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William Dundas Campbell

Trooper, Frontier Armed and Mounted Police, Ninth Frontier (Ngqika and Gcaleka) War 1877-78.
Lieutenant, 1st Battalion, 3rd Regiment, Natal Native Contingent, Anglo-Zulu War 1879.
Lieutenant, Lonsdale’s Horse.
Trooper, Natal Mounted Police, Basuto Gun War 1880-81.
Inspector and Quarter Master, Natal Police, Anglo-Boer War

- Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal with Basutoland clasp to Tpr. W.D. Campbell, Ntl. M. Pce.
- Queens South Africa Medal with clasp Natal to Inspector W.D. Campbell, Natal Police.

William Campbell was a man who saw plenty of action in wars that spanned a 20 year period and which left an indelible mark on the South African landscape.

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1856 he came from an impressive lineage. His father, Henry Dundas Campbell, had been a Colonel in the British Army and, between the years 1835 and 1837, the Governor of Sierra Leone. He also had the distinction of being the grandson of Admiral Donald Campbell and his father, Henry, had been born at the Cape Station whilst Admiral Campbell was stationed there. To further cement the South African (or Cape colonial) link his grandmother was Margaretha Hendrina Van Renen, a lady of undoubtedly Dutch descent.

William’s father was a much-married man but it is fairly conclusive that he was the son of Henry’s second “wife”, Irish born Fanny Ladley. The word “wife” in placed in parenthesis because there is no evidence to suggest that Henry married this lady with the resultant implication that William was born out of wedlock.


Campbell is the chap on the extreme left of the photo

According to the 1871 England census the Campbell family were resident at 36 Fenwick Road, East Dulwich. Campbell senior, listed as a retired Lt. Colonel in the Cavalry and all of 72 years of age was at home with Fanny, far younger at 45, and children Henry, George, Harriet, Edward and Norman. Of William there was, strangely, no sign although, with the passing of his father on 1 April 1872, he could have determined to explore his roots and set sail for South Africa where, in 1875, he joined the ranks of the Frontier Armed and Mounted Police as a Trooper with no. 35.

The function of this locally recruited multiracial force was to maintain law and order in the districts along the Cape Colony's frontier with the Xhosa kingdoms in the Transkei. The FAMP played a central role in the 9th Frontier War which was fought between 1877 and 1878 against the Gaika and Gcaleba tribes. These Xhosa tribes had long been a thorn in the flesh of the white frontier settlers, raiding their crops and stealing their livestock. By 1876, the FAMP had grown to have units stationed at Komga, Queenstown, Palmietfontein, Kingwilliamstown, Peddie, Butterworth, Kenhardt, Fort Murray, Ealing Post and Kokstad although it is not known where Campbell was stationed. As a fighting force they were organised for rapid mobility; lightly equipped and possessed considerable local knowledge enabling them to form a very effective police force for the rough and mountainous frontier terrain. In 1878 they were fully militarised, as a unit of the Colonial Forces, and renamed Cape Mounted Riflemen.

Whilst Campbell and his comrades were fighting the hordes on the frontier of the Eastern Cape a far more ominous and deadly build-up was taking place to the north east of the country. The Zulus, a fierce and war-like people, had expansionist designs of their own and, having swept most minor tribes before them over the course of the previous few decades, were now a very real threat to the sparsely populated white settlements in the Colony of Natal.

Matters came to head in late 1878 when skirmishing took place between Zulu impis and the British troops stationed in Natal. This led to a call for more troops to be sent from England and the raising of a number of local regiments. Campbell, at the age of 22 and on 6 December 1878, was commissioned into the 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Regiment, Natal Native Contingent, otherwise known as the N.N.C. as can be gleaned from the name – this body comprised disaffected black men of Zulu origin and were held by many in low esteem as a fighting force. Poorly armed (most were not issued with carbines) they were wont to panic and run in the face of an onslaught by a Zulu impi. Matters came to a head in January 1879 with the battle or rather massacre that took place at Isandlwana on 22 January.

In Ian Knight’s book “Zulu Rising – The Epic Story of iSandlwana and Rorke’s Drift” – Campbell warrants a mention. The chapter, “Kill me in the shadows” quotes from Commandant George Hamilton Brown, the Officer Commanding 1/3 N.N.C. – the battalion to which Campbell was attached.

