TOPIC:

In working through the Important Decision book, a came to page 58 which contained notes on the issue of the medals to Natives and Cape Boys.

www.angloboerwar.com/forum/15-important-...s-and-cape-boys#8188

The decision includes the list of 8 Corps to which it was intended to issue Bronze Medals plus a note about the issues under special circumstances.

Regards
David

Duplicate post.

The most useful way to round off the discussion on the non-award of QSA's to the black soldiers of Natal would be to use the paper I mentioned in post #8055.

The book 'Writing a wider war' (Eds Cuthbertson, Grunglingh & Suttle, Ohio University Press, 2002)includes a chapter by John Lambert entitled '"Loyalty its Own Reward" the South African War Experience of Natal's "Loyal" Africans.'
It reveals that there was a growing antipathy by Natal Colonists towards the emerging Zulu Christian middle class ("kholwa"), which was the basis for the Colonists objection to rewarding them with medals. Also, and to me very disappointingly, Lord Roberts played into the Colonists hands with a decision that caused the medal issue to reach stalemate and, ultimately, to end in the non-award of the QSA to Natal's Native Scouts.

In order to give John Lambert full credit for his study of this matter, two pages from his chapter (128 & 129) are reproduced below.

Brett

When you come to expand your inquiry.......
Imperial Yeomanry Hospital, Pretoria. p 237 WOO100/130
Nominal Roll of Natives entitled to S^o. Africa Medal

David

Many thanks for that information.

The compiling of a nominal roll for the Native Scouts has turned into a nightmare and that applies only to the men from Natal. I have a fairly reliable list of about 350 Natal Natives from the Christian settlements of Edendale and Driefontein, with some additional names from elsewhere. However, there is another list of 1800 names, which include Edendale and Driefontein residents and men from some, but not all northern Natal magistracies and chiefdoms. Many are forenames only, some Zulu and others are Christian names. There are many obvious duplications and triplications of names and probably many more that are not obvious (e.g Zulu forenames on one list and Christian ones for the same men on another).

I am contemplating the next step in this process, but it may take someone younger and stronger to bring it to a meaningful conclusion.

I can say with certainty that the listing of Natives on the FID medal roll is hopelessly inadequate. Also, some of the Natal men who were listed did not receive QSA's.

Regards
Brett

There you are Brett,