TOPIC:

817 PRIVATE HERMANUS JULIUS GRIEB

Hermanus Julius Grieb served during the Anglo Boer War with the Frontier Light Horse, formerly known as the District Mounted Rifles.
Following his discharge from the FLH he was listed as a Trooper on the strength of "B" Squadron of the Cape Colonial Forces.


Entitlement to the Queen's South Africa medal confirmed on Medal Roll WO100/247 for Frontier Light Horse and WO100/239 for Cape Colonial Forces.


Number and naming.


Regimental naming.

On both Medal Rolls another two recruits bear the surname Grieb. I strongly suspect that they are family members.

Hermanus Julius Grieb was recorded as being the Manager of a Ntsundwana Trading Store on his death certificate and died from a chronic cardiac arrest at this address on the 7th July 1952. He was married and was 69 years of age and had suffered from emphysema of chest for two years.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

SAGS (1) 1879 (279. Tpr. G. Seymour. Frontr. L. Horse.)

G. Seymour was killed in action at Hlobane Mountain on 28 March 1879, a disastrous encounter that resulted in 17 officers and 82 other ranks being killed, besides many more wounded, most of the fatalities being inflicted on Buller’s force during its headlong flight down ‘The Devil’s Pass’. Of these fatalities, two were officers and 28 were N.C.Os or other ranks from the Frontier Light Horse. In fact, such was the carnage caused by the Zulus’ assegais that they renamed Hlobane the ‘Stabbing Mountain’. Five Victoria Crosses were awarded for the action.

Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901 (544 Pte C. Y. Griffin. Frontier L.H.).

Together with a pair of apparently unrelated joined clasps, Tugela Heights and Relief of Ladysmith.

M&E say C. Y. Griffin of the Frontier Light Horse (late District Mounted Rifles) is confirmed on the medal roll, which states in the remarks ‘Discharged’.