LOOKING BACK by Hennie Heymans, Nongqai Publications

2 NONGQAI SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE E BOOK SERIES NO 2 LOOKING BACK LIEUTENANT-COLONEL G. S. MARDALL, O.B.E., J.P. FORMER ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF THE NATAL POLICE. A manuscript by the late Lt Col “Jerry” GS Mardall (Natal Police) and illustrated and annotated by Brig HB Heymans (SAP Ret).

3 Contents Dedication and Thanks 3 Natal Police: Lt Col GS Mardall: Assistant Commissioner 7 Foreword by Dr Willem P Steenkamp 8 Introduction by Brig HB ‘Hennie’ Heymans, SA Police (Ret) 11 Chapter 1 13 Cheltenham 13 Zulu War 14 Durban 17 Enlistment in the Natal Mounted Police No. 382 Trooper GS Mardall 22 First line of defence 23 Civil Police Duties 24 Chapter 2 26 Pietermaritzburg – A trooper’s life 26 The Earl of Egmont 27 Financial Position 28 Invasion of Natal by Zulu army 29 Ceremonial parades 30 - Victoria Cross decoration to Corporal Schiese 31 Re interment, at Fort Napier Cemetery 31 From the Nongqai 1908 Contemporaneous photographs of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift 34 Umhlali 35 The Basutos 36 Polela district 38 Annexation and War Transvaal 38 Laing's Nek 39 Personal experiences 39 Ladysmith 40 Newcastle 41 General Colley 41 Newcastle 42 Newcastle Fort Amiel 43 Reconnoitring party 44 Chapter 3 Laing’s Nek 46 General Sir George Colley GOC 46 Mr de Wet’s farm Looted 46 Mount Prospect 47 Address by General Colley 51 Back to Newcastle 54 South of Newcastle to block Ferreira from the Free State 54 Advance Guard 55 General Colley killed at Majuba 56 Back at Newcastle and Peace 56 Return to Stations 57 Rheumatism 57 Lance-Corporal to Pietermaritzburg 58 Harding 58 Pondoland 60 Life at Harding 61 Fort Pine 62

4 Graves of Lt’s Coghill and Melville 64 New Year at Fort Pine 65 Fort Durnford 66 Chapter 4 Van Reenen's Pass 69 Major Dartnell Excise and Customs 73 Hobbies 73 Visit to Cheltenham 73 Sergeant 74 Mounted service 74 Transferred around Natal 75 Sub-Inspector: Ladysmith District 75 Verulam District 76 Visit to England 79 Inspector: Estcourt District 79 Police Transport 79 Zulu name - Mapindela 79 Anglo Boer War 80 Estcourt Defences 82 Churchill and other Journalists 83 Armoured train 85 Amusing incident 85 Police scouts 86 Engagement at Willow Grange 86 Boer guns pounding away at Ladysmith 86 Buller’s Bodyguard 87 With Lord Dundonald’s Cavalry Brigade 88 Multifarious duties 90 Chapter 5 Colenso 92 Battle of Colenso - 15th December, 1899 92 Return to Police Duties 95 Marriage and Coronation in England 98 Return to Natal Border Police 100 Natal Border Police absorbed by the Natal Police 104 Assistant Commissioner of the Prisons Department 104 1906 Bambata Rebellion 105 Executions at Richmond 113 Empathy 113 Dinizulu’s Trial 113 Corporal Punishment 114 Chief Commissioner of Police in Natal 115 Union Inspector of Prisons 117 Retirement 117 Service on various Committee’s 118 OBE 118 Reflection 119 Role models 119 Chinese repatriation 120 Deportation of the Jameson Raiders 120 Parting gifts 121 Many friends 121

5 Rondebosch 121 Age and health 121 Annexure “A” 123 Some distinguished people I have met 123 Annexure “B” 124 1910 Crime and the Lash 124 Annexure “C” 131 1910 “Flogging” Magistrates A Defence. 131 Annexure “D” 135 Looking Back Part of the Autobiography of Lt Col GS “Jerry” Mardall: 135 Published in 135 The Nongqai April 1938 135 Annexure “E” 153 Lt Col GS Mardall passes on 153 Veteran of Many Wars; Almost the Last of the Old Timers; 153 The Nongqai August 1937 153 Dedication and Thanks

6 This little piece of Natal Police history is dedicated to my wife Petro. I wish to thank the following people • My Aunt, the late Mrs Mims West Thomas then of Van Reenen, who gave me the copy of Lt Col Mardall’s typed manuscript • My late father Sgt AF Heymans who got me interested in History • The SAPS Museum in Pretoria • The Editor of the Servamus successor to The Nongqai • Mr Bruno Martin in Australia (now in Tasmania) for his maps and photographs from his collection • Mr Mark Newham for his photographs of Fort Durnford at Estcourt • Mr Jonathan Pittaway for his advice and constant encouragement • Dr Steenkamp for his advice I compiled this book a few years ago and decided not to publish as a book but rather to publish it as a free e Book under the Nongqai banner

7 Natal Police: Lt-Col GS Mardall: Assistant Commissioner Lieut Col GS Mardall Assistant Commissioner of the Natal Police Heymans Collection

Being myself also from a police family (my father Maj Gen Frans Steenkamp, plus my brother & wife) and hailing as well from Natal, I could therefore appreciate Lt-Col Mardall’s interesting recollections which we are now making available here to our Nongqai readership as a free e-book (No. 2 in our special free e book series, after the first e book that dealt with the S.A. Police Security Branch and the Armed Struggle, published in December 2021 which you can download free by clicking on this link: https://www.samirror.com/uploads/1/0/7/1/107110645/nongqai_vol_12_no_12b_1.pdf ).

A point that we stress in every edition of Nongqai is that we publish texts as received (i.e., not trying to “correct” them for either historical fact or “politically correct” perspective and sentiment)

Mardall’s recollections of the 1st Anglo Boer War are thus somewhat gung ho jingoist (understandably so, for a then twenty year old trooper) if read now with modern eyes. His sentiments about the humiliating British defeats in that war (as related in the chapter titled Fort Amiel) are obviously at odds with my own sentiments of ignorant youthful glee, walking among the gravestones of fallen British soldiers buried at that same Fort Amiel, located at the lower end of what was then our family’s homestead farm.

As a born and bred “Natal boytjie” myself, having grown up in Durban but with strong family ties to Newcastle (on my mother’s side) it has been easy for me to identify with Lieutenant Colonel Mardall’s recollections, since he spent many a year in Durban and, as a young trooper in the Natal Police, also participated in the 1st Anglo Boer War (which saw most of the action take place near Newcastle).

Foreword by Dr Willem P Steenkamp

In some instances, therefore, what Lt Col Mardall wrote down as his memory of a significant historical event, serve precisely to show how such personal observations are almost inevitably coloured by the writer’s own individual angle of approach to the conflict that was playing out by his youth or prior experience, position in the hierarchy, and especially which side he fought on.

Our goal is that everything that we publish, should be authentically reflective of how the author of any given contribution experienced a particular historical event. In other words, his or her personal “truth” , told as in the oral tradition of historiography, to illustrate the human dimension not necessarily the objective historical facts, as trained researchers may have established, but how events at the time were actually experienced and perceived by the participants

9 Location of farm and maternal grandparents in British Concentration Camp

That is the beauty and complexity of history: perceptions will vary, and therefore it is all the more necessary (and interesting) to publish such authentic first hand recollections.

As a young boy I regularly visited that farm of my maternal grandparents, Tom and Annie O’Reilly, which was known to us as “Rusoord” (just outside Newcastle, incorporating also “O’Reilly’s Vlei” as marked on the following map). Those O’Reilly’s were “Boer Irish”, who were interned in the British concentration camp at Pietermaritzburg during the 2nd Anglo Boer War, mainly because of my fiery great-grandmother’s regular altercations with the Tommies.

I also thank my fellow editor, Brig. Hennie Heymans, for allowing me the space (and, in fact, encouraging me) to relate here my own family’s ties to those places and times here my great grandparents are at the Pietermaritzburg concentration camp, their faces “radiating their joy” at being there, with my grandfather Tom the youngster standing front right. Enjoy the read!

To me, the account by Lt Col Mardall of his life as a colonial policeman in Old Natal gives a great insight into how that era was perceived by such a noteworthy participant. We at Nongqai are therefore proud to publish it.

After serving in the Special Service Battalion, during 1938 he joined the South African Police in Pretoria. For the most part of his career, he served in Durban. He used to subscribe to the The Nongqai and most English and Afrikaans newspapers and periodicals.

This manuscript is dated sometime before 1938.

Introduction by Brig HB ‘Hennie’ Heymans, SA Police (Ret)

At one time during his service the son of Col WJ Clarke, who was the last Chief Commissioner of the famous Natal Police, no 12225 (M) Head Constable George Geoffrey Clarke was his Station Commander. As a raconteur my father told me many “police stories” that he heard from old Natal Policemen many who were also former members of the late Natal and Cape Mounted Riflemen, later the SA Riflemen. I like to think that there is a historical connection and link between all Outpolicemen!ofthese

Once on a recent visit to my paternal Aunt, Mrs Mims West Thomas, who lives in Van Reenen and who is the owner of the little Roman Catholic Church, Llandaf Oratory, she gave me a copy of typed manuscript by an Assistant Commissioner of the Natal Police, Lt Col GS Mardall, OBE, JP.

“police stories” grew a strong link with our past and today I honour their memory by giving them the credit for kindling the interest of police history in my heart.

We were an Afrikaans speaking family with many English relatives however, today the history of the Natal Mounted Police is as much part of my field of interest as that of the Oranje Vrijstaat Rijdende Dienstmacht or the late South African Police.

The golden thread of history in my life started with my father, the late Sergeant AF Heymans. He was born in Bethlehem in the Orange Free State and grew up in the hamlet of Van Reenen on the Natal / Orange Free State border. This is why this little piece of history is so dear to me.

On the 1st of April 2013 the old South African Police would have been one hundred years old! The Natal Police went over to SA Mounted Rifles and later the remaining members were finally

Hennie Heymans

transferred back to the SA Police while others remained in the Union Defence Force like Maj Gen Dan Pienaar and Brig BF Armstrong. The Natal Police was a choice corps and a fine regiment and through this publication we pay homage to the men who laid such a sound foundation stone in Natal regarding police work under very trying conditions. We pray and hope that the relatively new South African Police Service would take a feather out of the cap of the Natal Police and be a symbol of decency especially in Natal where such a fine example was set. In this edition we pay homage to the men of the late Natal Mounted and Police Natal Police.

My School and College career at Cheltenham was in no way distinguished. No class prizes that I can remember. I played for my House at football. I loathed cricket and have done ever since. I took up lawn tennis very keenly and was regarded as one of the best players in Cheltenham, the birthplace and home of good tennis in those days and played frequently with my old friends the Renshaw Brothers who were shortly to become All England champions at Wimbledon and remain so for five years, I think. I played evenly with the Renshaws up to the time I left England for South Africa in 1879. Later on, in Natal when enjoying a rest from active service against Boers and Natives I retained my reputation as a tennis player and representing the Natal Mounted Police I beat the holder of the Natal Championship, Captain Stanley, in a match at Durban and achieved other victories.

13 Chapter 1

Cheltenham

Above badges of the “old” Natal Mounted Police (left) and “new” Natal Police (right).

Life, in Cheltenham, where my faculty was well known, after leaving College was pleasant enough. The place was full of the usual amusements and attractions for a young man in those days but I soon realised that there was a more serious side to existence. I had left College without any definite plans for a future career but it was evident I would have to earn my own living and I was anxious to begin. I would have liked the Army, my father's profession, but I was scared off by the competitive examination and the multitude of candidates going up every year. My father had, I believe, entered

The flag and crest of the Colony of Natal

When the Zulu War broke out in South Africa and Irregular Mounted Troops were being raised in Natal for active service, I decided that this was the opportunity I had been waiting for as I was keen on soldiering and for Foreign Service. Very little was known of Natal in those days. In 1879 South Africa was all "The Cape".

Zulu War

14 my name for a vacancy in the Burmese Police Force but there seemed small prospect of early employment in that direction.

The Headquarters of the Natal Police, Alexander Rd, Pietermaritzburg

The surprise and massacre of the 24th Regiment and other details at Isandlwana Camp in January was a serious blow to our prestige and the death of the Prince Imperial of France when accompanying a reconnoitring party which was ambushed by the Zulus, which was

The Colony of Natal 1859 Martin Collection

Here was a chance of adventure that I could not miss The war was not going too well for the British at the commencement.

downwards, I left home for South Africa and my first adventure. It was ten years before I saw England again. Both my parents had then died.

In June, 1879, at the age of 18 years, armed with sword and revolver and many letters of introduction, mostly to army officers in the Field from the C. in C. Lord Chelmsford (see photo)

2 Re SS Melrose: This strange anecdote came up in “Victorian Murder Cases: 17/12/1883; Patrick O’Donnell on board the SS Melrose: After a gang of Irish Republicans set upon and murdered two British diplomats in Phoenix Park, Dublin, in May 1882, one of them, James Carey, 45, turned informer. The information he gave to the police helped to send five fellow Republicans to the gallows, and from that moment Carey was a marked man. Knowing the sort of fate that would befall him if he wasn’t spirited away somewhere, the British authorities arranged a passage for him to South Africa, where he would have a new identity and a new life. But the Republicans, vowing vengeance, discovered the plan, and one of them, Patrick O’Donnell, 48, booked a passage on the same ship, the SS Melrose. On July 30th, 1883, while the ship was sailing from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, he shot Carey three times, the last one in the back. He was brought back to England to face trial, claiming at the Old Bailey that he acted in self defence. Found guilty, he was hanged on Monday, December 17th, 1883, in Newgate Prison. Victorian murder stories from True Crime Library” http://www.truecrimelibrary.com/crime_series_show.php?id=505&series_number=3

The voyage to Cape Town took four weeks and another week on to Durban in the coaster "S.S. Melrose"2 , the voyage out was not too comfortable. The ship was crowded owing to the war, many

Walmer Castle

See photo of SS Warwick Castle, built by Robert Napier Govan, Propulsion: steam; Launched: Friday, 24/08/1877; Built: 1877; Ship Type: Passenger Cargo Vessel; Tonnage: 2957 grt; Length: 248.9 feet; Breadth: 39.4 feet; History: Completed 24/10/1877 http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=8667

16 an ugly incident reflecting no credit on our troops. All reports of the fighting taking place that reached Cheltenham, the home of many old soldiers, added to my desire to go to South Africa and I had no difficulty in obtaining the consent of my father and mother. My passage to the Cape was taken in the old "Walmer Castle"1 , a ship of about 3,000 tons and considered a big ship then.

Durban

17 others like me, anxious to get to the front. A few officers' wives and a drunken old actor I remember among my fellow passengers. There was a good deal of hard drinking going on board and a certain amount of rowdyism among a certain class which must have disgusted me somewhat to have impressed itself on my memory for this length of time.

On my arrival at Durban, after a rough passage round the coast, all the flags in town and harbour were being flown at half mast Princess Eugenie of France (left) and her son, Prince Imperial

Prince Imperial of France and HMS Orontes which carried the Prince’s body to Europe

18 This was on account of the death of the Prince Imperial3 whose body lay on board a ship4 in port waiting removal to England. (See photographs of the Prince and his mother, Princess Eugenie of France.) In this connection it is strange to think how a Zulu's assegai could change the future history of France and with possibly other far reaching consequences in Europe Durban as an Array Base and Port of entry and departure for our troops was crowded. The main line of railway only reached to Botha's Hill, about halfway to Maritzburg5. All army transport was being done by mule or ox wagon. Durban streets were mostly unmade sandy tracks. Durban to Botha’s Hill – Martin Collection 3 Prince Imperial of France http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napol%C3%A9on,_Prince_Imperial 4 The HMS Orentes carried the Prince’s body to England http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Orontes_%281862%29 5 Pietermaritzburg HBH

Botha's Hill Station during the 1880's – Note “Maritzburg” destination boards on coachesMartin Collection The Royal Hotel with its Ulundi Square, named after the Battle of Ulundi, was the only thing approaching to a good hotel. It stood on the site of the present hotel of the same name.

At Durban I presented letters of introduction to Mr. J. M. Cooke and Mr. John Robinson, afterwards Sir John Robinson the first Prime Minister of Natal under Responsible Government. Mr. and Mrs. Cooke kindly put me up at the cottage on the Berea, then a clearing in the bush, approached by a narrow sandy track. The Robinsons invited me to an evening party which was attended by General Sir Garnet Wolseley6 (photo left) and a brilliant Staff besides many local celebrities. General Sir Garnet Wolseley

6 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Garnet_Joseph_Wolseley

20 Royal Hotel Durban c1850

All irregular troops were being disbanded in Maritzburg and Durban and my letters of introduction to army officers through whom I hoped to get employment were of no use to me. I had, however, no intention of returning to England, so bidding farewell to my friends in Durban, I took train to Botha's Hill, the railway terminus, and then on to Maritzburg by post cart. Maritzburg, which I soon came to know so well, was as crowded as Durban. Troops were returning daily from the front. Irregular and Volunteer Corps were being paid off and discharged. The hotels and canteens were doing a roaring trade and money was flowing freely. Transport riders and the owners of ox wagons had been reaping a rich harvest during the war and stories were circulated with a good deal of truth I believe 7 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Chard

Among others I was introduced to the Reverend Smith, Chaplain to the Forces at Rorke’s Drift, celebrated in Lady Elizabeth Butler's picture where he is seen handing out rifle ammunition to the defending troops during the Zulu attack on hospital and laager - the Zulus fresh from their success at Isandlwana. The attack was repulsed by the small force under the command of Lieutenant JRM Chard, VC 7 and Major G Bromhead VC (29 August 1845 9 February 1891) 8 Lieutenants Chard and Bromhead and saved Natal from invasion. In later years when on patrol duty from Fort Pine I often visited the site of Rorke’s Drift Defence and for some time shared a tent with a Mounted Police comrade who was wounded during the fight.

9 Cetshwayo kaMpande

Left: Photographs of Cetshwayo kaMpande On landing in Durban, the news that affected me most was that the war was nearly over, the Battle of Ulundi had been fought and the main Zulu army defeated and scattered with heavy loss to the enemy. King Cetewayo9 was a fugitive, hiding in the Nkandla Forest and being hunted down by Major Martyr with a troop of King's Dragoon Guards.

