TOPIC:

Major J R Greer, Border Mounted Rifles

The Greers were originally a Scots-Irish family and several of its branches settled in Natal during the second half of the 19th Century. The patriarch of the lineage relevant here was Alexander MacMinn Greer, who was married to Emblyn Harward. Although Alexander was born in Armagh, Ireland, in April 1835, he moved to London. He later took his family to Natal and settled on the farm ‘Flaxton’ near Ixopo, where he became a prominent member of the community. Apart from farming, he was also a storekeeper and butcher in the town. He was a Justice of the Peace, and the Acting Resident Magistrate of Ixopo several times during the 1890’s and early 1900’s. He died in Scottburgh on 1/7/1909.

His son, Joseph Remfry Greer, was born in Islington, Middlesex, in about 1874. He was married to Lilian (Lillian) Annie Emma Shuttleworth, and they had three daughters and two sons. Joseph and his brother, James, both became farmers in the Ixopo district. The ‘1912 Natal Directory’ recorded that Joseph was a committee member of the Ixopo Agricultural Society and Farmer’s Association. Joseph initially farmed ‘Cromwell’, and later moved to ‘Crystal Manor’, where he died on 20/3/1934, aged 60 years and 7 months. In addition to ‘Crystal Manor’, Joseph also owned four other farms, and was part-owner a fifth, with a combined assessed value of £4390. He was evidently a man of means, and a very successful farmer. His wife was, subject to certain conditions, his sole heir and Executrix of his Estate. Although she did not remarry and thereby retained control of his Estate, she was later cited as a co-respondent in a divorce action, no doubt to the annoyance of her sons, Dudley and Jack. They did eventually inherit after Lilian died in 1946.

MILITARY CAREER
In addition to being a successful farmer, James Greer excelled in his part-time military career. He joined the local volunteer regiment, the Natal Mounted Rifles (NMR), in the early 1890’s, and, after this regiment’s Left Wing became the Border Mounted Rifles (BMR) in 1894, he continued his military service with the new regiment.

The BMR was mobilised for service in the Anglo-Boer War on 28/9/1899. The BMR’s role in this war has been covered in detail by both the Natal Volunteer Record (1900), and the official history of the NMR and its antecedents by Goetzsche (1971). Consequently, attention here is focussed on what is known, or what can be deduced about Greer’s service during the war, and subsequently.
On mobilisation in 1899, Greer was a Sergeant with the service number 66. It is here assumed that, since he farmed in the Ixopo district, he was a member of No. 1 Troop, 3 (Ixopo) Squadron, BMR. Doubt has been cast on this assumption, and it has been suggested instead that Greer was a member of No. 1 Troop, 4 (Port Shepstone) Squadron.

The BMR was posted to Ladysmith, where it arrived on 2/10/1899, 10 days before the start of the war. It was mainly employed in patrolling west of the town to monitor the movement of Boers between Ladysmith and the border with the Orange Free State. On 21/10/1900, the bulk of the regiment occupied Rifleman’s Ridge on the western outskirts of Ladysmith, but No. 1 Troop, 4 (Port Shepstone) Squadron, was detached and ordered to accompany the NMR to Elandslaagte (Natal Volunteer Record,1900).

Although the NMR played only a peripheral part in the Battle of Elandslaagte on that day, men of the regiment, and those of the Newcastle Troop of the Natal Carbineers that had also joined it, were awarded the ‘Elandslaagte’ clasp on their Queen’s South Africa Medals (QSA’s). For an as yet unexplained reason, the Port Shepstone Troop of the BMR did not receive this clasp. It later transpired that James Greer was the only man in the regiment to be awarded this clasp (Biggins 2004). Apparently, it was this unique record that led to the belief that Greer had been a member of the Port Shepstone Troop, and that he had in fact been present at the Battle of Elandslaagte.