“Far out on the plain Hamilton Browne had spotted Durnford’s retreat. His battalion, the 1/3rd, had been dispatched earlier that morning to return in order to assist in the packing up of the camp.

‘We marched very slowly on, the day was intensely hot, and my white non-coms who were on foot very fagged. They had had a very hard day the day before. However push on was the word, and at 10 o’ clock myself and Adjutant-Lieutenant Campbell, who were riding some distance in front, flushed two Zulus. They bolted and we rode them down. Campbell shot his one but I captured mine and on Duncombe coming up we questioned him,”
In another account of the scene before the battle the writer quoted that,

“Campbell shot and killed one while Hamilton-Browne captured the other. The Zulu was little more than a boy and very frightened. Under questioning he admitted to having come from the king’s army of twelve full regiments and that these were in position above Isandlwana camp. Hamilton-Browne immediately sent Lt. Pohl galloping back to Chelmsford with the alarming news.”

In yet another account, this by Ron Lock and Peter Quantrill in their book “Zulu Victory – The Epic of Isandlwana and the Cover –Up” page 177 refers to,

“Hamilton-Browne was given orders to return to Isandlwana, reconnoitring any dongas en route that might conceal the enemy. On arrival at Isandlwana he was to assist Pullein in striking the camp which was to move either partly, or in its entirety, to Mangeni Falls. There is confusion on this point.

Hamilton-Browne and his NNC moved off west down the Magogo Valley. The Qudeni-Isandlwana track back to camp was about two miles away to the south. He chose to strike across country cutting some distance off the ten mile slog to Isandlwana. The battalion had not gone far across the plain when Hamilton-Browne and his Adjutant, Lieutenant W.D. Campbell, riding ahead, flushed out two Zulu scouts.”

That Campbell played a role in the conflagration that was to embarrass an entire nation and cast aspersions on the prime of Great Britain’s army is not in doubt. He was, however, as far as can be ascertained, not on Isandlwana when the awful massacre of men took place although he would have been on hand soon after to see the enormity of the damage done and the terrible loss of life.

At some point hereafter Campbell took his leave of the NNC - the original three Regiments, totalling seven battalions, having been reduced to five battalions after Isandlwana – with many of the NCOs and officers transferring to Lonsdale’s Horse. Campbell was no exception acting on the staff of Colonel Bellairs, Major-General Butler and Major-General Clifford as a Lieutenant in Lonsdale’s Horse from 27 January 1879 seeing further action at Gingindlovu where he was described as being an expert driver of transport.

For his efforts he would have earned the South African General Service Medal with the clasp 1879 which was issued on voucher 455 on 26 June 1882 off the Natal Native Contingent roll. There is no record of this medal in existence however.

By the end of July 1879 the Zulu War as it became known was over with the King in exile and the tribes and their Indunas defeated. Campbell was now in the hunt for employment and, turning his attention to the Natal Mounted Police, he joined their ranks at Pietermaritzburg on 27 October of that year.

Supplying his brother Henry Dundas Campbell of 4 Glengall Terrace, Old Kew Road, London as his next of kin he claimed to be 23 years of age and was found to be 5 feet 8 inches in height with a light complexion, brown hair and blue eyes. He confirmed that he had been born in Scotland and, having been found suitable for the position, was assigned the rank of Trooper.

At home in England his family had been further scattered. At the time of the 1881 England census William’s older brother Henry, now 33 years old and his next of kin mentioned above, had married and was the patriarch of the family.

One of the first orders of business for the new recruit was as a member of the ex-Empress of France’s escort during her tour of Natal and Zululand to mourn the death of her son. Holt on page 86 of his book “The Mounted Police of Natal” wrote that,

“On the 29th April 1880, just as the cold weather began, the expedition left Pietermaritzburg. As many of the men who took part in the escort have left the corps and are scattered all over the globe, it may be of interest to mention that they consisted of: Sergeant Faddy (in charge); Corporals Burgoyne and W.J. Clarke; Troopers Berthold, W. Brown, W.D. Campbell, Cooper, F. Evans, Ford, Green, Heathcote, Hutton, Lockner, Longfield, H. Pennefather, Piers, Ravenscroft, Russ, Stevens and Wilmot.



