Johannes Petrus De Beer

Burger, Suikerbosrand Ward, Heidelberg Commando – Anglo Boer War
Burger, “B” Squadron, Heidelberg Commando – WWI

- Anglo Boere Oorlog Medal to BURG. J.P. DE BEER
- 1914-15 Star to BURG. J.P. DE BEER HEIDELBERG KDO
- British War Medal to BURG. J.P. DE BEER. HEIDELBERG KDO.
- Victory Medal to BURG. J.P. DE BEER. HEIDELBERG KDO.



Johannes Petrus De Beer was born on 30 October 1887 in the Heidelberg district of the then Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek, better known as the Transvaal. He was the son of Barend Petrus Stephanus De Beer and his wife Hendrina Wilhelmina born Rossouw. His father, at the of 27, had married the widow Strydom (born Rossouw) in Heidelberg on 14 May 1877.

Like so many of his forebears, De Beer senior was a Farmer, making his living off the land in the fertile expanse around the town of Heidelberg. Of necessity Boer families were large in size with as many children as the “ou vrouw” could bring into the world put to work on the farm as soon as they were physically able. Mrs De Beer had six children, Johanna Elizabeth Dirkie (1878); Hendrina Wilhelmina (1880); Catharina Christina Sofia (1882); Barend Petrus (1885) and Johannes Petrus, who together with twin brother Frederick Coenraad David, brought up the rear being born in 1887.

As is well-known, the Transvaal was in turmoil after the abortive Jameson Raid of 1896 had lain bare the imperialistic ambitions of Cecil John Rhodes and Sir Alfred Milner for all to see. A massive arms procurement took place with Paul Kruger’s Transvaal Government purchasing as many as 30 000 top-of-the-range Mauser rifles, together with heavy ordnance from Krupp and Creuset in Europe. Each Burger for a derisible amount, could buy one of these Mauser rifles and the ammunition to go with it and thus it was that when war with Great Britian finally dawned on 11 October 1899; the Boer Commandos were armed and, to an extent ready, not only to defend their borders but to go on the offensive by crossing the borders of the Cape and Natal in a bid to rid the countryside of the accursed “Uitlanders” – people of foreign (mainly British) birth who were the mainstay of the Transvaal economy.

Johannes was only 13 years old and a “penkop” when he joined the Suikerbosrand Ward of the Heidelberg Commando on 1 December 1899. By the time he took to the field the important battles of Talana (Dundee) and Elandslaagte had been fought and lost and the Boer Commandos on the Natal front had lain siege to the garrison town of Ladysmith, effectively cutting her off from the outside world.



Fortunately for the student of history the Boer combatants were required to complete a “Vorm B” in order to claim their medal which was authorised for distribution from 1921 onwards. The Vorm B contained a section where the combatant could list the battles and skirmishes in which he took part, thereby providing a glimpse of actual action that he saw.

De Beer was one of the first wave to submit their forms in 1922, when their memories of dates and events was still fresh. Where they claimed to be had to be vouchsafed by either their superior officers at the time or, in the event of these being dead or unavailable, comrades with whom they fought side-by-side in the field.

Required to choose the latter course, De Beer provided Fritz van der Westhuizen and Piet Becker as his witnesses. He claimed to have seen service under the late Johannes Roelof Botha (Hans Botha) from Blinkpoort District, Heidelberg and the late General Hendrik Alberts. As far as actions in which he participated were concerned, he listed the following:

- Crissie Meer sic (Lake Chrissie Meer)
- Boesmanskop langs Bergendal (Dalmanutha or Belfast)
- Devon, district Heidelberg and
- Bakenlaagte

This indicates that the service he saw was almost entirely in the Transvaal. The residential address he provided in 1922 was instrumental in being able to identify exactly which Johannes Petrus De Beer was being referred to. This address was Lettiesdal, P.K. Boesmansfontein, via Greylingstad.

Heidelberg was occupied by the British forces on 23 June 1900 after General Viljoen sent a message to General Hart asking that the town be spared a bombardment if he agreed to give it up. Hart agreed and the occupied the town but not before the town’s magazine and any surplus arms had been destroyed.

On 30 June 1900 Hans Botha and his men, possibly including De Beer, succeeded in mining the railway bridge at Heidelberg. On 5 July the Heidelbergers attacked a squadron of Lord Strathcona’s Horse between Vlakfontein and Greylingstad. The Canadians were lured into a defile approximately 5 km long from which there was little chance of escape.

On 21 July 1900, at Suikerbosch Post (near Suikerbosrand) the Heidelbergers attacked the two companies of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers who, well entrenched, were garrisoning the place. Attacking across a wide plain which provided no cover they rode on, the battle raged for six hours as the Boers threw themselves against the entrenchments time and time again eventually being repulsed and having to withdraw.

On 23 August 1900 the Heidelberg and Bethal Commandos were placed under the command of General Christiaan Botha and deployed between Amersfoort and Ermelo. Two weeks later they moved to the left of General Louis Botha’s line of defence at the Komati River as he tried to protect the Boer Government which was temporarily at Machadadorp. On that day General Buller advanced on their position at Geluk Farm.

