TOPIC:

From Dundee to North Dakota via the Transvaal

A Broughty Ferry man serving with 1st Scottish Horse - Peter Brims
Roll number : WO100 / 268 p. 12 / Trooper 36965, 1 Scottish Horse
Topics: 1st Scottish Horse & Innovation / Dundee / Counter Guerrilla / Moedwil Battle / Scots-US emigration / Freemasonry
Read time : 6 Mins


I've recently had occasion to visit Broughty Ferry (for the cricket, Scotland won BTW) and was reminded to progress the research one member of the Scottish Horse.
Hope this is of interest to this forum.

1/ Broughty Ferry Origins

Peter Brims was born 19 July 1881 in Broughty Ferry, which lies on the North bank of the River Tay 4 miles to the east of Dundee, Scotland.

His Parents, John Brims, born in Dirleton, East Lothian in 1831 and Mary Johnstone, born Carmyllie, Forfar in 1837, were married in 1863 and went on to have 6 children, of which Peter was the youngest.

In the 1880s and 1890s, Broughty Ferry was a prosperous and rapidly developing suburb of Dundee, which was referred to as the richest square mile in Europe, due to the wealth accumulated by jute barons, who built grand villas along its coast. The population of Broughty Ferry in the year Peter was born was 7,400.

Social conditions were marked by a contrast between the affluent elite and the working-class population, many of whom were employed in domestic service or in trades. Around 35% of the population were involved in 'service', 20% in construction and skilled trades with 10% in each of fishing and retail and the balance working on the Railways or Jute manufacturing.

The town had grown significantly in size, boosted by improved rail and ferry links that made it a fashionable retreat for Dundee’s industrialists. Economic uncertainty towards the end of the 19th century—particularly the decline of the jute industry and the limited opportunities for social mobility among the working class —may have encouraged Peter and others to look for opportunity beyond the Tay shore.

Broughty Ferry, c.1896 - note barefoot children and oysters.

2/ Need for Mobile Counter-Guerrilla Units

The course of the Boer war will be familiar to readers of this forum.

Its origins lay in tensions between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics in South Africa: the South African Republic (Transvaal) and the Orange Free State. The discovery of vast gold reserves in the Transvaal in the 1880s intensified British interest and increased friction with the Boer governments, leading to conflict in October 1899. Early British setbacks were followed by British Forces reaching the two Boer capitals by March 1900 and June 1900 respectively.

Some thought that the capture of the two Boer capitals would signal the end of the war but the reality was that the Boer forces entered into a new phase of guerrilla warfare, characterised by small mobile commandos carrying out attacks on supply lines, trainlines and isolated garrisons. Rapid adaptation of British strategy was called for, as the threat evolved.

Kitchener, on taking command of British Forces in South Africa in November 1900, brought an extension of a strategy of 'drives' - large-scale, coordinated military operations designed to sweep across vast areas of the countryside to systematically trap and capture Boer commandos and cut off their resources.

This increased the need for additional mounted and resourceful troops and, as the twentieth century opened, laid the foundations of counter-guerrilla operations increasingly seen throughout the new century.


3/ Creation of the Scottish Horse 1900

In response to this demand for a resourceful and mobile force, the Caledonian society of Johannesburg, recognising that Scots emigrants were likely to fit the requirements, offered to raise a corps of local expat Scotsman. Kitchener readily agreed and searched for a suitable leader for the unit.

Step forward, John George Stewart-Murray, the Marquis of Tullibardine.

Born at Blair Castle, Perthshire, he was a gallic-speaking, Eton-educated, son of the Duke of Atholl and Captain in the Royal Horse Guards, then in Natal, and had served with Kitchener in the Sudan.



Marquis of Tullibardine Portrait; and with SH in Transvaal

His father, the Duke of Atholl owned the UK's only legal private army, the Atholl Highlanders, a largely ceremonial force granted ceremonial colours by Queen Victoria in 1845. Its presence in the Marquis' early life may have shaped the distinctly independent nature of the Scottish Horse.

Recruitment of Scots began in earnest for a first battalion in March 1900 in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Maritzburg with enlistment initially set at 6 months, later extending to 12 months, or to war's end. The profile of recruits was of Scots/men of Scots decent including farmers, ranchers, and other settlers, later widening to include volunteers from Scotland. New recruits were tested on their ability to ride and shoot.

