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A.W. Lean - a Ladysmith Defender with the Natal Police 9 years 10 months ago #43875
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Arthur William Lean
Trooper, Natal Police – Anglo Boer War Trooper, Natal Police – Bambatha Rebellion of 1906 Sergeant, Natal Light Horse – WWI - Queens South Africa Medal with clasp Defence of Ladysmith to 2291 Tpr. A.W. Lean, Natal Police Arthur Lean was an interesting chap. We don’t know where exactly he was born but, given the evidence we have at our disposal it can be assumed that he was born in the Colony of Natal in about 1876. Of his early life nothing is known save for the fact that he had a brother, Herbert Frederick Lean. Our first glimpse of the man comes in the form of a request made by him to the Commandant General of the Z.A.R. (Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek) on 18 February 1895. Showing a good command of the Dutch spoken in what was known as the Transvaal he wrote from Barberton requesting a permit to be allowed to import a Martini-Henry rifle through Lourenco Marques in what was then Portuguese East Africa. He didn’t specify what the rifle was required for but, given the area in which he had chosen to live it must have been for hunting and, to a lesser extent, for self-protection. Barberton in 1895 was very much a speculators paradise with gold having been discovered there in, it has to be said, limited quantities but enough to excite the adventurous of whom Lean was most decidedly one. The Commandant General’s Office granted the permit on 29 March 1895 and Lean went about his business. The Gold Rush was over as soon as it was started and Lean returned to his domestic roots where, on 17 February 1899, some eight months before the outbreak of the Anglo Boer War, he enrolled with the Natal Police in Pietermaritzburg. This was probably on the advice of his aforementioned brother Herbert who had been with the Natal Mounted Police since 1891 before resigning and joining up on the same day as Lean with no. 2290. Arthur Lean was assigned no 2291 and the rank of Trooper. By way of relatives he provided the name of E.A. Lean of the National Bank in Johannesburg and came equipped with a testimonial from H. Hall & Sons of Nelspruit (near to Barberton). Setting about the duties required of him; he was initially stationed in the Upper Tugela area of the Colony but, with the outbreak of the war the Natal Police were mobilised on a war footing and Lean joined the No. 1 Troop of the N.P. on 11 October 1899 – the eve of the war. The Natal Police were divided into roughly two camps in late 1899 – those (the majority) who were required to remain in their posts in both the rural and urban areas of Natal and continue with their normal duties and the remainder, a much smaller number who were again split in to two groups – those that were with the Natal Field Force and with Buller on the march and those, numbering only 84, who were with White and were thus caught up in the Siege of Ladysmith. Lean was of the latter bunch who was caught up as a Defender in Ladysmith. The role that he and his comrades played in the Siege is not well documented, lamentably so – although it is known that their numbers were decimated by enteric fever and other illnesses which rendered them ineffectual in the main. With the Relief of the town Lean and his comrades were sent down to Pietermaritzburg from where they dispersed to resume their normal duties. On 17 February 1902 he took his discharge from the Natal Police (at his own request) on the expiration of his term of service and with a Character rating of Very Good. For his efforts he was awarded the Queens Medal with the scarce single clasp – Defence of Ladysmith. A free agent for the first time in years Lean disappeared from the scene only to resurface on 24 August 1904 when he enlisted with the Natal Police for a second time. On this occasion he was set on the Gaol Department as a Warder and, having been assigned no. 3470, commenced work at the Durban Gaol. As was alluded to earlier he was a bit of a linguist and his service record bears testimony to that with a number of references to exams he passed in both Zulu and Dutch. On 28 December 1904 Mr C. Bird, the Principal Under Secretary of the Colonial Government wrote to him as follows, “Sir I have the honour to inform you that you have been appointed to act as Clerk of the Magistrate’s Court, Hlabisa Division, in the Province of Zululand, during the absence of Mr. A.H.B. Hulley on sick leave, with effect from the 19th instant.” This, although a temporary position and of short duration, was in recognition no doubt for the sterling work he had done. On 8 February 1908 he took a transfer to the Pietermaritzburg Gaol and it was here where he blotted what was otherwise an unblemished copybook. Although the details are not known his record refers to him being “severely reprimanded in connection with the escape of Nkani from Pietermaritzburg Gaol”. Lean’s relationship with the Police was about to end – from Pietermaritzburg on 11 October 1910 wrote Sub Inspector James Hamilton as follows, “The