8 British Army officer and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonville_Bromhead

22 of owners selling the same cattle to the military forces two or three times over, and it could easily have been done at the time. Enlistment in the Natal Mounted Police - No. 382 Trooper GS Mardall

The Old Head Quarters of the NMP 10

The usual camp followers, male and female, were much in evidence in Maritzburg and seemed to be enjoying themselves. In every way the town was full of novelty and interest to a youngster like me straight out from England. As I have stated, war service at the time was now out of the question and it was necessary for me to look round for employment in some other direction. I had no friends to look to foradvice and no qualificationsbeyond a Public School education. Mounted Police service was the nearest thing to soldiering and it did not take me long to make up my mind to present myself for enlistment at the headquarters of the Natal Mounted Police in Maritzburg. The Force was then commanded by Major, afterwards General Sir, John Dartnell11. Fifty recruits had just arrived from England to fill up vacancies caused by war casualties in Zululand. Thirty six Police had been killed at Isandlwana. Their bodies were found close to the body of Colonel Durnford, the Officer in Command of the camp. So, in September, 1879, I enlisted and was duly sworn in as 10 The Nongqai, March 1946; p 297 HBH 11 Photo of Gen Sir John Dartnell Heymans Collection

of defence

Left: Gen Sir John Dartnell Right:CollectionHeymansCol AW Durnford

23 No. 382, the junior trooper in the Force of about 250 strong. Thirty two years later I was Acting Chief Commissioner of the same Force, then three thousand strong European, Native and Indian Police.

During the intervening period I had passed through all ranks and had passed over the heads of a good many of my seniors in each grade as I moved upwards. When I was sworn in as a Police trooper and took the Oath of Allegiance to Queen Victoria13 (see photo left) and Her Successors, I little thought of the many long years I should wear the uniform of the Force in every part of Natal and of the future campaigns against Boer and Natives in which I should be called on to take part or of the endless variety of military and civil police service that would fall to my lot in the future together with organising, administration and command, responsibilities of no light nature as I reached Col AW Durnford by_George_Hayter.jpg

–

First line

12 Photo of

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Durnford 13 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Queen_Victoria

Civil Police duties were performed by the Magistrates with a few Native constables under their control. A Police Act passed by the Natal Parliament in 1894 transferred all police services to the control of a Chief Commissioner and officers under him embracing the Water Police, Railway Police and all officers attached to the Prison Service in Natal, the main body of men still retaining their military training and character. In due course it was my privilege to assist in building up the new system which I served until the Act of Union broke up this essentially British Force with its fine record of service.

Civil Police Duties

The old Pietermaritzburg Natal Mounted Police Barracks – Recruits on fatigue duties

14 14 The Nongqai of 1907 HBH

24 higher ranks, the thought of which might well have terrified and amazed a newly joined young trooper of eighteen years. From the time I enlisted in 1879 until 1894 when reorganisation took place, the Natal Mounted Police Force was purely a military body, organised, armed and trained for service in the Field and regarded as Natal’s first line of defence.

Details of my life as a trooper of Mounted Police in Maritzburg are still fresh in my memory and would fill a volume but I must only touch roughly on routine duties and deal mainly with incidents of wider interest. My new life was not an easy one by any means. The training was a strenuous one. We were kept hard at it from dawn till dark. Stable fatigues, riding school, drill, parades for inspection of arms, tents and kits, target practice, horse guards by day and camp guards at night. Spare time was mainly occupied with cleaning kit and saddlery. The riding school course was a severe one and lasted many months. Our horses were as a rule fresh from the farms where they had been bred and many of them only half broken in. Men and horses were broken in together, a rough experience for most of us. To this date I have painful recollections of being taught to ride with a military seat in a new army saddle as hard as a board until well soaped and had been used for some time. Another species of torture that has impressed itself on my experience was the practice with a kicking carbine. After firing about twenty rounds my shoulder became a bruised pulp that was agony to touch and each round fired became a terror. Partly my own fault, no doubt, for not holding my carbine close to my shoulder, when I fired. My shooting at that time must have been dreadfully bad. Later on, I was considered a good shot and was chosen to shoot in match teams. I soon got used to tent life with the absence of sheets on my bed and many other things that I had been accustomed to all my life. The rations were good, plain and plentiful but there was not much variety; the cooking was rough and the serving primitive in the extreme. As we had to pay for all we got the menu was not limited to any regulation scale but a tin of jam, potted meat or condensed milk was a luxury not often obtainable. My companions were naturally a mixed lot, a few Colonial born men but the rest mainly from overseas. A large proportion was young fellows like me of the English Public School class. There were not a few University men, some ex army and naval officers. Remittance men from Home were much in evidence and others from the rank and file of life, many of whom had seen service in the late war and elsewhere in the world. Several of my late fellow passengers from England joined the Force about the same time as myself and among them I made friendships lasting many years. All but a very few I fear have now "gone West".

26 Chapter 2

Pietermaritzburg – A trooper’s life

The Earl of Egmont

Not a few of my old trooper comrades subsequently came into properties in England and titles. Not the least conspicuous of them was a man named Percival who came into a peerage as Earl of Egmont with a large estate. At one time Percival was our camp cook and went by the name of "Mother".

28 Financial Position This photograph shows a Natal Mounted Policeman’s kit at kit-inspection during the early 1880’s – Heymans Collection

News of the Isandlwana disaster in Zululand created no small amount of consternation in Maritzburg which had been left in an undefended state. The invasion of Natal by a Zulu army was only checked by the gallant defence of Rorke’s Drift laager. Had the Zulus, flushed with success after Isandlwana, not been repulsed at that point, it is impossible to say what might not have Lord Chelmsford 15 happened or how far they might have overrun Natal, Mounted Police, Natal Carbineers and other Volunteer and Irregular Regiments were serving in Zululand with the Imperial troops under Lord Chelmsford (photo left) Maritzburg was hastily put in to a state of readiness and preparations were made for giving the Zulus

14 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/file:2ndlordchelmsford.jpg

My pay on enlistment was at the rate of 6/ a day which seemed, at first quite a lot until reduced by monthly stoppages when there was very little left to draw for pocket money. The Policeman was required to pay for everything except his quarters, arms and accoutrements which, a not too generous, Government provided.

A few words on our financial position and I will proceed with events of wider interest with which I was brought into contact.

Invasion of Natal by Zulu army

Horse, saddlery, uniform and all other articles of clothing and equipment were issued and paid for by a deduction of £2 a month from the man's pay till the debt was worked off, which took years. In addition, there were mess and forage accounts to be deducted monthly. The horse being the man's own property had to be fed at his expense. Subscriptions to a Remount Fund and Library, the purchase of cleaning gear, all necessary charges every month made a total of stoppages that reduced the 6/ a day to near vanishing point if it did not bring the balance on the wrong side of the ledger which was not infrequent. Losses and replacements of kit worn out all had to be made good out of the man's pay. From the above it will be gathered that the early years of a Natal Policeman's life were not particularly lucrative, but there was very little grumbling and the open life in the fresh air made up for a good deal.

Ceremonial parades

30 a warm reception if they got so far. Fortunately, they were not required. But when I arrived in Maritzburg the scare had not been forgotten and the population was still a bit panicky.

Shepstone’s Horse: A sketch made by Lt-Col Fairlie on June 5, 1879. Sketch from a scrapbook most probably published in the Natal Mercury. Right is the coveted Victoria Cross.

One evening we heard the ominous sound of the war songs of a Zulu army on the march advancing towards Maritzburg. The war songs of Native regiments are dreadfully impressive, the tramp of feet of a thousand warriors keeping time with the song accompanied by the rattle of arms against the war shields. It was no little relief to Maritzburg to find that on this occasion there was any cause for alarm. The advancing Native regiments were friendly Kaffirs from Natal belonging to the tribe of Chief Tatileku and had been serving at the front with British troops and now returning home. The incident has perhaps unduly impressed itself on my memory; it was a new and weird experience for me at the time.

During the months I served as a recruit in Maritzburg, I remember attending two important ceremonial parades with the Imperial troops and was not a little proud to appear in my new uniform on those occasions.

Christian Ferdinand Schiess VC (7 April 1856 14 December 1884) was a Swiss recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He died in poverty at just 28. He was 22 years old, and a corporal in the Natal Native Contingent, South African Forces during the Zulu War. On 22 January 1879, at Rorke's Drift, Natal, Corporal Schiess, in spite of having been wounded in the foot a few days previously, displayed great gallantry when the garrison had retired to the inner line of defence and the Zulus had occupied the wall of mealie bags which had been abandoned. He crept along the wall in order to dislodge one of the enemies and succeeded in killing him and two others before returning to the inner defences. Schiess was the first man serving with South African Forces under British Command to receive the VC. - Irregular Horse by Sir Garnet Wolseley, Commander-in-Chief. - Re-interment, at Fort Napier Cemetery It was an imposing parade and took place on the Market Square in Maritzburg. The next occasion was also an impressive one when a strong detachment of Mounted Police, probably 150 men, paraded with some Imperial troops at the re interment, at Fort Napier Cemetery of the bodies of Colonels Durnford and Pullein, both killed at the Isandlwana disaster. But why the bodies of these two officers should not have been allowed to rest in the battlefield graveyard with the men of their regiments who fell with them I do not understand 16 http://www.genealogyworld.net/azwar/inscription.html

The

first was the presentation of a Victoria Cross decoration to a Corporal Schiese (sic) of the Natal Mounted Police who fell at Isandlwana16 - Victoria Cross decoration to Corporal Schiese

32 . Government Notice No 59, 1880

33 Three above photographs from The Nongqai 1908

34 Contemporaneous photographs of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift – Hennie Heymans

Umhlali

At the end of nine months hard training at Headquarters, I was at last paraded in heavy marching order with a detachment for out station duty at Umhlali on the North coast of Natal. We were fifteen troopers under the command of a Sergeant and two Corporals and were to open a new police station. Out station life at Umhlali was a delightful change from the strict discipline and daily routine duties at Headquarters. We had quarters provided instead of tents, very necessary on the Natal coast. We patrolled the whole area between Durban and Zululand, visiting all farmers and planters by whom we were most hospitably treated. We also patrolled the Native locations in our district and were invariably treated with the greatest respect by the Natives, many of whom had seldom, if ever, seen white men before. To live near to the sea again and get sea bathing during the hot weather was a great joy. Fruit of sorts was plentiful and our horses got pig fat on Ubabi grass, which supplemented their ration of corn and forage. The Police quarters at Umhlali was a disused Magistracy and were infested with snakes, mostly of the green mamba variety. Hardly a day passed

35 “The Drift” and the Buffalo River Hennie Heymans

36 that one or more snakes were not discovered in the vicinity of the quarters, often in one of the barrack rooms curled up on the blankets on one of the beds. A clump of bamboos in the garden appeared to be the headquarters of the mamba family, golden oriols17 built their hanging nests in the bamboos and made a fine noise when the snakes were hunting round for eggs. Strange to say none of us was ever bitten by a snake. Not far from Umhlali is the site of Chaka's old kraal where the Zulu king was buried. Local tradition says that the grave is haunted by the spirit of Chaka in the form of a black mamba and Natives give the locality a wide berth. I have vivid recollections of a patrol camp in a small clearing in the coast bush near to a sugar estate location. The flickering fires at night across the Umhloti River, the monotonous sound of the Indian tom toms, the bush babies crying in the trees all round our camp after the monkeys had been watching us cook our evening meal. Smoke from our camp fire would help to keep the mosquitoes off but ants and other insect pests were not so easily disposed of. Our food supplies, especially the tinned milk, always suffered from their depredations. In after years, I spent many nights in camp or bivouac under conditions far more calculated to cause a lasting impression, but in those far off days the glamour of Mounted Police life in the wilds of coast scenery in South Africa was new and wonderful and never to be forgotten. Our barrack rooms at the Umhlali Police camp somewhat resembled a natural history museum. Shooting trophies adorned the walls but the most prominent feature of decoration was snake skins of all sorts, mambas mostly, but there was a record python skin 23 feet long. We killed this beast easily and found a whole buck inside its stomach. The Basutos Those pleasant and peaceful days in the semi-tropical climate of Umhlali were not to last long. The drums of war were echoing along the Natal border of Basutoland. The Cape Colony was engaged in hostilities with, the Basutos, what about I do not recollect. The Basutos with a not unnatural lack of discrimination were raiding through the Berg Passes into Natal to loot cattle and carry on their warfare along an extended front. The Natal Mounted Police being the first line of defence and always the first in the field when trouble arose were ordered to mobilise and patrol the Berg Passes in force to check depredations and drive the Basutos out of the Colony. In spite of snake infested quarters and rivers abounding with crocodiles; it was with much regret that we received marching orders to proceed to Estcourt via Greytown to join up with other detachments before proceeding on 17 Most probably yellow weavers HBH

37 to the Basutoland border. The anticipation of some fighting, however, more than compensated for our hurried departure from our comfortable quarters at Umhlali.

It was a force of approximately 200 Mounted Police that moved out of Estcourt to the border of Basutoland by forced marches, with ox transport for our tents and provisions and pack horses for blankets and spare ammunition. The weather was wet and very cold. To save time in striking and rolling up tents in the morning we bivouacked at night and no doubt this was done to harden us for the rough life that lay ahead. Coming straight from the coast climate without any additional clothing issued for use in the winter months on the Drakensberg, I found the change of air something more than invigorating. The first bivouac after leaving Estcourt was in rain and sleet and then it froze. When the trumpeter sounded reveille in the early morning my blanket was stiff and white with frost. I then learned for the first time that a wet blanket is always warmer than a dry one to sleep under. Our permanent camp was pitched in Putili Valley on the banks of the Little Tugela River and from there mounted patrols along the border were continually on the move. In camp we were kept busy with parades, drills and inspections and the usual guards over camp and picket lines. Veld fires were a constant danger to the camp and in spite of a cordon cleared round the whole camp we were nearly burned out on several occasions. The passes down the Berg from Basutoland into Natal are very few and most difficult of access, especially for mounted men. They were in fact very little more than game tracks. Basutos on their hardy ponies bred in the mountains could negotiate these precipitous paths far more easily than mounted police on horses unaccustomed to such rough and rugged country. Since those days these passes have been blown up by order of the Natal Government to stop traffic from Basutoland into Natal but I have no doubt that the Natives have discovered other tracks leading into the Game Reserve where wildebeeste are plentiful and easy to shoot. When on patrol duty on a wet night we sometimes slept in Bushmen caves which were dry but verminous and sleep was much disturbed by great bats flying in and out all night. In the early morning we were visited by large families of baboons who barked their furious disapproval of police intrusion into their domain. There were leopards about but I never saw one or heard of them attacking a man or horse. Wild dogs were numerous, a species of jackal I think, with a yellow mane down the back. They were reported to be doing some damage to the stock on isolated farms. A special patrol was sent out after them without any luck. One night the pack rushed through the camp and there was some promiscuous shooting. One policeman was shot in the leg but no dogs were killed. Our rations in Putili Valley consisted

Polela district

At last news arrived of an important raid by Basutos into the Polela district, fifty miles south and the Putili camp was broken up suddenly. Half our force was despatched in haste to engage the raiders and the other half to which I was attached was sent back to Estcourt and camped at Fort Durnford to await which shortly appeared from an unexpected quarter.

Annexation and War - Transvaal

A war cloud was rising in the distant Transvaal which was to have a vital bearing on the future history of South Africa. The Boer farmers of the Transvaal, who had appealed for British protection from the Zulus and requested annexation to the British Dominions, now that the power of the Zulus was broken forever, showed their want of appreciation and ingratitude by deciding to throw off British rule and broke out into open rebellion towards the end of 1880. The climax was reached when Colonel Anstruther with the 94th Regiment on the line of march was ambushed and held up by a Boer Commando at Bronkhurst Spruit18 on his way to Pretoria. The British regiment, marching at ease, was surprised and heavily attacked by the Boers from a covered position and forced to surrender. The British casualties were large and included the bandmaster's wife who was riding on a transport wagon. A few stragglers who escaped from the trap found their way to Estcourt and gave first hand accounts of the disaster. We leave the spelling as is, should read Bronkhorstspruit HBH

38 mainly of tinned corn beef and biscuit. Goat meat was procured occasionally to give us a change and when a camp oven was built and some fresh bread made it was a real luxury.

During all the months we were camped in Putili Valley no Basutos appeared on our side of the border in this locality. Owing to the nature of the passes only small raiding parties of the enemy could have got through before we got warning of their presence and no doubt the Basutos were well aware of the warm reception they would have received if they had come our way.

Map of the Laing’s Nek area – Martin Collection Personal experiences I will now relate some of my personal experiences connected with those eventful days still as fresh in my memory as if they had taken place last week, and I remember so much that took place that my difficulty will be to avoid making my story too long.

Laing's Nek Boer commandos had now assembled at Cold Stream on the Natal border under the command of General Joubert to obstruct the advance of British troops into the Transvaal going to the relief of our garrisons besieged in Potchefstroom and Pretoria. The Boers then decided to take up an entrenched position on Laing's Nek at a point where the main road to the north crosses the Drakensberg.

19 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Pomeroy_Colley

Major Dartnell, the Commandant joined us later.

Ladysmith

We had previously been issued with cavalry sabres, not hitherto part of police equipment, and we were hastily put through a strenuous course, of sword drill, foot and mounted, and then all swords were ground ready for active service. In addition, we were armed with carbine and revolver and each man carried fifty or sixty rounds of Martini ammunition. With blanket and great coat, saddle bags and wallets carried on the saddle, it can be well imagined we were well weighted in full marching order at least the horse was. After months of hard work on the Basuto border, men and horses were as hard as nails and fit for anything ahead of us and that was a good deal.

Sub Inspector Phillips with twenty men was sent on to Newcastle in front of the column to patrol the border passes. Two of his men were shortly captured and detained as prisoners. Inspector Mansel was in command of my detachment and the main body of police which left Estcourt for the front.

Gen Sir George Colley

My troop was with the column of police that was despatched in haste from Estcourt to Newcastle.

General Sir George Colley19 was Lieutenant Governor of Natal at the time and took personal command of the troops going to the relief of Pretoria, and ordered his attacking force to mobilise at Newcastle near the Natal border. Being short of mounted troops all available men of the Natal Mounted Police were attached to the British forces - about a hundred men all told. Owing to the disturbed state of Pondoland, a strong detachment had to be maintained at Harding and another detachment of Police was left at Fort Durnford to defend Estcourt in case the local Dutch should show signs of giving trouble and interfere with our lines of communication. There were no railways up country in those days and no bridges over the rivers.