Tullibardine described ""One hundred of them were the best body of men in every way that I saw in South Africa. This particular squadron had a reputation which extended far beyond the column with which it was trekking".

The model was so successful that a 2nd battalion was formed by November 1900. The Marquis also obtained permission to widen recruitment to Australia (where 250 Victorians readily answered) and via the Caledonian Society in London. Recruitment eventually extended to include Scots in Australia, New Zealand and Canada, as well as continued recruitment in Scotland with recruitment of both battalions centred on Inverness, Aberdeen, Stirling, Edinburgh and Perth.



Source : The Age Melbourne, Victoria, Australia , Sat 4 May 1901 p.11

The British imperial project lent itself to international mobility and many units in South Africa had representatives from multiple nations, but in its international recruitment from the Scottish community worldwide the Scottish Horse could be considered a truly international unit.

By February 1901 the regiment was 4 squadrons strong, including 50 special scouts and 50 cyclists and was deployed to the Western Transvaal. Both battalions were to prove their value in lengthy counter guerrilla operations across South Africa until war's conclusion.

4/ Innovation of Approach

The Marquis and his staff innovated in four areas to create a unit that would be very capable in response to the evolving demands of irregular warfare.

Skills - The profile sought was of "well-educated men, of sturdy independent character and first rate horsemen". Tests of health, shooting and riding ability were carried out for applicants. He also selected for "fine squadron leaders" and the character of recruits also contributed to its success by facilitating promotion from the ranks to replace killed officers over the engagement. Forty six officers came from within the ranks ( Tullibardine, 1908).


Spirit - Tullibardine was able to weld together people from 6 nations in short order citing the "espirit de corps for which Scotsmen all over the world are famous" and reinforcing this with a headdress featuring a St Andrews cross and tartan and distinctive black grouse cock's headdress.


Supply - The degree of independence also reflected in the regimental organisation with Lord Tullibardine establishing a supply organisation for remounts and equipment at Johannesburg separate from other British forces and a system of advanced depots near railway lines in each district the regiment was active in.


Scouting - Tullibardine also innovated a system of using native scouts within each squadron, to capitalise on local knoweldge, under their own chief who could maintain obedience.


These actions lead to an effective anti-guerrilla unit - mobile, adaptable and resilient. Col Benson, who first commanded the column the SH were attached to, described "both men and horses were excellent, their organisation was one to be copied" and he "defied any troops to scout better" (Tullibardine, 1908).



(Yeomanry in SA - headress quite possibly SH).


5/ Peter's Journey - Perth to Transvaal

Peter enlists with the 1st Scottish Horse on a Tuesday, the 28th May 1901 at the age of 19 years and 10 months at Perth.

He was described as 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing 119 llbs / 53kg with blue eyes and brown hair and was a mason who had been apprenticed, and who was living on Queen St, Broughty Ferry.

His reasons for enlistment are unknown, although economics may have played a part. We know his father died in May 1897 (when Peter was 16) which may have reduced family income.

A skilled mason's pay in Scotland in 1901 would have been 20-30 shillings per week. The building trade average would have been nearer 14 shillings per week. Following the Militia and Yeomanry Act 1901, which standardised allowances for new recruits, a trooper in the Scottish Horse was paid 35 shillings per week ( plus 1 shilling per day for quarters). This exceeded both the building trades (and infantry pay of 1 shilling per day at the time), by far.

Enlistment in the Scottish Horse may have been popular for more than economic reasons. Cromb (1902) described "The volunteers came forwards. Men vied with each other in their eagerness to be accepted. In every town the most remarkable scenes of patriotic enthusiasm were witnessed. In Aberdeen, Dundee, Perth and Stirling, the volunteers came forward. They were anxious to prove to the nation that the Volunteer is not a toy soldier".

Its popularity is evidenced by 3,200 in total who were to serve with the Scottish Horse in South Africa, when comparable Yeomanry units were mustering 5-600. In the period between Feb and April 1901 397 men, of whom 307 were Scots, left the UK with the Scottish Horse.

