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James C. Howard - a long serving man with the Natal R.R. (Rifles and Regiment) 1 year 2 months ago #88005

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James Charles Howard

Private, Natal Royal Rifles - Anglo Boer War
Colour Sergeant, Natal Royal Regiment - Bambatha Rebellion


- Queens South Africa Medal with clasp Relief of Ladysmith to 230 Pte. J.C. Howard, Natal R.R.
- Natal Medal with 1906 clasp to Col. Sgt. J.C. Howard, Natal Royal Regt.
- Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal to No. 230 Col. Ser. J.C. Howard, Natal Royal Regt.


James Howard, also known as John to the military authorities, was born in England in about 1864. His early years are shrouded in mystery with little to nothing known about his antecedents.

Our first glimpse of him comes with his enlistment with the Natal Royal Rifles in Pietermaritzburg on 1 July 1887 at the age of 23 with no. 230 and the rank of Private. Having served as a volunteer for two years Howard, who was at that time employed as an Engine Driver with the Natal Government Railways, took his discharge on 30 June 1889. The fact that he tied the marital knot on 15 June 1889 might have influenced his decision. That auspicious event took place in his mother-in-law-to-be’s house in Pietermaritzburg – in the presence of the Congregational Pastor, one Mr Russell, he took 22 year old Ellen Georgina Honey to be his wife. He was a 25 year old Fireman on the Railways at the time. Between them the couple had ten children and it is in large measure thanks to their baptismal details that we know his whereabouts in the early years of his marriage.

Maud Ellen Howard was the first born, in 1890. She was followed by Kate Hilda who was born in Pietermaritzburg on 29 November 1891; at which time Howard was still a Fireman on the N.G.R. living in Berg Street. Next came Judith Virginia Ann, born in 1894 followed by Ellen Georgina, born on 28 September 1895 when the family lived in Chapel Street, Pietermaritzburg. Howard was now a Guard on the N.G.R.

Probably missing the camaraderie of the monthly drill sessions and camps and in an effort to escape the “women” at home; he re-enlisted with the Rifles on 16 November 1894.

May Victoria now joined the Howard clan – born on 15 August 1897. James Charles came next – he was the first boy and was born on 11 November 1899 – one month after the Anglo Boer War had commenced. The family were living at 445 Burger Street, Pietermaritzburg and Howard was an Engineer on the N.G.R.

Howard wasn’t one to shirk his duty and, when the Boer War commenced was, as has been seen, an active member of the N.R.R. The “Rifles” (as they were known) had been formed in 1866 as the Maritzburg Rifles or “Mud Rats” as they were affectionately known on account of the “muddiness” of Pietermaritzburg as it was in those days. From a promising beginning squabbles erupted amongst its leadership leading to the breakaway of its one wing to become the famous Durban Light Infantry. The N.R.R. continued in a much smaller vein numbering a paltry 160 officers and men by the time the Anglo Boer War broke out in October 1899.

On 29 September 1899 at 6 .p.m. the corps received orders to proceed to the front at 4 p.m. the following day. Despite the short notice the whole of the corps, apart from a few who were ill, mustered at the appointed hour. Howard would have been among their number. The corps was despatched to the front on 30 September 1899, remaining for quite some time at Estcourt, about 40 miles from Ladysmith and a similar distance from the Free State border.

Their main function, until the arrival of the Army Service Corps, was to keep open the lines of communication with many important bridges in the area requiring close watching.

Earning for himself the Relief of Ladysmith clasp Howard would have been among the number who were present at Willow Grange and a number of other skirmishes and actions leading up to the relief of that town on 28 February 1900.

After Ladysmith had been relieved the necessity for a concentration of colonial troops dissipated and many were sent home with a few electing to stay on in the newly constituted Natal Voluntary Composite Regiment. Others like Howard, now 36 and with work responsibilities with the Railways, were deployed to Zululand where, in May 1900, they again joined the main army under General Hillyard.

For his efforts he was awarded the Queens medal with the single clasp Relief of Ladysmith.

