TOPIC:

I spoke to my friend, Pat Rundgren, who is a Battlefield Guide and Researcher based in Dundee. He tells me that the Talana Museum has a pretty good archive and has produced the following piece , which he has drawn largely from the original sources.

THE NATAL VOLUNTEER INDIAN AMBULANCE SERVICES IN THE BOER WAR.

By Pat Rundgren.

There are a number of myths around the formation, members, service and disbandment of the Natal Volunteer Indian Ambulance Service during the Boer War. Prompted by an enquiry by a fellow collector, I was lucky enough to find a wealth of information in the Talana Museum archives.

THE LEGEND.

“In 1893 an attorney-t-law, Mohandas K. Gandhi, arrived in Natal on a brief legal assignment. He decided to remain on learning that disenfranchisement of Indians was intended. Together with influential others from the Indian community, he founded “The Natal Indian Congress” and became editor of “Indian Opinion”.. He conceived of a new technique of political resistance based on the methods of “satyagraha” (“soul force”) and derived from the teachings of the pacifist Jain sect of Hinduism, a technique of resisting an objectionable law, if need be by enduring suffering, but without resorting to violence or ceasing to respect those who governed the people or enforced the law.

During his sojourn in South Africa, two field units were raised and commanded by Mohandas K. Gandhi from amongst his fellow countrymen then resident in Natal; one in 1899 (Indian Ambulance Corps) and the other in 1906 (Indian Stretcher-bearers Corps).

The following is a list of names of Indian volunteers who, in October 1899, offered their services to the Natal Government and the Imperial authorities – M.K. Gandhi; H.L. Paul; A.H. Peters; R.K. Khan; P. Danjisha; P.C. Cooper; J.W. Godfrey; R. Baghwan; P. Peter; N.P. Dhunde; V. Lawrence; L. Gabriel; G.D. Harry; R. Govindoo; Stephen J. Shadrack; Ramtahal; J.D. Home; M.H. Nazar; P.K. Naidoo; K. Singh; S.N. Richards; M.S. Lutchman Panday; J. Royeppen; J. Christopher; C. Stevens; J.L. Roberts; H.J. Jappie; J.S. Done; B. Gabriel; M. Royeppen; F. Lazarus; R. Mopdley.

Being unable to become combatants, Gandhi proposed that Indian volunteers serve as stretcher bearers together with the Natal Volunteer Ambulance Corps organized by Colonel T. Gallwey, Principal Medical Officer of Natal. This offer was initially declined. However, General Buller, later recognizing a need for assistance, intervened and had the decision reversed.

Early December 1899 saw Gandhi applying pressure by maintaining contact with the Colonial Office. The Reverend Doctor Booth was seconded to the group. On 11 December Gandhi telegraphed Prajee Bhinbhai Bellair to have him alert the volunteers to stand prepared, and he and Dr. Booth met with the Colonial Secretary the following day to finalize arrangements.

The Corps was sent forward by train on 14 December 1899, reaching the Field Hospital at Chieveley the following day The task of the Indian Bearer Corps was defined as having to take the wounded brought by the Natal Volunteer Ambulance Corps from the battlefield and carry them to the railhead. They had been given no combat training as there was no expectation of their serving under fire. However, they were immediately employed in assisting the wounded at the battle of Colenso. On 17 December 1899 the Corps moved to Estcourt and peculiarly was temporarily disbanded two days later.

Reformed on 07 January 1900, the Corps was again stationed at Esctcourt. On 24 January 1900, at the battle of Spion Kop, the Corps agreed to serve under fire and carried the wounded from the field to base hospital at Frere.

The Corps was disbanded at the end of February 1900 after Ladysmith had been relieved.

The initial formation, the Indian Ambulance Corps, served with distinction at Colenso, Spion Kop and Vaalkranz and had a strength of 34 Leaders and 1100 men.

Being civilians and unpaid volunteers, their members were not considered to receive medals (nor, incidentally, the Queen’s Chocolate). The Rev. Dr. Lancelot Parker Booth, the Medical Officer of the Corps, lobbied the Secretary of State for War, Sir John Broderick, for decorations on behalf of the Leaders. Field Marshall Lord Garnet Wolsely agreed to the proposition as he felt that, were the matter brought to Queen Victoria's attention, she would have insisted that medals should be awarded".

Only 34 members of the Indian Ambulance Corps received a Queen’s South Africa Medal. Leader S.N. Richards received the silver Queen’s South Africa medal with bars Tugela Heights and Relief of Ladysmith. The remainder received a Queen’s South Africa Medal without a bar.

