TOPIC:

Good morning Brett,
A very emotive last paragraph, I have wondered for many years now, just how many of the 30,000 or so natives in the service of the crown during the war, actually received a medal.
Regards Frank

[quote="Brett Hendey" post=7884

One such account that took my eye was written by Scout Stephan Molife:
"At Brakenlaagte (sic), Transvaal, I being alone in a hole as a sentinel and under the command of Colonel McKenzie, a Boer and Kaffir both armed came to spy out the camp, and I shot both, the kaffir dead and wounded the Boer who was subsequently taken over by the ambulance.
On parting with the Marquis Tullibardine he called the Scouts up and thanked us much for our work."

Brett[/quote]

In 1976,Donald Hall had on his May list a bronze QSA to "Cooly Bahadur" for £22.00 I have never seen another ranked as a Cooly. There are no rank of cooly on the surviving rolls for the Indian Contingent in the NA, Kew , although it does occur on the rim of other medals; Tibet for example. I have always taken it to be a rank relating to a Cooly Corps raised during the siege at Ladysmith from refugees ,of indentured labourers, that came to the town for safety from the Republican Forces . If you find a roll for the Cooly Corps at PMB, it might prove, at least, that conscripted members of the Indian communities were rewarded with a medal.

David

Thank you for another very interesting lead and I will follow it up as well.

The 'title' is (or was) commonly used in Natal and it is easy to believe it would have been used in Ladysmith during the War.

With regard to your earlier reference to Mafeking, you might be interested in the last line of a translation of a letter published in the Zulu newspaper, "Ipepa lo Hlanga", on 11 March 1904.

Regards
Brett

Hi Brett
I am most curious as to whether Scout Simon, recipient of the bronze QSA I reported on earlier in the thread,features in your newly found "rolls", seeing that he was from Natal.

In Anticipation

Henk

Hi Henk

I have scanned Samuelson's rolls and there are two 'Simons', both on the roll compiled by Chief Native Scout Simeon Kambule of the men who served under him. They are:
40 Simon Mkize
138 Simon Ndhlovu

Biblical forenames, or the 'Christian' names introduced by missionaries, were common amongst the Zulus, so it might be difficult to pin down 'your' Simon. Since no names from Natal were forwarded to Britain for naming, 'your' Simon must have been on a FID roll compiled elsewhere. It is clear from supporting documentation that accompanies Samuelson's lists that Natal Zulus did not served only in Natal.

It will be interesting to compare Samuelson's roll with FID rolls to find out if there are other 'matches'.

By the way, it is clear from submissions made to the Natal Government that the Natal Native Scouts were claiming the silver QSA. A copy of Army Order No. 94 (1901) was copied to the Government with Paragraph 28 marked:
"28. The medal in silver, with clasps, will be granted to any native soldiers specially employed within the sphere of operations, who fulfill the necessary conditions."
The "specially employed" was also highlighted.

Regards
Brett

Gentlemen,
These are the men from WO100/301 pages 81-95 of the main roll.
Regards Frank

Brett Hendey wrote:

It will be interesting to compare Samuelson's roll with FID rolls to find out if there are other 'matches'.



Regards
Brett