TOPIC:

I'm starting a thread on men who were born in the USA and served in South Africa. It seems that many had English parents or heritage. Please feel free to add anyone you are aware of. Thank you in advance.

QSA: CC, OFS and JBurg to 401 Sgt W D G Carter APO Corps

William Drayton Gauntlet Carter was born in Long Island, New York, USA. The 1891 census records that he was a 16-year-old clerk residing with his widowed mother Isabella, two sisters and brother at 6 Kings Down Road, Wanstead. William joined the Civil Service and was appointed a sorter at the London Post Office on 19 July 1894 (London Gazette 27July 1894 refers). William attested for the Army Post Office Corps in London on 11 January 1900. It is recorded that he was a serving member of the 24th Middlesex Volunteer Rifle Corps at the time. His next of kin and head of house was his mother. They lived at 144 Pond Road, West Ham. He was posted to South Africa shortly afterwards, and was promoted Sergeant on 28 December 1900, but reduced to Private on 29 July 1901 for being drunk whilst on active service. His Queen’s South Africa Medal with these three clasps are confirmed on Medal roll TNA WO100/230 page 130, . He was also awarded the Kings South Africa Medal with two claspsTNA WO100/355 page 239. He was discharged from the Army Post Office Corps in March 1903 having completed 3 years and 80 days service. William is next traced to Chelmsford where he attested for the Army Service Corps on 18 May 1915 recording his occupation as Clerk and Traveler. He served in France with No 14 Labor Company from 8 June 1915, and was demobilized on 11 January 1919. Entitled to ’15 Star Trio. William died in Greenwich on 23 August 1933, his home address was 24 Florence Street, New Cross, Kent.

If anyone knows the location of his KSA and '15 Trio, please contact me as I'd like very much to reunite them. Thanks. John

QSA: CC, OFS, TR, SA01 to 479 Pte. W. Langan. 1st Bn Railway Pioneer Regt.
Walter Langan was an American Citizen who was born in Chicago in Spring 1875. His father was William Langan and his mother was Mary Quade. He was baptized on 18 April 1875, He served from 16 January 1900 to 31 October 1901. His Medal was posted to him at 2210 West Heron Street, Chicago, U.S.A.

Langan attested for the Railway Pioneer Regiment on 16 January 1900, when he was a 24-year-old plumber. His father and next of kin was William Langan who lived at 494 Oakland Avenue, Chicago, U.S.A. He was discharged at Johannesburg on 31 October 1901, at his own request, after completion of his engagement. He returned to the States and lived at 1105 N. Ashland Ave. died at 75 years old. He was interred on 31 January 1946 in the Roman Catholic Calvary Cemetery (Lot 22, Block 5, Section 0) in Evanston, Illinois. Calvary Catholic Cemetery was consecrated in 1859 and remains one of the most historic cemeteries within the Chicago Archdiocese. The Cemetery Spans 92 acres, and is situated on Lake Michigan, bordered by Chicago Avenue to the west and Sheridan Road to the east in Evanston, Illinois. It is the burial place of many Mayors, Governors, and public figures prominent in every phase of the development of Chicago.

QSA no clasp to 24538 Private H. Holland, Yorkshire Regiment

Herbert A. Holland was born on 23 July 1880 in Philadelphia, New York, which is a small town in northern New York state near the Canadian border. Holland enlisted in the 4th Militia Bn, Yorkshire Regiment on 21 September 1899 at age 19 years & 10 months in Bradford, Yorks. He was embodied on 5 May1900, and disembodied on 2 July 1901 and again embodied on 17 July 1902, He served in South Africa from 11 March 1902 to 5 September 1902, and was disembodied on 25 September 1902. He purchased his discharge on 21 October 1902. He drilled on enlistment for 49 days and then served in South Africa only for six months. He was 5’ 3.5” tall, 104 lbs., with grey eyes and red hair. He was single and a Wesleyan. Papers state he was a British subject and laborer who lived at 168 Old Road in Great Horton, near Bradford in Yorkshire. He worked for J. Bem. (sic) & Co.