There is some confusion concerning Booth’s submissions on which Leaders he felt deserved a medal. On 08 October 1900 he submitted 18 names. Yet his handwritten list (date unknown) lists 31. A combined list of these men comes to 40, and is as follows –

Rev. Canon Dr. L.P. Booth Clergyman. C + S.
Mohandas K. Gandhi. Barrister at Law. Inner Temple. C + S.
Rahim Khan Barrister at Law. Lincoln’s Inn. C + S...
M.H. Nazar Gentleman. Member East Indian Association. C + S.
David Vinden. Government Clerk and Interpreter. Natal Civil Service. C + S.
Naramon Barnabas Farmer. C + S.
M.V. Madanjit Printer.
M.K. Ralham Clerk and book keeper. C + S.
William Jonathan Schoolmaster.C + S.
D. Narainen Farmer.
K.K. Mayji Clerk.
A.S. Abhechand Storekepper.
P.K. Naidoo Clerk.C + S.
M. Jackson Clerk. C + S.
Vasanyer Desai Book Keeper.. C + S.
A.A. Gandhi Store keeper. C + S.
R.G. Pandya Store keeper.
Herbert Kilchin Electrician.
Vadanayagum. Laurence Attorney’s clerk. C.
Joseph Royeppen Attorney’s clerk. C.
M. Royeppen Gentleman. C.
Lutchman Panday Attorney’s clerk. C.
D. Moodley Clerk. C.
Shaynee N. Richards Clerk. C.
Emmanuel Peters Clerk. C + S.
C.P. Ravashankar Storekkeeper. C + S.
Bryan Gabriel Photographer. S.
Lazarus Gabriel Photographer. C.
R. Dhanji School teacher.
J. Aiodbya
W.M. Manekal Clerk.
J.S. Kinehand Clerk.
Stephan S. Shadrack Schoolmaster. C.
Nanhan P. Kakore Book keeper. C.
Babu Talewantaimg Merchant. S.
Dhanyee Ramjee Storekeeper. S.
Ajadlaya Jiawan Schoolmaster. S.
M.Kamchand Mehta Clerk. S.
Kinchand J. Shah Clerk. S.
Herbert Kilehim Electrician. S..

TOTAL 40.

Legend. “C” – served at Colenso. “C + S” – served at Colenso and Spearman’s Camp. “S” – served at Spearman’s Camp only.

The hand written list is very difficult to read in places. Any errors or omissions are regretted.

THE REALITY.

Firstly, the Natal Volunteer Indian Ambulance Services should not be confused with any other Imperial Indian Medical Services nor the Natal Volunteer Ambulance Corps. At best, there were 40 Leaders in the NVIAS and they served for only two months – 12 December 1899 to the end of the Relief of Ladysmith campaign at the end of February 1900.

• Although Gandhi would have indeed played a large part in raising the force from among his own countrymen, technically he would not have been the Commanding Officer. That would have been Reverend Doctor Booth, and it is in this capacity that he lobbied for medals for his Leaders.

• “The task of the Indian Bearer Corps was defined as having to take the wounded brought by the Natal Volunteer Ambulance Corps from the battlefield and carry them to the railhead. They had been given no combat training as there was no expectation of their serving under fire. However, on 24 January 1900, at the battle of Spion Kop, the Corps agreed to serve under fire and carried the wounded from the field to base hospital at Frere”.

This statement has been interpreted to mean that members of the Corps were actually on top of Spioenkop, helping to carry the casualties off the actual battlefield. However, according to Hayward’s “The South African War Casualty Roll – The Natal Field Force”, no member of the Natal Volunteer Indian Ambulance Services was even scratched.

As one might expect, though, the Natal Volunteer Ambulance Corps suffered two dead and eleven wounded during the Spioenkop operations. But even these casualties were not necessarily sustained on the actual battlefield. According to Hayward, these casualties were sustained at “Spearman’s Camp and Venter’s Spruit”. This tends to suggest that “under fire’ in this case would possibly have been referring to the rear of the British positions or the crossing points across the Tugela River, which were subject to long range Boer fire.

Also the sentence carried the wounded from the field” would mean from the hospital at Spearman’s Camp to Frère and not from the actual battle site.

• “Being civilians and unpaid volunteers, …. only 34 members of the Indian Ambulance Corps received a Queen’s South Africa Medal. Leader S.N. Richards received the silver Queen’s South Africa medal with bars Tugela Heights and Relief of Ladysmith. The remainder received a Queen’s South Africa Medal without a bar”.

This is not the case. Mike Rowan of Kloof also has a silver medal with clasps Tugela Heights and Relief of Ladysmith to David Vinden, so although these might have been the exception, more than one silver medal with bars was awarded.

The belief that the men were “unpaid volunteers” has circulated forever. However, the Natal Archives holds a payroll of the Corps, issued by the Department of Public Works.

Thus are legends perpetuated?

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

Talana Museum reference ABW 16201-2252.

Could anyone tell me the names and dates of the casualties among the Natal Volunteer Ambulance Corps? The white unit, that is - not the Natal Volunteer Indian Ambulance Corps who I understand had no casualties.
My Natal Field Force casualty list is incomplete: Bennet Burleigh mentions a man named Robertson, an ex-coffeehouse-keeper in Durban. Whilst calling to his comrades to " Come on, and never mind the Boers!" he was killed by a shot through the head.
Many thanks!
Rob

Rob
Steve Watts lists :-

Rank - Bear?
Name - Robertson R
Cas - Died
Place - Pmburg?
Date - 22-07-1903
Interred - Pietermaritzburg, Ft Napier
Mnmt - 2
Remarks - Bearer Ctgt

Jon