An artillery duel followed with the Heidelbergers setting their sites at 460 metres which, with concentrated fire, brought the advancing Liverpool Regiment to a standstill. One attack after the other was warded off with the British regiments being driven against their positions and being cut down by Mauser fire. The attack was repulsed and the men then lay and fired on the English with sites set at 500m.

The last pitched (conventional) battle of the war took place at Bergendal (Dalmanutha) on 28 August 1900. Buller had left Geluk Farm to place himself behind the Boer positions at Dalmanutha. The Heidelberg and Bethal Commandos continued to worry his flanks and rear and he was forced to turn his artillery and infantry on them. The combined Commando took up position covering the station at Dalmanutha. Buller then decided to attack the position at Bergendal.

Despite a valiant attempt by the ZARP’s (ZAR Police), the day was lost when the massed British infantry attacked after a sustained artillery bombardment and the Commandos scattered to fight another day. After Bergendal the various commandos returned to their districts to wage guerilla warfare (Phase II of the Anglo Boer War). The Heidelberg Commando was split once more with the Roodekoppen Ward returning to the south and east of Heidelberg and De Beer’s Suikerbosrand Ward also returning to their home area.



The Suikerbosrand Ward were active in a sharp engagement on Boxing Day 1901 at the Grootvlei Mine.

From the British perspective: On that day, the 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade found themselves in the south-eastern Transvaal where, as was by now the norm, pockets of Boer fighters were harassing troop movements, convoys and patrols in the area. Based at the Oceana Mine near Grootvlei in the district around Greylingstad, Lieutenant-Colonel A. Colville, 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade, proceeded on a farm-clearing expedition, with a small column consisting of six companies of the 1st Battalion, a squadron of the 13th Hussars, four guns of 63 Battery, Royal Field Artillery, as well as one ‘pom-pom’. Colville left ‘F’ Company under the command of Captain Radclyffe, as well as some artillerymen, to guard the baggage wagons based at the mine. The column moved out in the direction of Roodewal, where after five miles they became involved in a small skirmish at the first of the target farms.

During the skirmish a large party of approximately 450 Boers were spotted heading towards the Oceana Mine. A signal was sent to Captain Radclyffe informing him of this development, and he at once set about disposing his small force in an attempt to protect the baggage, with the pom-pom located near a small hollow. After a couple of hours had passed a number of mounted Boers appeared on a ridge a thousand yards away. As Radclyffe’s men opened fire the Boers dismounted, pushed forward, and sent out small parties to the left and right in an encircling movement against the Rifle Brigade position. Under heavy and accurate fire the pom-pom was moved down towards the hollow and back towards the compound – of the nine men who assisted in moving the pom-pom one was killed and the other eight all wounded.

Seeing that the enemy were now advancing in considerable force, Radclyffe decided to send the baggage back to the column, whilst attempting to hold the Boers in check for as long as possible. Under cover of heavy Rifle Brigade fire from behind the wagons, the native teams began inspanning the oxen. When they were ready to move the native teams started off the wagons in the direction of Colville’s column and, as they did so, the small Rifle Brigade covering party came under very severe fire and had to retire, as the Boers saw that they were losing their target. During this time, Radclyffe and his sections continued their holding action but suffered a number of casualties, with their ammunition running out fast.

With the baggage now well on its way, Radclyffe, who was lying wounded, ordered those in advanced positions who could do so to retire to the compound so as to avoid capture. No. 1 section provided covering fire until their ammunition ran out, at which point the Boers advanced rapidly, forcing their surrender, along with the wounded soldiers. Fortunately, at this point, the main column appeared on the horizon, forcing the Boers to withdraw, leaving their wounded prisoners behind. For some time the wounded on the ridge were exposed to fire from both the returning column and the Boers, and a Corporal was seen to make a valiant attempt to carry the wounded Radclyffe to safety. Total losses that day were heavy, with 13 Officers and men killed, 44 wounded, and 19 taken prisoner.

From the Boer perspective: On Christmas Day the columns camped at the South Rand Mine. 18 km west of Greylingstad. The Heidelbergers concentrated their forces with the intention of attacking them there. Early on the 26th Kmdt Buys and a section of his commando moved around the south-east side of the camp and enticed Colville with a strong party of cavalry and infantry to leave the camp and follow him.

When about 5 km from the camp, the attack was launched from the east and south-east with Hans Botha’s Suikerbosrand men attacking from the west. Captain Radclyff had a company of the Rifle Brigade and a pom pom at his disposal. Although taken by surprise he deployed his forces hurriedly. Leaving a party to hold the mine compound he took the pom pom and 90 men to some rising ground which lay 900 m to the north-west. They then opened fire on the burghers who were attacking across the open plains.

The Boers galloped up and attacked the ridge from the front and both flanks, while other Burghers made for the compound. Bullets flew thick and fast as the Burghers stormed the British positions and were thrown back. Again and again their veldkornets rallied them and led them forward into a hail of fire. Radclyff’s party on the ridge suffered heavily with all the men serving the pom pom hit. The Boers slowly gained the upper hand, moving in on them.

The Boers retreated, after pillaging the stores, at 3.30 p.m. leaving 60 enemy dead or wounded and taking 19 prisoners – which they released 4 days later.

