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Arthur Shimwell - Cycle Despatch Rider to Generals Buller & Cleary 3 years 1 week ago #75477

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Arthur John Shimwell

Goldfields Cycle Despatch Rider – Jameson Raid
Cyclist Despatch Rider – Anglo Boer War


- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Tugela Heights and Relief of Ladysmith to A. SHIMWELL, CYCLIST DESPATCH RIDERS

The Shimwell Brothers, Harry, Albert James (A.J.) and Arthur, were renowned cycle dealers in the Witwatersrand area of the Transvaal for many a year, both pre and post the Anglo Boer War. They were later joined by another brother, Frank. Born to Joseph Shimwell, a Labourer who, over the course of his life time “made good”, and his wife Elizabeth, they all hailed from Birmingham in Warwickshire.

The subject of this work, Arthur John Shimwell, was the youngest of the brothers who came out to South Africa. Born in Birmingham in 1874, the first glimpse we have of him is as a 7 year old school boy in the 1881 England census. Resident at 149 Newtown Row the Shimwell family was already a sizeable one with Arthur joined in the home with siblings Ann (20), William (16), Henry (14), Francis (12), Albert James (10), John (4) and Kate (2).

Ten years later, at the time of the 1891 England census, the family had moved to 90 Potter’s Hill in Aston, Warwickshire. Mr. Shimwell was now a Carter by trade, still presiding over his large brood. Aside from 17 year old Arthur, now a Carpenter by occupation, were older sister Mary (27), Albert James (20), John (14) and Kate (12). Harry (Henry) and Frank had already departed for South African shores and were hard at work establishing the cycle business earlier referred to – this in order that their brothers could follow them out and enter into a going concern.



Shimwell's first shop - the shack nearest from the Natal Stores

A very short while after the 1891 census, Arthur and Albert James arrived in Johannesburg to join Harry. The town was growing and vibrant, the discovery of gold had led to an influx of miners, speculators and adventurers from all over the world, seeking their fortune amongst the shanties and shacks that abounded. Styling themselves as Shimwell Bros., the three started selling bicycles in Johannesburg from premises (a small wood and iron building) acquired on the corner of Eloff and President Street. Cycling was an important sport and popular pastime with miners and almost everyone else, including the womenfolk, and the business began to thrive, numbering among its customers the likes of Julius Wehrner, Alfred Beit, Hermann Eckstein, Lionel Phillips and other members of Johannesburg’s elite.

Like other famous business and mining personalities of early Johannesburg they took a lively part in all the affairs of the young town. In late 1895, during the ill-fated Jameson Raid crisis, the Shimwells belonged to and supplied the cycles for the Goldfield Despatch Riders – an outfit comprising twenty-one men, all keen cyclists, who were tasked with carrying despatches to Dr Leander Starr Jameson and his officers as they approached the city from the direction of Pokwane in Bechuanaland. As history has recorded, the Reform Committee, so full of vim and vigor and the very body who were supposed to raise a force within the city to assist Jameson as his small army approached, failed to do anything of the kind and the Jameson Raid ended as a spectacular failure, serving only to incense the government of Paul Kruger and convince them to re-arm and prepare themselves for a military conflict in the future.



Arthur is fifth from the left at the back in this 1896 photo of the Goldfields Despatch Riders

None of the Shimwells feature on the list of confirmed “Raiders”, not an uncommon occurrence as only those that “rode with Jameson” appear to have been included.

Within a few years of Shimwell Brothers opening their bicycle shop, cycling became something of a craze in Johannesburg. They were in the procession and games organised to celebrate the 1897 Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria – no mean feat in a Johannesburg controlled and governed by a Republican President. As if that wasn’t enough, the Transvaal Government was mounting all its telegraph boys on bicycles and their order for 100 cycles kept the Shimwell shop busy. More business came in a different form later when a wave of rinderpest swept over the country and there was a rush to buy cycle pumps which were used as syringes to spray the cattle.