Since there are no known nominal rolls for the non-commissioned men in the various BMR Squadrons and Troops, it is only by inference that individuals can be assigned to particular ones. For example, most of the Norwegian and German settlers in southern Natal lived in and around Port Shepstone, so they have been identified as likely members of the Port Shepstone Squadron. The BMR’s division into Squadrons and Troops was one of geographical necessity, given the distances between the main towns in southern Natal and its generally poor transport infrastructure. It would have made no sense for a farmer in the Ixopo district to serve in the Port Shepstone Squadron, which was based 160 km away by road. It is also highly unlikely that the Port Shepstone Squadron would need to add to its ranks a non-commissioned officer from another Squadron, since there is no reason to doubt the numbers and competence of its own men.

It is highly suspicious that none of the men known, or likely to have been with the Port Shepstone Squadron, including its Commanding Officer, Lieutenant H B Andreasen, were awarded the ‘Elandslaagte’ clasp, but that it did go as a late issue to an officer from another squadron.

Greer’s QSA is unique to the BMR not only because it has the ‘Elandslaagte’ clasp, but because it also has the ‘Orange Free State’ clasp attached to it. Most of the men of the BMR were awarded the ‘Defence of Ladysmith’, ‘Transvaal’ and ‘Laing’s Nek’ clasps, while eight or ten qualified for the ‘Relief of Ladysmith’ and ‘Tugela Heights’ clasps instead of that for the ‘Defence of Ladysmith’. The regiment did not enter the Orange Free State during its period of service in the war. Some of those men who went on to serve with the Volunteer Composite Regiment (VCR) were awarded the ‘Orange Free State’ clasp, but there is no record of Greer being one of them.

Greer’s name appears on two medal rolls, that for the BMR 1902 Coronation Detachment, and the one for the QSA. Both show Greer’s entitlement to be the standard ‘Defence of Ladysmith’, ‘Transvaal’ and ‘Laing’s Nek’ clasps. There is a marginal note on the QSA roll that reads, “Medal & three clasps Issued 68/SA/6211”. The QSA roll carries the authorising signature of Lieutenant Fred L Thring, Officer Commanding No. 3 (Ixopo) Squadron. This roll also has entries for the later award of the ‘Elandslaagte’ and ‘Orange Free State’ clasps to Greer. Under ‘Remarks’ is written, “1 clasp issued A.G.2/M/5322”. This presumably refers to the two additional clasps, but why only “1” is mentioned is not known. The ‘Elandslaagte’ clasp is riveted in its correct position closest to the suspender, but the rivets do not match those of the original clasps above it. The ‘Orange Free State’ clasp also has rivets that do not match the originals. This clasp is out of order above the ‘Laing’s Nek’ clasp, instead of being between the ‘Defence of Ladysmith’ and ‘Transvaal’ clasps. The two additional clasps have simply been added above and below the three originals with their untouched official rivets.

Clearly, a late application was made for the award of the two additional clasps to Greer, but when, by whom, and under what authority is not known.

Greer is likely to have participated in most of the other actions involving the BMR before and during the Siege of Ladysmith. These included the engagement at Rietfontein (24/10/1899), the sortie towards Lancer’s Hill (3/11/1899), and the raid on Gun Hill (7-8/12/1899). The Ixopo Troop did not take part in the defence of Caesar’s Camp (6/1/1900).

Similarly, Greer presumably took part in the post-Siege drive by the British against the Boers through northern Natal and into the south-eastern Transvaal. Since Natal’s volunteer regiments were not permitted to serve outside the Colony, they then withdrew into northern Natal. The BMR was based at Dundee and took part in patrolling the district until the men were discharged during October 1900.

Although the Natal Volunteers were not finally demobilised until after the end of the war on 31/5/1902, most men returned to their civilian occupations in October 1900. Those who wanted to continue in uniform joined other units such as the VCR, whose activities were not restricted by the Natal Government. The Volunteers were recalled briefly late in 1901 when a second invasion by the Boers threatened, but otherwise they were not on active service for the last 19 months of the war. As a result they did not meet the requirements for the award of the King’s South Africa Medal (KSA).