bearer Trooper Lean, has been known to me for some years, and acted for some time as clerk in my office, he carried out his duties in a very satisfactory manner, and is I now understand leaving the Police.” We next hear about him just after the outbreak of the Great War on 22 August 1914. Writing from Verulam, Natal by Maynard Mathew, the Resident Magistrate to the Recruiting Officer. Natal Light Horse, Durban the letter read as follows, “I have much pleasure in certifying that Mr A.W. Lean who has been 10 years in Police and Gaol service and 15 years in Government Service in all and who has obtained permission to resign his post at Verulam Gaol, is a most reliable, painstaking , zealous and capable officer. Mr Lean has a sound knowledge of the English, Dutch and Zulu languages, served in the Boer War and Native Rebellion, and is in a position to fall into the fighting line neatly trained, for which purpose he is leaving the Prisons Department. His formal discharge certificate which is of the best, has gone to Pretoria for counter signature.” This was high praise indeed! The Discharge Certificate referred to makes for interesting reading: No. 3470 Name: Arthur William Lean Rank: Warder Date of Enrolment: 24 August 1904 Age on enrolment: 32 years 5 months Period of Service: 10 years Cause of Discharge: Time Expired Date: 24 August 1914 Character: Sobriety: Very Good Zeal: Very Good Efficiency: Very Good Remarks: Very able officer, and good Dutch and Zulu linguist. This glowing testimonial did the trick and Lean, on 1 September 1914 attested for service at Pietermaritzburg with the Natal-raised Natal Light Horse with no. 159 and the rank of Sergeant at the age of 42. His discharge certificate confirmed that he was discharged on 27 January 1915 on completion of engagement and that he was allowed to reckon service of 149 days. His conduct and character while serving were Very Good and his discharge was confirmed at Oude Molen in Cape Town by Captain Bamford of the N.L.H. But this doesn’t provide the full story of Lean’s engagement – this was left to a letter from Dr. R Sharpe, Medical Superintendent of Woodstock Hospital in Cape Town who wrote on 26 January that, “I hereby certify that Sergt. Arthur Lean, No 159, N.L.H. is this day discharged from this institution. He has suffered from Acute Nephritis with haemorrhage, and had a relapse. He is still far from well and is very much reduced in weight. I recommend his discharge as unfit for Military Duty” So there it was – Lean was a sick man who had not seen actual service. But Lean wasn’t about to let this get him down – he reattested for service with the Natal Light Horse again on 10 March 1915 and was accepted with no. 607 and the rank of Corporal continuing with them until the disbanding of the regiment in June 1915 and amassing a further 98 days in uniform and a Character rating of Very Good. The discharge Certificate was signed by Lt. Colonel William Park Gray, the Officer Commanding. Finally done with the military he turned his attention to civil employment and, writing from his residence on the corner of Lily and High Streets in Rosettenville, Johannesburg he addressed himself the Director, Native Affairs Department, Loveday Street, Johannesburg, “Sir As requested, I have the honour to apply in writing for a temporary position in your department. I may add that I am 43 years of age, single, not fit for military duty and have a sister Mrs D. Rees who is partly dependent on my earnings. Trusting my application will receive favourable consideration.” To this came the reply from the Acting Director of Labour on 1 December 1915 informing Lean that he had temporary employment in the Department at the rate of 10 shillings per day should he want it. Accepting the terms Lean started at the office on 3 December 1915 only to find that the once generous offer was now reduced to 7/6 per day. Interestingly his salary, according to an internal memorandum, was to be effected “from savings on salaries of officers on Active Service”. A bit of a gypsy Lean tendered his resignation with the Department “as from the 17th instant” – 17 August 1916, after only 8 months service. He had obtained, it seemed, a “more remunerative appointment at the Crown Mines” At around the same time, 5 November 1916 to be exact, Lean had one last go at active service. The Director of Supplies, U.D.F. wrote to him from the Artillery Barracks at Pretoria as follows, “Enlistment S.A.S.C. (South African Service Corps) I have to acknowledge your receipt of your application dated 22nd ultimo, and in reply thereto regret to inform you that I am unable to favourably consider, in view of the fact that you are unfortunately over the present age limit.” And so ended the military endeavours of Arthur William Lean – what became of him thereafter is unknown. 
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A.W. Lean - a Ladysmith Defender with the Natal Police 9 years 10 months ago #43879
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A.W. Lean - a Ladysmith Defender with the Natal Police 9 years 10 months ago #43880
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