Boesmanskop on 29 January 1901 – towards the end of January, General French with five columns, began a huge drive in the Eastern Transvaal. Contact was made with the Heidelberg Commando at Boesmanskop, east of Springs. Hans Botha held the flank at this kraal, armed with a single Armstrong which they fired at the approaching enemy. It did little but attract a return fire of heavy liddite shells which began exploding nearby. The Boers were forced to retreat eastwards taking their two dead with them.

At Chrissiemeer on 6 February 1901 – on the 5th February Major General Smith-Dorrien had encamped at Lake Chrissie, with a strong column of over 3000 men and 10 guns. Lake Chrissie is little more than a glorified “pan.” It was here that Louis Botha decided to attack an unsuspecting Smith-Dorrien with a night attack with 2000 men.

His force approached along the Ermelo road making contact with a British picket and opening up with a tremendous fusillade. The Heidelbergers charged up a small hill and hurled themselves at the English. Vicious hand to hand fighting ensued. Botha had gambled on surprise but this was not enough and his men were falling fast. He was forced to call off the attack and retreat at 4.30 a.m. in what was a disaster for the Boers who, with 80 casualties, outnumbered the 75 to the British.

De Beer, still in his early teens, soldiered on laying down his weapon on 4 June 1902, four days after the war ended.

With the farms decimated and destroyed by the Scorched Earth policy adopted by the British in an effort to force a Boer surrender, there was precious little to come home to and many young Boers headed for the gold mines of the Witwatersrand for work. De Beer was no exception, finding work at the Nigel Gold Mine, one he would very likely have attacked while still a combatant.

At Heidelberg on 18 August 1908, at the age of 20, he wed 20 year old Aletta Johanna Visagie. The couple went on to have six children of their own with three of them being born before the Great War hit the world stage on 4 August 1914. This war placed most Boers on the horns of a dilemma. Many were fiercely loyal to the Prime Minister, Louis Botha, and signed up to fight the Germans in German South West Africa at his behest whilst others, still harbouring feelings of ill will towards the British, chose to revolt against the decision to go to war on the British side. This led to an internal rebellion which had to be first suppressed before the country could be placed on a war footing.



De Beer, now living at Hartbeestfontein in the Bosmansfontein (Boesmansfontein) area of the Transvaal, attested for service with “B” Squadron of his old Commando on 12 January 1915, under the command of H.J. Kamffer. Assigned no. 228 and the rank of Burgher he embarked abord the S.S. Galway Castle for German South West Africa on 5 February 1915 and would have been part of the Northern Force of the Brigade which brought about the German surrender at Otavi on 9 June 1915.

He was discharged the very next day and, returning home, took no further part in the war. He was awarded the normal three WWI medals for his service, receiving this after he had applied for his Boer War medal.

Johannes Petrus De Beer passed away on 2 April 1961.

Acknowledgements:

- SANDF Archives for Boer War & WWI records
- Heidelbergers in the Boer War by Ian Uys
- Familysearch for marriage and family tree details
- Anglo Boer War Forum for Grootvlei map

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (1) Talana (5321 Pte. M. Moran. Rl. Dublin Fus:);
[ KSA (2) ]

Michael Moran was born in Dublin and attested there for the Royal Dublin Fusiliers on 24 December 1894, having previously served in the Regiment’s 4th (Militia) Battalion. He served with the 2nd Battalion in India from 15 May 1896 to 1 June 1897, and then in South Africa during the Boer War from 9 November 1899 to 1 March 1902. Posted missing on 22 October 1899 after the Battle of Talana Hill, he was not confirmed as having been taken Prisoner of War until the fate of Colonel Moller’s force became known, and he was released eight months later when Pretoria was taken. He transferred to the Army Reserve on 23 November 1902, and was discharged on 23 December 1906, after 12 years’ service.

QSA (1). Spink Oct 99 £299.

Picture courtesy of Mowbray's

QSA (5) Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (247 PTE. H. BRACKLEY. K.R.R.C.);
KSA (2) (247 PTE. H. BRACKLEY. K.R.R.C.).

Henry Elmer Brackley, born London 1879, joined the King’s Royal Rifle Corps (60th Regt) in London on 6 May 1897. He was in South Africa from 30 April 1898 to 29 Feb 1902.

I am delighted to welcome this medal group into my collection that honour a remarkably brave man who, as a member of the Maxim Gun Detachment, was severely wounded whilst disabling the gun at Talana.

Taken prisoner, he survived his wounds and later rejoined his regiment, going on to be mentioned in dispatches twice more.

He was promoted in the field for gallantry by the Commander in Chief after charging under fire across Boer lines to stop a train from being captured.

He served throughout the entire Boer War — from the first set piece battle to the very end.

At the outbreak of the First World War he was sent to France in early August 1914, patrolling in the very area where the first shots of the conflict were fired. Once again, he served his country for the full duration of the war, from its opening moments to its conclusion.

Between the wars he worked as a Post Master, and during the Second World War he continued to serve his community as a Special Constable.

Tragically, he was killed in 1941 while riding his bicycle on his way to a Talana Royal Observer Corps meeting; turning to wave to ladies on the roadside, he accidentally veered into the path of oncoming traffic.

This is his remarkable story.