Throughout the trip (seven weeks) the police turned out at dawn and had their tents struck and everything of their own packed by sunrise. The Empress travelled leisurely along the road, either riding on horseback or being driven by General Sir Evelyn Wood in a “spider” drawn by four horses.

By the way of Blood River, the party went to Kambula, to enable the Empress to visit Utrecht, where they experienced such violent wind and rain that the whole camp had to be struck and repitched in a more suitable place. The skeletons of the Zulus who were killed in the Kambula fight were still lying about when the Empress passed the place.”

The Empress Eugenie safely on her way back to England Campbell and his colleagues shared among them the £100 she had left for that purpose. It wasn’t long however before he was involved in an incident which became known as the Basuto Rebellion or Gun War.

When the Basutoland Rebellion broke out, the Natal Mounted Police were deployed to defend the passes in the Drakensberg against incursions from Basuto stock thieves. Those men who were considered to be on active service qualified for the award of the Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal. All, except one man, received the medal with the Basutoland clasp – there were only 29 of them in total.

Under Sergeant-Major Stean, the headquarters detachment left Pietermaritzburg on the 27th July, and two days later camped on the left bank of the Bushman's River, where they were joined by the Estcourt division, under Sub-Inspector Jackson. A few days afterwards the Greytown detachment arrived, under Inspector Mansel, and then came the men from Fort Pine under Sub Inspector Phillips ; the whole force being under the command of Major Dartnell.

On the morning of the l0th August the troops marched to the Blauw Krantz River, and as the transport wagons got into difficulties they did not reach camp until after dark, so no tents were pitched. This was unfortunate, for at midnight rain began to fall heavily, gradually turning to snow; and during the whole of the two days following the men were made intensely uncomfortable by a bitterly cold wind which swept off the snowclad berg.

On the 12th August the force crossed the Little Tugela, where they remained until the 8th October, patrols covering the Oliver's Hoek Pass and the Bushman's Pass. When the weather improved the troopers had a much better time at the camp, although the greatest difficulty was experienced in procuring fodder for the horses.

The next day brought the detachment to the Umgeni River, which proved to be a serious obstacle, for it was in flood. The fact of going into the water did not worry the men, excepting those who could not swim, for they were as wet as ever they could be, but there were the rations to consider. The men's luck, however, was completely out, for in the crossing all the sugar, tea, coffee, and biscuits were destroyed.

In the middle of November Major Dartnell's detachment was moved in the direction of Dronk Vlei and the rain began as usual when they left camp. This time they had the additional worry of wagons. The troopers were all wet through when they reached Mabedhlane, and there they heard, sadly enough, that the wagons were stuck fast, some distance back. The only thing to do was to go back and pull the vehicles out. By sundown the weather had cleared up, and as there was no prospect of meeting any one, the men stripped their wet things off and marched back along the road naked. They found the wagons badly bogged, and after they had struggled for a while to get them out the task had to be abandoned. The tents, blankets, and food were taken off and put on to pack-ponies, which carried them to the camp.

The state of things at Dronk Vlei was no better. There, on the banks of the Umzimkulu River, the ground was so swampy that picket pins would not hold, so the horses had to be turned loose at night. The water became a sort of nightmare. When the men dug trenches round the tents they started springs. All the biscuits went mouldy, and there was no opportunity of getting fresh supplies.

The next move was to the Upper Umzimkulu, via Ipolela a wild, unpopulated district in those days. For six weeks the camp was pitched at Christison's Drift, and from there the narrow passes over the berg were kept under observation by patrols.

The Basutos made one raid into Natal, and the police executed a hasty night march to intercept them. A man named Kennedy and some native scouts had been surprised by the Basutos and murdered, but the raiders retired quickly on hearing of the movement of the police, and did not cross the border again at that time. Altogether a frustrating time for Campbell and his comrades but a necessary one to ensure the safety of the local population who were uneasy at the prospect of Basutos’ on their doorstep.

