Welcome to Ladysmith in the Zulu Kingdom of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa!

General Sir George White

The Natal Mounted Rifles had the distinction of providing the bodyguard for General Sir George White during the Ladysmith campaign. The bodyguard which was under the command of Captain (afterwards Major) F.S. Tatham, of the Volunteer staff, consisted of Sergeant J.A. Tweedie and Corporal E.R. H. Lewis (Stanger troop), Corporal H. Bellvile (Bellair troop) and 18 men. At Elangslaagte two of their horses were killed by the shell fire, and the General congratulated Captain Tatham on the behavior of his men. At tinta ‘nyoni the escort was under fire all day and lost one horse. At Lombards Kop, the small body of scout did excellent work in feeling the way for the G.O.C. and his staff, and supplying gallopers and olderies. During the siege they found guards for Headquarters by night and mounted messengers by day, and also scout guards and interpreters. Trooper V.G. Ash died at ‘Ntombi from entic, troopers P. Addison and G. Braul were wounded- the latter permanently invalided for the rest of the war. Most of the troop’s horses were wounded or killed in action, or shot or eaten as food. At the conclusion of their duties Sir George thanked his bodyguards for their good service and excellent behaviour at all times, under most adverse circumstances.

After the relief of Ladysmith, Captain Tatham, now promoted to the rank of Major was appointed to act as chief of General Elliott’s Intelligence Department. Before leaving to take over his new appointment the Major was presented with a handsome shield by the members of the bodyguard, whom he had commanded with such distinction. The shield is of silver mounted upon stained oak, and surmounted by the badge of the N.M.R. with the motto Hust and Frank. It bears a wreath of laurel leaves, worked in gold above being silver ribbon with the words Natal Mounted Riffles, and underneath another ribbon, with names Elandslaagte, Lombard’s Kop, Tinta Inyoni. The inscription on the shield reads:

Presented to MAJOR F.S. TATHA. In token of esteem by Non- Commissioned Officers and Men Of General Sir G. White’s Bodyguard.

Then follow the names of Sergeant J.A. Tweedie. Corporals H. Bellville and E.R.H. Lewis, and Troopers P. Addison, L.V. Ash, B. Bond, G. Brauel, H. E. Essery, G.J. L. Golding, D. M. Nagle, L.H. Studd, G.V. Ash, A.C. Brandon, L. Colenbrander, underneath the names are the words Siege of Ladysmith, 2nd November 1899- 28th February 1900.

ADDRESS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BELLAIR TROOP OF THE NATAL MOUNTED RIFFLES*

Mobilized: 29 September, 1899 Recalled: 8 October, 1900

We the Residents of Bellair and its neighbourhood offer a most warm and hearty welcome to the members of the Bellair troop of the N.M.R. on their return from a long and arduous campaign in Northern Natal. We thank Almighty God for his great mercy and his over- ruling goodness towards you, seeing that of your number one only has killed been killed by the enemy’s fire and not one has died of wounds or sickness. Your conduct has given an example that may well be followed by all: first, of readiness to obey the call of duty and take the field, second, of gallant conduct in the various actions that preceded this investment of Ladysmith, and then of patient, cheerful endurance of the anxieties and privations of the long siege. After the relief, you returned to the field and took part in ridding Natal of her invaders and guarding her borders, until the forces in the Orange Free State Colony and Transvaal removed all further need of our service and freed Natal from her invaders.

We feel thankful that such an opportunity has been given you and that you have nobly embraced it. We hope that the force to which you belong may never be called to resist invasion again. But on whatever service it may be summoned, we trust and hope that the same spirit may be found in its members then as has been found in you, and that the force in the future may never sully the fair fame you have won for it and which you hand on to your successors to preserve. We subjoin the roll of services which any force may well be proud.

