TOPIC:

Cyril was a product of the Eastern Cape school of hard knocks. Living and growing up on the eastern Frontier of the Cape Colony as a direct descendnat of one of the original 1820 Settlers wasn't childs play and conditions were rough with hardship the order of the day. He nevertheless survived. Here is his story:

Cyril James Hume

Sergeant Major, Marshall’s Horse – Anglo Boer War

- Queens South Africa Medal to 22 Sgt. Major C.G. (sic) Hume, Marshall’s Horse
with clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg and Diamond Hill





Cyril Hume was born in Grahamstown on 31 January 1877 to David Robert Hume and Agnes Amelia (born Stone) both parents were direct descendants of the original 1820 Settlers who had come out from England to make a new life for themselves settling in the far flung extremities of the Eastern Cape where they had to adapt to harsh and unfamiliar circumstances in order to make a living.

Cyril was by no means the only child in a rather full household being joined by older brothers Arthur William and Henry Herbert as well as younger siblings Percy Cecil, David Herbert, Olive Grace and Cecile Geraldine.

As mentioned life in the Eastern Cape wasn’t for the faint hearted even as far advanced into the 19th Century as the 1890’s. There was still plenty of bickering between African tribes on the one hand and these same tribes but with the white settlers on the other.

Stock theft was the order of the day and farmers were hard pressed to keep their livestock within the fences of their farms. When the Bechuanaland or Langberg Rebellion broke out in 1896 he, now almost 30 and employed as a Government Clerk, was called upon to help out. Whether or not he was actively deployed is unknown but we do know that he didn’t qualify for and wasn’t issued with a medal for his trouble.

The unrest at an end he returned to his civilian pursuits and was ready and able when the Anglo Boer War broke out in October 1899 to fight alongside the forces of the Empire against the two upstart Boer Republics.

On 15 April 1900 he enlisted with Marshall’s Horse as a Corporal and was assigned no. 22.
Marshall's Horse was mainly composed of the mounted portions of the Grahamstown and Uitenhage Volunteers. In the despatches and in unofficial accounts the corps are mixed up, and sometimes are called Grahamstown Volunteers, sometimes Marshall's Horse.

Marshall's Horse formed part of the army which, in February and March 1900, advanced from Modder River to Bloemfontein, and on the way they saw a great deal of fighting. In the despatch of 15th March 1900 Lord Roberts said that during the advance on Bloemfontein—that is, after the surrender of Cronje at Paardeberg—he had reorganised the mounted infantry, and the 1st City of Grahamstown Volunteers were said to have been put into the 4th Brigade of Mounted Infantry, commanded by Colonel C P Ridley.

Prior to Lord Roberts commencing his advance on Pretoria it was necessary to clear the enemy from their stronghold at Thabanchu, and a powerful force was put under General Ian Hamilton for the purpose of carrying out this object. It included Colonel Ridley's Brigade of Mounted Infantry, which again embraced the 5th Corps of Mounted Infantry, under Colonel Dawson, made up of the 5th Battalion Regular Mounted Infantry, Roberts' Horse, Marshall's Horse, the Ceylon Mounted Infantry, and a pom-pom.

On 25th April the enemy had to be cleared out of a very strong position at Israel's Poort. The frontal attack was entrusted to the Canadian Regiment of Infantry and Marshall's Horse, who had to lie for over four hours at about 800 yards from the enemy while the remainder of the mounted infantry were working round on the left. After heavy fighting the position was carried. In his telegram of the 27th April Lord Roberts said that among the casualties were no less than 7 officers of the Grahamstown Volunteers.

Captain Gethin was killed, and Major Marshall, Lieutenants Murray, Winnery, Rawal, Barry, Hull, and 4 non-commissioned officers and men were wounded.

All through May, during the advance to Pretoria, Ian Hamilton's force, which was first the army of the right flank and afterwards crossed the centre and became the army of the left flank, was constantly and most obstinately opposed, but everyone, from the General downwards, did unsurpassably well. For the army of the centre it was practically a walk-over, the fighting being almost wholly on the flanks. Marshall's Horse frequently took a prominent share of the work. On 5th June at Schippen's Farm, for example, they had 1 killed and 5 wounded. They were engaged at Doornkop, south-west of Johannesburg, on 29th May, and in the battle of Diamond Hill, east of Pretoria, on 11th, 12th, and 13th June, and had slight casualties in both actions.

After Diamond Hill a large force was put under Sir A Hunter to clear the north-east of the Orange River Colony. Ridley's Mounted Infantry was part of the force, and Marshall's Horse were engaged at Heidelberg on 23rd June and were left there as part of the garrison. In his telegram of 22nd July Lord Roberts mentioned that a post on the railway east of Heidelberg had been attacked, and that General Hart had started from Heidelberg to succour the defenders. Part of Hart's force was 140 of Marshall's Horse. The attack was driven off before Hart arrived.