According to the 1901 Census, Hollnad was a single 25-year-old Private in Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards).

The 1911 Census records him as 31, and married for five years to Emma Jane Cowell (1879-?) who was also 31, and from Bradford, Yorks. It is noted that Herbert A. Holland was born in Philadelphia, USA, but a British Subject by parentage. They had three children: Irene, five years old and Gladys, 7 months old. A Third child died. Herbert was a municipal electric Tram Conductor in Bradford. Their address was 26 Derby St. Great Horton, Bradford, Yorks. UK.

In WWI, Holland enlisted in Bradford in the Prince of Wales Own West Yorks and served as a sergeant in the 12th Bn. His service number was 18/1226. He was 38 years old when he was KIA on 23.07.1916 in France & Flanders. He is commemorated on Pier & Face 2 A 2 C and 2 D on the Thiepval Memorial as he has no known grave. His widow was Emma Jane Holland of 26 Derby ST. Great Horton, Bradford, Yorks.
He is entitled to a 1915 Star Trio.. If anyone knows the location of Hollands trio, please contact me as I would very much like to reunite the group. Thanks.

Van Dyke Todd was born in 1870 the son of George Todd and Edwina van Dyke of Jefferson, Texas, George had been a Cavalry Officer in the Army of the Confederacy during the American Civil War (War of Northern Aggression). Edwina passed away when Van dyke was just 2 years of age.
He was to attend Annapolis Naval Academy and was in the 4th class of the 1888-89 academic year when he resigned from the Academy and returned to Texas after 9 months at the Naval Academy. In 1894 he married Mattie Bayse on 27th June 1894. The marriage did not last long, and we next see Van Dyke in the Marriage register of Marion Texas wedding a Miss Lina Pope on the 28th of August 1897, at that time he was still residing in Marion Texas. His time in Texas is not well known but it has been stated that he worked on cattle ranches before sailing to South Africa, where he engaged in the occupation of mining prior to war breaking out.
Todd first Joined Robert's Horse (Trooper 2145) on the 17th of January 1900, during the early stages of the Second Boer War and is listed on the medal roll entitled for a Queen's South Africa medal with clasps for the Relief of Ladysmith, Johannesburg, Paardeburg and Driefontein. He was to leave Roberts Horse Roberts Horse on 22nd April 1901. One can only speculate as to the reason, but he was to next enlist 4 days later on 26th April 1901 in the Corps of Cattle Rangers, Regimental number 262. The CCR had somewhat of a mixed reputation and members of that unit were known for their recalcitrance. Todd was later to be discharged for misconduct on 25th November 1901, 1 of 38 so discharged. We next find Van Dyke Todd on the roll of the Imperial Light Horse and with the formation enlisting on 16th December 1901 as Trooper 2927 through until 26th June 1902, with whom he qualified for the Orange Free State and Transvaal clasps.

Todd's moment came during the disastrous battle of Sannah's Post, on 31 March 1900, in which De Wet's Commando ambushed a British mounted column under General Broadwood. This engagement saw the heroic stand of 'Q' Battery, Royal Horse Artillery which resulted in the award of four Victoria Crosses to Q Battery, and in the first use of Article 13 since the Indian Mutiny. Another VC was awarded to Lieutenant Francis Maxwell, 18th Bengal Lancers (after an intersession at Court – his recommendation being at first rejected) who was instrumental in the recovery of several guns under heavy fire.