Once more at home the baby mill continued to churn them out – on 21 January 1902 Violet Elizabeth was born at 40 Havelock Road.
Howard was still listed as an Engineer with the N.G.R. On 21st October 1903 yet another child was born (unnamed at the time the birth was recorded). The family hadn’t had time to move and were still at the same address with Howard now a Driver with the N.G.R.

The other matter of note that took place in 1903 happened on 1 December 1903 when he was rewarded for his diligence with promotion to the rank of Lance Corporal. This was followed by promotion to Corporal on 1 March 1904 and Sergeant on 1 April 1905.

In the meanwhile, in 1904, the Natal Royal Rifles had undergone a name change to the Natal Royal Regiment. Howard was promoted to the rank of Colour Sergeant on 10 February 1906, coinciding with his call up to assist in the suppression of the Zulu (or Bambatha) Rebellion. George Valentine also saw the light of day in 1904, born on 30 November, his family had moved up the road to 80 Havelock Road. Howard was still a Driver on the N.G.R.

The Bambatha Rebellion had come about as a result of the dissatisfaction among some Zulu chiefs with the imposition of a poll tax on the head of every Black male. Natal post Boer War was an unhappy place financially as huge debts which had been incurred in the waging of war had to be settled which placed an onerous burden on the fiscus. The powers that be had decided on the idea of a poll tax to assist with the recovery of colonial finances but Bambatha, the principal troublemaker, went about the land stirring up revolt among some of the chiefs, an act which led to open rebellion in early 1906.

Howard was initially employed, along with the N.R.R., until 15 March 1906 when, it was thought, the danger had passed and life could return to normal. Bambatha had other ideas and the Colonial Militia was again called out with Howard being deployed operationally from 26 April until 19 July 1906 by which time Bambatha’s head had been literally brought forward on a plate as proof of his demise. The Rebellion over Howard returned to civilian life and was awarded the Natal Medal with 1906 clasp.

The baby factory having, of necessity, taken a break whilst Howard was away on service, went back into production with the birth, on 24 December 1906, of Harry Edward. This took place in the Havelock Road house with Howard now a Shed Foreman with the N.G.R. The last born was Arthur Edward – he came along on 20 August 1909 when the family had moved to 74 Havelock Road. Howard was now an Engine Driver with the N.G.R. With a wife and ten children in the house it must have been a joyous but noisy life.

On 28 November 1912, a month before the Regiment was disbanded in terms of the new Defence Act, an application for the award of the prestigious Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal was forwarded by Captain A. Mackenzie to Defence Headquarters on behalf of Howard. He had served a long and productive 20 years in the Regiment to be eligible for this award and had seen action in two wars along the way.

Louis Botha, the Prime Minister of South Africa, authorised the granting of the medal on 24 January 1913 and Howard was able to sport the medal along with those he had earned for the Boer War and Bambatha Rebellion. That same year, no doubt worn out by the many childbirths she had endured, Ellen Howard passed away at the age of 42 on 18 February 1913.

All went quiet on the Howard front until, on 8 December 1914, several months after the outbreak of the Great War, he enlisted with the Defence Rifle Association (Home Guard) with the rank of Sergeant Major. At the age of 50 he still had the verve and energy to volunteer. He was not awarded a medal for his efforts.

He passed away on Saturday, 30 December 1944 at the age of 78 years and 10 months at Grey’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg. His address at the time of his death was 20 Quince Road, Pietermaritzburg.










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James C. Howard - a long serving man with the Natal R.R. (Rifles and Regiment) 1 year 2 months ago #88007

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A cracking trio of medals and a cracking backstory!
Cheers Steve
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James C. Howard - a long serving man with the Natal R.R. (Rifles and Regiment) 1 year 2 months ago #88010

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Another excellent piece of research Rory.
Very interesting, thank you

Ian
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James C. Howard - a long serving man with the Natal R.R. (Rifles and Regiment) 1 year 2 months ago #88013

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Comments are appreciated gents.

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