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John Edwin Pritchard Forbes

Lance Corporal, Cape Police, P.D.1 – Anglo Boer War
Rifleman, 1st South African Mounted Rifles – WWI

- QSA with clasps Cape Colony & Transvaal to 1591 L/Cpl J.E.P. Forbes, CP Dist 1
- KSA with clasps SA 1901 & 1902 to 1591 L/Cpl J.E.P. Forbes, CP Dist 1
- 1914/15 Star to RFM J.E.P. Forbes, 1st S.A.M.R.
- British War Medal to RFM J.E.P. Forbes, 1st S.A.M.R.
- Victory Medal to RFM J.E.P. Forbes, 1st S.A.M.R.
- S.A.P. Medal for Faithful service to No 8062 (M) 2nd C Sgt. J.E.P. Forbes

Forbes was in Aliwal North, a small settlement in the eastern part of the Cape Province on 3 July 1880 the son of John Alexander Forbes and his wife Ann Maria (born Harris)





According to the original South African Police Discharge parchment in my possession he attested for service with the Cape Police, C.P. District 1, at King Williamstown on 9 April 1898 at the age of (almost) 18. Physically he was 5 feet 9 inches in height with dark eyes, dark hair and a dark complexion (no doubt a result of exposure to the harsh African sun)

Forbes and for that matter everyone else was not to know that in little over a year after he had enlisted the two Boer Republics to the North of where he was stationed would be embroiled in a long and protracted war with the might of the British Empire. This conflict, which became known as the Anglo Boer War – the Boers called it the 2nd War of Independence – was fought from October 1899 until 31 May of 1902. Forbes, as part of C.P.District 1, was operational in the eastern part of the country earning for himself the Cape Colony and Orange Free State clasps to his Queens South Africa Medal.

A permanent force member of the Police he was also in the war for the duration qualifying automatically for the Kings South Africa Medal which required at least eighteen months of war service. To attempt to describe what role the Cape Police played in the Boer War would be a monumental task as they were, literally, everywhere. Deployed operationally they were constantly harassing (and being harassed) by the Boers who ventured south into the Cape Colony in search of food and sympathisers for their cause. They also saw action in the Orange Free State, one of the Boer Republics at war, especially in the second phase of the conflict when the Boers had fragmented their forces and were operating with marauding “hit and run” tactics against the British who were easy targets with their extended lines of communication and supplies. Forbes was a Lance Corporal at the time having been promoted to that rank with effect from 1 February 1902.

The war over Forbes returned to the relative quiet of the rural Eastern Cape to pursue his duties. His life wasn’t without incidence as his Defaulter’s Register shows. The first entry is in respect of “making false entries in the diary” at Blackhill on 28 September 1903. For this he was fined £1. He then went on to be found guilty of “neglect of troop horse” at Somerset East on 4 October 1905 for which he received a fine of £2.This also led to his reduction in the ranks from Corporal to Private at the rate of 7/- per day.



Romance struck and, on 9 May 1910 in the Willowmore Methodist Church in nearby Dordrecht, he married sweetheart Irene Ada Cockroft. It was whilst stationed at the Basutoland Border police post that some of his children were born. Donald Forbes, who entered the world on 27 February 1911 wasn’t to be with us long passing away in December of that year. The same fate befell his twin Lionel although the circumstances of their death on the same day are not known although they must have been tragic.

Writing from Lady Grey on 12 February 1914, Rifleman Forbes, No. 211, applied to the authorities for a transfer from the 1st S.A. Mounted Rifles to the South African Police, swapping with a Constable Heath who was anxious for the reverse. At this juncture let me explain what had happened to the police system in South Africa post-Boer War. The Cape, Natal and Transvaal Police Forces, all operating independently were combined into one force shortly after the advent of Union in South Africa on 31 May 1910. In 1913 those who had been in one or more of these separate forces were absorbed into one of four Squadrons of the South African Mounted Rifles, these were, loosely, geographically based, with 1st Squadron, S.A.M.R. being the Cape leg. The S.A.M.R. were, in essence, the forerunner of the South African Permanent Force and were separated from those who had joined the S.A.P. by virtue of the fact that they were now classified as soldiers. Forbes fell into this category transferring to the S.A.M.R. on 1 April 1913.

Back to his application for transfer – Heath was stationed in Burghersdorp, in the vicinity, which meant that Forbes would have to move there. This, it seems, he was prepared to do. In the covering letter to Pretoria his superior wrote that “I have no objection to the exchange”. Impediments to this move there were however, as, on 11 March 1914 the reply came that “it is regretted that single members of the S.A.P. cannot be exchanged for married members (Heath had committed the cardinal sin of being single) Forbes, certainly for the moment, was staying put.

