DEFENCE OF MAFEKING
1899 -1900.
RAILWAY DIVISION.
Extracts from General Orders, concerning Railway Division,
issued by Colonel R.S.S. Baden-Powell, Commanding Frontier Force.
October 7th 1899.
APPOINTMENT. Lieutenant J.R. More is appointed Commandant of the Railway Section, Mafeking.
October 22nd 1899.
RAILWAY DIVISION. With reference to Garrison Orders issued on the 19th October, the following corrections should be noted.
A. Company, Lieut. J.R.More; B. Company, Mr W.H. Walmisley.
Commandant Railway Division, Lieut. J.R.More.
November 4th 1899.
AMOURED TRAIN. With reference to Garrison Orders of the 22nd October, all portions of the Armoured Train are under Lieut. A.D. Murray, Cape Police. Railway Division Commands remain as before, viz: - A.Company, Lieut. J.R. More; B.Company, Mr W.H. Walmisley.
Commandant Railway Division. Lieut. J.R.More.
November 7th 1899.
NOTICE. 6. The Colonel commanding has much pleasure in placing on record a plucky piece of work by Gunners R.Cowan and F.F.Godson. The Hotchkiss Gun of which they had charge was overturned and its trail hook broken in the course of the action. In spite of a very heavy fire from the enemy's 1 pdr Maxim and 7 pdr Krupp these men reattached the train to the limber by ropes etc. and brought the gun safely away.
November 9th 1899.
ARMOURED TRAIN. With reference to the General Orders of the 4th instant, Lieut. A.D. Murray, Cape Police, is in charge of the Armoured Truck near the Convent, the other Armoured Truck will be in charge of Lieut. J.R. More. Should however, the Armoured train go out, Lieut. A.D. Murray will take charge and he in chief military command.
November 11th 1899.
ARMOURED TRAIN. With reference to General Orders of the 4th and 9th inst., Lieut. J.R. More in addition to being in charge of the railway Division is also placed in charge of and responsible for the Railway Camp.
November 30th 1899.
PROMOTIONS. Lieut. J.R. More to receive the Honorary rank of Captain, Mr W.M. Walmisley and Mr J.Buchan, to receive the Honorary rank of Lieutenants.
Mr E.J. Layton is appointed Honorary Sergt. Major, Railway Division.
December 2nd 1899.
NOTICE. Some good sniping work was done yesterday by the following menu` the Railway Corps, namely, Ward, Impey, and Sutherland, of the Armoured Train Crew. These men went about a mile beyond the defences towards Game Tree and got within 300 yards of the enemy's advanced trench, which they found garrisoned by natives. They fired into these killing one and driving the rest out. A heavy fire was opened on them by the Doers at Came Tree and in the Ballast Hole, but in spite of this they were able to pick off two mounted Boers who appeared on the scene, knocking one off horse and killing the horse of the other. They then made good their retirement without casualty.
December 18th 1899.
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT. Mr Young, Railway Division, a Medical Student, is appointed to act as a special assistant to take charge of native cases etc., at the Railway Bridge Dressing Station, under the P.M.O. He will receive pay at the rate of 15/- per diem, from this date inclusive, during the absence from duty of Hospital Sergt. Dowling, Protectorate Regiment, who was performing the duty till he met with an accident.
December 20th 1899.
CONTROL OF RAILWAY MAFEKING. It is notified for general information that, pending the restoration of Railway Communication, Captain J.P. More, District Engineer, (being the senior Cape Government Official present) is placed in charge of all Railway working and appliances under the Colonel Commanding. He will detail such Officials as may be necessary to assist in carrying out the work. Any previous acting, appointments are hereby cancelled.
December 26th 1899.
The following instances of gallant conduct, among many others in the engagement this morning have been brought to the notice of the Colonel Commanding.
Sergt. Moffat of the Railway Division, went out from the Armoured Train and brought in Sergt. Martineau of the Protectorate Regt., who was wounded, a distance of 400 yards, under heavy fire.
AUXILIARY HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION. By the courtesy of the Railway Officials n Auxiliary Hospital and Convalescent home will be temporarily established in the Railway Camp from to-morrow, inclusive, to relieve the present pressure at the Central Hospital.
Miss M. Craufurd if appointed Superintendent, and details of staff and other arrangements will be published in due course.
December 30th 1899.
GOOD WORK BY NORDENFELT DETACHMENT. The Colonel Commanding is highly pleased with the good work being done daily by Gunners Lowe and Mulholland (Railway Division) in charge of the Nordenfelt Gun. Their plucky returns to the fire of the enemy’s big gun are the admiration of the place, and do much to lessen the accuracy of her fire on Mafeking.
January 4th 1900.
NOTICE. Lowe and Mulholland (Railway Division) in charge of the Nordenfelt again distinguished themselves by their coolness and accurate shooting. Their gun was struck more than once.
January 6th 1900.
LOCAL SHELL FOUNDRY. It is notified for information that from to-morrow inclusive, the Workshops, with all the necessary plant etc., used for casting shell in the Railway Works, will be taken over by the Military Authorities as an Ordnance Workshop.
It will be placed under the C.R.A., Major Panzera, who will be responsible for it and will appoint the necessary workmen etc.
January 8th 1900.
