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W.Hattendorff SAC, UMR and RFC 5 years 6 months ago #60482

  • capepolice
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William Hattendorff: SAC, Umvoti Mounted Infantry and R.F.C

Born: 16/07/1883
Died: March 1974

Could this possibly be one of the shortest periods of service during the ABW where a man was awarded a 4 clasp QSA??

William Hattendorff was born Wilhelm Hattendorff on the 16th July 1883 in South Kensington, Middlesex, he was the son of Wilhelm and Rosina Hattendorff. Wilhelm senior was born in Germany in 1845 and Rosina in Italy in 1854. Both were naturalized British citizens. The 1891 census has him as a young boy of 7 living with his parents and sister at 3 Beehive Passage off Lime Street in the Civil Parish of St Dionis, London.

We know that Wilhelm senior was a water bailiff and that the family had moved to Wales some time after the 1891 census. By the time the 1901 census came around, his parents were living on their own in the Hamlet of Whitebrook, Llandogo, Monmouthshire in Wales. Wilhelm senior is, on the census, also known as Ernest.

William was by this time busy with an apprenticeship as a Carpenter and was therefore living elsewhere. His sister Ellen, who was married in 1898, had also left the family home.

William now a qualified Carpenter turned his attention towards the Boer War which had by this time, been raging on in South Africa for the last 2 and a half years or so. Possibly he had friends already serving and also wanted a share in the adventure. But what ever his reason, he decided that he would do his bit and he applied to join the South African Constabulary.

William completed the necessary forms at the S.A.C Recruiting Office at King’s Court, Broadway, Westminster in London on the 14th March 1902. (The form shows clearly “Candidates under 20 and over 35 are not eligible”. There is an “X” placed next to this. He stated that he was born 16th July 1882, which was a year older than he really was, the powers that be, obviously decided to over look this).

He then signed a Statutory Declaration on the 17th March 1902 in Monmouth and then completed his medical at the Recruiting Office in London on the 25th March 1902.

His forms have an entry showing that he was accepted into the service on the 01st April 1902.

The SAC “Form of Application” states amongst other things the following:

Age: 19 Years and 8 Months. (A year older than he really was)
Height: 5’ 10”.
Weight: 9 Stone 12 Lbs.
Complexion: Dark.
Eyes: Brown.
Hair: Dark Brown.
Trade: House Carpenter.
Languages: English and German.
NOK: Father, W.Hattendorff, Whitebrook, Monmouthshire.

Upon arriving in South Africa William was sent up to Heidelberg in the Transvaal and there he signed his Attestation Forms. He signed up for a period of 3 years. He was given the Regimental number 2524 and the rank of 3rd Class Trooper.

It is interesting that the Attestation Form William signed was signed and witnessed on the 10th June 1902 and as we know the war was over on the 31st May 1902. However, there is an entry in red which states that his service is to count from the 10th May 1902. We can therefore assume that he was at sea traveling to SA during the later part of April 1902 and arrived in Cape Town on or about the 10th May 1902. All in all he would have served approximately 21 days until the war was over. This seems mightily unfair on all the men that served longer and perhaps much tougher periods of service for the same 4 clasp QSA.

Hattendorff’s service record shows that on the 1st March 1903 he was promoted to the rank of 1st Class Trooper. On the 1st September 1904 he was advanced to Lance Corporal. He re attested on the 10th May 1905 for a further 2 years and was granted an extra shilling per day. By this time William was stationed at Piet Retief in the Wakkerstroom District and it was here on the 10th September 1905 that he was found guilty of “ conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline” by making a false entry in the Station Occurrence Book. The extra Shilling was taken away.

By this time the clouds of war were again brewing in South Africa, this time in Natal and as the Wakkerstroom district is close to the Natal border, William was probably thinking of moving south for a bit of action, something that might add to his African adventure. He duly took his discharge on the 30th June 1906 at the height of the Bhambatha Rebellion. He was given a free discharge and credited with 4 years and 51 days service. His forwarding address was given as the Post Office, Durban.

