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Dobson of the King William's Town Volunteer Artillery & Rand Rifles 3 years 9 months ago #70717
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Raymond Dobson
Gunner, King Williams Town Volunteer Artillery – Transkei campaign Lieutenant, Rand Rifles (Farrar Anglo-French Group) – Anglo Boer War - Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal with Transkei clasp to Gunr. R. Dobson, King Wm. Tn. Vol. Arty - Queens South Africa Medal to Lieut. R. Dobson, Rand Rifles Raymond Dobson was born in the Parish of Bollin Fee in Wilmslow, Cheshire in 1855 (baptised on 1 July of that year), the son of John Dobson, a Druggist, Grocer and Commercial Traveler working from home, and his wife, Maria. Our first glimpse of Raymond comes courtesy of the 1861 England census, aged 5 he was joined in the house in Manchester Road by his parents and siblings – Charles (9), Frank (7), Amelia (2) and baby Louisa (6 months). Rounding up the numbers were the two servants – Alice Scowcroft and Elizabeth Ellison – their very presence pointing to the prosperity of the family. Ten years later, at the time of the 1871 England census, the family stilled lived in Bollin Fee but had moved to a new residence in Church Street. Mr Dobson had finally focused his energies on being a Druggist and Auctioneer and the servants were gone, indicating a possible change in the family fortunes. Older brother Charles was now an 18 year old Shopman at a Grocers whilst Raymond, now 15, was an Auctioneer’s Clerk in, what one can assume, his father’s enterprise. Louisa, no longer the baby at 10, was followed by Fanny (7), Helen (6), Mary (5) and Hannah (4). With all those mouths to feed Mr Dobson must have been hard-pressed to generate sufficient income. Perhaps it was the death of the pater familias on 20 July 1873 when Raymond was 18 that decided him on a course which would take him away from the comforts of home to the wilds of the Eastern Cape frontier. Having made the voyage, he would have been confronted by a, for the most part, dry and arid landscape with settler farmers having to eke out an existence whilst being constantly harassed and attacked by the marauding black tribes that came down from Pondoland. These tribesmen, Xhosa’s in the main, were hell bent on stealing and plundering what they could in an effort to drive the European settlers away. This confrontations and skirmishes led to as many as nine Frontier Wars, the last of which was fought in 1879. It was at about this time that we know Dobson to have been in the area, resident in the small but important hamlet of King William’s Town. It was here that he joined the ranks of the King William’s Town Volunteer Artillery. Formed on 5th June, 1877, this small outfit was under the command of Capt. T. H. Giddy, with Surgeon C. E. Piers, Lt. G. H. Nitch and 2/Lt. F. Dyer the other officers. The Arty. Troop was initially 41 in number, all of whom were without arms and the drill instructor had been recalled consequent upon the Transkei disturbances earlier. In July, 1878, there were 64 on strength, including two on active service. By that time the corps had short Sniders and bayonets and one 7-pounder gun which did not stay long in the corps' possession as it was withdrawn in August for service on the Northern Border, probably with the Kimberley Volunteer Artillery. In January, 1879, the 7-pounder was returned. In March and April, the corps was furnishing guards for barracks, hardly the purpose they were intended for. That they were still operational a few years later is borne out by their presence in what became known as the Transkei campaign. Here, mainly local units, were employed in the field from the 13 September 1880 to the 15 May 1881 for operations in Griqualand East and Tembuland. The dispute stemming from the natives taking up arms against settlers in the districts of Maclear, Matatiele, Qumbu and Tsolo. This was almost the tail-end of the numerous insurrections that the Eastern Cape hosted in the latter part of the 19th century. To illustrate what role Dobson and his comrades played in the affair, we turn to an article which appeared in the Sheffield Telegraph of 1 February 1881. It read as follows: - “Experiences of a Sheffielder in South Africa. – Writing from Umtata (the capital of the Transkei), South Africa, under date December 22, 1880, W. Lord, a member of one of the Colonial corps, known as the King William’s Town Volunteer Artillery, gives a description of the life he has been leading whilst pursuing the Pondos. After referring in glowing terms to the social life in King William’s Town, he says that on the 24th