It was in similar fashion that Todd won the D.C.M., volunteering to ride out of cover to round up horses to carry off the guns. The History of Lumsden's Horse, by H. H. S. Pearse, recounts his actions:

'The coolest deed of all, however, was done by an American named Todd, a Trooper in Robert's Horse. With a comrade he had first volunteered to go out and bring in some stray horses for the disabled guns. Before they had ridden fifty yards the second trooper was shot dead, but Todd galloped on straight towards the Boers, rounded up both horses, and had nearly brought them back when one was killed. Todd heard an officer asking for volunteers to go out in search of their doctor who was lying wounded in a donga. Without waiting to hear more the trooper turned his horse's head towards the Boer lines again and galloped off. Twenty minutes later he rode back slowly, bearing a heavy burden in his arms. 'I couldn't see the doctor anywhere, he said 'but I have brought back the only wounded man that I found alive there.'
From the Action at Sannah’s Post, 3 DCM’s were awarded to Robert's Horse, those being to Sergeant J.C. Collins, and Troopers T. Murphy and Van Dyke Todd. Another award was presented for that action, 1 of the 4 scarves to the Colonial forces in South Africa hand worked by Queen Victoria to Trooper Chadwick, also an American serving in that unit. Robert's Horse suffered losses of 1 officer and thirty other ranks killed, 6 officers and 50 other ranks wounded and 70 taken as prisoners of war.

Broadwood's dispatch of 08/02/1901 as follows:
:The following Officers, non-commissioned officers, and men risked their lives to save comrades under heavy fire :— Lieutenant-Colonel Pilcher, Northumberland 'Fusiliers. •-Captain Gore Anley, Essex Regiment. 4103 Corporal Lincoln, 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. - 4831 Private Evans, 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. ' Sergeant J. C. Collins, Roberts' Horse. Private T. Murphy, Roberts' Horse. • Private V. D. Todd, Roberts' Horse. I am forwarding detailed evidence in the case of such of the above &s seem worthy of the special consideration of the Commander-in Chief. ' - ' I have, &c., '•' . R. G. BROADWOOD. Brigadier-General,"

Todd was again Gazetted this time for his DCM on 27th September 1901
After the cessation of hostilities, Todd now 34 years old was to return to the United States on October 10, 1904 via the UK, and left Southampton bound for Ellis Island on the SS Germanic under the command of Captain C Y Bartlett. He arrived 30 days later and on arrival on Ellis Island listed his address as Johannesburg.
The intervening years up until the 1920 US Census are a bit of a mystery, but we next see him married for a 3rd time on February 20,1911, to Francis Edwina Waring born in Washington in 1888 and they have 3 daughters (Edwina, Alice and Margaret) and 1 son (George) on the 1920 census. Another son Van Dyke Jr was born between 1920-30 census.

Sometime after he returned to the United States, Van Dyke must have done some deep reflection on his life as we next see him in 1911 (the same year he married) as a Pastor (Minister of religion) in the Baptist Church in California, and this calling was to be his legacy for the next 23 Years.

He was a registered voter and whilst he was a Democrat for most of his life and in his later years he was also a registered (at times) voter for the Abolitionist Party and sometime member of the Liberty party.
Van Dyke was to pass away on 29th November 1935 at 12.05pm. A transcript of his obituary is posted below.

Taken from The Pomona Progress Bulletin
29 Nov 1935, Fri · Page 8
Death takes Local Pastor
Rev. Van Dyke Todd, aged 65,
Calvary Minister succumbs to illness.
The Rev. Van Dyke Todd, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, passed away at 12.05pm today at the family home, 571 W 7th Street, after 4 weeks of illness which followed a long period of poor health. He was 65 years of age.
For the last 2 years he has been pastor of Calvary Church, and for 3 years prior to that was pastor of Bethal Baptist Church.
Mr Todd was born is Jefferson Texas, June 8, 1870. He has lived in southern California for the last 25 years having come to this state from his birthplace and has held pastorates in various cities in California.
Surviving relatives are his widow, Van Dyke Jr, in Arkansas, and George T Todd now in US Navy Service; and 4 daughters Alice and Ivah M Todd Pomona, Edwina Santa Barbara, and Margaret Todd Colinga Calif.
Funeral arrangements will be announced by Todd and Reeves.”
Todd's QSA (Roberts Horse) & KSA (Imperial Light Horse) issued and returned from South Africa as "undeliverable" so the DCM is his sole entitlement.

Hi Simon,

What an excellent write-up and back story; I’m very jealous.

You must be very happy to have this Sannah's Post DCM in your collection.

Regards,
Shaun