The weather was bad and the roads in a dreadful state. We splashed along through mud and water, almost to our horses' knees in places. All rivers were in flood but we were so wet from continual rain that it made little difference when we rode through deep drifts with water over the flaps of our saddles. The Klip River approaching Ladysmith was bank high and we had to swim our horses

Itthrough.wasChristmas

To get on with facts, I know I was sound asleep when awakened at an early hour the next morning by the Troop Sergeant with the unpleasant orders to look sharp and turn out, get my horse fed and fall in with twenty other unfortunates to accompany Inspector Mansel twenty miles back to the Ingagane River to meet General Colley and staff and escort them into Newcastle. My uniform, shirt

The break in the weather did not last and we marched out of Ladysmith in drenching rain which continued during our journey over the Biggarsberg to Newcastle. The Home River and Ingagane were raging torrents. We must have been a sorry looking half drowned troop of Police that entered Newcastle late one evening with water nearly knee deep running through the streets. To find ground on which to pitch camp that night was impossible but shelter was found for men and horses at Glasses Hotel Just opened and a good dinner provided. What a treat it was to get out of the rain and into a dry bed after we had seen that our horses were rubbed down and fed. I did not envy the main detailed for guard that night. I had not slept under any sort of roof for more than a year and often in the open with only a blanket to cover me, nor had I seen clean sheets on my bed since I enlisted. I wonder now what I dreamed of that night. Very likely that I was back again in my English home and with so much water about, that I had had a day's boating on the Avon at Tewkesbury with College friends and had come home wet through as I often did. More likely perhaps I dreamed I was on camp guard in Putili Valley straining my eyes and ears into the darkness beyond the camp and listening for Basuto raiders who never came, but most likely of all I slept like a log as a tired man will who has been in the saddle from morning till night for days and wet through most of the time.

General Colley

Day when we crossed the Klip River and the weather cleared so we off saddled, dried our sodden garments and cleaned up our saddlery and accoutrements as best we could to make a decent appearance on arriving at Ladysmith. Most of us went to a race meeting that afternoon or the next day, I forget which, and Trooper Ford's horse won a big race; not bad for a troop horse off the line of march. Ford was the camp cook and the cook's horse always had an easy time of it. This horse was sold shortly afterwards at Newcastle to Colonel Deane of the 58th Regiment whom I saw killed at the Battle of Laing’s Nek on the 28th January. I do not know what became of the horse afterwards, captured and used as a Boer remount very likely.

Newcastle

After giving men and horses a rest, the whole force, now about fifty strong, moved off at dawn down the main road towards the Biggarsberg on the lookout for a Cape cart with Sir George Colley and staff and also for a Boer commando.

42 and socks had of course not had time to get dry. There are more enjoyable things in this world than being turned out of a warm dry bed at an early hour in the morning to get into wet clothes and struggle into wet top boots that were hard enough to get off but harden still to pull on. Some hot coffee and a hurried breakfast saw me again in the saddle on the way back to the Ingagane River where it was expected General Colley and staff would meet us, the General travelling by Cape cart.

At One Tree Hill we off saddled in the open shadeless veld at noon and waited in the blistering heat of an upcountry summer day, saddles or numnahs covering our horses' bits to keep them cool which otherwise got so hot that they burnt the mouths of the horses and made them restive when the order came to "saddle up". When the man on out look signalled that a Cape cart was approaching from

Photograph of Inspector Mansel (below) from Heymans Collection We off-saddled at the Ingagan (sic) Hotel, a road-side canteen consisting of a bar, a bedroom and small dining room. Here we waited all day not sorry for a rest. No General having arrived, we got some food of sorts for dinner and lay down for the night on the dining room floor. Mansel getting the bedroom adjoining and a guard posted over our horses. I was in a sound sleep when disturbed by the noise of horses' feet on the road outside and then a word of command in English halting the troop. At first I scented a Boer Surprise and was relieved when I recognised the voice of Sergeant Faddy who walked into our sleeping room and stumbled over me lying on the floor, I directed him to Inspector Mansel's (left a photo of Insp Mansel) room where I heard him report that by direction of Colonel Deane, the Officer Commanding at Newcastle, he had brought down all available police to strengthen Inspector Mansel's escort as it was anticipated that the Boers would make an attempt to capture the General and his staff on their way to Newcastle.

A photograph of Fort Amiel in the old days from the Martin Collection. Turn off to Fort Amiel and photographs of Fort Amiel by Hennie Heymans

Newcastle Fort Amiel

43 the Ladysmith direction we were only too glad to get the order to form up in order for escort duty with arms unslung in case of an attack on the road. In a few minutes Sir George Colley with Captains Elwes, Stewart and McGregor on the staff, reached us and dismounting four of our troopers decided to ride the rest of the way to Newcastle. All these officers were shortly afterwards killed at Laing’s Nek or Majuba. Our four dismounted men were ordered to come on to Newcastle in the Cape cart. I was one of the escorts and well remember the pace set by the General riding one of our best horses "Hell for Leather" all the way.

The Ingagane and Home Rivers still in, flood afforded the only slight check to the 25 mile race back to by Imperial troops. The four troopers in the General's Cape cart came to grief when crossing the

Martin Collection

Majuba

44 Ingagane River. The cart and horses were washed down in the flood, the cart capsized and part of the General's baggage was lost and as far as I remember the men had a very narrow escape from drowning.

Men and horses were not sorry for a rest in camp for a few days after a week's hard riding and opportunity was now taken to clean our kits and saddlery and get blankets and clothing properly dry, which did not take long in the hot sun. We also enjoyed good bathing in the Incandu River, which of course was also in flood.

It was not long, however, before Mounted Police services were again required for escort duty with a reconnoitring party under Major Pool, R.A., a night ride from Newcastle over Laing’s Nek and close up to the Boer laager at Cold Stream. This movement was kept a profound secret. Had the news leaked out no doubt we should have had a warm reception from the enemy lying in wait for us.

Reconnoitring party

The first intimation that we had in the Police camp that anything was on foot was that no leave was granted to any man to go into town. At about 9 p.m. an escort of 50 N.C.O 's and men under the command of an Inspector, Mansel I think, were ordered to saddle up for duty in light order. We were soon on the road leading out of Newcastle to the North accompanied by Major Pool and a small staff. It is about a thirty mile ride to the top of the Nek and the last few miles a fairly steep ascent. The Movement was timed to reach our objective at dawn or rather to be in position to take the required when dawn broke. It was a dark misty night. Silence and no lighting of pipes was the order. A few miles from the top of the hill two men were dropped at intervals to report any movement of the enemy in our rear to cut off the retirement of the reconnoitring party if attempted. I was with the leading sections and rode with Major Pool over the Nek to a position within a short distance of the Boer laager. It was still quite dark as we climbed the hill to the Nek, beyond which the road stretches away over fairly flat country across the Cold Stream into the Transvaal. For the last mile we had been riding with loaded revolvers in our hands and warned that we might be fired on at any moment. At each point on the road which afforded cover for an ambush a volley from Boer rifles was expected. It was up to that time the most exciting ride I had ever had, and if the Boers had got wind of our move, it might easily have been my last. My eyes and ears were straining into the darkness for signs of an enemy known to be close by and though I knew that at any moment I might have been knocked out of the saddle by a Boer bullet, I would not have missed that ride for a good deal. This was the beginning of even more exciting times ahead. Dawn broke and the night mists cleared off rapidly. The Boer laager lay fully exposed to view close at hand and we had not beendiscovered. The reconnaissance was a success and it was now time to get off on the road back to Newcastle before a Boer Commando had time to get into the saddle. By the time we reached our camp by the Incandu River we had ridden sixty odd miles, and after attending to our tired horses and had some breakfast, were ready to turn in and get some sleep before being called out for duty again. Major Pool, R.A., our leader that night, was killed a few days later at the Battle of Laing’s Nek.

Gatling Gun21 Mr de Wet’s farm Looted A portion of the Mounted Police was employed as scouts on either flank of the column to search for the enemy and give warning of any indication of attack. I was one of the number detailed for this duty and well remember what a rough ride it was along the spurs of the Drakensberg by Kaffir paths when there were any. The streams we crossed the best way we could as there were but few drifts. I think it was on this advance that the farm of a Natal Boer farmer named de Wet22 was looted and burnt by the Imperial troops. The farm was deserted and de Wet was supposed to have joined the enemy. I came on the scene when the looting was going on and saw men filling their mess tins with fresh farm butter which of course melted before long and ran down the flanks of their horses, and I imagine no butter was left in their mesa tins by the time they reached camp. There was some sort of enquiry into this affair later, and as there was no direct evidence against de Wet he was compensated for the damage done, and I think he was lucky. On this duty I remember getting a nasty spill from my horse which fell with me when jumping a spruit at the bottom of a. donga. It was a bad take-off and a worse landing and my horse fell on me but except for getting very wet and a few bruises, no damage was done.

21 Photo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gatling_gun_1865.jpg 22

46 Chapter 3 - Laing’s Nek

General Sir George Colley - GOC

The Gatling gun is one of the best known early rapid fire weapons and a forerunner of the modern machine gun. The Gatling gun was used most successfully to expand European colonial empires by killing warriors of non industrialized societies including the Matabele, the Zulu, ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatling_gun No particulars of Me De Wet could be obtained. Gen CR de Wet had a farm at Memel nearby HBH

The attacking force, consisting of one battalion of the 68th Regiment, a troop of King's Dragoon Guards, some Mounted Infantry, Artillery, a Naval Brigade with guns, gattlings20 and rocket apparatus and about 100 officers and men of the Natal Mounted Police, left Newcastle early on the 24th January under the command of General Sir George Colley, Lieutenant Governor of Natal. The weather was not good and our progress was slow. After recent rains the main road was in a bad state and created transport difficulties.

The column halted at Ingogo and reached Mount Prospect on the 26th January, where a laager was formed and camp pitched facing the Boer position on Laing’s Nek. Our Police tents were pitched in front of the laager. The Brigade Major pointed out to our Commandant that in the event of an attack we should be right in it. Major Dartnell was not concerned with this and said he would stay where he was. The next day, the 27th, a fatigue party was sent out towards the Nek to repair the road to get the guns forward, the Police providing a covering party. All that day we watched the enemy at work at their entrenchments on the Nek, indicating the kind of reception the force would receive from a frontal attack. The night of the 27th was a disturbed one. Our outlying pickets opened fire on a real or imaginary enemy and doubled back to the laager. The bugles sounded the "Alarm" and the whole force was soon under arms. In my haste to get out of my tent which I shared with another man, I pulled up the side of the tent and crawled out. At that instant the Naval Brigade were bringing forward their gatling guns23 through our lines and I narrowly escaped being run over in the dark. Our orders were to saddle up and stand to our arms to wait the attack which never came, and eventually we returned to our tents and got a little sleep before daybreak, fully dressed and with arms handy.

23 Gatling guns, see photograph 38 HBH

Ingogo Battlefield Martin Collection Mount Prospect

24 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Thompson_laingsnek.jpg

After a very early breakfast on the 28th we moved off with the attacking column, acting as rear guard. By the time we reached the position, in front of the enemy's trenches from which the British attack was launched, our guns had already commenced a bombardment. The guns were light, only six or seven pounders I think, and the range was short. The Police were formed up immediately in rear of the guns and in full view of the attack. We also acted as vedettes during the action to watch and report any enemy movements and on this duty came under the Boer fire. The Naval Brigade opened fire on the Boer position with guns, gattlings and rocket apparatus. Some of their rockets fell into a plantation where a number of Boer horses were concealed. The horses stampeded down the hill into our lines and some of them were caught. It was impossible to tell the damage done to the enemy by our bombardment, the Boers remaining under cover all the time. The main attack on the Boer trenches was made by the 58th Regiment led by Colonel Deane. It was a frontal attack up a steep and stony incline on a strongly defended position. The exposed and exhausted British were met with a withering fire from the Boer trenchesand never reached the enemy's lines. Our casualties were very heavy, the killed included Colonel Deane. The smoke from our rifle fire occasionally blotted out our view of the attack. At one stage, when the wind had cleared off the smoke, I remember seeing a number of men of the attacking force taking cover in a hollow on the side of the hill, when several mounted Boers rode out from behind the enemy's lines, fired into the British closely packed together and galloped back untouched by our fire. The race up the hill had made good shooting impossible and it is well known that the Boer casualties that day were small. On our side, the red tunics of the British soldiers provided an easy mark for Boer rifles and the enemy took full advantage of it. Lady Butler, the celebrated artist, has painted a well known picture of this charge of the 58th Regiment depicting Lieutenant Lucy calling out to Lieutenant Monk "Come on Monk, Floreat Etona" 24, a name she gave to her picture. I knew personally both these gallant young officers. The infantry attack on the position having completely failed, the General ordered his small cavalry force, consisting of a troop of King's Dragoon Guards and some Mounted Infantry, to charge the position, an equally hopeless task in view of the nature of the country and the strongly defended trenches in front of them.

The painting entitled: "Come on Monk, Floreat Etona" I heard the men cheer as they galloped up the hill to their certain destruction and few came back. Only the Sergeant Major of the King's Dragoon Guards reached the Boer trenches where he was shot dead.

We had no sooner joined our troop in rear of the guns when we got orders to "draw swords and prepare to charge". I am sure we were all keen to try our luck where the King's Dragoon Guards and 58th Regiment had failed and I was as eager as any youngster of twenty could be to "cut, guard and point" with my newly sharpened sword into the enemy's lines if we ever got there. We were just off when, for reasons unknown to us, the order was countermanded and the Police charge did not take place. Not the fault of our Commandant, Major Dartnell, I am sure.

Some years before this loved and gallant officer had led a "forlorn hope" at the siege of Jansi during the Indian Mutiny, and were the first up one of the scaling ladders and over the walls into the thick of the Sepoys. He told me later that if we had made our charge on to the Boer trenches not many of us would have come back and that was most likely, but I wish we had been given the chance. The action had now lasted until well into the afternoon, though I took no notice of the time. The stretcher bearers were now carrying the wounded off the field to an ambulance station in our rear. The smoke from our rifles had cleared off and we had an uninterrupted view of the scene of the attack with the Boer earth works in the background.

The last incident I remember on that unlucky day before a retirement was ordered was a flag of truce sent to the Boer General with a request to suspend hostilities for a short period to remove our dead and wounded. This was granted and a request came back from the Boers for medical comforts for their wounded which of course was sent. The retreat to our camp and laager at Mount Prospect now began. The Police covering the guns brought up the rear of the column. The Boers having no 25 The French military term vedette (formed from Latin videre, to see), also spelled vidette, migrated into English and other languages to refer to a mounted sentry or outpost, who has the function of bringing information, giving signals or warnings of danger, etc., to a main body of troops. In modern terms, the soldiers who man listening posts are the equivalent of vedettes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedette

The Police vedettes25 were now exposed to a considerable amount of Boer rifle fire. My friend, Trooper St. John Kneller, still alive and residing in Durban, was one of these. Bullets were striking all round him thick and fast, and why he was not picked off I cannot to this day understand. At this stage I was ordered to ride up to his post on the battle field and recall him, which I did and lost no time about it. We returned to our troop with spurs digging into our horses’ sides and bullets singing about our ears but were untouched. A race for our lives neither of us will ever forget.

He expressed his regret for the failure of the day's operations and the heavy losses sustained by his troops, mentioning the death of Colonel Deane. He then informed us that as he had left Newcastle in an unintended state and that the police being part of Natal’s defence force where we were to return to Newcastle that night to defend the town. He also informed us that when his re enforcements arrived, we should go forward again and take part in the capture of the position. A

51 artillery it was expected that they would make an attempt to capture ours, and when we saw them massing on our flank it looked very much like it. The guns and Police were ready for them but the enemy was evidently satisfied with their day's work and discreetly left us alone.

Address by General Colley

Colley’s grave below - Martin Collection.

It was late in the afternoon when the dispirited troops arrived back at Mount Prospect camp. In consequence of the alarm during the previous night we had been under arms for about eighteen hours, men and horses wanted a rest but it was not to be for long. After looking to our horses' needs and getting a hasty meal for ourselves, there was an order to "fall in", when we were addressed by General Colley.

52 few weeks later General Colley was killed at Majuba Hill. Above - Majuba as seen from Volksrust, ZAR – Heymans Collection. Below - Ox-wagon transport –Martin Collection.

53 Above a contemporaneous photograph of Mount Majuba by Hennie Heymans and a monument on the top of Majuba

The Police at Newcastle were at once hurried down to the Nek where the main road crosses the Biggarsberg to hold the position until the British troops arrived. This was considered the most likely place from which the enemy could hold up the advance. We took pack horses with patrol tents and provisions. A great coat and one blanket on our saddles was the only kit allowed. The nights were cold and damp and we were kept constantly on the alert. Outlying picket or camp guard duty nearly every night and every man was roused "before dawn to stand by his arms until daybreak, the most likely hour of attack. Night picket on a hill a short distance from our camp was the post of danger, as in the event of attack the pickets would be the first to come under the enemy's fire and were

The Battle of Skuishoogte

54 Back to Newcastle

With a halt on the road to rest our horses and with the possibility of being attacked at any time, it was a weary march back to Newcastle where we arrived early in the morning after the battle. Men and horses were both in need of a rest and the view of our old camping ground across the Incandu River was a welcome sight. It did not take long to get our horses fed and picketed, guards posted, tents pitched and a hasty meal despatched and then to enjoy a well earned sleep. The inhabitants of Newcastle were, I think not a little pleased to see us back and putting up forts for the defence of the town. The forts were made of green sods and of course we had to man them in addition to our other guard and patrol duties. Newcastle was not attacked but a Boer Commando moving South in our direction was engaged by General Colley's artillery at Schuins Hoekte26 , 27 when the British troops again met with a reverse and returned to Mount Prospect after suffering considerable loss. This was sometimes called the Battle of Ingogo Heights. Our duties looking after the defence of Newcastle were interrupted with the approach of re inforcements from India which were being rapidly hurried forward under the command of Sir Evelyn Wood, who was taking over command of the operations. South of Newcastle to block Ferreira from the Free State News of an enemy commando led by a Boer named Ferreira from the Free State was reported to have entered Natal, south of Newcastle with the object of blocking the advance of reinforcements

On 8 February 1881 General Colley determined to frighten off the raiding Boers with a show of force near Skuinshoogte (Ingogo). As the British artillery opened fire on the Boer commando, the Boers made a direct charge sustaining an extremely accurate rifle fire from the saddle, causing the death of all the gunners. Military authors at the time commented with amazement that the Battle of Skuinshoogte had overturned conventional 19th Century military wisdom by showing that cavalry can overpower artillery! 6 Officers and 70 men were killed and 63 wounded in this action, against the Boer losses of 8 men killed and 6 wounded http://www.reformationsa.org/articles/First%20Anglo%20Boer%20War%201880 1881.htm

See battle of Schuinshoogte on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Schuinshoogte

55 expected to hold the enemy in check if possible until the camp got under arms. I well remember the cold wet nights on this picket duty and being ready at any moment to fire and go on firing as long as I was a live Police trooper. During the long watchful hours of those dark nights, I have no doubt that my thoughts went back at times to my old home life at Cheltenham, to past dances, skating parties or tennis matches of only two years ago. What changes I had seen since then. In times of war the future of the individual is not of much concern owing to the nearness of eternity which he never thinks about at least when under fire or taking other big risks I never did. But outlying picket on the Biggarsberg at night with a thick mist hanging round was an unattractive job and I welcomed daylight when the mounted patrols would go out and the tired and sleepy guards got their morning coffee and could turn in for some rest before being called out for a parade for inspection of arms.