Peter sailed south with the Scottish Horse contingent on HMT Assaye leaving Southampton on 26 June 1901, with a "fine body of Scotsman, 224 strong", arriving at Durban in July and, after training at Elandsfontein, he was deployed to C squadron, led by Captain R. H. Dick-Cunyngham and promptly deployed to Western Transvaal in pursuit of De la Rey.



Capt. Dick Cunyngham, C Squadron, 1 Scottish Horse


6/ Moedwil 30 Sept 1901

Though this period of operations is characterised by drives, farm-burning and enforced movement of Boer families to concentration camps the nature of counter-guerrilla warfare is that large engagements are rare.

It is one of these, Moedwill in Sept 1901, that Peter was present at and that illustrates that the final year of the war was far from plain sailing for those involved. (I plan on writing a more extensive piece touching on the British experience in farm-burning at a later date).

By September 1901 the Boer commander De la Rey's daring was being matched by that of a Colonel Kekewich who was leading the mobile column Peter was attached to. Kekewich had achieved recognition as the senior commander in the siege of Kimberley in 0ctober 1899 to February 1900. Tullibardine (1908) talks of Kekewich commanding 'unshaken confidence, respectful affection and loyal devotion'.

In September 1901 Kekewich commanded a column of five companies of the Derbyshire Regiment, a detachment of Artillery and eight squadrons of mounted men (six squadrons of Scottish Horse and two of 7th Imperial Yeomanry) operating near Magaliesburg, 30 miles NW of Johannesburg. The total force was 800 men, of which 400 were Scottish Horse. Peter Brims was riding amongst them.

Five in the morning of the 29th September 1901 found the column setting off from Waterval arriving at the junction where the Rustenberg-Zeerust Road crosses the Selons rivers, around 70 miles NW of Johannesburg. At a place marked Moedwil the column pitched camp on rising ground above the river.

The Scottish Horse were at the northern end of the camp with C squadron, including Peter, out at an advance post about 600 yards NE of the camp, not realising the Delarey was closing in from the North. The night of the 29th to 30th passed quietly until 4.30am when shots were heard to the Northwest, were patrols encountered Boers crossing the river. The general alarm was raised - with "stand to" being heard in the South African darkness.

The British didnt know, but were soon to find out, that Delarey had been able to amass 1,100 men which were encircling the camp from north west and south.

Peter, as part of C squadron, was at the position marked as 'F' on the map, and in one of the first positions to contact with the attacking Boer forces. The brunt of the attack fell on the Scottish Horse in these picquets, including Peter, and to the main part of the camp to North West. Tullibardine (1908) describes "these men at once found themselves enfiladed and all but engulfed in the firing line from point blank" - with three picquet points being annihilated.



By 4.45 AM the sky was lightening with better visibility increasing accuracy of the attacking force. "One of the field guns and the pom-pom was out of action and the horses were dropping like shelled peas. In one troop line of thirteen horses of the SH, twelve were hit." (Tullbardine, 1908).

By 5.15 AM, as the sun started to break the horizon, a large body of Boers were reported working their way round to the east/ rear of the camp and a body of Derbyshires were sent out. Finding this incorrect, the Derbyshires swung North where they met the remaining SH, who had repulsed two fierce assaults in the previous 30 minutes and, with fixed bayonets, the SH and Derbyshires advanced to the enemy left, which gave way under the determined advance, precipitating a general retirement from the river bed with the last shot being fired at 6.15 AM.

Col. Kekewich himself was twice wounded in the defence of the camp but remained in command.

Casualties amongst the officers, rank-and-file and gunners were heavy :

British casualties were 61 Killed and 131 wounded. Of these, Scottish Horse casualties were 20 Killed and 53 wounded.

327 horses and 185 mules were killed and 67,000 rounds of ammunition expended plus 117 shrapnel shells and 800 maxim rounds.

The casualty rate was 24% (of a force of 800) over a very short duration of 1 hour 45 mins illustrates the intensity of combat. The engagement was also notable as Pte Williams Bees of the Derbyshires won a VC for going forward 500 yards to a spruit/ stream to fill a kettle with water for six of his wounded comrades.

For Peter and those in the Scottish Horse there no doubt that day's 5 shillings pay had been hard earned.