There are instances known where men not awarded the KSA felt that they had earned it and simply acquired someone else’s medal as their own. Since no evidence was found that Greer qualified for the award of the KSA, it seems he may have one of those men with a self-awarded medal. A set of miniature medals that evidently belonged to him includes the KSA. It may have been this fact that led a previous owner of Greer’s medals to conclude that he was entitled to the KSA, and that it had simply been lost. The “lost” medal was then replaced by a name-erased KSA with privately impressed naming similar that on Greer’s QSA. This deceptive medal is omitted from the photograph of Greer’s medals that accompanies this report, whereas the miniature group with the KSA is shown as it was worn by Greer.

Another medal that was awarded to Greer in1902, and which actually was missing when his medals came to light in 2015, was the one commemorating the Coronation of King Edward VII. By the end of the Boer War, Greer was a Troop Sergeant Major and he was one of nine men from the BMR selected to represent Natal at the Coronation. The Coronation Medal shown below with Greer’s military medals is a replacement, but, unlike the KSA, it is accompanied by evidence confirming his entitlement.

A contingent of mounted soldiers from Natal took part in the 1902 Coronation procession, while some also participated in marksmanship competitions at Bisley. It was in marksmanship that Greer exhibited another of his talents. Together with his medals were three medallions and a silver spoon that testify to this talent. The medallions are as follows:
Silver, with BMR insignia – Reynold’s Cup Won by Capt & Adj J Remfry Greer 1906
Silver, with BMR insignia – Officer’s Cup Won by Major J Remfrey (sic) Greer 1907
Gold – I R A PHIPPS Challenge Shield J R GREER JUNE 1907
The silver spoon is a ‘Revolver Prize’ with BMR insignia. The winner’s name has been polished away, but presumably it was won by Greer.

Less certainly connected to Greer is a cased silver BMR ‘Marksman’s Badge’, with nine date clasps (1900 to 1908), on which no name has been inscribed. It is tentatively linked to Greer since it was acquired from the same dealer who had sold Greer’s medals a few months earlier.

Greer remained with the BMR after the Boer War ended, and he was promoted to Lieutenant on 18/4/1903.

Queen Victoria’s daughter, Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, who had done so much for Britain’s medical services during the Boer War, visited Natal in 1904. On 5/10/1904, during a ceremony in Pietermaritzburg, she presented Colours to Natal’s Volunteer Regiments. Lieutenant-Colonel Bru-de-Wold CMG of the Militia Staff and former OC of the BMR was in charge of the parade. In an elaborate ceremony, the OC and a junior officer from each regiment marched forward to receive the Colours from Princess Christian. The BMR was represented by its new OC, Lieutenant-Colonel W Arnott, while the banner was received by Lieutenant Joseph Greer, in another accolade for him.

Greer was promoted to Captain and Adjutant on 15/2/1905, and it was in this capacity that he served with the regiment during the 1906 Natal (Bambatha) Rebellion.

This Rebellion had two distinct phases, both of which were precipitated by attacks on Natal Police detachments. The first took place on 8/2/1906 on a farm near Richmond, when the enforcement of an unpopular new poll tax led to the death of two policemen at the hands of resentful Zulus. A state of emergency was declared the next day, and, on 10/2/1906, troops were sent to Richmond to find and arrest those involved in the attack. Opposition to the poll tax spread to those parts of Natal bordering Zululand, and the Volunteer Regiments, including the BMR, were mobilised. Initially, attention was focussed on keeping southern Natal pacified, with the BMR employed in keeping the border with Pondoland secure. By 15/3/1906, calm returned and the militia regiments stood down. Men who had taken part in the attack on the policemen near Richmond were arrested and tried, and, on 2/4/1906, 20 were executed by firing squad.