The remainder of the Police detachment formed the advance guard of the column of reinforcements which included a regiment of Hussars and 2nd Battalion of 60th Rifles commanded by Colonel Mends who had married a cousin of mine. The return march to Newcastle was not without incident and we narrowly missed a fight on the way. A Boer commando had been waiting for us at the Ingagane River but finding our strength decided not to risk an engagement and, after looting the hotel, made off just before we got there. Our horses splashed through pools of beer on the road, the remainder of what the enemy could neither drink nor take away with them. We crossed the river at dawn hot on the trail of the commando and hoped to engage them before the Hussars came up, as we scouted up the rising ground overlooking the Ingagane. We were too late, however, to obtain contact and our orders were to lead the column along the road to Newcastle.

General Sir Evelyn Wood Advance Guard

At last Sir Evelyn Wood with long watched-for reinforcements and convoy from Durban came into view and our precarious position on the Biggarsberg Nek to keep the road clear was no longer in danger. Inspector Phillips with eight or ten police was despatched with all haste to Newcastle. Few of us thought that he would get through.

General Colley killed at Majuba

In after years, I got to know the lay of the country well. Back at Newcastle and Peace We got back to Newcastle without further incident and re occupied our forts and old camping ground. The Imperial troops in the column went to Fort Amiel across the River Incandu. Now that “sufficient reinforcements” were available, we were daily anticipating orders for a forward movement under General Wood. Avoiding another frontal attack, we expected to advance round the enemy's eastern flank and drive him out of his position from the rear. The Mounted Police were as eager as any to wipe out three disastrous defeats and to re establish British rule and prestige. While we waited, we little thought that negotiations were going on between the British Government under Mr. Gladstone (photo28) and the Boer leaders, and the next we heard was the almost incredible news that a Peace Treaty had been signed by General Wood at 28

In the meantime, General Colley, no doubt anxious to retrieve his past run of misfortunes before the arrival of General Wood to take over command, had occupied Majuba Hill, a strong position overlooking Laing’s Nek, which if he could have held until he got some guns there, he could have made the enemy's trenches untenable. How the British troops were attacked at dawn and dislodged with very heavy loss, the General killed and a stampede down the hill by the survivors is a melancholy story well told by my old friend Mr. Justice Carter in his book on the war who as a newspaper correspondent at the time was present at Majuba.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Ewart_Gladstone

When Sir Evelyn Wood arrived at Newcastle with reinforcements, with a troop of Hussars, he conducted a reconnaissance round the Boer flank in the Wakkerstroom direction and with sufficient force could have dislodged the enemy from their position on the Nek if attacked from that quarter.

In those far off days as a young trooper of Police I suppose it never occurred to me to question the wisdom of a General who could send his troops, so few in number up a steep hill to make a frontal attack on strongly defended trenches, when he could have taken his men round the eastern flank and attacked the position from the rear, or tried an onslaught with cold steel under cover of darkness which would most likely have captured the position with comparatively small loss. The Boers never liked steel or night attacks.

And thus ended the first Boer War, an inglorious chapter in English, history. Laing’s Nek was a disaster, Schuins Hoekte29 a blundering reverse and Majuba a tragedy but worst of all was the Peace Treaty, an everlasting disgrace and the beginning of a long series of surrenders of British rights and principles in South Africa with a total disregard of those residents loyal to Flag and Empire.

Return to Stations

The feeling in Newcastle against the treaty and British Government ran very high and an effigy of Mr. Gladstone was publicly burnt in the town. Before long the Mounted Police received orders to return to their various stations. Both men and horses had had a rough time and had been hard worked for many months, the condition of our uniforms and horses' sore backs were evidence of it. We cleaned up and marched out of Newcastle looking as smart as we could under the circumstances. The town residents showed their appreciation of our services by lining up in the main road and handing us cigars, etc., as we rode by and a farewell cheer. The Police got no other thanks or recognition for their services during the war, nor was any expected. Peace having been concluded we were only too keen to get back to our stations and resume our regular police duties.

Rheumatism

The nights on the march down were cold and wet. It was then that I first discovered that I was not proof against rheumatism and by the time we got to Helpmekaar beyond Dundee, a very high and bleak position, it was an effort to get into the saddle in the morning and I had to rub my stiff limbs with turpentine before I could do anything. My tent mate had to roll up our wet tent in the morning without my help and until we got into a warmer climate I was so helpless that I could do no more than sit on my horse and I think it was only the prospect of getting back to the warm coast sunshine that kept me going. It was a real delight after a long march from one end of Natal to the other to get back again to our coast station and within sight of the sea, to have a roof over my head once more and enjoy the quantities of fruit that could be had for the picking. My rheumatics disappeared like magic and men and horses put on condition rapidly. We had seen but little fresh meat or bread since we left Umhlali

29 See Battle of Skuinshoogte HBH

57 Meeks Farm on the Cold Stream under which the Transvaal was to be handed back to the Boers, Great Britain to remain a suzerain power, which proved to be a meaningless clause and was soon to be dropped altogether.

Lance-Corporal to Pietermaritzburg

I was not left long to enjoy station life at Umhlali. At this period, I got my first step of promotion to the rank of Lance Corporal and was not a little proud of the one stripe on the arm of my tunic.

58 to go to the wars and were all thoroughly tired of tinned corned beef and army ration biscuit. The corned beef went by the name of Harriet Lane who was murdered in London and her remains boiled down in a kitchen copper for concealment.

Head Quarters in Alexandra Rd - Pietermaritzburg I was then ordered to headquarters at Maritzburg to qualify for my duties and responsibilities as a Non Commissioned Officer. Harding After a short but intensive course of drill and musketry at headquarters, I was placed in command of a detachment of twenty men, mostly recruits, to take to Harding, a Police station near to the border of Pondoland and a march of 120 miles from Maritzburg. This was my first command as a Non Commissioned Officer and I was a good bit younger than any of the men placed in my charge. I remember some little difficulty on the road caused by one or two men of the old soldier class getting drunk, but I managed to hand over my detachment to the officer in command at Harding in good order and up to scheduled time.

59 Natal Mounted Police on Parade at Harding 1880’s

60 Pondoland

An old Map of the Natal - Pondoland border – Martin Collection

Pondoland was at that time a harbour of refuge for criminals of all sorts, especially stock thieves, as neither Natal nor Cape Police could affect arrests in that territory. Stolen stock could always be disposed of to Natives at a good price. Horses were particularly in demand as every Pondo rides a pony. The hunt after and capture of horse thieves, white and black, kept us busy.

Police duties at Harding were not uncongenial and at times full of interest. Pondoland was then ruled by Native Chiefs and the country was more or less in a state of chaos in consequence of tribal Nativewarfare.Chiefs would pay high prices for rifles and gun running from Natal across the border In Pondoland was a profitable business. It was part of our duties to stop this trade; no easy matter in view of the broken nature of the country and the class of people engaged in it.

61 Sicau was at that time the recognised Paramount Chief of the Pondos but another Chief named Umhlangaso disputed his authority and perpetual warfare existed between their two tribes. Sicau had about 10,000 warriors in his "impis" and far outnumbered his rival. Great battles took place close to the Natal border which is marked by the Umtamvuna River. At times the defeated side would seek refuge in Natal, when it was our duty to disarm them and put a stop to further slaughter on the Natal side of the river, but I have known the killing go on in the bed of the river when men were fleeing for sanctuary. The fighting usually started with the use of firearms at long range without much damage done. It was only when the opposing forces came to close quarters with their assegais that any real impression was made. All this was very disturbing to the Natal Kaffirs living near to the border, all talking the same dialect as the Pondos and following their customs. The country was thickly populated with Natives, mostly a turbulent lot and with good reason regarded by Natal farmers as a constant source of danger. Police activities and frequent patrolling was the only thing that kept them in check.

Life in these parts was not without its excitement. Occasionally it was much like active service and sometimes as dangerous. Life at Harding Our quarters at Harding consisted of a number of sod huts, each accommodating two or three men. They were not uncomfortable to live in but the thatched roofs harboured numberless centipedes which sometimes fell down on our beds during heavy rains. Living was good, the camp cook bought fowls at 4d30 each from the country storekeepers, who in their turn bought them from Kaffirs for a pinch of salt or sugar or a scrap of tobacco. The fowls were skinny enough when we got them but soon fattened up on scraps and corn to be picked up about a police camp. A patrol occasionally to the sea about sixty miles away made a pleasant change. The road to the coast was good though the country most of the way was rough and broken but the scenery was very grand, especially where the Umzimkulu River flows through Hell's Gates.

I shall not refer to Harding again as when stationed there subsequently as a Sergeant there was but little change in the place or nature of Police duties. I had a severe illness at Harding which nearly brought my police career to a close. I was nursed by a trooper who I remember often imbibed more alcohol than was good for him and disturbed me at night with his dreadful snoring. I had at last to get rid of him and did without a nurse.

30 4 pennies = 3cents, today a chicken costs R35 R40 00 (£20 00 00) HBH

I rode from Harding to Fort Pine alone in "heavy marching order" a distance of about 200 miles, a long ride considering the weight I was carrying on my saddle. Nearing Greytown after leaving Maritzburg my horse went lame and I remember it was a cold wet night when I rode into Greytown Police Camp, half frozen and dead tired; I had had to walk some distance to ease my horse. Some 31

The first major encounter in the Anglo Zulu War between troops of the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom took place at Isandlwana on 22 January 1879 HBH

62 Fort Pine

My next station was Fort Pine near to Dundee on the border of Zululand and not far from Isandlwana31 and Rorke's Drift, scenes of battles in the Zulu War a few years previous. Colour photographs of the Zulu Country Hennie Heymans.

63 of the N.C. Officers at Greytown were old friends, a Corporal Botwell among them who had held a commission in the Army at one time. The spot where the Prince fell - Bruno Martin Collection

Graves of Lt’s Coghill and Melville

On one of my patrols along the river at an isolated spot partly concealed by long grass and natural

Sir Benjamin Chilley Campbell Pine (1809 1891) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Pine

I was warmly welcomed. Some men at once told off to look after my horse and I was soon eating a good supper by the side of a fire and my trouble on the road forgotten. To give my horse time to recover I had to wait a week or more at Greytown before I could continue my journey to Fort Pine.

Sir Benjamin Chilley Campbell Pine

Fort Pine, named after a former Lieutenant Governor of Natal (photo32), was built as a place of refuge for the farming population of the locality in the event of an invasion by hostile Zulus. It included a large laager enclosed with loop holed walls. The fort itself was badly constructed and in constant need of repair. With sufficient men to defend it, a short stand could be made against an attack by Natives but as the nearest water was some little distance off the site was a bad one and it was always unpopular as a Police station.

The farmers of the district were mostly Dutch and at that time not very friendly. Drill and patrolling the district were our chief and almost only duties. There was a little shooting to be got, and one of the men named Foster kept some greyhounds and a Kangaroo hound and did some coursing. Occasionally his dogs got among the farmers' sheep and then there was trouble. The Buffalo River is the boundary between Natal and Zululand and I got to know all the drifts very well. Some of them were dangerous with quicksand and others had slippery rocks. All were impassable when the river was in flood. In those days there were no bridges over the Buffalo and very few across other rivers in Natal.

New Year at Fort Pine Map showing Fort Pine Martin Collection

I remember an amusing incident taking place while I was at Fort Pine which is perhaps worth recording! One New Year's Eve a couple of Jew pedlars came to the Fort in the travelling wagon and proceeded to do business with a variety of articles that they had for sale. Some of our men were not altogether satisfied with their bargains so it was decided to give our visitors a scare.

It was the usual practice in those days at the larger Police out stations to usher in the New Year by firing three volleys of blank cartridge, the men all turning out on parade for the occasion. On this particular night the parade was held outside the Fort laager and in close proximity to the pedlars' tent wagon in which they lay fast asleep, dreaming no doubt of the profits for the past year and how easy it was to sell rubbish to Police troopers whose nearest store for necessaries was ten miles away.

65 bush, I discovered a small marble cross erected on the grave of Lieutenants Coghill and Melville, who trying to escape with the colours of their regiment after the massacre at Isandlwana were followed by some Zulus across the Buffalo River at Fugitives Drift and killed on the spot where they were subsequently buried on the Natal side. The cross was sent out by Queen Victoria. Lying on it I found some fragments of the Regimental colours and still have a small piece in my possession.

The first volley from forty carbines must have disturbed any pleasant dreams, the second volley made them think that the whole Zulu nation was advancing to the attack, and without waiting to dress they hurriedly emerged from their wagon and bolted like rabbits. The third volley was followed by peals of laughter from the parade and they eventually realised that they had been the victims of a joke and not knowing what might come next, they trekked at daybreak

Loopholes in the turrets commanded a cross fire on any attacking force. In my youthful days at the

Fort Durnford At a later period, I was stationed at Fort Durnford near to Estcourt on a hill overlooking the Bushman’s River. This was also built as a rendezvous for farmers and others in the event of a Native rising in Natal. The fort was substantially built of stone with walls three feet thick with loopholed iron shutters to all the windows. The block house was surrounded by a moat and entered across a drawbridge that could be raised in case of need. A well stocked armoury and magazine were in my personal charge as corporal. The rifles were mostly of an antiquated pattern and the ammunition must have been unreliable from old age.

66 In those days one still found the post cart or stage coach –Martin Collection

67 Fort, I liked to picture myself with a rifle at a turret loophole protected by a wall three feet thick firing into a massed attack on the fort. The laager would have accommodated a large number of people but it was never required for the purpose for which it was built, and the fort has now been converted into a penal institution of some sort. Estcourt was a cheery station. The farming population in the district were mostly British and very hospitable. There was fishing to be got in the Bushman's River and we made a tennis court at the Fort on the parade ground. Present day players would turn up their noses at it but it afforded us a lot of amusement.

Van Reenen's Pass

The NP police station at Van Reenen – then and now. The first picture is a sketch from an old Nongqai while the photograph is from the Heymans Collection.

69 Chapter 4 -

There were a large number of Dutch farmers residing in my district and I got on well with them all

spent five years of my Police service. I had eight mounted Europeans and four or five Native police under me and for a time we occupied a small farm cottage at the foot of the Berg to which we added Kaffir huts fitted with doors and windows. We found them warm in winter and cool during the summer months. On very cold nights I used a Kaffir pot filled with hot wood ash as a stove, always taking care to remove it outside the hut before I went to sleep.

From Estcourt I was sent in charge of a small detachment to open a new out station at Van Reenen's Pass where the main road from Ladysmith to Harrismith in the Orange Free State crosses the AtDrakensberg.thisplaceI

Later the Government built a lone police quarters near to the top of the Pass where we seemed to get the full force of the wind that sweeps across the flat country of the Free State with terrific violence. I could easily fill a volume with my experiences and events during the time I spent at Van Reenen.

War service was over for the time being and I had an opportunity to take up civil police duties and study the criminal laws of Natal. Native Pass laws, Cattle Stealing laws and the prevention of the illicit sale of liquor to Natives were some of our principal duties. Stock thefts were common especially when the trek Boers came down the Berg with their flocks for the winter grazing in Natal.

Van Reenen was the windiest place I was ever in. For at least half the year a furious gale of wind was blowing over the Berg and at times it blew so hard that it was almost impossible to sit in the saddle. Mail carts and ox wagons laden with wool bales were blown over like nine-pins. In later years I have known the train held up by the force of the wind, and when standing broadside to the gale the train would rock like a ship at sea. Fowls were picked up by the force of the wind and blown away into the bush and never seen again. Partridge shooting, which I did a lot of, became a fine art on a windy day and veld fires raced along the spurs of the Berg at an alarming rate, destroying everything that could not get out of the way.

71 and was invited to shoot over their farms whenever I liked. Patrols of two men were constantly on the move calling periodically at all farms, visiting Native kraals for the inspection of hut tax receipts and dog licences. Before the construction of the railway Van Reenen’s Pass was the highway for Natives from Natal on their way to the Diamond Fields or Gold Fields. All required to have passes to enter or leave Natal. The transport season was a busy time at the Van Reenen Station. Upwards of two hundred loaded ox wagons a day would pass over the Berg, going mostly to Kimberley or Johannesburg. It was also the rainy season and the road would get into a dreadful state with mud holes from the top to the bottom of the Pass, some big enough to bury a wagon. Two or three spans of oxen, between forty and fifty animals, were sometimes needed to pull one wagon up the Pass. All day and night could be heard the crack of whip accompanied by the shouts and screams of the drivers urging the oxen forward. The trek ox to which South Africa owes so much got no compassion. His life in the yoke was spent under the lash and when he dropped out to die on the road the hungry vultures were never far off and soon began to disembowel him and then pick the flesh from his bones. This was a daily sight during the transport season at Van Reenen.

My pointer "Di" was a picture of beauty and the most lovable animal I ever met. She was lightly built and as fast as a greyhound, ranged wide and was as steady as a rock when she found her birds. I also owned a cross bred fox terrier named "Venus" who used to go with me to the duck pans and made an excellent retriever when dead or wounded birds fell into the water. On account of the weed it was risky work going in myself to bring out a dead bird, the pans being very deep it was easy to get entangled with the weed. Venus would dive into the water after stones and always bring out the stone thrown for her, and could climb a tree like a cat when there were branches to help her. The rivers in the district provided good fishing of which I was very fond. The Wilge River in the Free State was my favourite fishing ground and, provided weather conditions were favourable, I could usually depend on a good bag. Sand Spruit and other rivers on the Natal side gave better play as the river runs rapidly down the Berg but the fish were not as big as those, I caught in the Wilge River. Before closing my sporting notes, I must mention pigeon shooting on the outspans at certain seasons of

Major Dartnell Major (later Maj-Gen) Dartnell Heymans collection

One night during an extra violent storm of wind the Government Police quarters were wrecked. Most of the roof was blown away and the atone gables blown in. In the morning the quarters looked as if they had been subjected to a gun bombardment. The stables containing from fifteen to twenty horses escaped by a miracle; they stood on a more protected site than the barracks. A party of railway engineers camped not far off had not been as fortunate, their stable was flattened out and the iron carried away forever My gun and dogs were my constant companions the whole time I was at Van Reenen. I got good shooting of sorts all the year round and the farmers in my district, both English and Dutch, gave me free shooting, and on the Free State side of the border I had permission to shoot wild geese, duck, teal and snipe which in those days were plentiful. In Natal I got buck of many kinds from the bush buck to duiker. Guinea fowl and partridges were plentiful and our larder was seldom without some game in it.