Early Life

William Ashley Sexton was born on 18 September 1873 in Monasterevin, Kildare, Ireland to James and Ellen (nee Hunter).

William enlisted with the 18th Hussars on 2 January 1895 at Naas, Ireland, and was promoted to Corporal shortly afterwards.

The 18th Hussars were in South Africa at the outbreak of the Anglo Boer War and were present at the first set battle at Talana on the 20th October 1899.

Anglo Boer War - Talana

Fortunately, thanks to the book “18th Hussars in South Africa” by Major Charles Burnett we know the exact circumstances that befell William and his comrades at the Battle of Talana:

“The following is an account of the disaster which befell the maxim gun and the detachment with it, consisting of the under mentioned :-Lieutenant H. A. Cape, in charge; Sergeant Batten, Corporal Sexton, Private Waterson, Private Lock, and Private Wolfe :-

' To relate again the events of October 20th, 1899, in detail would be labour in vain, so I commence my narrative from the time when Colonel Moller began his retirement, which eventually led to such disastrous results.

The small force of Boers which came against the two troops of ' B ' Squadron, the Mounted Infantry and the machine gun, under command of Colonel Moller, was evidently an off shoot from the main body under Lucas Meyer, and they had viewed us in the open plain after ' A ' and ' C ' Squadrons had been detached under Major Knox.

As they approached us I was ordered to take up a position in the open with the Mounted Infantry, and this I did. I opened fire at about 1,700 yards range, and remained in position some time.

As far as I could see there was little to fire at, and it was almost impossible to watch the effects of the shots. I then received an order from Colonel Moller to retire, the Mounted Infantry doing likewise, and I again took up another position, but before I had time to come into action yet another order reached me to retire again, the Mounted Infantry already having done so.

Naturally by the time we had got the horses up and hooked on we were the last to leave, and I saw the Mounted Infantry on my left, and the two troops of ' B ' Squadron in front, fast disappearing over the crest of a slight rise.

We then saw Captain Pollok on our left endeavouring to get Trumpeter Salmon on to his own saddle, he evidently having lost his horse, but almost immediately the trumpeter fell off again, so we stopped the gun and took him up, and on we went again, bullets flying around like hailstones, and the squadron and Mounted Infantry still going on farther and farther away.

After going about two miles, as near as one could judge, I saw a deep spruit in front, and as the horses were by now completely done and one had been shot in about four places, we knew all was up.

As we approached I turned round and emptied my revolver at the fast approaching Boers, and as by some extraordinary piece of good luck I managed to knock one man over, it had the effect of checking them for an instant. The last words I heard poor Trumpeter Salmon shout out were ' Well done’.

Down into the Spruit we all plunged and then they were all around us, so I shouted to the men to save themselves, but I knew it to be too late.

Sergeant Batten, before he was killed, and Corporal Sexton, before he was wounded, succeeded in disabling the gun, and Private Waterston, ' C ' Squadron, behaved most gallantly. He seized Sergeant Batten's revolver after he had been hit, shot one Boer's horse, and then knocked him on the head with the empty revolver.

Private Waterson himself was hit in three places, but managed, by lying perfectly still, to escape detection, and made his way back into camp that same evening.

Out of the gun detachment Sergeant Batten, Private Lock the driver, and Trumpeter Salmon were killed; Corporal Sexton, Private Waterston, and myself were wounded; Private Wolfe, whose horse was shot, was taken prisoner at the same time.

On seeing the Maxim gun in their hands, the Boers almost at once gave up the pursuit of Colonel Moller and his force, and came crowding round, stripping' us of everything we possessed.

They then took out the horse that was so badly shot and harnessed in a pony, and so we were taken back, picking up one wounded man of the King's Royal Rifles, whom we placed on the gun, into the midst of the now retreating Boer forces, to whom we were a great object of interest.

Whilst we were in amongst the Boers we saw our own batteries of Artillery come up into the nek at Talana Hill, over which the main Vryheid road ran, unlimber and whip round their guns. Every moment we expected to have shells hurtling over our heads, but not a shot was fired.

It was a magnificent opportunity lost, as the Boers were crowding in masses, and the whole of the Staats Artillery was standing there, the men off the horses and wandering about with their hands in their pockets.

We were not kept long here, but we were sent off in a Cape cart to the farm at the base of Talana Hill on the Vryheid side, which had been turned into a Boer Hospital. I was put into a room eventually, which was crowded to suffocation with about twenty-five wounded Boers, and the sights, sounds, and smells were truly awful.

Captain Hardy came out from camp and did what he could for us. After a night, the like of which I never wish repeated, and during which several of the Boers had died, we awoke with hopes of ambulances or doolies coming for us from camp, but it was long past one o'clock before eventually we got off, and were taken back to our own Field Hospital through a most appalling thunderstorm.

The journey back in hospital tongas was a very severe trial, and caused excruciating agony to some poor chaps who were badly wounded.

On arrival in camp we met with a distinctly cold reception from our own people, as we were placed on the wringing wet ground in tents through which the rain poured. Our friends the enemy, however, gave us a warm enough one to make up for it, for no sooner had we reached camp than they commenced shelling the Hospital Camp, about which they could see the Doolie bearers moving, from Impati Mountain.

