TOPIC:

Darlow was commended for his behaviour at the time of the murder of Magistrate H.M. Stainbank (whose medal I have) during the Bambatha Rebellion. As the Gaoler at Mahlabatini where the natives allegedly responsible would have been gaoled he would have been intimately involved in the proceedings.

George Philip Darlow

Gaoler, Natal Police – Anglo Boer War
Gaoler, Natal Police – Bambatha Rebellion

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Natal & South Africa 1901 to Tpr. G.P Darlow
- Natal Rebellion Medal with clasp 1906 to Gaoler, G.P. Darlow

George Darlow was born in Bourn, Cambridgeshire in 1872 the son of Caleb Darlow , an Agricultural Labourer and his wife (Lavinia) Jane, born Watson There is a suggestion that the marriage might have been hastened along as, according to the 1871 England census, the couple’s first born was Frederick, born in 1868, the same year in which they married on 16 March.

Our first glimpse of George comes courtesy of the 1881 England census where the family lived at Edge Hill in Bourn, Cambridgeshire. George was a 9 year old school boy and destined to follow in his brother William’s footsteps. William, although only 11 was already employed as a Farmer’s Boy. Aside from them were Elizabeth (7) and Alice (3).

No trace of him exists in the 1891 England census but, thanks in all likelihood to the efforts of a Colonial Recruiter, Darlow found himself at the age of 24 aboard the “Trojan” under Captain F.J. Moseley destined for Natal, South Africa on 17 October 1896. The ship’s manifest lists him as a “Recruit”

At Pietermaritzburg exactly a month later, on 16 November 1896, he became the newest member of the Natal Police with no. 1808 and the rank of Trooper. His father now of Little Gransden, Cambridgeshire was recorded as his next of kin and he carried with him a testimonial from the Reverend J.R.L. Knipe, Rector of Iversham.

Darlow wasn’t to know that within the space of a few years he would be embroiled along with his comrades in the Anglo Boer War which broke out in October 1899 between the two Dutch-speaking Republics of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State on the one hand and the might of the Empire on the other. The Colony of Natal was high on the Boers initial agenda and, with so few imperial troops in the country, was regarded as almost a soft target by the Boer Command. First they fought at Talana and then at Elandslaagte before besieging the town of Ladysmith with all its imperial and colonial troops “locked up” in it.

The Natal Police at this time were divided up roughly into two segments, the first was a small one of about 84 members who were besieged in Ladysmith, the second, and by far the majority, continued to carry on their policing duties but were in a perpetual state of readiness to counter any Boer incursion. Scattered around the rural areas they thus performed a dual role under very dangerous conditions.

For his efforts as a Gaoler Darlow was awarded the Queens Medal with clasps Natal (denoting that his entire service was spent there) and South Africa 1901.



After hostilities had ceased the N.P. went about their normal business even finding time, as in Darlow’s case, for romance. On 6 September 1902 he wed a 26 year old Durban spinster, Rosa Madeline Scott. He was 30 years old and based at the Durban Gaol at the time the wedding took place at the Bulwer Road Baptist Church.

Natal in the years immediately after the Boer War was an unhappy place financially – the war had been a huge drain on the meagre resources of the Colonial government and many and varied schemes were looked at to increase the Colony’s revenue. One such was a hut tax to be imposed on all black males and which was to be collected by the various Magistrates spread throughout Natal with the assistance of the Natal Police, should any trouble arise, and the help of the Zulu Chiefs who would be required to collect the tax and bring it in to the Magistrates.

Implementation of this scheme came in early 1906 and there were problems from the outset. A particularly truculent young Zulu Chief, Bambatha of the Zondi clan in the Greytown/Kranskloof area was unhappy with the arrangement and openly went about the land fomenting resistance. This overflowed into open rebellion and the Natal Militia, along with the Natal Police, were called out to quell the uprising.

At supper time in the evening of 4 May 1906 the Magistrate at Mahlabatini in Zululand was attempting to connect to the telephone lines on the banks of the White Umfolozi River to report a successful day’s tax collection to his superiors in Eshowe when a few shots rang out in the fast gathering dusk injuring a Natal Policemen who was part of his guard and mortally wounding Herbert Munro Stainbank, the Magistrate. This single act of defiance (it was seen as further aggression from the Zulus in the area) ignited the spark which led to the second wave of conflict between Zulu and Colonial forces ending in the beheading of Bambatha after he had been trapped and killed in Mome Gorge.

Quite what role Darlow played in the whole affair on the 4th May is unclear but it was enough to warrant a special mention on his record to the effect that he was “commended for his behaviour at the time of the murder of Mr H.M. Stainbank at Mahlabatini, May 1906” This was tantamount to a Mention in Dispatches for Darlow. The fact that he was the Gaoler at Mahlabatini was the most probable reason – he would have had to keep those arrested under lock and key and make sure that they were fit and available to stand trial.

Another Trooper who received exactly the same worded commendation was Trooper C.W.B. Martin who was one of those who actually accompanied Stainbank and who was fired on as well.

For his considerable efforts Darlow was one of 50 Gaolers who received the Natal Rebellion Medal with the clasp 1906. On 16 November 1908 he reenlisted for a further 12 years’ service but, with the reorganisation of both the Police and Military forces in 1912 the Natal Police ceased to exist as a unit becoming a part of the South African Police.

On 30 May 1912 he wrote to the District Native Commissioner, Zululand for permission to “shoot ordinary game, for the pot only, during the present open season”. This was granted in respect of the Native Reserve land in the Mahlabatini Division only. His fellow applicants were A. Colenbrander, Clerk of the Court; A.J. Crocker, Labour Agent and A.D. Graham, Magistrate, all of Mahlabatini.

As has been mentioned a realignment of the Police took place in 1912 and Darlow, comfortable in the role of Gaoler, made his move to the Prisons Department which was a better fit for him. According to the Prison Service Orders of 1 July 1914 he went on Vacation from 10 July until 6 November of that year. By 1916 he was the Head Warder at the Harding Prison Station (near Port Shepstone on the South Coast of Natal). What is even more interesting is that the Darlow’s had made a family career of it in that Mrs Darlow was the Special Matron attached to the Harding Station headed by her husband.



Having retired from the Prison Service Darlow once more made his home in Durban which is where he passed away at the age of 78 years and 3 months on 27 June 1949. His address at the time was 3056 Marine Drive, Bluff, Durban and he was survived by his wife and three children Joan Darlow, George Russell Darlow and Cyril Darlow. His remains are interred at the Stellawood Cemetery.

Good Morning Rory......

Another great research project......

But would you want Gaoler on your medal???????

Always look forward to reading your findings with my morning coffee (even before the paper)......

Mike

Thanks Mike

I don't read the paper any more - too much doom and gloom.

Now reading about medal recipients - that's a worthwhile endeavor!

Regards

Rory

Rory wrote: Thanks Mike

I don't read the paper any more - too much doom and gloom.

Now reading about medal recipients - that's a worthwhile endeavor!

Regards

Rory

True Rory about the paper.......

But I have to check the obits just to make sure that I am not in there that day......

Mike

The world (and the hobby) would be a poorer place without you Mike.

I don't expect to read your obituary for many years to come.

Regards

Rory

Rory wrote: The world (and the hobby) would be a poorer place without you Mike.

I don't expect to read your obituary for many years to come.

Regards

Rory

Amen to that.
amb