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Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

QSA (5) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3601 Pte. W. S. Chamberlain, N: Zealand M.R.)

M&E say William James Chamberlain of the 6th New Zealand Mounted Rifles is confirmed on the medal roll (as W. S. Chamberlain), however his number, name and details are given Auckland War Memorial website as ‘William James Chamberlain’, who enlisted for service at Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand, and is buried at Waimate Old Cemetery.

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (5) Cape Colony, Rhodesia, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 (Lt. & Adjt. A. R. J. Dewar. N.Zea:Cont:)

Described as:

Arthur Robert Johnstone Dewar was born at Hydrabad, Bombay on 11 October 1869, the son of Caroline and Colonel James Dewar, Royal Artillery. The family returned to Britain from India in 1870 with Dewar's sister being born in the Bay of Biscay.

Educated in a small school at 11 Warwick Terrace, St. Leonards-on-Sea, Hastings he attended Queen's College, Cambridge before somewhat unusually attesting for the Gordon Highlanders as a Private on 27 September 1889. Seeing Home service for 5 years, Dewar was discharged on 11 March 1895 and settled on the Isle of Wight.

At some stage he travelled to South Africa where he was to become one of the ill-fated Jameson Raiders, served as Corporal listing his address as 1 St Georges Terrace, Ryde Isle of Wight. Jameson hoped for a 3-day dash to Johannesburg, before the Boer commandos could mobilise. To cover his tracks, he ordered all telegraph wires to be cut. Unfortunately, the telegraph wires to the Boer capital of Pretoria remained intact, enabling the Boers to track Jameson's movements from the moment he crossed the border. The Raiders were fired upon by a Boer outpost at 6 a.m. on 1 January. Six hours later, having advanced twenty miles, they fought a sharp skirmish with Boer marksmen in entrenched positions at Krugersdorp. They withdrew south-east in an attempt to outflank the Boers but were confronted by a far larger force waiting for them at Doornkop. After an initial firefight in which thirty Raiders were killed, Jameson saw the hopelessness of his situation and surrendered. His entire column was imprisoned by the Boers at Pretoria, with international repercussions. The German Kaiser, sympathetic to the Boer cause, sent a telegram to Paul Kruger congratulating him on his success.

It is likely that Dewar was imprisoned and transported back to Britain in the wake of the raid however he was back before long, serving as Lieutenant and Adjutant with the 5th New Zealand Contingent. The unit saw action for the first time near Ottoshoop where they did good work in the face of multiple casualties. Colonel Ketwich, formerly of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment gave an opinion of the unit's service during the war stating:

'I saw a good deal of the 6th Imperial Bushmen and the 4th and 5th New Zealanders, and these were all good fighting men who knew their job well'.

Dewar served until 5 November 1902 when a note on the role states he returned to Britain. Joining the 5th (Militia) Battalion, Royal Warwick Regiment as 2nd Lieutenant on 29 August 1903. He transferred to the Staits Settlement Police the next year as Lieutenant on 25 November 1904, being advanced Captain on 19 May 1906. Interestingly Dewar was listed in the Gazette of British Guiana as a Planter on 19 October 1912.

An A. R. J. Dewar served as a Veterinary Officer with New Zealand forces with the rank of Lieutenant from in October 1916 - October 1918. He does not appear to have qualified for any campaign awards, Dewar died at Malling, Kent on 3 January 1936.

Picture courtesy of Mowbray's

QSA (5) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3383 PTE H. ANDERSON. N: ZEALAND M.R.)
Police LS&GC, White type (NO. 1139 CONST. H. ANDERSON N.Z.POLICE)

Together with a Badge numbered 3383S.A (Oldham 11/38).

Henry Anderson (1880-1922) was a farmer. He enlisted on 14/1/1901 with the 17th Coy, 6th contingent of the Mounted Rifles. While in South Africa his mother enquired, noting that he was suffering from "Enteric". He was discharged on 15th May 1902 but in July still had “a chill resembling influenza”. He was granted a temporary pension and some medical care at home. He was working as a police constable by 1904 & was on the Army Reserve roll for WW1.

Picture courtesy of Mowbray's

DCM GV (SEGT J. DAVIDSON PIET RETIEF COMMANDO);
QSA (4) Cape Colony, Rhodesia, Orange Free State, Transvaal (1377 PTR. J. DAVIDSON. NEW ZEALAND M.R.);
KSA (2) (1377 SERGT: J. DAVIDSON N. ZEALAND M. R.);
1914-15 Star, BWM & VM (Bilingual) (SJT J.DAVIDSON PR CDO;).

Together with RAOB Attendance Jewel, engraved BIRMINGHAM LODGE XI. To BRO. J. DAVIDSON JULY 1. 1903.

Mowbray's say 'Just 170 KSA medals were awarded to NZ contingent members.'

From Balclutha, Otago & originally a butcher, John Davidson (born 5/10/1872, educated in Balclutha, died South Africa,11/3/1922), went to South Africa with the NZ Mounted Rifles, 4th Contingent. He transferred to the 7th contingent as 4670 Quarter-Master Sergeant. He received an MID with Colonel Rutherford for gallantry in bringing wounded men out of action under close fire on 5 October 1901. Originally from Balclutha, he stayed in South Africa after the War. His DCM was earned for distinguished service in the field in the campaign in German South West Africa 1914-15, in the Northern Army, 3rd Mounted Brigade, Right Wing Piet Retief Commando (LG 22/8/1918). The recommendation from his Commanding Officer was: “A brave soldier and good disciplinarian. On the 7th July 1915 at Tsumeb his personal example and courage steadied his men until the Commandant reached him. I recommend him for reward DCM."