Their shells were, however, more alarming than harmful, but, I fear, sadly tried the already too highly strung nerves of the wounded. Here I found McLachlan shot in the leg, and from him gleaned much welcome news.

Besides being at times full of shells, the air was full of rumours too of reinforcements coming from Ladysmith and also of our success at Elandslaagte. At daybreak, on the 22nd October, the Boers commenced shelling the hospital again, and continued doing so throughout most of the day whenever they saw any movement of any sort.

In the evening General Symons received a message from General Yule, saying that he was sorry he could not come into camp to bid him goodbye, and that the column was leaving that night for Helpmakaar.

Unfortunately this news was kept so secret that no one knew of it until the following morning, when it was too late to make a bold bid for liberty. Had we known this on the Sunday night I am convinced that there would have been a few absentees from the Hospital Camp on the Monday morning. "

Wounds & Prisoner of War

Shortly after the battle The Times reported that William had suffered severe gunshot wounds to his shoulder and arm.

By 3 January 1900 it was reported that William was at the Swedish Mission Hospital at Dundee and was nearly convalescent. Shortly afterwards he was transferred to the Waterval POW camp in Pretoria and was later liberated on 6 June 1900.

From The Times June 1900 (list of released POW’s):

Promoted in the Field for Distinguished Gallantry

Following his release from Waterval POW camp William rejoined his unit and continued the war efort. On 25 January 1901 Corporal Sexton and Kidd were promoted for distinguished gallantry when they galloped through a party of Boers to prevent a train from falling into Boer hands.

The account was recorded as follows by The Times:

William served out the remainder of the war and was promoted to the rank of Seargent and was twice mentioned in dispatches:

• LORD KITCHENER'S MENTIONS, March 8th, 1901
From Lord Kitchener's despatch, March 8th, 1901; the promotions of NCO's and men are by the Commander-in-Chief.

• LORD ROBERTS' MENTIONS, September 4, 1901
Lord Roberts' despatch, dated London, September 4, is in continuation of that of April 2, and contains a further list of Regulars, Militia, Yeomanry, and Volunteers, together with a few Irregulars and Civilians, who have rendered special and meritorious service

After the Boer War

William extended his service with the Hussars on 14 November 1902 and re-engaed with them on 29 September 1906. During this time he was assigned a new regimanetal number; namely 5622.

During this time he married Lizzie Nevitte at Kilmeague, Naas, on 13 May 1903.

Following the birth of both their daughters, Hilda and Ashley, in Ireland they moved to Scalby, Yorkshire North Riding, and then to Andover where William worked as an assistant Post Master.

World War 1

At the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, the 18th Hussars mobilised as part of the 4th Cavalry Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division, and deployed to France with the original British Expeditionary Force (BEF). As a regular cavalry regiment, they were among the first British units to reach the continent.

William landed with his regiment on 15 August 1914:

The first shots fired by British forces on French soil during the First World War occurred on 22 August 1914, near Casteau, just outside Mons. This was the first contact between the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and the advancing German Army.

According to the historical marker at Casteau, Corporal E. Thomas of C Squadron, 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards, fired the first shot for the BEF at 7 a.m. during a skirmish with German cavalry.

The Retreat From Mons (August 1914):
The regiment played a classic cavalry role during the early mobile phase of the war—screening, reconnaissance, and delaying actions. During the Retreat from Mons, the 18th Hussars were heavily engaged in covering the withdrawal of British infantry, often fighting dismounted and under intense pressure from advancing German forces.

The Marne and the Aisne (September 1914)
They took part in the Battle of the Marne, helping to probe German positions and exploit gaps as the BEF and French armies counter‑attacked. At the Aisne, the regiment again fought largely on foot as the front began to solidify, marking the end of open manoeuvre warfare.

The Race to the Sea (October 1914)
As both sides attempted to outflank one another, the 18th Hussars were constantly on the move—scouting, screening, and conducting sharp local engagements. Their mobility was vital in the chaotic shifting of forces northwards.

First Battle of Ypres (October–November 1914)
The regiment saw some of its hardest fighting of the year during First Ypres, where cavalry units were repeatedly thrown into the line as improvised infantry to stem German assaults. The 18th Hussars suffered significant casualties but helped hold the line during the critical defence of the Ypres Salient.

Winter Trench Warfare (December 1914)
By December, the Western Front had settled into entrenched stalemate. The 18th Hussars, like other cavalry regiments, spent the winter alternating between reserve, dismounted trench duty, and short‑range patrol work. Their horses were increasingly held back, as the conditions made mounted action impossible.

William was promoted to Regimental Sergeant Major on 2 Dec 1914 and then to WO Class II on 29 January 1915. He would later revert to SSM with both the XI and VI Reserve Cavalry Regiment.

He was finally discharge on 29 December 1919 after serving his country for 25 years.

World War 2

At the time of the 1939 Census William was living with his wife of 36 years Lizzie and his two daughters Hilda & Ashley at Painswick Road, Talana, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England.

He was a retired Postmaster and serving with the Royal Observer Corps.

Death

Williams life tragically ended when he was involved in a road accident whilst riding his bicycle to a Royal Observer Corps meeting.