The second phase of the Rebellion began two days later while police were escorting a group of civilians from the Zululand border to Greytown. They were ambushed at Mpanza and four policemen were killed and others wounded. During April, the militia regiments were remobilised, and offers of military assistance were received from both the Cape Colony and Transvaal. During May, the Colonial regiments crossed into Zululand in force and skirmishes with the Zulus became frequent.

The BMR was not remobilised during May, and it was kept in reserve in case trouble again flared up in southern Natal. Since this area did remain peaceful, most of the BMR Squadrons were eventually remobilised on 14/6/1906 and sent to Zululand. The exception was the Port Shepstone Squadron which was again kept in reserve in case of trouble along the Pondoland border.

The other Squadrons were sent to Mapumulo, where they joined the NMR in patrolling the district. The most decisive actions of the Rebellion took place further west, and by the end of June it had been crushed in that area. Early in July there was a flare-up of trouble in the Mapumulo district, and sporadic contacts with the rebels continued during the month. By the end of July, the Rebellion had petered out, and, on 2/8/1906, a parade of troops in Pietermaritzburg marked its conclusion.

The BMR emerged from the Rebellion largely unscathed. Since men of the Port Shepstone Squadron spent less than 50 days in uniform, they were awarded the Rebellion Medal without the 1906 clasp. The rest, including Captain Greer, were awarded the Medal with clasp.

Greer was promoted to Major and Adjutant on 31/10/1907. He relinquished the position as Adjutant (time expired) on 15/2/1910, but continued to serve as a senior officer with the regiment until 1913. He was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal on 1/7/1913.

Greer retired before the BMR was re-amalgamated with the NMR to form the 3rd Mounted Rifles in 1914, and he did not serve in World War I. He had, however, been a member of the BMR for virtually the entire 20 years of its existence. Apart from the doubts about the validity of two of the clasps on his QSA, and his entitlement to the KSA with his miniature medals, Joseph Greer’s military record was exemplary.

REFERENCES
Biggins, D. 2004. Elandslaagte. Account and Medal Roll.
Honiton, Devon. Token Publishing Ltd.
Goetzsche, E. 1971. The Official Natal Mounted Rifles History.
Published by the regiment in Durban.
Natal Volunteer Record. 1901. Robinson & Co. Durban.
The National Archives, Kew.WO100/Border Mounted Rifles QSA medal roll.
Various files in the Pietermaritzburg Repository of the South Africa National Archives.

Brett Hendey
30/3/2016

Joseph Greer's shooting prizes referred to in the previous post:




Shown below is the BMR Marksman's Badge that may also have been awarded to Greer, at least in some of the years shown on the clasps. This 'badge' has a second pin on the reverse of the disc, which secured it to the chest when the wearer was in a prone position.

Wonderful stuff Brett and I am so very glad you are sharing these well researched posts with us

Wonder Brett. Thank you very much for posting the excellent account and pictures.

Hello Brett,
Just superb, I have to say that I like the silverware as much as the medals, but, the other group in your recent thread and your composite regiment Trooper, who rode into Ladysmith, are, in my opinion, at least, equally as superb, all different, but, all Border M R and therefore really scarce when compared to so many other corps, I would be delighted with any, or indeed, all.
Regards Frank

Brett Hendey wrote: Joseph Greer's shooting prizes referred to in the previous post:

Shown below is the BMR Marksman's Badge that may also have been awarded to Greer, at least in some of the years shown on the clasps. This 'badge' has a second pin on the reverse of the disc, which secured it to the chest when the wearer was in a prone position.

Brett,

Fascinating stuff, thanks. I may have missed it , but I don't think you mentioned that the miniature QSA carries the clasp 'Orange River Colony ' , rather than the OFS clasp to which his entitlement is in any case dubious. Any thoughts on the significant of this given that the ORC clasp was unofficial anyway? Another self-award?

Patrick