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Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (0) (E. W. Benest. Remount Dept.)

There is a Conductor JE Benest, in the Remount Department, listed on WO100/234p60.

Conductor EW Benest is listed as a civilian on WO100/234p40. He served in Standerton and has the Tr clasp crossed through on the roll.

The three Remount Department QSA from the next Noonan sale.


Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (0) (Sub-Condr: H. Stockden. Remount Depot:)

QSA (1) Transvaal (A. Palmer. Remount Dept.)

QSA (0) (E. W. Benest. Remount Dept.)

CONDUCTOR JOHN THOMAS HINGS: REMOUNT DEPOT.

John Thomas Hings was born in Leicester, England in 1873 to parents John, a Rate Collector, and Emma.

In 1881 the family were living at 9 Arundel Street, Leicester St. Mary, Leicester. The family were made up of parents John and Emma, John Thomas (8) and Albert W (9), Rebecca E (3) and Arthur Lewis (2).
Moving on to 1891 the family had now moved home to Gipsy Road, Belgrave, Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire where additions to the family on census day were Mary A (9), Ernest (2). The family were reasonably well off as evidenced by them employing the services of a 19 year old Groom/domestic servant called David. There was a visitor to the Hings on census day namely an 11 year old scholar Mary.
John senior would no doubt have required a horse or trap/carriage in order to carry out his rounds in his capacity as a Rate Collector, so young John, and indeed the rest of the Hings brood, would have had knowledge of the care and maintenance of horses.

In October 1899, the British Empire found itself at war in South Africa with the two Boer Republics of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State.
Shortly after the declaration of war and numerous bloody battles including several serious reversals for the imperial forces, John is recorded as an indulgence passenger aboard the ship "Donotar Castle" which embarked for Cape Town on 17th March 1900 from Southampton. John was described as a Miner on the ship's passenger list.
Brother Arthur Lewis also made his way to South Africa and eventually served with Kitchener's Horse, Commander in Chief's Bodyguard and S. A. M. I. F., but does not appear to have sailed with John.

At some point after arrival John attested to the Remount Depot and served in the civilian rank of Conductor at the Stellenbosch Depot.
Stellenbosch was one of the main hubs for the delivery and distribution of mounts for imperial and colonial outfits, and also inadvertently for the Boer Commandos when they had the opportunity and necessity to acquire fresh steeds.
John would have been part of this massive organisation which was responsible for sourcing horses from around the world to meet the insatiable appetite for horseflesh that was an equine tragedy on a scale previously unknown.
Some 326,073 horses and 51,399 mules died between October 1899 and May 1902 mostly due to disease and malnutrition aswell as from bullet and shell (Brits 2024). It is not known how many donkeys or bullock oxen perished as no records were kept for these beasts of burden.

John, however, appears to have come through his wartime experience unscathed as he does not feature in any of the usual casualty lists.




For his service in South Africa, John was awarded the Queen's South Africa medal without entitlement to any clasps as normally the case for a civilian (WO100/234).


Officially impressed rank and naming to the rim.


REMOUNT DEPOT naming to the rim.


A life in South Africa post war was not for John Thomas Hings. There is a J. T. Hings that found their way to Nova Scotia briefly, but I cannot be 100% certain that this is the same fellow.In any case, our JTH definitely returned home to Leicester and became involved in the popular sport of Billiards in some capacity. Between 1910-19 his address was recorded as Billiard Rooms, 3 Chatham Street, Leicester. In 1928 he was still residing at the Billiard Rooms but at number 5. I would assume that he was a manager of the Billiard Rooms perhaps.
His involvement and dedication to the sport continued into 1939 as reported in the "Leicester Evening Mail" on Tuesday, January 17th, 1939:

"County Billiards Association's Work

The fifth annual general meeting of the Billiards Association' of Leicestershire was held last night at the Turkey Cafe, Leicester, and was well attended by members and representatives of affiliated bodies.
The President, Councillor H. W. Hoggard presided.
The secretary, in his report, reviewed the work which the committee had done during the past year, and mentioned the arrangements made with the Midland Counties Association, to play home and away fixtures each year.
These fixtures will coincide with those of Leicester City Football Club when meeting Aston Villa.
The balance sheet showed cash in hand £8 11s. 1d., a slight advance on last year. As the only source of revenue came through members' subscriptions, and Vice-presidents' donations, the results prove how well the financial affairs of the Association were managed.
With regard to the county championships, entries for which closed last Saturday, it was felt that a number of players, who should be competing had not sent in their names as expected. The meeting decided, therefore, to extend the closing date to January 23, in an endeavour to complete a representative entry.
The following officers were elected:-President. Councillor H. W. Hoggar; Vice-presidents'. Messrs. H. L. Walker, T. L. Blackman, J. T. Hings, J. T. Thompson, L. Davidson and Councillor H. Bowerman: hon. auditor, Mr. H. R. Fletcher; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. T. S. Leery."