The events of his death was summarised by The Gloucester Journal:

And so ends a remarkable life of service. RIP.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Talana, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, clasp carriage re-constituted to add the Talana clasp (6765 Pte. T. Ward, Rl. Dublin Fus:) initial officially corrected

Thomas Ward was born in Dublin in 1877 and attested there for the Royal Dublin Fusiliers on 18 May 1896. He served with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War, and was slightly wounded by gun shot to the foot at Colenso on 15 December 1899, and was again wounded by gun shot to the arm and knee at Hart’s Hill on 24 February 1900. He was invalided on 31 March 1900 and was discharged, medically unfit, on 6 October 1900.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (1) Talana (5317 Pte. W. Maher, Rl. Dublin Fus:)

Regimental History says wounded, Talana, 20 October 1899. Not listed on the Casualty Roll for Talana. Died of enteric, Estcourt, 8 March 1900.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (6) Cape Colony, Talana, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal (6461 Pte. C. Emery. Rl: Dublin Fus:);
KSA (2) (6461 Pte. C. Emery. Rl: Dublin Fus:);
[ Great War medals ]


Charles Emery was born in Sheerness, Kent, on 2 January 1884 and attested for the Royal Dublin Fusiliers as a Boy soldier on 2 September 1898, aged 14 years and 8 month, a musician by trade. He served with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa from 24 December 1898 to 11 February 1902, and then in India from 12 February 1902 to 8 November 1903. Promoted Sergeant on 16 January 1912, he saw further service with the 1st Battalion during the Great War in the Gallipoli theatre of War from 25 April 1915, presumably alighting from the River Clyde, and was wounded by gun shot in May 1915, being admitted to hospital. Recovering, he re-joined the front, and was killed in action on 30 June 1915. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Turkey.

The 120-mm Krupp emplacement on the Tugela line was at (approx.) GPS -28.7233, 29.8255
It is many years since I visited the site, but I hope to be in the area next month again and it would be nice to see if the defensive walls around the gun site are still discernible. Louis Botha slept at this position during the long battle to relieve Ladysmith 14 - 27 Feb 1900.
Lieutenant Johannes Lodewijk ‘Lood’ Pretorius was a celebrated ‘Raakskieter’ (sharpshooter) who commanded the 3rd Battery of the Transvaal Staatsartillerie at Talana, Modderspruit, Colenso, Platrand and Tugela Heights, and later in the Free State and Transvaal including Diamond Hill and Dalmanutha. When his opening shots at Dundee struck their target, the delighted Boer onlookers shouted 'Skote Petoors!’ (‘Good shot, Pretorius!’) Thus a new idiom entered the Afrikaans language, which is still used today as an exclamation at something really well done. Lood was captured in December 1901 and imprisoned in St Helena.
Here are some photos of Lood, thanks to Neville and others who provided them.

John Martin Blamyrus Zeiss

Bearer, Natal Volunteer Ambulance Corps
Bearer, Imperial Bearer Corps
Guide, Field Intelligence Department – Anglo Boer War

- Queens South Africa Medal (Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith) to BR: J. ZEISS. NATAL VOL: AMB: C.
- Kings South Africa Medal (South Africa 1901 & 1902) to GUIDE J.M.B. ZEISS. F.I.D.



John Zeiss was born in Kimberley, Cape Colony on 28 November 1880 the son of a German-born immigrant, Wilhelm Johan Martin Leopold Zeiss, a Tailor by occupation, and his wife Elizabeth Ann, born Russell. Growing up in the diamond capital of the world must have been a heady experience for the many Zeiss children – all eleven of them – Thomas Julius William Zeiss born 1871; Amelia Sophia Zeiss born 1873; Edward Carroll Zeiss born 1874; Wilhelmina Zeiss born 1875; Joseph George Leopold Zeiss born 1876; Christina Adaeloanda Zeiss born 1885; Frederick William Jacob Zeiss born 1886; Henrietta Augusta Zeiss born 1887; Hannah Rebecca Zeiss born 1890 and William Jesse Zeiss born 1893.

As the end of the 19th century drew near the long simmering tensions between the two Boer Republics of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal spilled over into a declaration of war and the good citizens of both Republics and the Colonies that made up the broader South Africa awoke to war on the morning of 12 October 1899. Without delay the Boer Commandos cantered over their joint borders with the Cape Colony and Natal, laying siege to the towns of Ladysmith, Mafeking and the city of Kimberley.

By the time the Boer juggernaut hit Kimberley, John Zeiss and most of his family were long gone. Wilhelm Zeiss had moved his family to Johannesburg in 1896 and like most “Uitlanders” John and some of his family had made their way to Natal, where he enlisted on 9 December 1899 as a Bearer with the “Body Snatchers”, the Natal Voluntary Ambulance Corps, along with his brother Edward.

To best describe the work done by the N.V.A.C., I turn to an authoritative work by Brett Hendey who wrote on the subject as follows,

“After the earliest set-piece battles of the Natal theatre of operations had taken place during October (Talana, Elandslaagte), and November (near Ladysmith), it was realised that the British army had inadequate medical services in place, and better provision needed to be made for the timely and efficient removal of casualties from the battles that were still to come. Colonel T Gallwey, Principal Medical Officer of Natal, was tasked with raising an ‘Ambulance Corps’ with volunteers drawn from able-bodied men who had thus far not been taken up in Natal’s volunteer regiments (e.g. Natal Carbineers, Durban Light Infantry), and the various irregular units that had been raised locally (e.g. Imperial Light Horse, Thorneycroft’s Mounted Infantry, Imperial Light Infantry).