While I was stationed at Van Reenen, I took my first long leave and visited England after ten years’

73 the year. Clouds of blue rock pigeon used to flock on to the wagon outspans by the main road to pick up food when the transport wagons had moved on. They got no law and I could fill a haversack with pigeon in a very short time. Pigeon pie was a common dish on the mess table. I kept a Basuto pony especially for shooting trips but game was so handy and I was always in good walking condition that I frequently went out on foot, which had many advantages when buck or birds might get up at any moment. I seldom shot from the saddle. Life under these conditions was not unpleasant for a young man keen on sport. Of social life there was next to none. Reading matter was a difficulty and this was a drawback. It was thirty miles to Ladysmith, the nearest town. There was no railway nearer than Estcourt when I first went to Van Reenen. With plenty of time in the evenings to read I should have been glad of books and papers if I could have got them. Van Reenen was not only remarkable for high winds but during the rainy season we experienced the most terrific thunder storms. I have known terrific thunder and lightning continuous for ten hours and on one occasion when I was fishing in the Wilge River I was nearly killed by hail and got my head and hands badly bruised and swollen. Some Natives at a kraal in the vicinity told me afterwards that they expected to pick me up dead. These storms often come up so suddenly that there is no time to seek for shelter unless close at hand. On this occasion I found a low stone wall to lie under but my dog Di who was with me squeezed in between me and the wall and pushed me out into the hail. Excise and Customs

Visit to Cheltenham

Hobbies

For some years the Police at Van Reenen acted as Excise and Customs officers in addition to their police duties, earning the title of "Maids of all work".

The men under my command at Van Reenen were a mixed lot, but not bad fellows and gave little trouble from a disciplinary point of view. Some of them were keen on sport and one was an enthusiastic entomologist and made a wonderful collection of butterflies and beetles in which we all Ihelped.canrecall many incidents well worth recording during my stay at Van Reenen but must get on with my story in other parts of the Colony.

74 absence. The changes in my old home were many. Both my parents were dead. My youngest sister was married and had gone to live at Birkenhead. One brother had followed me out to South Africa where he was employed engineering. My eldest sister and second brother continued to live in Cheltenham and gave me a warm welcome home.

With well over thirty years Mounted Police service and though looked on as a good rider it is not surprising that in that time, I had a good many bad spills from my horses, falling lightly I have fortunately escaped without broken bones.

Sergeant When I returned from leave, I found that I had been promoted to the rank of Sergeant in my absence with a most welcomed increase in pay. My duties remained the same. I was glad to get back to my gun and dogs had had some rabbit shooting while I was in England but that was tame sport compared with the excitement of a bush drive resulting in the mad charge of an "Inkonka” (bushbuck) and the yells of fifty Native beaters, all armed with assegais and keen to draw first blood. Mounted service

From various causes when on duty I have often had to borrow or hire a mount not always reliable. Our troop horses were seldom thoroughly broken in when we got them first. Travelling over the veld or by Kaffir paths there are many things that will bring the best of horses down. The blind ant bear hole is only one of them, that is the ant bear hole concealed by long grass. The recently made hole is visible and a horse will easily see and jump over it as he canters along but if riding fast and your 33 Gay then had a different meaning HBH

It was a strange feeling to return to civilisation and home life after roughing it for ten years cut off almost entirely from all social connections. It was winter when I got home and Cheltenham was full of gaieties to which I was welcomed. A few of my old friends and relatives helped to make my holiday pass all too quickly. I paid a number of visits to various parts of England and spent a gay33 month in London enjoying theatres and supper parties, etc., and then with a lean bank balance sailed again for Durban from Southampton accompanied by William Earle, a cousin, who joined the Natal Mounted Police on arrival at Maritzburg and was subsequently sent to Van Reenen under my command. Having a special knowledge of the duties at that station, I was ordered back there on return from my holiday. Earle subsequently rose to the rank of Inspector and became senior officer in the Criminal Investigation Department.

It was while I was stationed at Van Reenen that I experienced a particularly nasty fall which I had reason to remember for some time afterwards. I was alone and riding across the veld to fish in the Wilge River in the Free State, something frightened my horse which got out of hand and bolted with me over the veld and then fell, an antbear hole no doubt the cause. I remember flying over my horse’s head and no more until many hours later when I found myself again in the saddle riding down the Berg Pass towards my quarters with blood streaming from a cut in the head and a big patch of skin scraped off ray face. When the concussion of brain had passed off, I realised what had happened.

75 horse puts his foot into a blind hole it is almost certain to bring him down and his rider is thrown over his head and is lucky when he is thrown clear of his mount.

The sequel to this event and how I recovered possession of my horse after my fall is as follows: At some later date I went off with my rod to my usual fishing ground and going to a kraal nearby to get a boy to herd my horse while I fished, I found a large concourse of Natives gathered for a beer drink.

Transferred around Natal In the course of the next few years, I was, as a Non-Commissioned Officer, transferred from one station to another in many parts of Natal, mainly as a Sergeant with a detachment of about forty N.C.O.’s and men under an Inspector, when my duties would be the supervision of patrols, drill, parades, guards, rifle practice, etc., etc. I had further experience in charge of outposts. All of these changes gave me wider knowledge of my duties as a police officer and an extended acquaintance with the Colony.

Sub-Inspector: Ladysmith District In 1894 on the reorganisation of the Natal Police system I was promoted to commissioned rank as a Sub-Inspector after fourteen years’ service. This promotion was always my ambition and gave me the greatest pleasure. I was placed in command of a district with Ladysmith as my headquarters and six or eight outposts under my supervision to be visited monthly, I rented a residence in town

A Native, who appeared to me to be none too sober, approached me at once and asked for a "pansela" (a gift); which I told him he would get if he looked after my horse for me. He then told me that one day he had found me lying on the veld having had a fall. He had picked me up, caught my horse for me, and I had ridden away without giving him any reward for his services. After this he had no reason to think me ungrateful.

76 and soon made a host of new friends in all parts of my district. There was plenty of police work to keep me busy in my new position and I had every reason to enjoy life.

Verulam District

After about a year at Ladysmith I was transferred to a district on the north coast of Natal with Verulam as my headquarters. I had left Ladysmith with regret but being then a single man, the Chief Commander knew that I could be transferred without protest or difficulty and my predecessor at Verulam had been making a mess of his accounts and had to be moved. Although a very hot town to live in during the summer months, I found my new district quite as pleasant as the old one. I was within easy reach of Durban and was living in the centre of the thriving sugar industry. I found the planters everywhere most kind and hospitable.

My district extended from the Umgeni River near Durban to the Tugela River on the Zululand border and inland included the large and important Native Location of Ndwedwe and Mapumulo, teeming with uncivilised humanity and now under closer police supervision than ever before. [Photographs Heymans Collection.]

77 Serious faction fights were not uncommon, especially during the beer making season when the Kaffir corn is ripe. The disturbances never extended beyond the boundaries of the locations though the fighting was sometimes severe and the casualty lists of killed and wounded considerable. It was the duty of the police on these occasions to round up and bring before the magistrate all concerned in the fighting and the fines imposed brought in much revenue to the Government. My new district contained a very large Indian population, mostly immigrants under indenture to sugar and tea planters extending all along the coast belt. The life of an indentured Indian on an estate in Natal was not an easy one. Suicides, murders and assaults were of frequent and the various police posts under me were kept fully occupied. The more serious cases of crime received my personal attention when possible. Long rides in the coast climate during the summer months when the temperature was sometimes well over 100 in the shade were a bit trying and when possible, I was in the saddle at dawn and had covered twenty miles before breakfast. I have experienced a hot wind on the north coast of Natal with a temperature of 113 in the shade.

It was like riding into the furnace heating the lower regions. The many years I spent on the Natal coast I look back on with pleasure. I got some buck shooting on the estates but little other sport or recreation that I can remember, except perhaps fishing off the rocks, which as a rule was dangerous on that part of the coast. There was a number of hippo in the Umgeni Lake and an old bull hippo haunted the mouth of the Tugela Hiver but they were at that time protected by law. Later they became a nuisance to sugar planters and a danger to life in the cane fields and permits were issued to shoot them.

Natal Police at Mahlabatini Heymans-Collection

Among other recollections of my period of command at Verulam was a severe locust invasion. The air and land was thick with them for many weeks. One method of getting rid of the plague was to destroy the eggs which are laid in soft ground. To encourage this Government decided to buy locust eggs at the Verulam Magistracy at so much a pound. The police were called on to assist, with the purchase arrangements, and while the business was confined to Natives and Indian farmers all was

Like every other European officer of any standing in Natal, I was given a Zulu name by the Natives

In 1898 I applied for and was granted six months' leave and paid my second visit to England. Ten years had gone by since I had seen my old home more changes of course, and still fewer of my contemporaries in evidence.

Inspector: Estcourt District

Police Transport

79 well but before long the planters turned their labourers to digging up locust eggs and sent them to the Government market by the ton, myriads hatching out on the way. After this the business in eggs soon closed down.

Zulu name - Mapindela Strong ponies were most suited for my work which frequently took me across country by Kaffir paths.

The farm residents in my district were fairly evenly divided between English and Dutch, with a few Germans here and there. The Estcourt town's people were almost entirely British and there was abundant social life when I wanted it but most of my time was spent travelling round inspecting my outposts. I kept a light American trap which I used occasionally when I had a good road to travel, which was not often.

On my return from leave I was placed in command of an upcountry district with Estcourt as my headquarters. I had then attained the full rank as Inspector. It was a large district with many outstations extending from Mooi River to Colenso and in the other direction from Weenen to the

MuchDrakensberg.ofmydistrict was at an altitude of five to six thousand feet above sea level and winter days were intensely cold with snow lying deep on the Berg for weeks at a time and all standing water freezing at night. I have been caught in real blizzards in the Upper Mooi River locality and glad enough to get any shelter I could for self and horse. A young Norwegian trooper who sometimes accompanied me on inspection duty as orderly used to say he felt the cold more on a winter's day on the Berg than in his native country.

Visit to England

80 and was known by it far and wide and as usual it was an appropriate name, "Mapindela", meaning one who returns to us.

The war clouds burst and as in 1880, the Boers invaded Natal from the north and from Orange Free State on the east. The Dutch farmers in my district were naturally in sympathy with their compatriots in arms against the British and a large number of young men sneaked off with their rifles to join the Boer commandos in the Transvaal. The older men with their women and children mostly remained at home to look after their farms, often acting as spies no doubt and ready at any time to give moral support when there was no risk to themselves or their property.

At a later date when active measures became necessary against the Natal rebels in my district, I

I sometimes now in my retirement wonder if "Mapindela" is still remembered and talked about at the kraals in Natal where he was so well known for over thirty years; Also, that of my Native orderly "Squiliti" who often accompanied me when investigating some crime or at an interview with a Native Chief. I like to think that there are some alive who remember “Mapindela" who was always on the move among them.

Anglo-Boer War This brings me to the year 1899 and the second Boer War, or as it is generally known now as the South African War, through which I served in a military capacity as long as the enemy occupied Natal soil I could easily fill a volume with personal reminiscences of the war but will try and confine myself to the more important incidents in which I took part.

The Boers had of course been preparing for years for the clash that was bound to come and had laid in vast stocks of armaments and ammunition most of which had been passed up to the Transvaal through the Cape Colony and Natal. When I was at Van Reenen's Pass out station, I frequently saw wagon loads of ammunition going through into the Free State of course for no other purpose but to defend the Republics against the British. The Republics had also imported trained artillery officers from France and Germany. When it became evident that a conflict was inevitable the British Government rushed troops into the country with all haste which were moved forward by rail and road.

no plot against my life was ever attempted. I was frequently under the enemy's fire in action at this time and the extra risk, if there was one, did not worry me in the least. When not engaged on military duties I, carried on the inspection of police outposts, etc., as usual but in certain localities I thought it wiser to travel by road after dark and to take an orderly with me.

The British forces were guided to Ladysmith by General Dartnell and Police via Van Reenen's Pass and were lucky to get through a dangerous defile without attack. I know the Pass well and it would have gone hard for the British troops if an ambush had awaited them in the Pass. As it turned out Dartnell's leadership saved the column. Bridge over the Tugela destroyed by the Boers – Martin Collection

The enemy's commandos advanced rapidly into Natal. Dundee was threatened and evacuated by the British troops after the battle of Talana Hill when General Penn-Simons was mortally wounded.

81 was warned by the Chief Commissioner of Police that a price had been set on my head to stop me taking action against the Natal Dutch residents who had joined the enemy. I never heard how much was offered for my sudden death. Anyhow, it was never claimed or I should not be writing these Asrecollections.farasIknow

The guards I visited day and night and as these bridges had not been built for foot traffic I remember it was a ticklish job crossing on foot with only sleepers to walk on and no hand rail. The sight of rocks and a rushing river below made the crossing unpleasant, particularly if a train happened to come along when I was half way over the Tugela Bridge. As the Boer forces were soon to invest Ladysmith and take up a strongly entrenched position at Colenso overlooking road and railway bridges across the Tugela River, my bridge guards were brought back to Estcourt and at the same time all police outposts in my district were driven in as the enemy advanced into Natal.

82 Estcourt Defences

I must now go back to the stirring times at Estcourt. My first duties connected with the war as a police officer were to place guards on all the more important railway bridges in my district to ensure the safety of the main line.

General Hilliard's Brigade, part of Buller's army for the relief of Ladysmith, was mobilised at Estcourt with Colonel Long's guns which were shortly to be captured by the enemy at Colenso with heavy

Tugela Valley Martin Collection

Churchill and other Journalists Newspaper correspondents were now arriving thick and fast to accompany the army to the front. I met some of the, among other, Bennett Bircheigh, who represented the Daily Telegraph and subsequently wrote "The Natal Campaign" in which my name is mentioned in several actions. Sir Brian Leighton and David Robertson, an old London friend, were also representing English papers also Mr. Winston Churchill to whom I sold my Basuto pony.

83 losses. Lord Roberts' son was mortally wounded at the time in trying to save the guns.

As District Police Officer I was in constant attendance to the General Officer in Command and his staff and the officers in command of the various units who were glad to avail themselves of local police knowledge. It was more than a busy time for me. Referring to my diaries of that date I find I was frequently up at 3 a.m. and fifteen hours in the saddle was not unusual. I wish now that I had kept a note of the names of all the many friends I made during the war. It would be a long list. As an instance, I was walking towards my home in Estcourt one afternoon in the pouring rain when I was accosted by two young officers of an Hussar regiment which had just arrived in Estcourt, who asked me if I could direct them to a hairdresser's shop, a thing Estcourt did not possess. I invited them to my house and sent for my Indian barber. Both gladly accepted and ended by staying to dinner with me and spending the night under my roof. One of my guests was Captain Lafone whose brother I knew well when quartered with his regiment in Maritzburg.

84 Churchill’s book on the War in South Africa –Heymans Collection.

As time and space are of no object while I am writing this story, I will relate a rather amusing incident that took place in Estcourt at this time which is still clear in my memory. Shortly before the advance of the army out of Estcourt, going to my office near to the Magistrate's court one morning, I was surprised to find both door and window of office wide open and the inside in a state of wild confusion.

The Armoured Train Heymans Collection

A day or two later Mr. Churchill was taken prisoner at Chievely when our armoured train was attacked. I do not know what became of my pony, one of the best I ever owned.

Captain Hemsley. We climbed out of the armoured truck and left the train outside Colenso village advancing in open order towards the Tugela River and soon came under rifle fire from Fort Wylie and other enemy fortified positions on the far side of the river. We returned their fire but I think it was ineffective on both sides, at least we had no casualties and the only value derived from our reconnaissance was the knowledge that the enemy was in force at Colenso and prepared to offer resistance there to the advance of British troops to Ladysmith which was now closely besieged. Amusing incident

85 Armoured train

The day prior to the attack on the armoured train when Churchill was made prisoner and our reconnoitring party suffered a good many casualties, I accompanied the armoured train to Colenso with fifty men of the Dublin fusiliers under Photograph – Martin Collection

A litter of soldiers' helmets, belts and other articles of equipment lying about and in the middle of my office floor stood a half empty hogshead of beer, not a usual part of my office furniture. It was easy to identify the equipment as belonging to the Dublin fusiliers then camped at Estcourt. The beer was

An engagement at Willow Grange, a few miles out of Estcourt, took place at which I was present. My diary records that we had eighty casualties that day. In the broken country there was much confusion and it was said that some of our loss was caused by our own fire. The enemy moved south to Mooi River where our guns shelled them again but nothing more was done. A little more enterprise and activity on the part of our troops at Mooi River and this commando would have been cut off and captured. Without further molestation they were allowed to return to Ladysmith via Weenen, looting as they went. Boer guns pounding away at Ladysmith

I called on Colonel Cooper, the officer Commanding the "Dubs" and asked him to send men to have the debris removed, but being war time I took no further action but shortly afterwards had to remove all alcoholic liquors from the hotels and bars in Estcourt to prevent drunkenness among the troops.

The Boers were now rapidly advancing into Natal and a strong enemy commando moving south via the Little Tugela pass within gun range of Estcourt was shelled by us from Fort Durnford. I was employed to watch and report the enemy's movements, and on one occasion with a small patrol of Police only just escaped capture. On 21st November, 1899, Estcourt was cut off but not closely invested. Police scouts knowing the country well were able to keep open communication with Maritzburg. Engagement at Willow Grange

86 of course stolen and quietly rolled along the road in the dark to what appeared to the men to be suitable accommodation for a night's carouse and they found it in the District Police Office.

Police scouts

At this time, we heard the thunder of Boer guns pounding away at Ladysmith but we got very little news of what was going on. With the Magistrate of Estcourt I organised a system of Native runners to carry letters through the Boer lines into Ladysmith. Our letters were hidden in the lining of Native clothing and were of course as small as they could be made. Not all our correspondence got through and I am afraid that the messengers who were caught had a bad time of it.

34 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redvers_Buller

87 Buller’s Bodyguard

On November 26th a move forward was made and General's army concentrated at Frere in the direction of Colenso. Inspector Fairlie with twenty Natal Police formed Buller's bodyguard.

Gen Redvers Buller 34 Map Martin Collection

Frere Station during the Anglo-Boer War – Heymans Collection

On the 28th November, with twelve men of the district police, I accompanied a strong cavalry reconnoitring column of about 500 men with guns to Colenso, Lord Dundonald in command. We drove the enemy off the Chievely hills with gun fire and advanced rapidly towards Colenso. While galloping into action I recall very clearly an episode that took place close to me. One of our guns capsized bodily into the head of a donga, not a very deep one fortunately. I looked round and saw a confused mass of men and horses struggling on the ground and wondered what the casualty list was. The rest of the column moved rapidly on. Later in the day I was surprised to learn that no one had been killed and very little damage done.

