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My frustration upon researching Eves' came not with his personal history but rather the dearth of information on the doings of the B.S.A.P. post Mafeking. That font of perpetual wisdom to which most collectors of Boer War Medals turn, Stirling's Colonials in South Africa - has precious little to say on their movements and, in the absence of an adequate library one can only content oneself with the scraps on offer from the ubiquitous internet.

John James Eves

Trooper, 2nd Brabant’s Horse & British South Africa Police – Anglo Boer War

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony and Wittebergen to 4340 Tpr. J.J. EVES, BRABANT’S H
- Kings South Africa Medal with clasps South Africa 1901 & 1902 to 1282 Tpr. J.J. EVES, B.S.A. POLICE

John Eves was born in Gillingham, Kent in about 1877 and was christened on 6 January 1878 in Brompton the son of John Firminger Eves, an Engine Room Artificer with the Royal Navy, and his wife Emily, born Munchin.

Three years later at the time of the 1881 England census a 3 year old John was living with his mother and grandmother Amy (57), at 41 Burnt Oak Terrace in Gillingham. His father was most likely at sea when the enumerators came knocking.

A decade later at the time of the 1891 England census the family had moved and were now resident at 18 Granville Terrace in Gillingham. Eves senior was at home probably on a spot of shore leave from the Navy and was with his family. John was now a lad of 13 and there had been additions to the ranks in Amy (6), Emily (4) and Charles (1).

John Eves big adventure started on 24 July 1896 when, at the age of 25 (according to the ships manifest although we know him to be younger), he boarded the “Nineveh” in London bound for Cape Town, South Africa. That same year his father was recorded as being a Free Mason attached to the Wynberg lodge in Cape Town. He is recorded in May of that year as being an Engineer on board H.M.S. “Swallow” and was probably attached to the Cape Station at the time. Perhaps John had come out to join his father? Taking a leaf out of the old boy’s book he joined the very same Free Mason Lodge and was initiated into it on 23 March 1899. The entry in the register has him down as a Clerk by occupation.

Eves wasn’t to know that in a matter of months Great Britain would be at war with the Transvaal and Orange Free State Republics and that he would have a role to play in the conflict.

With the war having started in October 1899 Eves waited until attesting for service with “E” Squadron of the 2nd Regiment of Brabant’s Horse on 16 March 1900. Claiming to be 24 years old he confirmed that he was a Clerk by occupation and that his father, Mr J.F. Eves of 18 Huntsmore Road, Wandsworth, London was his next of kin.

But what of the 2nd Brabant’s Horse? Having been raised in December 1900 they were in the advance northwards in the New Year, and in the operations preparatory to the surrounding of Prinsloo, they were very frequently engaged. In the Hammonia district they had an immense amount of difficult scouting, and several times, in the latter half of May and in June, they had encounters with superior forces and rather heavy losses. On 29th June Lieutenant J S Orr was severely wounded, and other casualties were suffered in an action in which the enemy had to be driven across the Zand River. On the 6th to 8th July at the capture of Bethlehem, on the 16th near Witnek, and on the 23rd, 24th at Slabbert's Nek, Brabant's Horse were in the forefront and gained distinction. It was here that Eves earned his Wittebergen clasp to his Queens Medal.

The 2nd Regiment was ordered to the eastern Transvaal in August 1900, to take part under General Button in the movement from Belfast to the Portuguese border, crossing some of the most difficult country in South Africa but by this time Eves had departed from their ranks – he took his discharge on 17 August 1900 at Rosebank in Cape Town, his services being no longer required.

Back home in England his family, according to the 1901 census, were still in the same house in Wandsworth but his father had now retired from the Royal Navy and was on pension.

Eves, since leaving Brabant’s Horse, hadn’t been idle – on 17 September 1900 he enlisted with the British South Africa Police for further service in the Boer War.

The B.S.A.P. had their origins in the Royal Charter allowing Cecil John Rhodes to occupy and develop what became known as Rhodesia. Famously they played a part in the Siege of Mafeking but that event was long past by the time Eves donned their uniform. Operational in the Western Transvaal and places close to the Rhodesia border they did, in 1901 and 1902, down to the close of the war, good work, and their services were of great value when some native chiefs took their followers into the field. The lesson which the Police gave the natives put an end to all further thoughts of interference on the part of the coloured man. The corps had casualties on many occasions during 1901 and 1902, as at Trenafontein on 21st January 1902, when they had 2 killed and 5 wounded. A detachment were with the escort to a convoy which was captured near Klerksdorp on 25th February 1902. At that time another body under Colonel Walford was employed in keeping open the road to Kuruman, 100 miles west of the Vryburg railway. This detachment, or part of it, was with Lord Methuen when he was defeated by Delarey on 7th March. The BSA Police had several casualties in that action.

Eves had seen a war in two parts, his service with Brabant’s Horse had been primarily Cape Colony and Orange Free State based but with the B.S.A.P. it was to the other side of the country that he was sent. Records indicate that he took his discharge from the Police on 7 October 1904 – long after the end of the war indicating perhaps that his initial intention was to make a career of it.

For his efforts in the Boer War he was awarded the Queens Medal named to Brabant’s Horse and the Kings Medal named to the B.S.A.P.

John James Eves’ whereabouts and doings post-1904 are a mystery. The 1911 England census reveals that his parents and some siblings are still alive and well living at 16 Westbury Road in Paddington, London but of Eves there is no sign. There are several references to the family name Eves in the Zimbabwe archives and it can be speculated that perhaps he made a life for himself there during the first half of the 20th Century.

Good Morning Rory......

Another great piece of research......

Thanks again......

Mike

No worries Mike

I hope I made it in time for your morning coffee

Regards

Rory

Rory wrote: No worries Mike

I hope I made it in time for your morning coffee

Regards

Rory

LOL Rory......

First thing I do every morning, Make Coffee, Open Laptop at kitchen table, log into ABW Form......

But will have to add one more thing I think...... Turn on water for garden...... We normally have 35 to 40 mm of rain by now in April and we have had only 0.06 mm and less than 10% of normal in February and March...... They are already talking about water rationing this summer......

Mike