From this point until the end of the war in May the following year 1 Scottish Horse were continually trekking in Western Transvaal. Their activity was interspersed with notable success: at Gruisfontein on 5 Feb 1902, where 139 of Sarels laager were captured; the capture of 150 horses at Standerton-Ermelo line. and at Rooiwaal in April 1902, likely to be the last large-scale engagement of the war.


7/ Return and Restlessness to Emigration

With the close of hostilities in May 1902, the regiment returned to Johannesburg for disbandment. Around 700 choose to remain in South Africa and Tullibardine, true to form, worked hard to find positions for many. Seven hundred men, including Peter, returned to the UK from Cape Town on the SS Goth were they were disbanded on 3 Sept 1902 at Aldershot after marching through the town.



Scottish Horse marching through Aldershot prior to disbandment, Sept 1902 - Which one is Peter ?

They then travelled to Scotland by train, were they were entertained by the corporation of Edinburgh in Sept 1902.

The regiment had been so successful that it continued throughout the first world war serving in Gallipoli and Macedonia. It was finally amalgamated with the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry in 1956.


8/ Later life - North Dakota, Marriage and Masonry

Perhaps driven by the sense of wider world imparted by his experiences in S. Africa, perhaps by economics, we know that Peter didn't remain long in his native Scotland. We see him emigrating to the United Sates in 1904, following a path that many Scots had undertaken. His elder sister, Isabella also emigrates in 1907 finally settling in Alameda, California.

Between 1831 and 1931, 2 million Scots emigrated, equal to the total population at that the start of that period.


It's intriguing to consider whether the experience of imperial adventure brings a restlessness and confidence to emigrate, or whether it is those who are more likely to embrace risk by joining an imperial venture, that are later more likely to emigrate.

It may also be that any globalised or imperial project tends to support and encourage migration, through available transport links and exposure to ideas and objects from distant locations.


Eight years after the events of Moedwil finds Peter, in 1909, at the age of 28 newly married in Grafton, North Dakota to Guðný Gertrude Jósepsdóttir, who was born in 1884 in Iceland.

North Dakota was one of the most Scandinavian-populated states in the union during this period, with the 1910 census recording approximately 28% of the population being from a Nordic country. Their first and only child, Peter Williams Brims Jr is born in 1912.



Grafton, North Dakota, 1910

Peter next appears in an article in the Bismarck Tribune, North Dakota, in June 1926, age 44, where he is one of the 250 Freemasonry Grand Masters at the opening of the grand lodge of North Dakota communication.

It's interesting to consider when Peter was initiated into the craft, whether this was connected to his earlier building trades apprenticeship, his Boer war experience, or only post-emigration, with freemasonry providing a means of fellowship, connection and advancement that would be crucial for a new émigré.

Freemasonry was known to have lodges within the British Army and many of the leaders on both sides were freemasons (including Kitchener, Roberts, Churchill, and Joubert and Viljoen on the Boer side).

John Stuart Murray, Marquis of Tullibardine and CO of the Scottish Horse was, by 1908, appointed Grand Master of Scottish Freemasons. There is a possibility, if not probability, that Peter's freemasonry initiation was whilst serving with the Scottish Horse, and that he continued activity throughout his life.

Peter lived in Grafton, North Dakota until his death in 1952, age 71. He was succeeded by his wife, Guðný, who lived until 1971.

The Walsh County Press, Park River, North Dakota on 10 July 1952 report in his obituary that he came to the US in 1904, located himself in Grafton, was employed in the state school for many years and had long been a member of the masonic fraternity, which officiated his funeral service under the Rev Given T Jutz (Findagrave.com, 2025).



The founders of the Scottish Horse believed Scottish emigrants, in all countries, carried with them a powerful identity and common identification with the home country that would quickly build a fighting spirit and cohesion, invaluable for the difficult task faced in 1901.

That they were correct is evidenced by the Scottish Horse's record in South Africa, and into the 20th century.


Peter's penultimate day of life also powerfully demonstrates the founders' faith in the strength of the Scottish identity held true. The Walsh County Press reported "the day before he died, he had been making plans for a visit to his native Scotland - his first in 50 years".



All feedback and builds welcome.
Thanks for your time.

J