With Lord Dundonald’s Cavalry Brigade

With about a dozen of my district police I was attached to the composite regiment which formed part of the Cavalry Brigade under Lord Dundonald whom I came to know quite well. He often sent for me to get information about the locality, etc., and advice that he did not always take. On the 26th November the Frere railway bridge was blown up by the enemy with whom we were in touch. There was some fighting on the 26th and 27th and a few casualties on both sides. I carried some despatches through from Estcourt to Frere during the night and in the dark nearly found myself within the enemy's lines. The main road was unsafe and I had to go by side tracks.

On instructions from Lord Dundonald, I was directed to lead the advance on Colenso some distance ahead of the Brigade with the object of drawing the enemy's fire. As the nature of the country provided no cover our local police knowledge was of no special advantage on this occasion. I extended my party to cover a fairly wide front so as to offer as small a mark as possible to the enemy and then advanced at smart pace to the outskirts of Colenso Village, the main body following some distance behind. We soon got under the fire from the Boer trenches across the River Tugela. Shells were screaming overhead. I was too far in advance and my party too small to get the attention from the enemy's guns which were directed at the supporting troops and the rifle fire was inaccurate and made no Impression. Our guns opened in reply and an artillery duel continued for some time

Photograph of “Hairy Mary” was taken at Chievely during the War Heymans Collection A mile from Colenso the column was halted and our guns took up a position to cover a further advance towards the Boer lines. With the District I was now called on to take a prominent lead, but as the country we advanced over was now open our local knowledge was of no particular advantage.

90 without apparent effect.

It would take too long to describe the multifarious duties that the District Police under my command were called on daily to perform with the army going to the relief of Ladysmith and to do so would make these reminiscences too much like an official record rather than an account of my personal experiences which is my intention.

Briefly, our duties at this time were despatch riding through the enemy’s lines, patrolling, searching farms and the arrest of Natal rebels, on all of which we carried our lives in our hands. Sometimes when it was expected that we should meet enemy commandos a strong covering party of mounted troops would be sent with the Police detachment, the police were always in advance and exposed to the opening fire. The risks we ran were counted as all in the day's work and life was full of interest and excitement with the glorious uncertainty that it might end any day. The details of one patrol from Frere camp will I think be of interest as indicating our daily duties. The facts still stand out clearly in my memory.

It had been reported that certain Natal rebels living near the Drakensberg Mountains in the Little Tugela district had been looting the farms of British residents in the locality who had been driven off by Boer commandos. It was decided to send out a patrol to investigate under the command of Major Chichester, Provost Marshal from Buller's army. The party which I accompanied consisted of about twenty Natal Carbineers and a dozen District Police.

Multifarious duties

The Boer guns clearly out ranged the British guns. Shells from both sides were passing over my head and from the noise they seemed uncomfortably near. There was no doubt that I had fulfilled my duties and drawn the enemy's fire. All idea of attacking the enemy across the river was given up and our troops were now drawn off and I got directions to follow with my men. As we left Colenso I heard the sound of a big explosion and looking round I saw a large column of smoke and dust in the air from where our railway bridge had been over the Tugela River. The Boers had now blown the bridge to bits. I wanted my telescope to ascertain what amount of damage had been done but my Native orderly "Squeliti" by name had disappeared and I did not see him again until I got back to the Frere camp, when he said he had made sure I was killed in the fight and would not require the telescope any more.

We left Frere camp one morning after an early breakfast and searched various suspected farms, recovered a considerable quantity of stolen stock, horses and cattle, made several prisoners and were returning to Frereafter a long day in the saddle when one of ourparty which had been detached to search a farm some distance off the route we had taken, rode up in haste to report that the patrol was then being engaged in a fight with a Boer commando occupying a position on the farm. This was serious news as we were few in number, encumbered with prisoners and stock, without ambulance or medical aid should any of our men get wounded, and thirty miles from our headquarter camp. Sending part of our small force on with the prisoners and stock towards Frere with all speed, I hurried back with Major Chichester and the remainder of our party to the support of our men engaged in the fight and get them out it as soon as we could. We rode as fast as the nature of the country would allow and on reaching the crest of a hill by Kaffir path, I heard the sound of rifle fire and the whiz of bullets overhead. Fortunately, our party held a position on rising ground and projecting stones provided good cover. We had no means of estimating the number of our opponents, they had the shelter of farm buildings and did not come out into the open. The exchange of rifle fire went on for some time. Whether we killed any of the enemy I do not know, probably not as they had good cover. There were some casualties among their horses which we hoped would prevent them sending for reinforcements when we might all have been caught and lost our prisoners and stock. As it was getting dusk it was decided to draw off and join our party on the road to Frere and give men and horses a much needed rest on the way.

It was 5 a.m. when we reached Frere camp without further incident. We had covered 75 miles in 23 hours since leaving besides an engagement with some Boers two hours. Men were dropping to sleep in the saddle as we approached Frere and were glad to turn in for a rest after their horses had been watered and fed. Fortunately, we had no casualties.

92 Chapter 5 - Colenso Battle of Colenso - 15th December, 1899 I now come to the Battle of Colenso fought on the 15th December, 1899. This was the first important battle of the war in Natal, at least the first serious engagement for Buller's army going to the relief of Ladysmith.

Although 36 years ago, it would be easy for me to fill a small volume of my recollections of that thrilling fight when Buller's army was held in check on the Tugela River with a casualty list of fifteen hundred men and the loss of ten guns. When I was not actually in the firing line, I was in a position to watch all that was going on in my immediate front, but when taking part in the attack I was solely engaged with my surroundings including the command of my men. On December 14th the army left Frere camp and took up a position on some rising ground overlooking Colenso and facing the Boer

As I am not writing a history of the war, merely my own personal experiences of a long life in South Africa, full of adventure of which the South African War of 1899/1902 only covered a short period. I shall endeavour to condense my remarks as far as possible.

1900 Natal Police Field Force at Tugela Heights - Heymans-Collection

My diary shows that the attack on Colenso on December 15th commenced at 6 a.m. and lasted for eight hours. My first duty that day was to find a suitable crossing place for the regiment over a dry donga at the foot of Hlangweni and in doing so I must have nearly bumped into some of the enemy in hiding defending the Hill who wisely held their fire and refrained from disclosing their position, otherwise I should have been about the first casualty in my regiment. It was easy to find suitable places across the donga for dismounted troops but not for horses so the regiment was dismounted and the attack made on foot. The heat all day was terrific and the rough ascent of the hill through thorn bush and over rocks and stones in the face of a tremendous rifle fire was an experience never to be forgotten.

I was always in favour of a night attack on this position which held by a strong force and a few guns, could have made the enemy's trenches and forts across the river untenable. The Boer does not like fighting in the dark, no more do I, but night often gives the attackers their best chance of success, and I feel sure that we could have taken the Hlangweni Hill under cover of darkness without very severe, loss and changed the whole course of operations.

93 lines. Our guns shelled the Boer trenches all day and with the naked eye it was easy to see the enemy at work preparing for our reception.

The Boers were as usual well concealed and this position strongly defended. Through some blunder the support we should have had from General Barton's brigade failed to arrive and we were forced

On the night of the 14th Commanding Officers, among whom I was included, were summoned to the headquarter camp by the Brigade Major, when we were given directions for the attack the next morning and allotted the positions from which we were to advance. With the District Police I was still attached to the Company Regiment forming part of the Cavalry Brigade under the command of Lord Dundonald. Our objective was the Hlangweni Hill on the right of the attack, a strong position overlooking the Boer forts and trenches on the side of the Tugela River. It has been open to doubt the General Officer Commanding was really aware that Hlangweni was on our side of the river and if so whether it was strongly held by the enemy. It is a steep stony hill with many projecting rocks and fairly thick thorn bush on the slopes, affording excellent cover for defence or attack.

The appalling noise from rifle and gun fire, the whiz of bullets all round the intense heat are my main recollections of the struggle. This was the key of the whole position and should have been taken at all costs. The Boers knew this and were prepared. Our attack was now going on all along a fivemile front. Our infantry advancing across open country on to strongly defended trenches on the other side of the river, our guns were also exposed to a merciless fire.

It was Laing’s Nek tactics over again on a much bigger scale. We had twenty thousand men engaged at the Battle of Colenso and the attack failed all along the line as it was bound to do. Our losses were 1,500 and we had gained nothing. Had our attack on Hlangweni been supported and pressed home no doubt we could have taken the hill and our losses would have been worth it.

I watched the infantry being decimated by rifle and pom pom fire in their efforts to reach the Tugela River banks. I saw Long's gunners and horses shot down by a murderous fire from Boer rifles and French Croesot guns35. A gallant attempt was made to have the guns led by Lord Roberts' son and a few other officers but they were shot down and the Boers got the guns away the next day. Had the attempt to rescue the guns been made at night I think it might have succeeded. Everything was muddled and General Buller's reputation at a commander vanished.

35 French made Creusot guns HBH.

94 to retire with loss without taking the hill.

Back at my camp after the action, a very hot and tired naval officer rode up and asked me if I could tell him where he could get water for his horse. I told him I would send my Native orderly to water his horse and if he could do with a bottle of beer, I could give him one. The Naval officer gladly responded. My friend turned out to be Captain Jones of H.M.S. Forte. He returned my hospitality at a later date when his naval guns were again in action at Mount Alice near Spion Kop.

After the Battle of Colenso, I received orders from Maritzburg to return to my district headquarters at Estcourt with the District Police I had with me and re-establish all out-stations that had been closed during enemy occupation of the district.

95 Armoured Train with Marines from HMS Forte (wearing hats) Heymans Collection Return to Police Duties

As Buller's army operations were still being carried on within my police district, I felt justified in paying flying visits to the front line and saw a good deal more fighting with the Relief Forces on the way to Ladysmith which was shortly to be relieved, mainly on account of Lord Roberts' advance through the Free State. I was present at the forging of Potgieter's Drift over the Tugela River at the foot of Spion Kop36 in the face of strong opposition. 36 Spioenkop HBH

96 Photograph Victorious Boers at Spioenkop Heymans Collection

97 Photograph shows the top of Spioenkop Heymans Collection

Back again to Colenso and then following up the retreating Boers I accompanied the Dorset Regiment in the attack on Pieters Hill, the last severe fighting before the relief of Ladysmith a few days Policelater.duties in my district then kept me busy and I saw no more service during the South African War. For a time, I was collecting Natal rebels who were drifting back quietly to their farms, tired of fighting or realising that they were on the losing side. Some of them were surprised that their temporary absence had been discovered and they had now to stand their trial for rebellion. It was on this account that my own life was said to be in constant danger.

A few nights before the Spion Kop fight I dined with General Woodgate and staff, Major Virtue and Captain Carleton, A.D.C., all personal friends. The next day Virtue was killed at the Kop, the General mortally wounded and Captain Carleton severely wounded. Captain Carleton recovered. Little did we think at dinner that night that in a few hours’ time I would be the only sound man of the party, but in war you never know?

On the 30th April, 1902, I married Helen McEwan of Maritzburg after a very brief engagement. Our wedding was largely attended and besides my brother Walter as best man, a large number of my oldest friends in Natal gathered to wish me luck.

Owing to the King’s serious illness the Coronation ceremony was postponed for six weeks. This was by no means unpleasant for us. Except for occasional ceremonial parades in London there was nothing to do but enjoy the lavish hospitality and entertainment offered on all sides, much of which I am glad to say my wife and sister were able to participate in. There were receptions and garden parties in the homes of some of the most distinguished people in England; theatres were open to us nightly and Service Clubs joined in the general hospitality; presentation to the Prince of Wales, now King George VII, at St. James’ Palace and a subsequent presentation of medals by the King at Buckingham Palace.

One more note in respect to the war which has left an impression on my memory. The Boer retreat after the Battle of Pieters Hill was so rapid that they had no time to bury their dead whom we found lying in the trenches with quantities of ammunition, clothing and accoutrements, etc. I discovered and salved a quantity Mauser rifle ammunition which had been dumped or accidentally capsized into the Tugela River at a spot where the Boers had made a temporary bridge giving access to the Hlangweni Hill. The loose cartridges were bright from the action of the sand washing over them. I still have some in my possession. I will now leave the war and continue my story with another episode in my life of a very different nature.

During the Boer invasion of Natal, the Native population behaved remarkably well. Police supervision at the time was necessarily slack and yet the Natives remained quiet and there was an exceptionally small amount of crime.

The day following my wedding I left for England with my wife in command of a detachment of Natal Police forming part of a contingent of troops to represent Natal at the Coronation of King Edward VII. I could fill a book with an account of this wonderful visit to London as a guest of the State. With contingents of troops from all parts of the Empire we were quartered under canvas in the Alexandra Park near London, my wife into rooms in town with my sister.

Marriage and Coronation in England

During our stay in London, we were mounted on English horses not broken in to London street noises and sights. My own charger was a very handsome bay, standing about fifteen hands, an ideal mount under ordinary circumstances, but cheering crowds and the close vicinity military bands and other exciting noises turned him into a circus performer which the crowds enjoyed more than I did. With sword in hand and horses' heels all over the place I must have been a bit of a danger at times. However, the Indian Princes in the procession in gorgeous uniforms and eastern magnificence and most superbly mounted easily distracted attention from a mere Police officer on a kicking and plunging charger. On the open veld I could have taken it out of him with whip and spur, in crowded London streets with troops under my command to be manoeuvred into position, salutes to be given at the required moment and then the men to be marched off again through all the turmoil and noise of London streets, a less lively steed would be an advantage.

On the day of the Coronation, I had the honour to command the whole of the Natal Contingent of 100 men. Our position was on the line of route in The Mall.

After a brief visit to Scotland where I joined my wife at the home of her relatives at Aros House in the Isle of Mull, I received orders to return at once to take up the command of a detachment of a newly raised force, the Natal Border Police, at Utrecht, the chief town of a district added to Natal by post war settlement.

I obtained passages to South Africa in the S.S. Avoca, an army hospital ship going to Cape Town to bring home wounded soldiers. My wife and I travelled out in extreme comfort. At Cape Town we changed ships and made the remainder of the voyage to Natal in S.S. Malta bringing Boer prisoners back from Ceylon. My command at Utrecht consisted of 100 N.C.O.'s and men with the usual complement of commissioned officers. It was a purely military body and was disbanded in twelve months' time, rank and file being absorbed in the permanent Natal Police Force.

Return to Natal Border Police

100

Many of the local Dutch in Utrecht were still very bitter against the British. Some of them had recently come out of concentration camps and not unnaturally were feeling a bit sore and not too friendly at first. But they were not all as black as they were painted as the following instance will show.

Map showing the District of Utrecht and Vryheid which was taken from the former ZAR and added to the Colony of Natal and which was initially policed by the NBP – Martin Collection

101 Photographs showing the Natal Border Police Camp at Vryheid and the memorial at Vryheid cemetery for members of the NBP who died Heymans Collection Food stuffs of all kinds were very scarce in Utrecht when I took over command of the Natal Border Police at the close of the war. Our bread and meat rations for 100 officers and men arrived from Vryheid by mule transport weekly. There was no butcher's shop open in the village and fresh meat was unprocurable locally.

102 Officers of the Natal Border Police The Nongqai, March 1913. Map showing Vryheid and Utrecht (Heymans Collection)

When my wife joined me, I was anxious to get some fresh butter to make our bread, not always too fresh, a little more palatable. I consulted the local magistrate on the subject. He had been at Utrecht longer than I had and looked well nourished. He told me of a wealthy old Boer living a few miles away who he said might sell me some butter, but as the said Boer been confined in a concentration camp for part of the period and had only recently been released, he had no love for a British uniform and if he knew I was coming he might be waiting for me with his rifle behind his garden wall, I was accustomed to taking risks in those days and was fond of butter, so in due course I paid a to Mr. R. at his farm. I confess that I kept a sharp look out when approaching for places of concealment, but there was no occasion for it. When Mr. R. learnt my business, he was only too pleased to contract to supply me with fresh butter every week which he brought to the house himself rolled up in what looked like a pillow case, clean one I hope, when a glass of beer occasionally cemented our friendship. Concentration camps were not mentioned.

103 Natal Border Police on Patrol (Heymans Collection)

Military duties at Utrecht kept me busy, otherwise there was nothing doing. The town was stagnant and the district only slowly recovering from the war and becoming reconciled to annexation to Natal which was part of the post war settlement.

104

While I was quartered at Utrecht my eldest son George was born on the 28th May, 1903. It is with great pleasure and pride that I note here that after a career displaying remarkable industry and ability, George is now at the age of 33 years Chief Engineer for his Company in Trinidad, a highly responsible post for so young a man. Natal Border Police absorbed by the Natal Police Life at Utrecht was uneventful and society limited. At the end of twelve months the Border Police Force was disbanded and the rank and file absorbed in the permanent Natal Police. The presence of a large armed police force in the districts of Vryheid and Utrecht no longer necessary.

Assistant Commissioner of the Prisons Department

I was then ordered to my headquarters at Maritzburg and shortly afterwards appointed Assistant Commissioner with special control of the Prisons Department. This gave me the opportunity of

1906 was a year full of stirring events in Natal and but for the prompt action of the Government the Colony might have been involved in a Native war with dreadful consequences to all classes, especially to the unprotected farmers. I have published in the South African Service Magazine, a copy of which is put up with this record, some account of what is known as the Bambata Rebellion and what led up to it. I shall try to confine myself here to a few personal notes which I think will be interest.

1906 Bambata Rebellion

105 making a study of penology and prison systems in South Africa beyond the borders of Natal of which I took full advantage and was in time able to bring into effect many necessary reforms.

\When the Union of the Provinces came about, I represented Natal at a conference held in Cape Town to frame a consolidated Law for the whole Union. My inspection area now covered all Natal and Zululand. When at Maritzburg where I resided my time was fully taken up with Police and Prison administrative duties which I found most congenial.

Photograph of the 1906 Bambatha Rebellion Medal – photo by Hennie Heymans

Two strong patrols of Mounted Police were despatched to indicate to the Natives in the disturbed areas that the Government was alive to the spirit of unrest and was prepared to take action if necessary.

106 Reports from Police outposts, traders and others in close touch with the Native population all indicated that mischief was brewing. The locations were seething with unrest and wild rumours.

Secret messengers were passing through Natal to and from the adjoining Native territories with warnings and promises of co-operation should a revolt against the whites take place. Orders from somewhere directed the Kraal Kaffirs to kill off all white animals, which did not amount to much except the destruction of all white fowls. This was the position when the Natal Government decided that some action was necessary and a show of force throughout the Locations was decided on.