Although Natal had provided sanctuary to many refugees from the Boer Republics, by December 1899 the number of men who were best suited for military service must have been considerably reduced. While those remaining may have lacked previous military service, and may have been neither skilled horsemen, nor marksmen, there were still enough able-bodied men prepared to aid the war effort. In a matter of days, between one and two thousand had joined the newly-formed non-combatant NVAC. To the refugee volunteers were added some residents of Natal who were without other military obligations. The men came from all walks of life, from gentlemen to labourers. They were commanded by officers who were seconded from Imperial regiments already in Natal.

While the NVAC was charged with removing casualties from the battlefield, the NIAC under Mohandas Gandhi was raised to fill a complementary role in evacuating casualties to places of safety and field hospitals further behind the lines. A report in the Natal Advertiser, gave the numbers involved at the Colenso front as 1200 for the NVAC, and 600 for the NIAC. Soldiers named these men “the Body Snatchers”. They were to save the lives of many wounded men, and they also eased their pain by carrying them on stretchers, which were a more comfortable mode of transport than ambulances.



Atkins (1900) described the NVAC as an “oddly assorted body of men”, wearing an assortment of clothes, including “canvas shoes”, “yawning boots and clothes that must have seen service in the streets of a town”. Pakenham (1979) added that they “dressed in tattered khaki tunics, and a strange assortment of hats, helmets, bowlers and tam-o’shanters.”

Most of the NVAC enlistments took place in Durban on 9 December 1899, with other men joining up until 13 December. The first to join soon left for General Buller’s camp at Frere, arriving there on Monday, 11 December. At noon on Tuesday, the NVAC joined Buller’s advance on Colenso by way of Chieveley. The Natal Advertiser correspondent reported that at “sundown, at a picturesque spot, where a beautiful stream ran through a large, tolerably level, grassy expanse, we rested for the night.” This was the calm before the storm that was to give men of the NVAC their first experience of the tasks they had undertaken to fulfil.

On Friday, 15 December, the long-awaited assault on the entrenched Boer line along the north bank of the Tugela River took place, and the Battle of Colenso was fought. The attack soon ran into fierce opposition, casualties mounted, and Buller’s army was effectively routed in a matter of hours.

The Natal Advertiser carried the following report on the activities of the NVAC:

“Now our work began in earnest. At 10 o’clock the first ambulance arrived from the battlefield with wounded men, and shortly afterwards the sections of [the NVAC’s] different Ambulance Companies were ordered to advance, with their stretchers. It was a long walk, varying from three to four miles to the firing line. I went out four times to the front, superintending the removal of the wounded. Some of these were badly hurt, but the majority of those who fell to my lot to bring in were shot through the extremities, the arms and legs …..”

“My section carried off a number of Thorneycroft’s men, and a pluckier set of fellows it would be difficult to imagine. Although wounded badly, they never uttered a sound, and one splendid fellow, badly shot through the liver, insisted on sharing his water with the bearers. Thorneycroft’s wounded behaved with great fortitude.”

The defeated troops began to retire at 2 pm, “but it was not until far into the night that the ambulance and stretcher parties left off work.” Amongst the last to return was Lord Robert Manners, who commanded one of the NVAC companies.

In his account of the events of the following day, the Natal Advertiser correspondent wrote:

“I was instructed to take charge of a party to go to the field to bury the dead. A guide took us the shortest way to do our gruesome work. While we were busy at one spot a party of four from the other side rode up, comprised of a clean-shaven Englishman from Johannesburg, two Boers, and a doctor. I asked about the Boer loss, which he told me was very small, only four killed and twenty wounded.” These figures were later revised to eight killed and 30 wounded. By contrast, the British lost 143 men killed, 756 wounded, and 240 captured and missing.”

The Natal Advertiser later reported that the NVAC, “justified its existence at the battle of Colenso. Not only was it specially thanked by General Buller, but various military officers expressed their admiration at the courage and coolness displayed by the corps under fire.”

The NVAC returned to Durban, where it undertook a re-organisation of its ranks, and much of the equipping that had not been possible in the frantic week between its first enlistments and its first battle. Their commanding officer, Major Montague Stuart Wortley CMG DSO, “procured what looked almost like a pyramid of boots, from which any size from 6’s to 11’s could be selected by those needing them.” Time was also occupied “in the supplying of knives, forks, water bottles, etc.”

A smaller and better equipped NVAC returned to Frere, where their camp was “situated a few yards away from the scene of the armoured train incident, where Winston Churchill showed his bravery.” The men were kept busy with long marches, regular drills and stretcher exercises. They were told that in future battles each stretcher was to be accompanied by eight men, rather than the 12 used during the Battle of Colenso. Another innovation was to be the creation of a mounted ambulance corps to accompany mounted infantry and cavalry regiments. There were many volunteers for this unit. Recreation included games of football. A promise of a ration of beer disappointingly turned out to be two barrels to be divided between 1 000 men. The end of the 19th Century was celebrated relatively quietly, and the 20th Century started with stretcher drills at 6 am and 11 am.”

