TOPIC:

From the Illustrated London News, July 12, 1913:

Well, that certainly beats my oldest volunteer! The Rotherham Advertiser of 5th May 1900 tells of the death on 31st March that year of Tpr DUNSFORD, whilst serving with Roberts' Horse.

Described as a well-travelled man who had led an adventurous life, he had joined Roberts's Horse on its formation. Friends had received a letter from Capt BAUMGARTNER, commanding C Squadron stating that Dunsford was shot in the back during a retirement at Sanna's Post Waterworks, about 18 miles from Bloemfontein and casualties were over 90. A moving tribute was paid to him by Capt Baumgartner:

“I looked upon Dunsford as one of the pluckiest of men, and I cannot tell you how I admired a man of his age offering his services as a trooper. I cannot tell you how I regret his death, but all the same he died a splendid one, doing his duty to his country to the very last.”

I intend to do a bit more research on Dunsford later but I have established that he was born in c1847 in London, so would have been aged around 53/54. His full name was Henry Albert Harris Dunsford and he appears as a civil engineer in London in 1891 so perhaps it was in this capacity that he travelled. He certainly sounds a very courageous man.

Volunteer1860,

It would be interesting to search for his attestation paper in WO126/117 to confirm his details but, as you suggest, that was courageous indeed. I am surprised he was accepted onto the unit at that age. Perhaps he looked younger than his years?

With thanks
David

From The Times, 7 Apr 1900:

This is a long shot however I am interested to know if you managed to uncover anything about Trooper Dunsford. He is a distant relation and I have his Boer War medal, Khedive Star and Sudan medal. He was a Boatman in the Manitoba Contingent of the Canadian Voyageurs and, apparently, a Foreign Legionnaire before buying his passage to South Africa and joining Roberts Horse.