Instead of the Magistrate being greeted as usual on such occasions by the assembled Natives with signs of respect due to the representative of the Government, he was surprised and alarmed to find he was faced with a large and hostile gathering of threatening Natives who had evidently no intention of paying the Poll Tax. Under these circumstances the Magistrate decided that discretion was the best policy and returned with his office staff in all haste to Maritzburg and sent for me, reporting the reception that he had received and handed me a number of warrants for the arrest of certain Natives known to have been Aspresent.theaccused Natives were supposed to have come from different locations, I despatched two parties of men to endeavour to effect the arrests, one detachment going to Table Mountain Locations and the other to Byrntown under Inspector Hunt. or Brynetown

HBH

37 No record of Byrntown

It was evident that trouble was drawing to a head and that an explosion would take place somewhere before long when Magistrate Bennett of Maritzburg went out to Byrntown37, near Richmond, about twenty-five miles out, to collect Poll Tax from the Natives in that locality who had previously been warned to assemble at a place fixed for the payment of the tax.

107 Colonel Mansel, the Chief Commander of Police, with 100 mounted men proceeded to Zululand and Colonel Clarke with another 100 men patrolled the coast Locations. I was left in command at headquarters and a very strenuous time I had of it. I had sent my wife and young son into the country for a change, Maritzburg being very hot at the time, so I was living alone. All day I was at the telephone at the Police headquarters and spent half the night on the telephone getting in touch with Police outposts in the disturbed areas or receiving and despatching telegrams. This had been going on for some time and the strain of work day and night was beginning to tell.

108 In Memoriam The Nongqai

109

I have set down details elsewhere in my account of the Bambata Rebellion published in the South African Press. Briefly the facts were as follows: The Police detachment under Hunt had made a number of arrests at Byrntown and were returning to Maritzburg with their prisoners when they were attacked by a party of armed Natives who tried to affect a rescue. The escort was hampered by prisoners and frightened horses. Hunt fired his revolver, whether to kill or scare the Natives is not known. There was the usual confusion on such occasions. The Natives attacked with assegais and Hunt and others were killed on the spot.

Sergeant Stevens, one of the best riders I ever saw, got away with an assegai sticking his back. In view of the surrounding circumstances and the danger to farm residents of the locality the matter was one of great importance requiring prompt action. Getting the Sister to make me a cup of tea while I got into my uniform I was soon in the saddle on my way to report to the Ministerial Head of 38

The Natal Police had their own hospital, surgeons and nurses HBH 39 Barbital (marketed under the brand name Veronal), also called barbitone, was the first commercially marketed barbiturate. It was used as a sleeping aid (hypnotic) from 1903 until the mid 1950s. The chemical names for barbital are diethylmalonyl urea or diethylbarbituric acid. Veronal was prepared by condensing diethylmalonic ester with urea in the presence of sodium ethoxide, and then by adding at least two molar equivalents of ethyl iodide to the silver salt of malonylurea or possibly to a basic solution of the acid. The result was an odorless, slightly bitter, white crystalline powder http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbital

All went well till midnight when the Sister was disturbed by the arrival of Sergeant Stevens at my house an urgent report, Stevens being one of the detachment of police sent to Byrntown with Sub Inspector Hunt to execute the Magistrate's warrants. It was only when the Sergeant took off his tunic and showed a blood stained shirt and an assegai wound in the back that the sister decided that I must be roused from my sleep whatever the consequences.

110 That done, I found it necessary to consult the Staff Surgeon38 in respect of my health as I was feeling extremely ill. He diagnosed overwork and it of rest and sleep and said that he would give me a sleeping draught and, my wife being away from home, he would send the Nursing Sister from the barracks to look after me for the night. Duties done, I took my sleeping draught, veronal39, and went to bed and was soon in a sound and much needed sleep, leaving the Nursing Sister to reply ‘phone calls which were sure to come in during the night.

I was accustomed from long use in camps and barracks to be awakened from sound sleep for duties at all hours of the night so I think it was not a difficult matter to collect my scattered thoughts and shake off the effects of the drug to listen to the sergeant's report of the affair which brought him riding in hot haste for twenty-five miles with a wound in his back.

Chief Bambata was in open rebellion in the thorn country near Greytown and his “impis” were on war path in the Impanza Valley and that the farmers their families in the locality were in danger.

111 my Department.

Knowing what was going on behind the scenes and the temper of the disaffected tribes, as may be imagined my position as the Senior Police Officer at headquarters was one of no little responsibility. With the Colony under Martial Law and the mobilisation of all Militia Units, I was relieved to a large extent of responsibility in the towns which were quickly organised tor defence, but farms in the outlying districts were left in an unprotected state and it became the duty of police out stations to give warning of approaching danger.

I wired for my wife to come back to Maritzburg at once. It was impossible to say what was going to happen or where the next outbreak might take place. The whole situation was volcanic. Maritzburg with a small garrison of Imperial troops at Fort Napier was the safest place for women and children but there still remained a large number of Natives in the town and with large Native Locations nearby, there was all the material present for a sudden onslaught on the white population and the cry of Africa for the black man.

While passing through the Impanza Valley on their way back to Greytown, escorting women and children, the police were ambushed by one of Bambata's "impis". There was thick thorn bush on either side of the road, all to the advantage of the attackers. Fortunately the attack was made on advance guard and not on the main body of Police, the women and children following. Four Police

Colonel Mansel and his patrol of 100 men were recalled in haste from Zululand where no open acts of hostility had yet taken place. Martial Law was proclaimed throughout Natal and Zululand and all available troops were mobilised to deal with the situation that was rapidly looming worse and spreading throughout the Locations to which it was fortunately confined.

Colonel Mansel's patrol from Zululand proceeded collect the women and children from the farms in the vicinity of Bambata's Location in the Greytown district, and this was not accomplished without difficulty and a fight with the rebels.

No more sleep that night and at an early hour the following day. I was directed to attend a meeting of the Cabinet Ministers to decide on the next move. In the meantime, news had arrived that the

Map of Nkandla Forrest and Momre Gorge Martin Collection 40 Nkandhla forest HBH

112 troopers were killed during the fight and others wounded. The light was failing and the presence of the women and children made it impossible to follow up the rebels through the thick thorn country. The women and children were brought safely through to Greytown. The rebellion now spread like a veld fire in gale of wind throughout the extent of the Locations in Natal and Zululand. The Zulu Chief Dinizulu was sitting on the fence, waiting no doubt for some signal success by the Natives before he declared himself. He was in all probability participating in the rebellion by aiding and concealing some rebels. Lack of leadership and organisation by the rebels and the energetic measures taken by the Natal Government stamped out the revolt in a few months. Our losses were small and the civilian population were fortunately left unmolested. The Natives lost heavily in the fights at Mome Gorge and Inkandhla Forest. Approximately 7,000 prisoners were taken by our commandos and for these it w40as my duty to make provision for housing, guarding and feeding.

Executions at Richmond

Dinizulu’s Trial I have already devoted more space than I intended to the incidents connected with the Bambata Rebellion in connection with which I only took an administrative part though much hard work and responsibility was attached to it.

Much to my regret I saw no active service during the short period of the rebellion. I had more than enough to do with administrative duties. Twelve rebels were sentenced to death under Martial Law were executed by shooting at Richmond, near the scene of the attack on Hunt's patrol. The execution was carried out by a firing party of Police at which I attended. It was thought that the local tribes would put up a fight on this occasion but, though the Chief ordered to attend did not appear the incident passed off without hostile demonstration Empathy Next to a gaol execution the shooting prisoners is the most unpleasant business I know and in the course of more than thirty years' police service I have witnessed many sad and horrible things.

The final stages were the trial of Dinizulu and his Prime Minister by a special court of Judges, the deportation to St. Helena of twenty-five of the ring-leaders of the rebellion, for which I had to make provision and furnish the guards to with the prisoners and remain with them during the period of their sentences. I personally saw to the embarkation of the Natives at Durban and never saw men so terrified. Several had never seen the sea before and none of them had ever been on a ship. I got them down below as soon as possible for fear that they should jump overboard.

113

The prisoners were repatriated four years later at the time of Union. Two or three of them died in exile. About 7,000 prisoners were captured by our troops in the field. Not all of them had taken an active part in the rebellion but were drawn into the net all the same. Within the rebellion area it was of course difficult to discriminate unless the Natives were caught under arms. The prisoners were tried and convicted collectively by Military courts and Magistrates under Martial Law in various parts of Natal and Zululand. Sentences varying from six months to life with hard labour and lashes with "cat" of nine tails.

imposed by the Natal Magistrates. With nearly 7,000 cases of floggings to be carried out I thought it time to take action. The conditions in Maritztburg gaol when the flogging began were a disgrace to Mainlycivilisation.inmyrecommendation

I have always strongly opposed excessive and indiscriminate amount of corporal punishment

to the Government supported by the Chief Engineer, Public Works Department, and the Attorney General the sentences of flogging were suspended subject to good behaviour in gaol and a more exemplary behaved lot of men I never handled. No more lashes were inflicted and I take some credit for my action in this matter in saving some thousands of Natives from the criminal brand and torture lash, a portion of the sentences which under the circumstances should never have been imposed.

Corporal Punishment

obtaining suspension of floggings was further strengthened by the fact that the rebels under arms on isolated and undefended farms where they might have caused much damage and bloodshed if so disposed. There were only two instances of Europeans being murdered by rebels, one an unpopular magistrate.

114

Under the tribal system in force the Native had no option but to turn out at the order of his Chief or Myheadman.actionin

The responsibility for making arrangements for the housing, feeding, clothing and guarding of 7,000 additional hard labour convicts lay with me and I looked to the Chief Engineer of Public Works to provide labour for them. The Union of the four South African Colonies in 1910 brought about the release of all rebel prisoners and many other changes more far reaching in character.

Chief Commissioner of Police in Natal

115

Lieutenant Colonel Clarke being absent in England at the time I was acting Chief Commissioner of Police in Natal. Under the scheme of reorganisation of Police for the Union the appointment of Chief Commissioner of Natal Police ceased to exist, the Natal Police becoming the 2nd Regiment of South African Rifles.

I was then offered and I accepted the appointment of Inspector of Prisons for Natal, Zululand, Orange Free and a large portion of the Cape Province. My inspection area covered nearly one half of the Union. It was with a sad heart that I said goodbye to my old Officers and comrades of all ranks of the Natal Police after thirty-two and a half years' service, rising from junior trooper to Acting Chief Commissioner. As a parting gift I was presented with a large silver rose bowl suitably inscribed and a silver mounted suitcase which will among my most cherished possessions.

116 Photograph of a South African Police brochure. However, the SA Police only came into being during 1913 - HBH

117 Union Inspector of Prisons

I was appointed a member of the Board of Prisons Visitors for my district. The duties were mainly in connection with convicts serving the indeterminate sentence, making recommendations for release or otherwise. It has frequently been demonstrated that a prisoner's conduct when serving a sentence in gaol under prison discipline is no criterion as to how the same man will behave when he has been liberated and free to indulge in further crime if so disposed. The work in this connection was interesting and I was sorry when the time came for to give it up.

De Beers Diamond Mines at Kimberley employed a large number of long sentenced Union convicts and my duties as Inspector of Prisons made it necessary me to pay periodical visits to the compounds where the convicts were confined when not at work, and also to every part of the industry where convict labour was employed. I thus obtained from personal observation much interesting information of every branch of the diamond industry of South Africa, which included the river or alluvial diggings which I visited periodically on my rounds of inspection. The diamond cutting process I have witnessed in operation at Wynberg in the Cape Province.

Retirement

My new duties as an Inspector of Prisons for the Union kept me tavelling about twenty days in each month. My headquarters were still at Maritzburg but my inspection area covered all Natal and Zululand, the Orange Free State and Griqualand West in the Cape Province including Kimberley and the River Diggings. Much of it was new country and I found my new duties over an extended area full of interest. The distances I had to travel were great. I became quite at home on the railway travelling day and night and it was only by the use of motor cars where there was no railway that I was able to visit all the towns and villages in my district where there were convict stations, prisons or police lock-ups.

After five years' service in my appointment as Inspector of Prisons under the Union Government I reached the retiring age of 55 years. I had volunteered for war service during the Great War but the

With seventy-six years in the background neither mind nor is as active as it used to be and I must resign myself to an armchair existence. My life in Cape Town for twenty years has been uneventful. I have enjoyed congenial friendships. Several visits to Europe with my family have relieved the monotony of a pensioner's existence, and besides being of educational value to my children, have enabled me to keep in touch with other members of my family resident in England.

Failing health with advancing years has necessitated all relinquishing all this work with much regret.

George went to school at the Diocesan College, Rondebosch, and from there went to Birkenhead for training as an engineer with Messrs. Cammel, Lairds, the shipbuilders, etc. Returning to South Africa after five years in England he took up employment with the South African Railways and Harbours and from there was appointed to an engineering post on the Rand Gold Mines. At the present time he holds the important position of Chief Engineer for Trinidad Leaseholds Oil Company in Trinidad. My daughter Natalie took up the profession of artist and has met some success, well deserved. Chesney decided to go in for a business and is making steady progress on staff of the Vacuum Oil Company in Cape Town Service on various Committee’s I had no inclination to lead an idle life on my retirement and soon found means of occupying my time in war fund committees, etc., namely the Gifts and Comforts Committee for the supply of comforts to South African troops in the field. I was Honorary Treasurer of the Governor General's Fund for 15 years and assisted in the administration of more than three million pounds collected for the benefit of sufferers from the Great War. I became a member of the Navy League Council and Vice Chairman of the local branch of South African Prisoners' Aid Association of which I am a life member.

118 Government declined to let me go. On retirement in 1915 I decided on a change of residence and seriously thought of settling in England for the education of my family which consisted of my son George aged 15 years, Natalie born in 1907 and Chesney born in 1914. The war dragged on and I stayed at the Cape until conditions in England became more settled.

OBE My public service in connection with war funds was recognised by my being appointed an Officer of

119 the Order of the British Empire.

I take some pride in the reflection that at the age of 18 years I went out to Natal, then a little known part of the world to take part in a savage war. I did not know a soul in all Africa when I landed.

Reflection Naturally in the course of thirty seven and a half years' service in Police and Prisons Departments of South Africa there is a vast amount of detail of interest I could record, here but I feel that I have made these reminiscences long enough and have touched on the principal events of a long life now nearing its close; a life full of interest and many adventures and not altogether a useless one I trust.

Joining the Natal Mounted Police Force I rose in thirty two years from junior trooper in a Force then about 250 strong to the command of the same Force in 1914 which was then, inclusive of Water Police, Railway Police and Prisons Staffs, three thousand men, European, Native and Indian an establishment I took a leading part in building up. Role models Any success that I have met with in my public career or merit I have obtained is due to the fine examples set me and encouragement received from my esteemed Commanding Officers and friends Major General Sir John Dartnell and Colonel George Mansel, C.M.G., both now passed into the land of shades.

Chinese arriving at Durban, later they were deported HBH Before concluding this rough sketch of the main features of my official activities I must mention that among the many and varied duties that fell to my lot as a Police Officer was the supervision of the compounds near Durban erected for the reception and repatriation of the army of Chinese labourers for the Rand mines. I was much impressed with the splendid physique of these men and except for their gambling propensities, which were not interfered with, there were very few cases of in the compounds. There was one murder in which it was practically impossible to get witnesses to give evidence. I was informed that the cases could be tried in China where they had means of getting evidence from witnesses that we could not employ in Natal.

120

Chinese repatriation

Deportation of the Jameson Raiders

On another occasion I was ordered to proceed to Durban to take over charge of about 500 of the Jameson Raiders brought down by military escort for deportation to Cape Ports and England. The ships to take them away were lying outside the Durban Bay as was the custom in those days. I took the men out by tug from which they were hoisted in batches by basket to the decks of the liners. As

I omitted to mention in its proper place that on retirement from the Police Force I was presented by my old comrades with a large silver rose bowl suitably inscribed and a leather suitcase with silver mounted fittings which are now among my most valued possessions and the former in any case will become a family heirloom. Many friends

Rondebosch

121 there was a heavy swell running the time the tug rolled and tossed about like a cork and the operations became a bit tedious and the conditions to say the least were disturbing to anyone but a sailor. All the same it did not prevent me from enjoying a good lunch on board one of the liners. Parting gifts

Age and health Age and failing health have now ordained that my journeying in South Africa have come to an end and my vision of an ideal place of retirement in semi tropical and beautiful Zululand with some horses and dogs and my gun and fishing rod to give me the means of health and recreation after my own heart, have faded from the sphere of practical politics and I must close with the words from one of the late White Melville's poems: "I have lived my life and I have nearly done and have played the game all round.

I never intended to settle permanently at the Cape and had it not been for educational reasons I think that I should have decided to reside in or near to Eshowe in Zululand where I believe I could have got more enjoyment out of life than I have at the Cape, but I others to consider and circumstances decreed that after visiting England with my family I should return to the Cape and settle at Rondebosch for the education of my sons at the Diocesan College. Since then we have resided in different parts of the Cape Peninsula and finally I have acquired a small property at Claremont in the shadow of Table Mountain and within easy access of Cape Town on one side and False Bay on the other.

It is almost needless to say here that during my long residence in South Africa I have not made money nor have I been in a position to do so. On the other hand it is pleasant to remember that both during my official life and since my retirement I have made many valued friends. My Police contemporaries of the seventies and the eighties are gradually departing for that "happy hunting ground" where all good policemen go to in due time.

122 I freely confess that the best of my fun I owe to horse and hound.” I must now content myself with memories of the past, of good companions in war and peace and war, of bivouac and camp life, long and lonely rides by night with swollen to cross and often only a Kaffir path across veld or slopes of the Drakensberg to guide me to my destination. Much hospitality I have enjoyed from farmers and planters in all parts of the country and social life in many towns have added enjoyment to living when I was young and active. Long periods of war service with all its risks and hardships now become memories of lights and shadows with the knowledge of my work done. G.14.M.5. 37.

Mathew Nathan, Lieutenant Governor Bishop Westcott, India

Lord Selborne, Governor General Mr Winston Churchill

Lord Dundonald General Buller

Methuen, Lieutenant Governor Sir J Rose Innes, Chief Justice Evelyn Wood, Lieutenant Governor Macready, the Actor Henry Durand Tibboo Tib, Slave Owner, etc

Generals

King George V Archbishop Carter

Earl of Athlone, Governor General General Botha

Earl Grey Bishop Gaul

The Duke of Connaught Bishop Baynes

Sir Henry Bulwer, Lieutenant Governor General Jan Smuts

King Edward VII Sir Albert Hime, Prime Minister

Sir Charles Mitchell, Lieutenant Governor Sir Arthur Browne

Henry McCallum, Lieutenant Governor Sir F de Waal

Earl Clarendon, Governor General General Sir John Dartnell

Admirals and too numerous mention and

judges galore 41 Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo

Sir John Robinson, Prime Minister Dinizulu41 Sir F Moor, Prime Minister Sir Henry Binns, Acting Prime Minister

Sir Arthur Havelock, Lieutenant Governor Sir J Dove Wilson

W. Hely Hutchinson, Lieutenant Governor Sir Howard Gorges

Sir George Colley, Lieutenant Governor Sir Herbert Sloley

Lord Milner, Governor General General Sir T. Lukin

Lord Gladstone, Governor General Mr Harry Escombe, Prime Minister

Lord Roberts General Hertzog

123 Annexure “A” Some distinguished people I have met

There was a good deal of discussion during the last Session of the Natal Parliament over a Bill introduced by the Government to amend the Gaol Law with provision, among other things, to substitute the cane in place of the regulation "cat o' nine tails" for the infliction of corporal punishment in Natal Prisons.