ORDNANCE WORKSHOPS STAFF AND PAY. With reference to General Order N° 1 of the 6th instant, the following civil staff are appointed to the Shell Foundry from this days date inclusive, at the daily rates of pay and in the capacities noted against their respective names.
J. Conolly. Foreman. £1 A. Forbes. Rly.Div. Turner 15/-
J. Coughlan. Rly. Div. Fitter 15/- S. Nettle. Rly.Div. „ 15/-
J. Russell. Rly.Div. “ 15/- B. King. Rly.Div. Furnaceman 15/-
January 11th 1900.
BRIGADE SIGNALLERS. Sergt. Moffat (Railway Division), later Sergt. Inst. Signalling, 3rd Dragoon Guards, is appointed to the Headquarter Staff as Brigade Sergt. Instructor of Signalling. He will receive pay at the rate of 6/- per diem from to-morrow inclusive while retained for this duty.
Sergt. Moffat will be attached to the Protectorate Regiment for Barrack accommodation, rations and discipline etc., and will be at the disposal of the Brigade Major for duty in connection with the Brigade Signallers.
January 13th 1900.
ORDNANCE WORKSHOPS. Mr A. Lees is appointed Storeman in the above shops from the 12th instant inclusive, at 5/- per diem. He will be responsible for the issue of all tools, material, etc., which he will issue only on written requisition, and for the issue of which he will take temporary receipts. E.H. Gates is appointed fireman at 5/- per diem, to date from the 6th instant, inclusive.
January 27th 1900.
The Colonel Commanding wishes to express his hearty appreciation of the energy and resource displayed by Sergt. Moffat, assisted by Trooper Adams, in reading the enemy's signals under shell fire this morning, when the latter were shelling the women's laager.
February 15th 1900.
Pay etc.: Sergeant Lowe Railway Division, is granted Sergeants pay at the rate of 7/- per diem, from the 12th Dec 1899, inclusive, as being in charge of the Nordenfelt Gun, in recognition of his good services in connection with that duty; and the exceptional hardships entailed thereby.
February 24th 1900.
BRIGADE SIGNALLER INSTRUCTOR. Sergt. Moffat is granted the acting rank of Sergt. Major while performing the duties of Brigade Instructor of Signalling.
March 2nd 1900.
ORDNANCE STAFF. With reference to yesterday's mention of the ability of the Railway men working in the Ordnance Workshops, the Colonel Commanding wishes to express his appreciation of the good workmanship and zeal of Assistant Foreman Coughlan, without whose skilled and ready assistance, the work would not have been so successfully carried out.
PROMOTION. Private Godson, Railway Division, is granted the acting rank of Corporal while in charge of the Hotchkiss Gun, to date from 1st instant.
4th April 1900.
SOWAN PORRIDGE. A bonus of £5, has been authorised to be paid to Private Sims, Railway Division, for introducing "Sowen" porridge as an article of food. Two kitchens for the manufacture of this porridge are being prepared so that it may be available for the troops and inhabitants.
14th April 1900.
ORDNANCE WORKSHOP. CLOSING OF. The Ordnance work having been completed, the shops will closed to-night, and the Staff will cease to draw pay, and will be struck off the strength from to-morrow, inclusive, accordingly.
In closing the Ordnance Shops, the Colonel Commanding desires to place on record his indebtedness to the skill, ingenuity, and energy displayed by all hands employed there. It is characteristic of Mafeking that it can, when called upon, produce from among the Citizens, men who are able to turn their hands to any work that may be required - even to the extent of manufacturing a 16 pdr Howitzer, and gun ammunition. By their useful and willing work, Foreman Conolly and Assistant Foreman Coughlan and their efficient staff have given valuable aid to the defence of Mafeking.
3rd May 1900.
PROMOTION. Private Bull, Acting Sergeant, Railway Division, attached to Reserve Artillery, is transferred from the Nordenfelt Gun to be in charge of the Hotchkiss, with rank of Corporal, and pay at the rate of 6/- per diem; to date from 1st instant inclusive.
14th May 1900.
PROMOTION. Railway Division.
Sergeant-Major Layton to be 2nd Lieutenant (Honorary) in recognition of his good services during the Siege.
19th May 1900.
SIGNALLING INSTRUCTOR.
Sergeant Major Moffat to be Staff Sergeant Major Instructor of Divisional Signalling, with pay etc. of a Squadron Sergeant Major in the Protectorate Regiment, to date from 17th instant.
24th May 1900.
RELIEF OF MAPEFING. The Colonel Commanding has great pleasure in placing on record his hearty recognition of the good work done by the Supporting Forces; by the Armoured Trains under Colonel Spreckley and Captain Llewellyn; and by the Railway Corps under Captain More and Lieutenant Wallis respectively.
By their energetic “backing up" the relief effected by Colonels Mahon and Plumer on 17th instant has become an accomplished fact on this the Anniversary of Her Majesty's Birthday.
29th May 1900.
GOOD SERVICE. The General Officer Commanding has much pleasure 171-placing on record his appreciation of the valuable services rendered during the Siege by the following, who are now about to terminate their engagements owing to the Siege being happily raised:-
Mr W.C. Smith, Plumber, Railway Division, has been employed almost continuously since the 17th October 1899 in fixing pumps etc. for the Water Supply, and has given valuable assistance.
