TOPIC:

Wood's christian name was quite a mission to track down but,once accomplished with the help of the Natal Almanac, the following emerged:

Charles Wood

Corporal, Bethune’s Mounted Infantry – Anglo Boer War

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek and South Africa 1901

Charles Wood was born in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland in about July 1852 the son of Robert, a Shoe Maker, and Agnes Wood. Young Charles was a late addition to the family with his father 52 years of age when he was born and his mother 41.

His first appearance was in the 1861 Scotland census where he was a lad of 7 living at 7 St. Mary’s Place in Aberdeen with his family. Siblings were Cath Wood (24), William Wood (19), Hugh Wood (17), Agnes Wood (15) and John Wood (9)




7 St. Mary's Place, Aberdeen

Ten years later, at the time of the 1871 Scotland census, the family were still at the same address. Now a sprightly youth of 17, Charles was employed as a Ship Owner’s Clerk. At some point between 1871 and 1881 Wood must have decided to venture south in search no doubt of adventure. He headed for South Africa, more specifically Natal, and opened a store in the Beaumont area just outside Richmond. This was the area so many of the Byrne settlers to Natal had come to having been apportioned land there as part of the settlement scheme.

On 7 April 1881, at Sweet Home in the Upper Umkomanzi County, he married Maria Agnes Hall a 20 year old who hailed from the same area as Wood. The marriage was solemnised “in the house” probably in the absence of a church.

The couple settled down to a tranquil existence until the outbreak of the Anglo Boer War in 1899 disturbed their equanimity. Now aged 46 Wood heeded the call for colonials to take up arms against the Boers who were threatening to invade Natal. He enlisted on 19 October 1899 with “D” Company of Bethune’s Mounted Infantry, the very same day the unit was launched. Assigned the rank of Corporal he must also have been one of the first to sign up with No. 10 as his designated number. He provided his address as c/o Avery, Churchill Road, Stamford Hill, Durban.

Edward Cecil Bethune had raised the Corps at Durban on 19 October 1899 and, in order to follow Wood’s movements at this time it would serve us well to follow that of the B.M.I. – The regiment was present at Willow Grange on the night of 22 November 1899 and did good service. They were also present at the Battle of Colenso on 15 December 1899, 500 in number, but were detailed as the baggage guard. When Buller attempted to turn the right of the Boer positions between himself and Ladysmith the largest portion of the B.M.I. went to Potgieter’s Drift, where they were attached to Gen. Lyttleton’s Brigade and had skirmishing on many occasions.

On 24 January 1900 when the wholesale slaughter was going on atop Spioenkop, two of the B.M.I. squadrons were sent to assist but were kept in reserve by General Talbot Coke, probably because the role of lining the trenches befitted the Infantry more so than Mounted troopers.

On 11 February Bethune was ordered to take his men to Greytown, in order to keep an eye on the Boer troops near the Zululand border, and also with the view of ultimately co-operating from Greytown in any movement made towards Dundee.

The Natal Army lay chiefly to the North of Ladysmith during March and April and Bethune was ordered by Buller to advance on that town to establish connection with his own force at Vermaak’s Kraal this was done and the B.M.I. seized the hills which commanded the southern sides of the pass during the night. The remaining Boers fled and Natal was cleared of the enemy. The remainder of 1900 was spent employed on patrol work in the south of the Transvaal and the Utrecht district. There was much skirmishing and the work was dangerous leading up to the occupation of Vryheid in September. In December 1900 the B.M.I. were taken to Lindley in the Orange Free State where they were frequently engaged as well as in other parts of the colony. On 19 May 1901 men of the B.M.I. were taken to the Cape Colony where, down to the close of the war, they were in everlasting pursuit of General Kritzinger, Myburg and other leaders. On 12th September they were heavily engaged against forces led by General Smuts at Stavelberg in the eastern part of the Cape there being further casualties at Maraisburg on 27 March 1902.

That Wood was to be found present at all these actions is confirmed by the clasp entitlement to his medals. He was issued with the Queens and Kings South Africa Medals with clasps Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek, and South Africa 1901. He was discharged from the regiment on 6 April 1901 when the Boer threat to Natal had dissipated if not disappeared altogether.

Once the war was over Wood returned to his Trading Store but, either because of the financial depression that immediately followed or for some other reason, he decided to throw in the towel and take his family to Johannesburg which was now a thriving metropolis built around the gold industry. At some stage he joined the ranks of the Rand Pioneers (Incorporated) – this body of men (women weren’t allowed) – was formed in the early 1900’s to promote the interests and aims of those who were deemed to be Pioneers of Johannesburg. John Griffin Maynard, a Major who served with Wood in the B.M.I. was one of the founding members.

Wood, although not a Pioneer, soon found himself in a leadership role in this organisation as the Secretary and Commission Agent. It is to their record keeping ability that we have a photo depicting what Wood looked like. This photo, taken in 1929/1930 shows him seated in the front row, third from left, in his capacity of Secretary/Treasurer.





Tragedy was to strike when he lost his wife on 17 July 1907 at the age of 45. The couple had no children so Wood soldiered on without her. He was to pass away at about the time the photo referred to above was taken, on 15 November 1930 at the age of 77 years and 5 months. He was resident at 5 Maxwell Buildings, 30 Harrison Street, Johannesburg at the time. His only surviving relative was his sister’s daughter, Mrs Bella Agnes Humble of 276 Broomhill Road, Aberdeen, Scotland.

Thank You Rory.....

Another fantastic story and piece of research......

Mike