Discussion both in and out of Parliament disclosed on the part of many a lack of knowledge of the moral and physical consequences of a flogging^, resulting no doubt from an absence of any practical experience on the subject.

In this article42 by Assistant Commissioner GS Mardall of the Natal Police and Inspector of Prisons in Natal we get a rare insight to corporal punishment in Natal and indirectly into the Royal Navy. The first article is by a police officer while the reply is by a Magistrate.

In criticising a system which sanctions an excessive amount of flogging, it is my desire to avoid in any way reflection on those officials responsible for the administration of the Law, whose policy in this respect I do not agree with.

The Bill, which in a measure I was responsible for, received the unanimous support of the Press of the Colony, and went through the Assembly, but was ultimately thrown out by the Upper House. The Bill aimed at bringing Natal into line with India and the Transvaal in respect to the method of inflicting corporal punishment and initiating generally a more up-to-date system in the treatment of crime. One more creditable to our civilization and for the better administration of the coloured races of the Colony.

With an intimate acquaintance, extending over many years, with every Gaol in the Colony, and from personal observation of the physical after effects of the lash in all its stages, and with a knowledge of the tangible moral consequences of flogging in hundreds, if not in thousands of cases, my views on the subject may be of interest.

124 Annexure “B” 1910 - Crime and the Lash

In view of the abnormally large prison population in Natal, it can hardly be maintained that the methods of administering justice in the past have met with success or have resulted in the reduction of crime. Rather have the means adopted by some of our Courts been

42 Nongqai June 1910 pp 464 465

Even with our excessive prison population, it is quite unusual to come across a prisoner who has not been previously convicted at some time or other, and I sometimes find that half the prisoners in a Gaol have received lashes at some period during their career of Tocrime.quote from the published Book of Annual Statistics of Natal, the following were the numbers of sentences of corporal punishment imposed for the last four years. Figures for the previous years are not available, but the years quoted may be taken as a fair average, except for 1906, which includes about 4,700 Native rebels, of whom about 700 only received the floggings ordered by the Courts. The lashes on the remainder being suspended during good behaviour in Gaol, on representations made to Government by the Chief Engineer, P.W.D., and myself. 1906. Sentences of corporal punishment, 7,594. 1907. Sentences of corporal punishment, 2,190. 1908. Sentences of corporal punishment, 2,462. 1909. Sentences of corporal punishment, 1,843. With an average of 2,000 persons flogged every year, which number is not very wide of the mark, it is clear that in the course of a number of years, a very large proportion of the adult coloured male population of the Colony bear on their backs the Gaol brand in a greater or lesser degree. In this way I believe a numerous and revengeful class of Native criminals is being created. Torture can never be used without injury to the society that has recourse to it, and the policy of the lash recoils on the community responsible.

Surely the time has come when the lash could at least be reserved for crimes where there has been brutal violence, and when every effort should be made to keep down the prison population as far as possible. Statistics go to prove that the lash is no preventive to further crime, and we know that the convict usually comes out of Gaol morally worse, and more likely to commit crime than when he went in. Truly, it is said, "the man who goes into Gaol blameless becomes bad, and the man who goes in bad becomes worse." I admit that the

125 the cause of steadily increasing the number of habitual criminals. From the increase of crime and the frequency with which old offenders return to Gaol, it is very evident that government by the lash is a failure.

Efforts at prison reform and reduction of the annual number of admissions to Gaol, which has reached 1 in 30 of the total population of the Colony, are counteracted by the lash.

The desperate and brutal criminal of the worst type, the petty thief, the Native who ferments treacle and water to drink on the sly, and the prisoner in whose possession a piece of tobacco is discovered in Gaol, are all liable to be branded with the "cat" in a varying degree, not always in proportion to the gravity of the offence committed.

A man once severely flogged is branded for life as a criminal, whether he was one originally or not; he then not infrequently enters into a career of crime which familiarity with the lash does not hinder. Among the criminally inclined, the man branded with the "cat" is a hero, but it is the man who is flogged, not being a criminal in the real sense of the word, who is disgraced wherever he is seen with his back bare, and it is this class of casual offender, or the prisoner who has been guilty of some breach of prison discipline, that we wrong most in imposing the lash.

The Natal convict, white or black, is no worse, and I may say, not nearly so troublesome in Gaol as many prisoners serving sentences in English prisons, where the lash is but seldom

126 fear of the "cat" may act as a deterrent to a man who has never been flogged, in the same way that the fear of capital punishment will no doubt deter a man from committing a premeditated murder, but there is tangible proof that the lash does not stop a man from continuing to commit crime. Capital punishment does not give a man a chance of doing so.

The frequency with which the lash has been imposed in some of the Gaols in the Colony, often with the utmost severity, causes flogging to lose its terrors in the eyes of evildoers, and merely creates a hardened criminal class. Lashes have been laid on again and again, with apparent indifference to consequences, moral or physical, sometimes for little more than trifling offences.

The maintenance of prison discipline on rare occasions only requires the application of the lash, and escapes, or attempts to escape, should never be punished in this way unless there has been violence towards a Gaol Officer. The injustice of branding a man for life as a criminal on account of some irregularity or infringement of Rules is too palpable and yet such is often the case.

127 used. Gross acts of misconduct are very rare among Natal prisoners, far more so, I think than in English prisons.

The advocate of the lash usually holds antiquated ideas on penology and has apparently never studied our criminal statistics or works on modern criminology.

The coloured man for escaping or attempting to escape from custody or Gaol is almost invariably floated, though, when no violence towards a Gaol Officer has been used an escape is generally the result of neglect or carelessness on the part of some member of the Gaol Staff, or the prisoner has been tempted to run away by having been employed in a position where there were special facilities for making an escape.

Another reason why restriction should be placed on the "cat" is that lashes are sometimes illegally ordered and inflicted, and while an illegal sentence of fine or imprisonment can be remitted, nothing can remove the scars of the lash or compensate for the torture wrongfully administered. I could quote cases but refrain from doing so for obvious reasons.

Flogging not only brutalises prisoners, but Gaolers and Warders accustomed to the constant infliction of lashes on prisoners are apt to a great extent to lose sympathy for human suffering, and I have no hesitation in stating that the amount of flogging that has taken place in our Gaols has had a lowering and detrimental effect on the Prison officers.

In some instances, weeks and sometimes months of treatment in the Gaol hospital are necessary before a man recovers from the effects of a serve flogging and during part of this time he can only lie with his face to the ground, and the appearance of his back is better left undescribed.

The advocate of the lash sees nothing of this. Some hold the idea that the only way to make a Native feel is through his skin and that a good flogging will do him no harm.

The permanent after effects are frequently scars that two hands will not cover, lumps and excrescences that will disfigure a man for the rest of his life.

Cases can be quoted by the score if not by the hundred in Natal where the same person has been convicted and flogged again and again and still pursues a career of crime. I refer not only to Natives but to Indians and Europeans as well. The worst cases are those in which a prisoner who has had his back badly cut about with the "cat" has a further

C.I. Department43 records show numbers of cases where the same prisoners have been flogged ten and eleven times receiving over 200 lashes each in the course of their criminal careers. What beneficial or intelligent object is there in continuing to flog in such cases?

There is a Cape Colony instance on record, an Indian, 54 years of age who was sentenced in 1879 to 16 years for rape and for various crimes afterwards received 10 years. Altogether this man received over 300 lashes in prison. Certainly, flogging did him no good. A life sentence would have been the best way to protect society from such a Incharacter.England during the years 1904, 1905, 1906, twenty one prisoners were ordered lashes by Judges, the aggregate number of lashes being 327. Twelve or fifteen strokes would appear to be the usual number when lashes are imposed in England.

128 sentence of flogging hanging overhim to be inflicted as soon as his wounds have sufficiently healed to be passed by the Medical Officer as fit to be tortured again. Such cases are now rare and are usually remitted when brought to notice. Regulations have recently been passed that will in a great measure restrict suspended sentences of flogging that have in the past not been uncommon.

43 Criminal Investigation Department or the Detective Branch HBH

In 1908 there seems to have been a revival of the lash in England which raised protests from one section of the Press and certain Societies. During the Cardiff Assises in 1908, Mr. Justice Lawrence sentenced no less than 14 prisoners to be flogged for robbery with violence, but his colleagues on the Bench have shewn their disapproval by never employing corporal punishment.

In the Transvaal Mr. Justice Mason recently commented very severely on a sentence imposed on a native by the Assistant Magistrate of Rustenburg, of 9 months and 10 lashes for escaping from Gaol. Only last month, Mr. Justice Koch at the City Criminal Sessions, expressed from the Bench his want of faith in the efficacy of the lash in two cases that he tried. In one, the prisoner had already received 120 lashes.

At Boksburg, Transvaal, a Native was recently sentenced to 5 years and 15 lashes for attempted rape on a white woman. For the sake of comparison, I will quote two sentences passed in Natal in which lashes figure.

The maximum of 30 lashes is seldom imposed even in extreme cases. The above sentences are quoted to illustrate that sometimes there is no very wide difference in the severity of the flogging imposed for minor offences and in the punishment inflicted on the very worst characters.

(2) Eight Native prisoners for quitting their work to go to the Police to report assaults, and for misconduct were sentenced to 3 months and 15 lashes each.

Lord Herschell and the present Premier, Mr. Asquith, have very strongly condemned flogging in speeches delivered in the House of Commons. The former proved that "a flogging Judge was followed by a number of garrotting cases and a non flogging Judge by a great diminution of that crime."

129

(1) 12 lashes for a native prisoner who was found in possession of the fag end of a cigarette.

The Middle Ages tortured with the rack and thumbscrew and also indulged in a roasting process of a grill, employed, I believe, usually for the purpose of extracting evidence from ignorant or reluctant witnesses rather than for punishment of misconduct, but probably not worse in effect than a severe flogging. The lash draws blood, inflicts deep wounds and often produces large festering scores

Another view of this question before I close. Why inflict the lash? If we must torture, why cannot we do so by inflicting extreme bodily pain in some other manner that will not leave the terrible after effects that the "cat" frequently does?

A mistaken idea prevails in some quarters that garrotting in England was suppressed by the lash. The late Lord Herschell, Lord High Chancellor, held very strong views on the subject and proved conclusively that garrotting was put down by Baron Bramwell, largely without resort to flogging, two years before the Garrotting Act was passed.

Sometimes six months of mental torture is ordered before the flogging takes place.

130 that take months to heal, during which time the person flogged continues to suffer extreme bodily pain and, in countless cases, is permanently branded if not actually disfigured.

In one respect the Middle Ages showed more humanity and consideration for the man to be tortured than we do. A man ordered to be "racked," as far as we know, was not given much time to think about it, but received his punishment straight away. It has been no uncommon thing in Natal for sentences of flogging to be suspended for months.

I discussed the subject the other day with a Medical friend of mine, holding a high office under Government and asked him if he could not suggest some more suitable form of torture than the lash. Not that public sentiment would ever sanction any other form of legal torture, I suppose, though in reality more humane.

I told my friend that his suggestion must provide a means of inflicting extreme bodily pain, without mutilating, drawing blood or causing internal complications. Something that could be applied frequently, if ordered, without lessening the torture. Must not cause the prisoner to faint during the application whereby he might escape some of the pain, and must not prevent a man from going to work immediately after the torture is over.

The only suggestion I received did not comply with the conditions. It was to draw out the prisoners' teeth and replace them again, when probably a certain number would take root and be available for some future occasion.

The suggestion, whilst perhaps giving sufficient pain for the prisoner's first offence, would lose its terrors for the habitual criminal, who, after he had been to the Prison dentist two or three times would have no teeth left.

Medical science was not equal to the occasion and the "cat" still flourishes.

Other sentences are as follows, and which I quote from the May, 1910, Issue of " The Sapper," the journal of the Royal Engineers, in which appear Extracts from old Order Books: " Six men sentenced to death for desertion were led to the place of execution; two were reprieved, and the remainder drew lots for their lives; the death lot falling to James Jewitt, of Brigadier Clayton's Regiment; he was shot to death." 515 516.

After Assistant-Commissioner Mardall’s article a Natal magistrate replied as follows on the subject of corporal punishment and ‘flogging’ magistrates 44 1910 – “Flogging” Magistrates - A Defence.

The writer of this article was a British Army Officer of 15 years' service, and is now a Natal Magistrate of 36 years' standing, who acted in this capacity as early as 1874. He has never had any of his decisions reversed by a Higher Court, on appeal.

On this the confirming officer writes: " Very inadequate; to be given half on back and half on breech by tap of drum." One wonders what he would have considered adequate.

Those were rough days for delinquents when children, e.g., a boy sentenced to be hanged for stealing a spoon, suffered the extreme penalty; yet to be preferred to the horrors of transportation, when the lashes were diurnal.

“The Wisest man" wrote: "Spare the rod and I spoil the child." No doubt some spoil the rod and the child too, but that is happily rare in these days. From Order books barely one hundred years ago, we read: "Corporal, drunk on guard: Sentence Reduction and four hundred lashes."

Discipline must be maintained, but the punishment was brutal. We read of Gunner Graff, for ill treating and robbing a seaman of a few shillings, getting 900 lashes; of a Private getting 1,000 lashes for a couple of days' absence, then called desertion " Approved”; and of several cases of Privates receiving sentences to be hanged for petty larceny of trifles, and approved, after a long rigmarole from the General about the disgrace brought on their gallant regiments, and the grief he feels at seeing no extenuating circumstances to enable him to commute the sentences, which are duly carried out.

44 Nongqai September 1910 pp

131 Annexure “C”

"The criminal John , of the Regiment, to be executed at guard mounting to morrow at the stone house, where he committed the robbery, with a label on his breast, on which is to be wrote the word 'Plunderer'; the body to remain hanging till sunset."

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"Private Thomas to receive a 1,000 lashes with a cat-of-nine tails; the last fifty of which are to be given by the hands of the common hangman between Southport and Waterport; he is afterwards to be drummed out of the Garrison with a halter about his "neck,"Privates A.B. and C.D. to be executed to-morrow between ten and eleven o'clock, and Private E.F., of the same Regiment, is to receive 200 lashes under the gallows (as the above prisoners are hanging), of the 400 he is sentenced to receive."

"All sentinels who do not call out 'All's well' every half minute shall be punished with 200 Thelashes."above are crude facts. Again, we may say, happily in civilized lands not now tolerated. But is there not a risk of going to the other extreme from a fashion of sentimental effeminacy? Is it justifiable to pillory magistrates by name in leaderettes, who are unable to explain their reasons in the Press, because we read an umfaan got a few strokes for stealing a tin whistle; nothing in minor matters causes more annoyance than theft, and that light infliction may be the making of the lad. It is not the intrinsic value of the articles, but the tendency to purloin, which needs correction. Punishment, all magistrates are aware, is not to revenge the commission of offences, but to deter from criminal and disgraceful actions; though one may regret, in the case of a native who flogged a poor horse to death, the law forbade him tasting a little of the physical pain which he had inflicted.

Four soldiers were shot on Windmill Hill in September, 1757, for desertion, in presence of the whole Garrison."

It looks at first sight appalling to read of so many records of corporal punishment in Natal, but the sufferers are, as a rule, that class of “overgrown children" whose instincts are only checked by a thrashing, and to whom the comforts and restriction of our model gaols do not

45 Jail HBH

133 appeal. To the well behaved majority of their fellows, "being put in the tronk45“ is a disgrace, while it is nothing a comparatively short retirement to the delinquents, while a moderate application of the cat is dreaded.

If it comes to figures, what do our detractors say to the fact, as reported in the London "Times” of the 20th of September, 1909, and as elicited by Mr. TF Richards (Labour Member for Wolverhampton W.), that 4,566 cases of flogging had taken place in the Navy during 1907, out of a total naval population of 114,000 about one ninth the population of Natal and Zululand? These figures were given by Mr. McKenna (First Lord of the Admiralty), and one must bear in mind that these naval men are our own kith and kin; further, that this is in civilised England! Again, what would the statistics of our English public schools give? Test swishing headmasters like Dr. Busby, of Westminster, and Dr. Keat, of Eton who flogged a number of little boys, candidates for confirmation, whose names were sent to thorn by mistake on " punishment paper," and thought it would do them good—turned out our great Statesmen, Philanthropists, Divines, and Generals. They thought little of that painful experience in their youth, except that it served them right, and did them good. Perhaps few little boys followed the statement at the time, of a Marlborough usher, who, between each whack, said: " It hurts me a great deal more than it does you, my dear boy." This may have been severity, but it was not the brutality of a Mr. Squeers, which needed the exposure of a Dickens, In the “Daily Mail," of the 31st of September, 1909, is described how an Inspector from the Home Office, while inspecting the Slough Police Station, found there a birch which was used by the Police, and which he described as brutal. On later enquiry being made from the Superintendent of the Division, who was absent during the visit, it was ascertained that the birch, which was a two handed one, had been borrowed from Eton College, where it was actually in use.

On our present discussion, a remonstrance though the conclusions without "audi alteram partem" is not fair with the authorities is all that is needed, not branding humane magistrates of experience as brutal Squeers. At the worst, they may make the mistake that a few strokes of the rod is a corrective of all misdemeanours. South Africa

At a Nationalist meeting, denouncing the tyranny of the landlords in Ireland, one supporter got mixed up, and on hearing the expression, "the poor tenantry are screwed down”, called out, “That's right, screw 'em”. We may expect the public to call out, "Is it the Magistrates? Quite right, lash 'em."

The whole outcry against "flogging" magistrates may appropriately be summed up in a few words, i.e., "Don't jump at conclusions," and may, perhaps, be better illustrated by the following:

134 flogging the poor natives, and the pictures of the Chinese in chains and driven with knouts, during the Heine Elections, will equally gull the unsophisticated British public; while their own Government, which directly administers Egypt and the East African Protectorate, was at the time of the outcry against Natal, itself performing the most atrocious acts of barbarism conceivable. I refer to the alternate hanging and flogging of twelve Sudanese for the murder of two British Officers at Khartoum, and also the public hanging at Mombasa of the four natives who murdered a surveyor.

135 Annexure “D” Looking Back – Part of the Autobiography of Lt-Col GS “Jerry” Mardall: Published in The Nongqai April 1938

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153 Annexure “E” Lt-Col GS Mardall passes on – Veteran of Many Wars; - Almost the Last of the Old Timers; The Nongqai August 1937

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