladysmith, 1899.  War service: Egyptian Expedition 1882 (medal; bronze star); Boer War, 1899-1900; DAAG Lines of Communication.

Streatfield, Major H 

Entered 1876; Major, Grenadier Guards, 1893. Staff service: ADC to Governor General, Canada, 1883-85; Military Secretary to Governor General, Canada, 1886-88; ADC to Viceroy, India, 1888-91; ADC to Lieutenant Governor and General-Governor, Ireland, 1892-94; Assistant Military Secretary to GOC the Forces, Ireland, 1895-99; ADC to Lieutenant General Infantry Division, South Africa, 1899.  War service: Boer War, 1899-1900; on Staff; with Kimberley Relief Force (Despatches; January 1900).

Strutt, Captain Charles Brownlow

He was born at Dhurumsala, India, Aug 24, 1872, and is son of Major C Strutt, RA. He was educated at Bedford Grammar School. In 1889 he went to Mogok, Upper Burmah, to take up an appointment under the Burmah Ruby Mine Company, subsequently being invalided home. In the following year he went to South Africa, serving three years in the Cape Mounted Rifles; returning to England at the end of 1893. He received a commission in the Royal Irish Rifles in 1894, and gained the Ordinary and Extra Certificates of Musketry at Hythe, 1905. Subsequently he returned to South Africa, and took part in the Jameson Raid. On being released he served throughout the Matabele campaign in 1896, on the Staff of General Carrington, and was present at the fight at Insiza under Colonel Maurice Gifford (medal and clasp). He was seconded for service with the BSA Police, and transferred to the South African Constabulary in 1900. Captain Strutt also served in the Boer War in 1900-2, being present at the relief of Mafeking and the operations in the Transvaal and Orange River Colony (QSA & KSA). He served as Paymaster to the South African Constabulary, Orange River Colony. He married, November 27, 1902, Miss C Flanagan.

Stuart (7th Baronet), Sir Simeon H L, Captain Suffolk Yeomanry Cavalry; Commanding Imperial Yeomanry

Sir Simeon Stuart was formerly in the 5th Dragoon Guards.  He was born in 1864, and married in 1891 the daughter of Mr H Gudge, Secretary to the Austrian Legation.

Supple, Henry Guy

He was employed on the Orange Free State Railways from 1897-1899. He served in the Boer War in 1899-1900 with Remington's Guides, and was on Major General Pret\ man's Staff from April, 1900, until Feb 1901, when he was appointed Assistant Director and Chief Clerk in the Prisons' Department, Orange River Colony, and became Assistant Director of Prisons there in 1903.

Swimburne, Umfreville Percy, JP

He took part in the Matabele War in 1893-4 and the Matabele Rebellion in 1896. From 1897-99 he was a JP for Western Australia, and special JP for the Tati District in 1899-1902; also acted District Commandant of the British South Africa Police and Controller of Civil Supplies in 1900-02. He took part in the Boer War (despatches and medal with three clasps). He is a member of the Royal School of Mines, London, and in 1902 was appointed Inspector of Mines for the Transvaal.

Sykes, Arthur A

The son of the Reverend T B Sykes. He was educated at Westminster and Cambridge, and went out to South Africa in 1898 as a special correspondent for Black and White, and on behalf of that paper he visited the leading towns, and interviewed Cecil Rhodes, President Kruger, Lord Milner, and other prominent people, and described his journeys in a series in Punch, entitled Flittings. Mr Sykes acted as correspondent in Egypt and the East in 1898 and attended the coronation of Nicholas II and Queen Wilhelmina for Black and White and other papers. He has written several books, including a translation from the Russian of Gogol's comedy, The Inspector General, and edited three volumes of reprints from Punch; is an Army and University coach; on the outside staff of Punch since 1893; on Renter's in 1895-6, and Assistant editor of Henry Blackburn's Art Handbooks, 1891-1903. He married, in 1897, Nellie, youngest daughter of R D Ganthony, of Richmond.

Sykes, Francis William

He was born 21 May 1864 at Bishopton, and is the son of the Reverend John H Sykes. He served in the Matabeleland Relief Force in 1896 (medal), also in the S Rhodesia Volunteers in the Boer War, 1900-1 (medal and two bars). He entered the Native Department Matabeleland, in 1899, and was transferred to NW Rhodesia as District Commissioner of the Falls District in Aug, 1901. He is the author of A History of the Morgan Gold Mine (Queensland), 1892; With Plumer in Matabeleland, 1897, and was the editor of the Mount Morgan Chronicle and Mining Gazette from 1889-92. He married, in April, 1905, Beatrice, younger daughter of Edward Webb, Chairman of the African Banking Corporation.