When De Wet broke out of the Brandwater Basin on 15th-16th July, Broadwood's Cavalry and Ridley's Mounted Infantry dashed off in pursuit, and Marshall's Horse and other troops under Hart were brought down the railway to co-operate. About Rhenoster Marshall's Horse had sharp fighting and some casualties.

For a time De Wet skulked in the Reitzburg Hills, but on the night of 6th August broke out across the Vaal. Ridley's force took part in the pursuit, and Marshall's Horse was at times engaged with De Wet's rear-guard. De Wet escaped through Olifant's Nek to the north of the Megaliesberg about 15th August. At the request of Lord Roberts, Lord Kitchener with the bulk of Ridley's Mounted Infantry and other troops pressed on to the relief of Hore at Eland's River. In the latter part of August and during September Marshall's Horse was employed about Krugersdorp and in the Gatsrand, and frequently had fighting and rather heavy casualties. In October, November, and December they were with Barton in the Frederickstad district, and on 18th October a foraging party got into a nasty place when Marshall's Horse lost 2 killed and 4 wounded. The corps took part in the very severe fighting which Barton's force had between 20th and 25th October, which resulted in the total defeat of the force opposed to him. Marshall's Horse had Lieutenant Mullins and 2 men wounded.

When at the end of 1900 and beginning of 1901 the enemy reinvaded Cape Colony, the greater part of Marshall's Horse, like most of the Cape raised corps, were brought south to protect their own colony and for long did good service in the columns of Colonel Crabbe and other leaders. They were constantly in action and often had casualties.

Lieutenant Cliff Turpin was killed and 6 men were wounded on 24th March 1901 in the Zuurberg Mountains when on patrol duty. In July and August they assisted to drive Kritzinger from the Colony. On 9th September Colonel Crabbe completely defeated the commando of Vandermerwe, that leader being killed and 37 of his men captured. Marshall's Horse, under Major Corbett, and Prince Alfred's Guards did a great part of the fighting, and did it well. Marshall's Horse had 3 men killed and Lieutenant Tyler and 1 man wounded.
Part of the corps remained throughout most of 1901 in the Transvaal; about 30 were in the column of Brigadier General Cunningham, afterwards of Brigadier General Dixon, which operated about the Gatsrand and Megaliesberg. This detachment had 1 man killed and 1 man wounded at Modderfontein on 31st January, and 1 man killed and 1 wounded at Randfontein on 8th February, and had other casualties. A portion of the corps were also in the Kroonstad district in April, May, and June 1901.

In 1902 the corps was in the west of Cape Colony, where fighting was continuous and the marching very severe. On 24th March at Rhenoster Valley a detachment of Marshall's Horse was badly cut up, losing 7 men killed and 1 officer, Lieutenant A P L Gabbatt, and 7 men wounded.

Hume was there through it all rising to the rank of Sergeant Major.

His work with Marshall’s Horse done Hume turned his attentions to the Commander in Chief’s Bodyguard joining their ranks as a Squadron Sergeant Major with no. 34724 at Grahamstown on 14 May 1901. He served with them until his discharge on 30 September 1901 (3 months later)

This was to signal the end of Hume’s war time service – he was awarded the Queens South Africa Medal for his troubles. Now at a loose end and the war having ended on 31 May 1902 Hume enlisted with the Cape Police (District II) at Kimberley on 20 October 1902 with no. 1317. Aged 25 he was, physically 5 feet 9 ½ inches in height with Light Brown hair, Gray eyes and a fair complexion. He had tattoo marks on his right arm and was a Presbyterian by way of religious affiliation. Claiming still to be a Clerk he was single and provided his mother, Mrs. A. Hume of Grahamstown as his next of kin.

On his Attestation papers (Candidate’s Paper he professed to being colonial born and that he could speak English and Dutch. He also confirmed his previous service in both Marshall’s Horse and the Commander in Chief’s Bodyguard, having left the first time expired and the second on its disbandment. A small annotation in the column of his “Oath” stated that the Discharge Certificates from Marshall’s Horse and C-in-C’s Bodyguard had been forwarded to PO Box 179, Johannesburg.

Quite how long he stayed with the Cape Police is unknown but we later find him employed as an Amalgamator on the Gold Mine at New Modderfontein in the Benoni area of the Transvaal. It was here at the age of 59 years and 8 months that he passed away of Influenza at the Athlone Nursing Home in Benoni on 12 September 1936. Hume had never married and his siblings, those that survived, were to benefit from his largesse under his Will. He is buried in the Brixton Cemetery in Johannesburg. His Austin Tourer car was auctioned off and he left a sizable (for the times) estate of 230 pounds

Hi Rory,

Nice medal and very well researched. Not many Marshall's Horse medals seen on the market. I have the grand total of one named to Marshall's Horse and another named to a different unit.

Cheers,

Jim

Thanks Jim

There is a possibility I'll be able to add two more Hume's to the number if and when my friend finds them

The one should be particularly nice as it has the Wepener clasp and a CGHGSM to boot.

All three would be to brothers which is, in itself, pleasing.

Regards

Rory