So we see that John was one of the movers and shakers in the world of billiards in the English midlands for many years.

John Thomas Hings died in 1950 in his hometown of Leicester at the age of 77.

References:
"The Plight of the Horses During the War," Elsabe Brits (2024). From: "Stories of Emily" website.

For the biography of Arthur Lewis Hings, please see page 13 of "Medals to Kitchener's Horse" on this forum.

A great write-up. Many thanks, Steve.

E. W. BENEST: REMOUNT DEPOT.

Ernest William Benest was born in 1875 in St. Brelade, Jersey in the Channel Islands.

The Census of 1881 shows his widowed mother Elizabeth I. Benest (52) as the Head of the household
The Benest family consisted of; Charles G (23) a Livery Stables Keeper, George Le Bas (21) an Auctioneer's Clerk, Emily Rive (19) Governess, Jessie Mary (17) also a Governess, Maria A (15), Stephen A (12), Sophia Louisa (9) with Ernest being the youngest at 6 years old. The family resided on High Street, St. Brelade.

I would make the assumption that as all of the family were born on Jersey that they would have been fluent in both English and French.

Moving on to 1891, the family had possibly relocated to Ceasarean House, High Street, St. Brelade. Ernest was now 16 but no occupation or trade was recorded for him. Mother Elizabeth, Charles, George Le Bas, Jessie, Maria, Maria and Sophia were all still at home despite their maturity.
The family also now employed the services of a General domestic servant Alice Maguire aged 15, another born and bred Jersey girl.

Seeking his fortunes at the frontiers of the British Empire, Ernest made the long voyage to South Africa sometime prior to the declaration of war between the empire and the two Boer Republics of Transvaal and the Orange Free State.
With the commencement of war, which eventually led to a critical shortage of suitable, healthy mounts for taking the war to the Boers on horseback to counter their hit and run guerilla tactics, the Remount Department was organised at numerous points chiefly along the most important lines of communication, the railway network.
One of these was located at Standerton, which is where Ernest William Benest served in the civilian role of Conductor.

I believe his service was short and he could have been discharged as 'medically unfit', perhaps due to the effects of the dreaded enteric fever. I have no positive documented evidence to support this hypothesis, but future events would seem to point the researcher in that direction.


Naming to the rim of the Queen's South Africa medal with no clasps awarded to E. W. Benest. Entitlement confirmed by Medal Roll WO100/234. Transvaal entitlement crossed through as standard for civilians.



Regimental naming.

Going back to the assumption that he suffered from the rigours of illness, Ernest was never destined to leave South African shores. His death was reported on 28th May 1901 at the age of 27. His place of death was recorded as corner of Rockey and Davies Street, Doornfontein, Johannesburg.
He was an unmarried Grocer's Assistant with no mention of his military service on the paperwork, so his demise occurred following discharge from the Remounts. He is not listed in any casualty lists for the conflict. But as was the case for many thousands of men, the effects of the South African wars continued to be debilitating or often fatal. Perhaps this was the final scenario for poor old Ernest?



Ernest William Benest is commemorated on the headstone of the Benest family plot at St. Brelade, Jersey. The inscriptions are all in French, and the date of Ernest's death and location of Johannesburg is clear to see.
The actual location of his interment in South Africa is unknown to me at the present time.

References:

Familysearch.
Findmypast.
Ancestry.
Findagrave.

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (4) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Liet: C. W. Chaloner, Remt. Est.);
1914-15 Star (C. W. Chaloner);
British War and Victory Medals (C. W. Chaloner)

Claudius Willoughby Chaloner was born at Kells, Ireland on 22 January 1882, the son of Claud and Henreitta Chaloner. Educated at King's College, Isle of Man between 1897-1899 he was a member of the 1st XV in 1899 before being commissioned with the 4th Battalion, Inniskilling Fusiliers on 25 July 1900.

Seconded to the Remounts Department on 22 February 1901, he served in South Africa with that unit during the Anglo-Boer War at their Naauwpost depot. Advanced Lieutenant on 30 November 1901 Chaloner returned to the Inniskillings on 18 January 1903. The next year he was promoted Captain and Instructor of Musketry on 28 May 1904.

Joining the Colonial Secretariat on 19 September 1910 he was Captain and Assistant Colonial Secretary on the Gold Coast on the outbreak of the Great War. In this capacity Chaloner entered the war in Togoland on 16 August 1914, likely with the Gold Coast Regiment. During this time he appears upon a List of Officers who have been sent to Togoland as serving with the Secretariat department. The British and their French Allies were immensely successful, taking the German colony in less than a month.

Chaloner was appointed District Commissioner on the Gold Coast on 2 March 1915, notably he later served with the West African Frontier Force between February-May 1917. He was discharged due to ill-health in July 1919 with the rank of Major, retiring to Chennymount, County Meath. He was living in County Wicklow when he died on 18 January 1963. Notably his son Desmond Willoughby Richard Chaloner joined the King's Royal Rifle Corps, serving as Lieutenant