TOPIC:

George Henry Boyce

Trooper, Queenstown Rifle Volunteers
Private, Dordrecht District Volunteer Guard
Trooper, Orange River Scouts – Anglo Boer War

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901 & 1902 to 21759 Pte. G.H. Boyce, Queenstown R.V.

George Boyce was born in Nursling near Romsey in Hampshire in 1876 the son of George Henry Boyce and his wife Elizabeth. At the time of the 1881 England census a 5 year old George was living with his parents at Cutters in Romsey. He was listed as being a Scholar intimating that he had been sent to school at an early age. Mr Boyce was a Farm Labourer and the rest of the household comprised George’s siblings – 11 year old Rose and Thomas (3) and Edward who was a baby.

At some point towards the end of the 19th century Boyce decided to part company with his homeland and set off to South Africa where he joined the employ of the Cape Government Railways. The Anglo Boer War broke out on 11 October 1899 and Boyce lost almost no time in enlisting for service. Stationed as he was in the Eastern Cape he joined the ranks of the Queenstown Rifle Volunteers on 21 November 1900 and was assigned the rank of Trooper with no. 21759. At the time he attested he was a 23 years old Fireman and gave his address as No. 9 Cottage, Clarke Siding, Indwe. Clarke Siding was seven miles east of Dordrecht.

The Queenstown Rifle Volunteers, with a strength of 245, were stated to be part of the garrison of that town, and they were mobilised and under arms. After General Gatacre arrived the corps, slightly increased in strength, were under his command and did useful service, freeing the regular troops for action at the front. As time passed the authorities came to think more highly of the various Colony Volunteer Battalions, and when Brabant was clearing the Dordrecht - Jamestown district in February and March 1900 the Queenstown Volunteers formed part of his force. Thereafter they formed part of the Colonial Division in the advance northwards and always seemed to acquit themselves well.

After the Boer General Prinsloo had surrendered, the Queenstown Volunteers continued to operate in the Orange River Colony. Towards the close of 1900 and in 1901 a company, mounted, of the Queenstown Rifle Volunteers was in Colonel Crewe's column which operated in the Orange River Colony and afterwards in Cape Colony. The company were present in the severe fighting about Tabaksberg towards the end of January 1901. They then took part in the weary pursuit of De Wet, and the endless chasing and fighting which resulted in his being driven from Cape Colony.

Boyce was with the Q.R.V. until 18 February 1901 when he took his discharge. His war was far from over though and he next set his sights on the Dordrecht District Volunteer Guard Dordrecht which he joined shortly afterwards. This outfit, along with the exotically named Dordrecht Wodehouse Yeomanry, were both raised in the small town of Dordrecht. Originally one section was paid by the Imperial Treasury, and the other by the Colonial Government and they appear to have amalgamated in June 1901. Ever the nomad Boyce spent only six months with them before taking his leave.

He next completed the Attestation Form for service with the Orange River Scouts – this was on 11 May 1902 at East London. Confirming that he was 26 years old and a Locomotive Fireman with the Cape Government Railways. Physically he was 5 feet 5 ½ inches in height with a sun burnt complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He gave his address as c/o Cape Government Railways, Indwe, Cape Colony and his next of kin as his father Mr G.H. Boyce. He was unmarried and, with pay of 5/- per day guaranteed he was assigned no. 43452 and the rank of Trooper.

The Scouts as they were known built up an enviable reputation under the command of Major Nolan-Neylan and were always in the thick of it. Despite joining their ranks toward the end of the war Boyce would have seen plenty of action before being discharged on 30 June 1902 – a month after the war was over.

For his efforts he received the Queens South Africa Medal named to the Queenstown Rifle Volunteers – the first unit he had seen service with.
What became of him thereafter is unknown – his medal was returned to the mint unclaimed in 1909 and was awarded – presumably at his request – in 1936.

Again a great piece of research......

Have you mapped out your shopping trips for the next 6 months LOL.....

I am envious.....

Mike

Rory
Dordrecht was Issy's home town and he would have arm-wrestled you for this medal!
Regards
Brett

I must say Brett before I received this one I had never heard of the Dordrecht District Volunteer Guard!!

You live and learn!

I remember Issie having met him once I think in Mike's emporium of delights.

Regards

Rory

You can add this one to your list Rory.......

FALCONER, W.M.

REG. NO.: 21
RANK: TROOPER
REGT: DORDRECHT DISTRICT VOLUNTEER GUARD
BARS: CAPE COLONY, ORANGE FREE STATE, SOUTH AFRICA 1901, SOUTH AFRICA 1902
NOTE: SPELT FALONER ON MEDAL

Mike