The next event of moment in his life came later that year with the outbreak of World War I, at the time Forbes was stationed with “F” Squadron, of the S.A.M.R. at his birth place of Aliwal North. The S.A.M.R. were, as previously explained, the foundation of the Permanent Force and as such were automatically called upon, once South Africa had declared war with Germany on 4 August 1914, to form the basis of her assault force. The 1st S.A.M.R. were despatched to German South West Africa where they met with German opposition at the Battle of Sandfontein which took place on 26 September 1914 with tragic results for the South African force. Forbes could well have been among this number – he served two stints in the territory, the first from 1 September until 23 October 1914 and the second from 18 May 1915 until the German surrender on 9 July 1915.He embarked aboard the “Professor Woerman” on 13 May 19915 for his return voyage to South West Africa.

For his service he was awarded the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal – they were despatched to him on 9 March 1921 and 30 October 1922 respectively.

Meanwhile Mrs Forbes, staying with family in Benoni in the Transvaal whilst her husband was away, was getting decidedly edgy. On 30 June 1914 she wrote to the authorities as follows:

“Dear Sirs,

Will you kindly let me know if anything as (sic) happened to Corporal J.E. Forbes, 1st S.A.M.R., 6th Mounted Brigade, Karabib, Northern Force.

I have not heard from him for a long long time and am very anxious about him. If you know anything about them kindly let me know as soon as possible.

Thanking you in anticipation,

Mrs J.E. Forbes,

97 Market Avenue, Benoni, Transvaal.”

The army very kindly wrote back saying that, “Corporal J.E. Forbes’ name does not appear on the Casualty list at this office. He is serving with his regiment and as they are kept rather busy at present he has little opportunity for writing.”

Mrs Forbes took pen to paper again on 12 September 1915, as follows:

“Dear Sirs

Will you kindly send us a free Railway Voucher to travel from Krantz Poort Station, District Ermelo, to Lady Grey, Cape Province, a return voucher. I am sorry to trouble you but as I came up last year and had to pay my own ticket which cost £2.12 single fare.

Although I asked for refund of same, I have received no reply so far, will you please reply as soon as possible, and also kindly see what you can do re: a refund of this £2.12 which I paid for my ticket up last year.”

Her winning ways must have only partially worked as she was granted a voucher but not a refund.

All the while Forbes was still stationed, despite hostilities being over, in the territory of South West Africa, based at Omaruru in the north from where he applied for leave to return home to Lady Grey on 21 September 1916. This was granted and I have no doubt that he spent many a pleasant hour catching up with his wife.

On 30 December 1916, at Windhoek, Forbes underwent a medical examination which, according to the Report by Medical Board, related to Chronic Rheumatism which had first been contracted, according to him, during the Rebellion in 1914 and in July 1916, while at Okanjande, he had a severe attack.

In November he had been admitted to the Military Hospital at Grootfontein suffering from Rheumatism. From there he was transferred to Windhoek Military Hospital on 24 December and had been receiving treatment ever since. The upshot of this was that he was granted 30 days sick leave in order to recuperate. By February 1917 Forbes was still away but stationed at Tsumeb from where he applied for leave. Life must have been very trying for him and his comrades in the dust and heat and the persistent attention of flies.

Thankfully his sojourn there was almost over – on 24 March 1917 a telegram was received transferring Forbes to the 3rd S.A.M.R. based in Pietermaritzburg. On 24 September 1917 Forbes applied for the award of the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal after 19 years of service. His past almost came back to haunt him in that mention was made of his reduction to the ranks, way back in 1905, for neglecting his troop horse. As it was the powers that be decided that he had to have served 16 years AFTER his reduction to Private in order to be eligible.

On 3 July 1918 his O.C. recommended his promotion to Corporal with effect from 1 June 1918 to complete the establishment. The reply was peremptory, “you have the power to promote to rank of Corporal”

By the time 1921 rolled round Forbes had been restored to the Police’s good graces. He was now a 2nd Class Sergeant with No. 8062 (M)
John Edwin Pritchard Forbes was awarded the Police Faithful Long Service Medal prior to his discharge on superannuation after 26 years of service on 8 April 1924.

After his retirement he took up a position as a Handyman with British Airways. According to his grandson he passed away whilst in a train heading for Kimberley where he was going to visit relatives. This was on 9 November 1943.

His obituary read as follows,

“Mr. J.E.P. Forbes – The funeral took place at Stellawood this afternoon of Mr John Edwin Pritchard Forbes, of Durban, who died in Kimberley hospital. Mr Forbes was on his way to spend a recuperative holiday with his son in South West Africa, when he collapsed in the train and was removed to hospital at Kimberley, where he died, aged 63.

Mr Forbes served in the Anglo Boer War. He joined the B.E.S.L. as a foundation and life member in Durban in 1921. He served with the Police in the Great War 1914-1918. Later he was for some time a member of the staff of British Airways. He is survived by his widow, daughter and three sons."

Rory,

An excellently documented group. Many thanks for another very interesting post.

I was reflecting on what fate could have befallen the twin deaths on the same. As you say, that must have been tragic.