Arthur, it would seem, was blessed with an adventurous spirit. The Forfar Herald of Friday, 23 December 1898 carried an interesting article which read thus: -

“One of the best testimonies for the good wearing quality of Dunlop tyres, comes to hand from a Mr Arthur Shimwell, of Johannesburg. This gentleman rode his cycle to Bulawayo, Gwelo and Selukwe, and back, a distance of 1200 miles, without a single puncture, which is all the more remarkable, because the course ran through some of the thorniest and heaviest roads of South Africa.”




The last year of the 19th century brought war clouds with it. The long festering ill will between Great Britain and the two Boer Republics of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State erupted into open warfare on 11 October 1899 and the “uitlanders” – the foreigners, mostly of British descent, left the Witwatersrand in droves, heading for the safety of Natal and other ports.

Albert James headed for Mafeking where he was part of Baden Powell’s efforts to withstand the siege of that town. Arthur and his brother Frank, headed for Natal where they were attached to the 2nd Division of the Natal Field Force as Cyclist Despatch Riders, both under the command of General Francis Cleary who was based at Frere in the run-up to the battles of Colenso, Spionkop and the Vaalkrantz affair which finally, on 27 February 1900, led to the relief of Ladysmith after a siege of 118 days.

Typically, the main duty of the cyclist was despatch-riding, but they were used for a variety of different tasks as the need arose. A commander usually had two cyclists as his orderlies to carry his messages. Cyclists would often ride ahead to act as a link between the cavalry and infantry, and would, at times, ride ahead to reconnoitre suitable roads for the transport wagons and then ride back again to direct them. They were also used for reconnaissance of camping grounds for the regiments, and sometimes stayed behind to attend to the sick who were being transferred to hospital. Even during an assault, it was usual to find a cyclist or two with the leading ranks ready to carry messages. The cyclists were usually at their busiest carrying mail, telegrams, despatches, money, stores, and even groceries in their Alpine rucksacks whenever a camp was established near a large town.

Of the civilian Cyclist Despatch Riders in Natal (such as the Shimwell brothers) very little is known – so much so that the two of them are the only names that appear on the medal roll for this almost unknown little outfit.

Arthur Shimwell returned to Johannesburg after ten months in the field, long before the cessation of hostilities, and it is his Claim for Compensation form, completed in 1902, that we have to thank for what information we have on his actions during the war. Claiming an amount of £740 for the loss of cycles and accessories, he shed interesting light into the Shimwell Brothers and their businesses.

Giving his residential address as Pollock Buildings, Stands 65/66 Eloff Street, he confirmed that he was a Cycle Agent and Manufacturer. He was single and, interestingly, was in business for himself. His address prior to the war was Library Buildings, Kerk Street where he had been a tenant. He had left the Transvaal on 1 October 1899 – ten days before hostilities commenced – and had left no one acting on his behalf who had remained in the Transvaal. He was careful to mention that his building had been barricaded up and closed up securely. In terms of military service, he confirmed that he had been “despatch rider to Generals Buller and Cleary’s staff.”

On his return to the Transvaal on 12 August 1900 (Johannesburg had surrendered in June 1900), he had found his premises had been entered and his stock in trade either looted or commandeered. He stated that, “From information received, a Mr Konigsberg, Winchester House, is supposed to have commandeered the lathe. A man on the Boer Special Police was found with one of the looted cycles. I have reason to believe that some of my machines were commandeered for the Special Police, some of whom were staying in the same building.”




Shimwell also confirmed that the lathe earlier referred to had been damaged in the Begbie Explosion – news of this explosion was carried in press reports of the time:

‘On Tuesday, April 22nd, an explosion took place at Begbie's foundry at Johannesburg which was used as a Boer arsenal. It was suggested that it was the work of some Englishmen who had made a tunnel from a house on the other side of the street, and used a large quantity of nitro-glycerine for the purpose. Seventeen men (Italians and Austrians) were reported killed and 70 wounded. Everything within 50 yards of the explosion was destroyed. The foundry, which originally cost £20,000 and belonged to a company, had been commandeered by the Boers for the manufacture of shells. £100,000 had been spent in plant and machinery. Mr. Wm. Begbie, a Scotchman, son of the founder, was arrested on the charge that he had caused the explosion to avenge the commandeering. In consequence of this affair foreigners were ordered out of the district at once. In the end the disaster was attributed to an accident.’