The natural order of things now having been restored Campbell returned to normal police work. There was time now for romance and, at the house of William Ritchie of Umhlali, north of Durban on 13 February 1888, he wed Elizabeth Christina Ritchie a 25 year lady from the district. At the age of 30 he was now a married man living in Pietermaritzburg. On 1 July 1894 he was promoted to the rank of Sub- Lieutenant and Quartermaster of the Natal Police.

All was now quiet on the Campbell front save for the odd incident which demanded his attention. Natal at this time was inundated with a wave of Indentured Coolie labourers brought in by the ship-load from India to work on the growing sugar cane farms dotting both the North and South coasts. An official body known as the Office of the Protector of Immigrants was established to check on the rights of these Coolies and to mediate between them and their employees. In essence this was a form of slave labour with the exception being that, after a period of time, the Coolie became a free man and could go about his business without let or hindrance.

On 14 March 1895 the indentured labourer Buldeo Sing, number 48907, appeared before Mr Louis Mason, the Protector of Immigrants. Having been duly cautioned he stated that,

“I am indentured to Mr Campbell (W.D. Campbell of Pietermaritzburg). I complain that my master has assaulted me on several occasions. The last assault was four days ago when my master got me by the throat and gave me several blows with his fist.

The man Mobabir was working closeby and heard the disturbance but did not witness the assault. My mistress is always angry with me and says she does not want me to remain. I also complain that I have to work up till half past seven, and eight o’ clock in the evening and also half days on all Sundays and I receive nothing for this work.”

Naturally this wasn’t the only reside to the affair – Mrs Campbell wrote to Mason on the same day from her residence at 349 Commercial Road, Pietermaritzburg as follows,

“Dear Sir

I am writing on behalf of my husband (who is sick in bed today) to inform you that this Coolie “Buldeo Sing” who was indentured to us three years ago, disappeared on Tuesday morning (the 12th) and has not been seen since. You will remember that my husband wrote to you at the end of last month requesting to know if you would allow him to transfer this Coolie to Mr P. Saunders of Tongaat.

His deserting remains a puzzle to us but he was a constant source of trouble, insolent to a degree, and had simply the work that any child could easily have performed. My husband has been a good master to him, seldom interfering with him and never striking him.

Will you be kind enough to let my husband know if we are expected to do anything in this matter, and if Buldeo Sing should have gone to Durban to see you (which is most unlikely!) will you kindly detain him there until you hear from my husband. I am extremely unwilling to have him back here if anything could possibly be done with him, and my only regret is that he did not desert before his passage money was paid up until 1896!

Awaiting your reply. I am yours very truly.

E Campbell”

The Protector wrote back to Campbell the next day enclosing Sing’s deposition and asking “whether there is any truth in his statement that he works all Sunday and gets no remuneration” He added that Buldeo Sing was returned to you yesterday in charge of a messenger.

Campbell, up from his sick bed was having none of this – he shot back a reply to the Protector on 16 March which read, “The Bearer delivered the Indentured Indian Buldeo Sing last night at 7 p.m. and I had him before Mr Barter, R.M. this morning. They wired you re: charge of assault preferred against me which I can assure you is entirely false.” This was followed by a long and rambling letter to Mason from Campbell dated 18 March as follows,

“Sir

I have the honour to acknowledge having received the deposition (which I return at your request) also your letter of the 15th. Before proceeding further I beg to inform you that the Indian “Buldeo Sing” arrived in charge of your Messenger on Friday evening at 7 p.m. and I had him before Mr Barter, R.M. for the city on Saturday morning, who remanded him until this morning. Awaiting further information from you, which information I received on my return to office from the Court, but too late to be of any use that day – Saturday.

I was completely astounded on perusing his deposition, as it from start to finish a tissue of falsehoods, however, I took the deposition and your accompanying letter to Mr Barter this morning, and, after examining the prisoner through the interpreter, he sentenced Buldeo Sing to two month’s imprisonment. I beg to state that he the prisoner was unable to substantiate a single statement of his deposition.

In case you are unaware of the fact I beg to inform you that this is the third time the prisoner has been confined in Gaol, Fist time, 7 days for absence and insolence. Second time do……. and fighting, and now two months. For the first two years of Buldeo Sing’s service, I must say he was a fairly good servant, but since I was obliged to come and live in town, he has had so very little to do, that he has got acquainted with a bad lot, and objects to work of any description, in fact he has suggested through his brother servant to me, to let him go away, until his period of five years expires and he will pay me so much per month to do so.

