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A P.A.V.G. Officer in the Boer War 8 years 5 months ago #44034

Rory
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Medals to officers who served in the Colonial forces in the Boer War are quite hard to come by - this one was at a recent local auction and I purchased it for its local appeal.

James Cameron Peake

Lieutenant, Prince Alfred’s Volunteer Guard, Mounted Infantry – Anglo Boer War

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Johannesburg to Lieut. J.C. Peake, Prince Alf. Vol. Gds.

James Peake was one of not very many men of European descent able to claim that he was born in Madagascar but this was certainly the case. Born to Missionary parents in Antananarivo, the capital city of the island of Madagscar in 1876 he was part of a very cosmopolitan family. His father Phillip George Peake was a missionary with the London Missionary Society and was very English whilst his mother, Emilia Charlotte Scheiterberg, had been born and raised in Switzerland.

Quite when the Peake’s vacated the island paradise of Madagascar to return to the civilised climes of England is unknown but, according to the 1881 England census the family had taken up residence in Cross Lane, Newton in Makerfield, Lancashire. Mr Peake was doubtless away spreading the gospel leaving his wife, Emilia as head of the household at the age of 37. That the family were well-to-do is undeniable; what else could explain the addition of a cook and a general servant to the numbers which were comprised of James (5) and siblings Emily (9), George (3) and Ernest (6). Poor old Martha, the domestic servant was a mere 14 but the Peake’s could hardly have been accused of exploiting child labour in a Victorian England where this was the norm.

Ten years later at the time of the 1891 England census a 15 year old James was away at the School for the Sons of Missionaries, a boarding school in Blackheath, London headed by a Mr Edward Waite, a Congregational Minister.

At some stage a young James, having finished his schooling decided to emigrate to South Africa leaving his illustrious siblings behind. (One of his brothers was to become a famous Missionary Doctor whilst another was a well-known Victoria author of horror books)

On 4 March 1899, some seven months before the commencement of hostilities between the two Boer Republics and Britain, Peake enlisted with “B” Company of the Prince Alfred’s Guard, a Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape based outfit as a Private. This would tend to suggest that he had made a home for himself in that part of the country. A month after war broke out he was promoted to the rank of Corporal. His rise was rapid indeed followed by a promotion to the rank of Sergeant on 2 December 1899 on which day his regiment, 522 strong, paraded at the Race Course camp before setting off to war.

It was in this capacity that he was to initially see service in the Boer War with no. 620 and, more especially with the Mounted Infantry section of the P.A.V.G. – this group of men were the mobile answer to the foot slogging of the infantry and could pursue (and be pursued) by the wily Boers to whom horseback riding came naturally.

“B” Company were stationed at Paul’s River bridge under the command of Lt. Furlong and Peake was to see action at Arundel and other places in not only the Cape Colony like so many locally raised outfits, but in the advance on Johannesburg as well. On 12 April they reached Bloemfontein and were placed under the command of the 6th Division to be used as scouts. Fighting took place east of Bloemfontein at Thaba ‘Nchu in which the P.A.V.G. were also involved.

After only 10 days in and around Bloemfontein the Mounted Infantry section received orders to join the 11th Division under Pole-Carew as part of the central column for Robert’s advance on Pretoria. Skirmishing all along the way they reached Kroonstad on 12 May following the railway line as it meandered inland.

By 26 May they had crossed the mighty Vaal River and were camped at Vereeniging. On 29 May the P.A.V.G. detachment entered Germiston and accomplished a very smart piece of work by blocking the railway line at Elandsfontein and capturing 17 Engines and 84 trucks greatly needed by the Boer forces. They then cut the telegraph wires and surprised a whole trainload of Boers who leapt out and opened fire from the cover of some nearby debris. Most of them escaped but some prisoners were taken.

At around this time Peake’s leadership abilities were recognised and he was commissioned as a Lieutenant at the age of 24.

With Johannesburg occupied it remained for the Mounted Infantry detachment to continue patrols which often took them as far away as Potchefstroom before, their job done, they returned home to the Eastern Cape with Peake resigning from the army on 9 January 1901.

Peake earned himself the clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Johannesburg to the Queens medal he was awarded. There is a roll indicating that he was also awarded the Kings Medal but it is very clearly stated that this medal was in fact returned on 17 March 1909 along with what would appear to be the majority of Kings Medals awarded to the P.A.V.G.

The war over he returned to more mundane pursuits not confining himself to the continent but setting sail for London from East London aboard the “Galeka” on 23 August 1911. He was listed as a Surveyor on the ships manifest and it is not known what the purpose of his visit was.

On his return he took up farming in the Waterberg district of the Transvaal where he purchased the farm “Roodepoort”. He also found the time to meet and marry Mabel Lewis a 23 year old London-born spinster from Potgietersrus in the same district. The wedding took place on 8 January 1913 when Peake was 36 years old. His sister Lydia Gladys Peake was a witness to the nuptials.

Interestingly the Ante Nuptial Contract he signed on the day of his wedding refers to him as being a Widower of Groenfontein in the Waterberg District. The identity of his first wife is unknown.

By the year 1919 Peake had tired of farming and had moved to Benoni outside Johannesburg where he was employed as a Shift Boss at Modder “B” Gold Mine. He and his wife were blessed with a daughter, Joan Charlotte, on 27 January of that year with the baptism taking place in the presence of more of his family in the form of sisters Emily and Gladys.

On 8 August 1938 he completed his Last Will and Testament bequeathing his entire estate, should his wife predecease him to his two children, the aforementioned Joan and Peter Thomas Peake born 21 June 1923 with the proviso that his son’s education at Michaelhouse, Balgowan be catered for by the estate. Peter was to go on to serve as a Pilot in WWII and was a quality cricketer for the Michaelhouse First XI for many years whilst he was at school.

A short three weeks after getting his affairs in order Peake sailed for the United Kingdom aboard the “City of London” arriving there on 29 August 1938. He was listed in the manifest as a Mine Manager and was accompanied by his wife, Mabel.

James Cameron Peake’s long and eventful life came to an end on 11 March 1952 when, at the age of 76 years and 1 month, he passed away at Hidcote Farm in the Natal Midlands. He was a Retired Mining Engineer according to his death certificate and was survived by his wife and two children. Sadly the cost of living had caught up with his finances and he would appear to have been almost destitute at the end.

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A P.A.V.G. Officer in the Boer War 8 years 5 months ago #44035

Frank Kelley Offline Senior Member Posts: 6739 Thank you received: 954	Very nice indeed Rory, how is the medal actually named, is it engraved?
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A P.A.V.G. Officer in the Boer War 8 years 5 months ago #44036

Rory Topic Author Away Senior Member Posts: 3352 Thank you received: 2158	Yes it's engraved Frank - I'll try to post a few snaps later. Regards Rory
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A P.A.V.G. Officer in the Boer War 8 years 5 months ago #44037

QSAMIKE Offline Senior Member Posts: 5802 Thank you received: 1883	Another fantastic piece of research Rory...... Thanks Mike Life Member Past-President Calgary Military Historical Society O.M.R.S. 1591 The following user(s) said Thank You: Rory
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A P.A.V.G. Officer in the Boer War 8 years 5 months ago #44038

Rory Topic Author Away Senior Member Posts: 3352 Thank you received: 2158	Thanks Mike Herewith some photos of the naming. I rather fancy this style I must say. Regards Rory Attachments:
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A P.A.V.G. Officer in the Boer War 8 years 5 months ago #44040

Frank Kelley Offline Senior Member Posts: 6739 Thank you received: 954	Yes, I very much like that, a good, very scarce medal. The following user(s) said Thank You: Rory
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