By way of remarks in support of his claim, Shimwell stated that: -

‘On leaving Johannesburg our store was barricaded and our stock was stored in the basement, entry to which was boarded down by 1” boards. On my return and opening the shop, the District Commissioner of police was consulted and Lieutenant Dyer, 2nd North Staffords was sent as a witness to the loss of our stock and the manner in which the place had been broken open and looted.’

A Report on Investigation compiled in respect of Shimwell’s claim drew the distinction between the various Shimwell brothers’ business entities. It read thus: -

‘There are three firms in this line of business in the name of Shimwell. They are all of the same family but are in no way related in business. The styles of the various firms are: Shimwell Bros., Shimwell & Co. and F. Shimwell. Arthur Shimwell states he is the sole partner in the firm Shimwell & Co. Mrs Mallinson who remained behind in charge of her daughter’s business (Empress Tea Rooms), Pollock Buildings, Eloff Street, states having seen articles removed from Shimwell & Co.’s store. There is evidence to the effect that claimant possessed the stock in question.’

Arthur Shimwell was advanced two-thirds of the amount claimed to purchase new stock and to get him back on his feet again. There is no record of the balance being paid to him. The Queens Medal for which he qualified was issued off a roll dated 14 October 1903 at Bordon Camp, Hampshire, signed by Major General Bruce Hamilton.

In later life, Arthur Shimwell appears to have married and moved to Durban in Natal. Perhaps business had never recovered to his expectations as he was a Plumber by trade when he died and no longer had links to the cycle industry. He passed away after lingering in Addington Hospital for twenty-one days, on 20 October 1936 at the age of 64, and is buried in Stellawood Cemetery in Durban. His death notice has the final say – “Death due to myocarditis, chronic alcoholism and injury to right shoulder, received accidentally when alighting from a passenger bus whilst still in motion.”








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Arthur Shimwell - Cycle Despatch Rider to Generals Buller & Cleary 3 years 1 week ago #75485

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Some fantastic additions to his biography, Rory.
Dr David Biggins

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Arthur Shimwell - Cycle Despatch Rider to Generals Buller & Cleary 1 year 7 months ago #84696

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Arthur Shimwell was one of the first motor car owners in Durban. My thanks to Brian Conyngham for spotting this photograph.

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Arthur Shimwell - Cycle Despatch Rider to Generals Buller & Cleary 6 months 4 weeks ago #91853

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Another reference to the Shimwell's has come to light. I share this here with thanks to the British Newspaper Archive.

The Daily Telegraph of Tuesday, January 9, 1900 carried the following under the banner:

"Bicycling Around Natal - Despatch Rider's Story" - We have received from a gentleman who has been employed in Natal in the difficult and dangerous task of conveying despatches across country, the following rough diary of his experiences during the war.

The entry for 13 December 1899 (two days before the Colenso debacle) is the one wherein the Shimswell's are mentioned: -

"Wednesday, 13th - Left camp at 6.30 a.m., and went out to same position 3 1/2 miles from Colenso. Strong naval battery of guns there, including two 4.7 inch guns, 45 pounders and a lot of smaller calibre. Our men shelling Boer positions at Colenso for two hours this morning, and at it again this afternoon but the the Boers have not replied and we conjecture they have withdrawn their guns from Colenso; if so the big battle will be postponed a day or two. Large battalions of cavalry and infantry left here midday to take up positions beyond Chieveley. We move our tent out early tomorrow. I arrived back here 1 p.m. with despatch, and was the first in leaving the horsemen miles behind. Terrific heat. The two Shimwells, myself, and another had our photos, with bicycles, taken, which will appear in a London Illustrated newspaper, so look out for it and when you find it, buy a few copies for me as a souvenir of the war. Killed a big puffadder outside tent this afternoon; the place seems to be infested with them."




Would anyone know in what publication these photos appeared (if at all)?

Rory
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