And now sir I shall be extremely obliged and happy, if you will be good enough to assist me in getting him transferred to somebody else (Mr Saunders, Tongaat is full up) on the expiration of his imprisonment as, I can assure you, I and my wife will be heartily pleased to be rid of him.

All went quiet until Mrs Campbell again addressed herself to the Protector. This was on 9 May 1895:

“Dear Sir

I am writing this at my husband’s request to inform you that the Indian “Baldeo Sing” shall be released from gaol on the 17th of this month and as we are still very anxious to have him transferred to someone else.

Yours very truly

E. Campbell”

In what was becoming a pattern Campbell followed this up with a letter of his own to Mr Mason on 16 May 1895 which read as follows,

“I am anxious not to have the Indian Buldeo Sing no. 48907 at my house after his release from gaol, I propose meeting him outside the gaol with his belongings on Friday morning 17th and sending him off by the 9.45 train to Durban, and will give him 1/- for his food and a letter addressed to you. I enclose the man’s Emigration paper, and would feel deeply grateful to you if you will kindly send the man on to Messrs. Hulett and Sons, Kearsney, under escort, if you consider it necessary, and to forward all papers in connection with the man’s transfer. This man has been a nuisance to me and I am anxious to wash my hands of him.”

With this parting shot the sorry saga of Sing came to an end.

These scenes of domestic disruption were coming to an end. Unbeknown to Campbell and many others the constituent parts of South Africa were about to be at war. Trouble had been festering between the two Boer Republics of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal on the one hand and Great Britain on the other for some time and this spilled over into open warfare on 11 October 1899. One of the first orders of business for the Boers was to invade Natal which they proceeded to do within a few days of war being declared. The Natal Police were much scattered when war broke – those detachments to the north were pulled into Dundee whilst a detachment of 25 men of the Field Force, stationed at Tugela joined the melee and were caught up, along with those from Dundee, in the Siege of Ladysmith. Yet others were part of Buller’s Relief Force but the vast majority continued with their policing duties but with the added responsibility of aiding the British and Colonial forces wherever they were to be found.

Campbell, now 44 years of age and no longer in the prime of youth was most likely stationed at Headquarters in Pietermaritzburg – a town bracing itself for a possible Boer incursion if Ladysmith fell. As the Quartermaster he would also have had to monitor and control the issuing of stores. Like many of his comrades he saw service only in Natal and was awarded the Queens Medal with that clasp in the rank of Inspector. Sadly it was issued posthumously in 1908.

On 16 September 1902, four months after the end of the Boer War, William Dundas Campbell passed away at his residence, 8 Greyling Street, Pietermaritzburg. He was only 46 years of age. He was survived by his three children – all minors at the time of his death – Harriet Mary (14), Norman Dundas (12) and my great great aunt Agnes Mignon who later married a Rapson.

Hello Rory,
What a super pair, I wonder what happened to his South African War Medal and clasp?
Regards Frank

Rory
This is still one of your better groups. I checked my responses to Mark Wilkie's posts on this forum, but I did not find a mention of Campbell, so whatever passed between us must have been in private e-mails. These were lost in our great computer disaster of 2016, and, since my memory now has more holes in it than the average kitchen sieve, I do not know if there was mention of the Zulu War medal. I also cannot remember how Mark was related to William Campbell.
Regards
Brett

Gentlemen,
WO100/48 is very clear, I would certainly suggest his South African War Medal and clasp for his FAMP/CMR service against the "Gaikas, Galakas and other Kaffir Tribes 1877-8" was issued, moreover, I would also suggest it was issued in September 1883, most were, there is certainly nothing to suggest it was not, both, the Colonial Office and the Cape Government went to very considerable lengths to ensure this medal did reach those recipients entitled, many being only returned after the best part of some three decades. in this case there is nothing to suggest that happened, as far as I can see and I would be very surprised if it had.
That had the direct result that double issues, while extant, for 1877-8 and subsequently for service in 1879 are really rather rare.