November they received intelligence that the Pondos had broken out, and that unless help was sent out immediately the consequences to some 30 families at Umtata would be serious. The artillery left the town with their one gun, a seven-pounder, accompanied by 60 of the Colonial Infantry, on Tuesday, the 26th November, fully equipped and followed by waggons, containing baggage, rations etc. They were in the saddle five days, and sometimes were obliged to haul the gun up hills for perhaps six hours together with drag rope in addition to the horses. At last they reached Umtata all well. The writer continues, “Since being here we have had four engagements with the niggers, killed altogether I suppose 120 of them (should have been 1200 but the beggars won’t stand, except when we catch them unawares), and have captured about 2000 head of cattle, and say 10 000 sheep and goats, the proceeds of which assist very materially in supplying the camp with tobacco etc.” Having returned relatively unscathed by his adventures, Dobson settled down to life in King William’s Town marrying, on 1 January 1880 at the Trinity Church, Alice Fletcher, a lass from nearby East London. He was described as a Clerk by profession. The couple were blessed with a number of children of their union – the first, Ida Mary, being born in King William’s Town on 23 December 1880. Gertrude Alice came along on 5 February 1883 with Vera following suit on 20 April 1885. After a 3-year lull along came Evaline on 14 January 1888. On this baptismal certificate Dobson is referred to as a Book Keeper. Muriel joined the ranks, having been born on 8 February 1891, by which time Dobson was described as an Accountant by profession. By the time the Anglo Boer came round on 11 October 1899 Dobson had taken his family to Cape Town. He had obtained employment with Sir George Farrar, a Rand Pioneer’s, group of companies and was employed as an Accountant with the Anglo-French group of mines. These were, of course, situated on the Witwatersrand, right in the middle of Johannesburg and Kruger’s Transvaal. With the triumphant entry of Lord Roberts into Pretoria in mid-1900, the Transvaal Government was obliged to move eastwards, away from the risk of being caught. The capital city and Johannesburg, the financial hub, may have been relinquished but the Boer effort was far from thwarted. There was still a very real danger that the Boers might make good on their threat to implode the gold mines, with the resultant catastrophic effect on the future economy of the region. Boer Commandos were still frequently seen in the vicinity and it became necessary to call into being a Mine Guard whose primary purpose would be to stand guard over the various shafts and properties and prevent any Boer attack from being carried off with success. It was to this band of men, whose role is so often underestimated, that Dobson turned. Completing his attestation paper for enrolment at Cape Town on 28 January 1901, he was assigned no. 29702 and the commissioned rank of Lieutenant with the Rand Rifles (Mine Guard) with a special focus on protecting the mines of his employer, Sir George Farrar. Confirming that he was a Manager with the Anglo-French Group, he added that he was 46 years old and married. His wife’s address he provided as PO Box 295 Cape Town and his next of kin, his older brother Charles, of 95 Crosby Road South, Liverpool. His physical address in June 1899, months before the war, was New Comet, on the farm Driefontein, Boksburg Diggings, district of Heidelberg. The war over on 31 May 1902 South Africa returned to a semblance of normality, the mines resumed full production and Dobson, along with his compatriots, were awarded the Queens medal (no clasp) for their efforts. He was also able to apply for the award of the Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal with Transkei clasp that he had earned twenty years earlier. Back on the home front, Dobson did what any self-respecting ex-patriot would do, he joined the Boksburg Lodge of the Free Masons on 13 December 1910. His association with them wasn’t destined to be a long one, he resigned his membership on 8 October 1912. Raymond Dobson passed away from Ostia Arthritis and Myocardial-related problems at the Boksburg Nursing Home, 39 Claim Street, Boksburg on the 9th April 1925. He was 69 years old and resident at 59, Fifth Street, Boksburg North at the time of his death. He was survived by his wife and all four daughters. 
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Dobson of the King William's Town Volunteer Artillery & Rand Rifles 3 years 9 months ago #70720
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