William then attested into the Umvoti Mounted Infantry as a Trooper. He was to serve with the Umvoti M.I for the remainder of the 1906 Rebellion. The Bhambatha Rebellion as it is known was a brutal affair and was sparked by the introduction of a £1 poll tax.

On 8 February 1906 a Natal Police detachment was attacked after they had arrested three men for participating in an armed gathering. That gathering was a protest against this poll tax that had been imposed on all adult males in the Colony of Natal. Only indentured laborers and those who paid hut tax were exempted. This attack marked the beginning of what is popularly known as the Bhambatha Rebellion. The rebellion has also been called the Natal or Zulu Rebellion.



Men of the Umvoti Mounted Rifles

Hattendorff would have served for less than 50 days and therefore qualified for the medal without the 1906 clasp. Altogether 9,979 medals were awarded, 8,045 with the clasp and 1,934 without the clasp.

With the conclusion of the Rebellion, William decided that it was time to return home. He left South Africa aboard the “ Goorkha” departing from Cape Town and arrived in London on the 31st August 1906.

It is presumed that he went about his trade when back in the UK and in due course he met and married Maud Mary Price. They were married in the 1st Quarter of 1908 in Rhayader a market town and electoral ward in Radnorshire, Powys, central Wales.

By the time that the 1911 census came around William and his wife Maud were living with his now widowed father Wilhelm senior, at Symonds Yat in Herefordshire, close to the Welsh Border. William and his wife were childless at this point. William was now employed as a water bailiff with the Fisheries Department, as was his father.

Life would have carried on for William until 1914 when he found himself thinking again about the next great adventure, World War 1. Prior to this though the couple had a Daughter, Beatrice Maud Hattendorf was born on the 25th May 1915.(Died April 1998)

Surviving war records for William are rather sketchy but he was serving in the RFC in 1916 as a Cpl with the Regimental number 20973. He was then transferred to the A&S Highlanders on the 31st March 1918. The reason for this is rather obscure other than a document in the NA in the UK that states; “The attestation of the above named man, which is required in consequence of his compulsory transfer to the 4th Battalion, A&S Highlanders, retaining present rate of pay, vide A.C.I 2084/16 para 2. 31.03.1918". His Regimental number then changed to S/25002.

Michael Schoeman and Mac Eoin Bisset also mention William Hattendorff in the Register of Southern African Airmen of the Great War 1914-1918. have him listed as such:

Hattendorf, Cpl W.M - RFC/RAF- Tpr 3rd Class, SAC -ABW 1902, Tpr Umvoti Mounted Rifles , Natal Rebellion 1906. 20973 Cpl (GEA??). to RFC c1916.

No trace can be found of him in GEA.

By 1939 William and his wife were living at Bella Vista in Ross and Whitchurch, Herefordshire, England. William was by now in semi retirement and working as a pleasure boat proprietor.

Maud passed away in September 1961 and William passed away in March 1974 at the ripe old age of 90 years after a very full and eventful life.

Full medal entitlement:

Queens South Africa with 4 Clasps
Natal 06 without Clasp
1914-18 BWM
Allied Victory Medal

Part time researcher of the Cape Police and C.P.G Regiment.
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W.Hattendorff SAC, UMR and RFC 5 years 6 months ago #60483

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If he attested in the Transvaal he was serving there hence the clasp. But travel through the Cape to get there should not have counted for a clasp. Is this not a case of administrative error?

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W.Hattendorff SAC, UMR and RFC 5 years 6 months ago #60484

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Hello Ryan,

Could be, but WO 100/272 page 295 clearly has him as entitled to all 4 clasps as stated.

All very interesting.

Cheers
Part time researcher of the Cape Police and C.P.G Regiment.

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W.Hattendorff SAC, UMR and RFC 5 years 6 months ago #60485

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Nice group Adrian - well done on its acquisition

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