The NVAC went on to perform similar feats of endurance in the skirmishes that led up to the battle of Spionkop, and the battle itself on 24 January 1900. On this occasion they had the “kop” to climb and then descend, stretchers groaning under the weight of the wounded and the dying.

Having acquitted themselves well of their work the Natal Volunteer Ambulance Corps and the Indian Ambulance Corps were disbanded a month later at the end of February 1900 – the final relief of Ladysmith on 28 February 1900 indicating that the need for their services had come to an end. Most of the men, Zeiss included, were officially discharged on 12 March 1900.


The circled section shows where Zeiss was operational, both as a Bearer and a Guide

Whereto now for Zeiss? The war showed no signs of abating and there was still much work to be done. He now parted company with Edward who went off to join Steinaecker’s Horse and, at Pietermaritzburg on 21 March 1900, joined the Imperial Bearer Corps. Confirming that he was 20 years of age, he provided his mother, Mrs W Zeiss of Durban as his next of kin. Mustered as a Bearer once more, Zeiss and his comrades were called upon to mirror their previous efforts but, on this occasion, with Buller’s Natal Army as it worked its ponderous way from Ladysmith, across the Biggarsberg Mountain range to Dundee and then on to Newcastle and the invasion of the Transvaal via Newcastle and Wakkerstroom.

Despite much skirmishing with the retreating Boers the only actions of any considerable size were the battle of Laing’s Nek and Alleman’s Nek, fought in June 1900. Zeiss took his leave of the I.B.C. on 29 April 1901 and, once again, found himself at a loose end with the war still raging.

Not one to stand idly by, his next move was to join the ranks of the little-known Volksrust Civil Police. There is almost nothing written about this body save for a report dated 3 December 1901 from the clearly miffed Resident Magistrate, Volksrust to the Secretary of the Law Department, Pretoria. The report appears to have been in answer to a query from the Law Department and reads as follows:

“Regarding your query as to Civil Police here. There are 10 white Civil Police and one Sergeant in charge here at Volksrust, and 2 at Wakkerstroom. These were civilians before they joined the Police – none were on military pay when they joined though many had been in Colonial Corps.

At Wakkerstroom there are 24 soldiers, mostly Bandsmen and Drummers of the N. Staffordshire Regiment and on full military pay now, under military discipline and under the orders entirely of the military whom I pointed out as being paid by the Civil Government for doing entirely military work. There is absolutely nothing to do with these men beyond paying them monthly. They are changed when the military authorities desire for other men without any reference to me.”

Precisely how long Zeiss’s sojourn with the Volksrust Civil Police was is unknown but, being of an adventurous nature, he craved more action than that small body was able to provide and, before long, ended up as a Guide with the Field Intelligence Department. Guides were recruited (or appointed) from many of the Colonial regiments, specifically because of their local knowledge and, in many cases, because they were able to speak a black language or even Dutch, which came in very handy for intelligence gathering on the one hand and interrogation of prisoners on the other. Zeiss, having gathered local knowledge through his time with the Volksrust Civil Police and the Imperial Bearer Corps, would have been fit for purpose in the South Eastern Transvaal where he was deployed.

The war over on 31 May 1902 he was awarded the Queens Medal off the NVAC roll and the Kings Medal off the Field Intelligence Department roll.

Out of uniform and looking for employment he headed to the Witwatersrand and the City of Gold, Johannesburg, where he obtained employment with the Porges Gold Mining Company in the Randfontein district of Krugersdorp. It was whilst thus employed that he wed 29 year old Sarah Jane Adams. Sarah came from Cumberland in England and was living at the North Randfontein G.M.C. at the time of their nuptials in Krugersdorp on 22 January 1906. Zeiss, at 25, was four years younger than his bride.

It wasn’t long before the pitter patter of tiny feet were heard with Eric Adams Zeiss coming along on 30 October 1909 – at which time Zeiss was described as being a Tube Mill Foreman on the mines. The Krugersdorp Voters Rolls for the years 1925, 1927, 1929 and 1931 all place him at 69 Millsite Married Quarters, Randfontein Gold Mining Company where he was described as being a Tube Mill Foreman.

Sadly, as the years went by his wife’s health began to deteriorate and on 27 October 1949 at the Germiston Hospital, she passed away at the age of 72. Their address at the time of her death was “Kalkheuwel,” P.O. Broederstroom, District Pretoria.

Zeiss remarried on 7 June 1950 – exchanging vows with widow Madge Knott (born Talbot) at Germiston. He was 69 years of age and living at 38 Haley Close, Parkhill Gardens, Germiston whereas his wife was 50 years old. He soldiered on until he passing away in Pretoria on 7 December 1962 at the age of 82.

Acknowledgements:

- Data on NVAC from the Anglo Boer War Forum
- Volksrust Civil Police from Transvaal Archives ref: 1829/1901
- Familysearch and Ancestry for birth, marriage and death reports

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (6) Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek, South Africa 1901, unofficial rivets between fifth and sixth clasps (81439 Sejt. J. Woods, 69: B, R.F.A.)

Listed on WO100/142p213 and WO100/142p221.