COMMITTEE W.M. Palmer, M.L.A, Chairman The Ven. Archdeacon Hamrick, M.A. Captain A. Airth, J.P. C.R. King Geo. H. Royston James Fletcher C. Roper Fred F.J. Young Geo. W. Palmer G.P. Thorpe The Secretary

MEMBERS OF THE BELLAIR TROOP

Lieutenant F.O. Stiebel Trooper H. Austin Trooper G.S. Jameson Sergeant E. Hillary Trooper J.A. Airth Trooper J. Mulholland Sergeant T. Wright Trooper J.R Crickmore Trooper D.N. Nagle Sergeant W. H. Bibby Trooper F. Dawson Trooper R. Rogers Sergeant T. Brophy Trooper G.O. EdwardsTrooper C. Roper Corporal R. Lyne Trooper J.D’ HotmanTrooper C. Ratcliffe Corporal H.W. BellvilleTrooper Frorrest Trooper H.A. Smith Corporal T.H. Drew Trooper C.J. Goodman Trooper C. F . Witkins Corporal Alose Auston Trooper W. Hillary Trooper A.C. Wesley Trumpeter W.H. Bibby Trooper R. T. Harger Trooper W. Winson

(K)- KILLED BELLAIR,19 October 1900 NATAL MOUNTED RIFLES HORSE RAMPANT

JUST AND FRANK Headquarters: Durban 3 SqyadribsL Durban Verulam Stanger Strength on Mobilization……….220 Strength on Disbandment……….209 BESIEGED IN LADYSMITH

(K)- KILLED W- WOUNDED D- DIED

Major Robert W. Evens, Commanding Corporal T.J Drew Captain R. Noble, Adjutant Corporal C.C. Pietersen Captain J. Ritchie Sergeant W. Shoesmith Captain C. Henwood Sergeant J.P. Griffith Captain H. Sparks, M.L.A Sergeant E. Hillary Captain W. Murray smith Sergeant W.H. Bibby Lieutenant F. O. Stiebel Sergeant F. Brophy Lieutenant D. Brown Sergeant- Saddler H. Bull (W) Lieutenant W.J. Clapham, (K) (not in Ladysmith) Lieutenant H. W.A. Richardson (W) Corporal F.W. Freese Lieutenant W.H. Smith Corporal P.N. Field, (W) Lieutenant J. Abraham Corporal H.H. Hurst Lieutenant C.S. Adams Corporal H.R. Tunmer Lieutenant A.G.Knox Corporal S.S. Waller Lieutenant Leo C. Adams Corporal-Trumpeter A.E. Mears Q-M-A L. Garbutt Corporal-Trumpeter W.H. Bibby R-S-M-L. P. Pa Corporal C.J.Larkan Q-M-S-H. Higgs Corporal G.A. Larkan Sergeant- Major G.T Hurst Corporal H. Worthington Sergeant-Major G.R. Payne Corporal S.A. Brown Sergeant- Major S. Garbutt Corporal A. Chiazzari Sergeant- Major J.Tweedie Trumpeter R. Rogers Sergent-Major G.Keal Trumpeter G.E.Beater Trumpeter- Major P. Carmont Trumpeter A. Currie Seargent- Farrier W.B. Orchard Trooper V.G. Ash (D) Sergeant- Farrier H.Martin Trooper G.V. Ash Sergeant- Farrier J. Dingley Trooper L.V. Ash Sergeant- Tailor H. Mulholand Trooper C.J. Allen Sergeant- A.F. Turner Trooper J.A. Airth Sergeant F. L. Kruger, jun. Trooper J. W. Alcock Sergeant W. Gibb Trooper H. V. Adams Sergeant C.J. Hurst Trooper W.H. Attlee Sergeant T. Wright Trooper A.B. Alexander Sergeant A.H. Gillham Trooper P. Addison, (W) Sergeant G. Stewart Trooper C.C. Allsopp Sergeant R. Stewart Trooper F. Abrams Sergeant W.A. B. Russwurn Trooper J.H. Andrew Sergeant J.T.K. Eggar Trooper E. Agnew Sergeant W. Schwegmann Trooper B. Bond Sergeant H.B. Shire Trooper D.A. Bell Sergeant R. Lyne Trooper C.E. Bryant Sergeant F. Werner Trooper V. Bazley Corporal P. Llyod, (W) Trooper G. Braul, (W) Corporal E.R.H. Lewis Trooper A.W. Evans , D.C.M. Corporal L.E. Knox Trooper G.O. Edwards Corporal H. Bellville Trooper H.G. Finch Corporal G. Carmont Trooper C. Forrest Corporal A.J. Harvey Trooper J.B. Grinstead Corporal J. Parkhill, (D) Trooper O.E. Garbutt Corporal H. Silburn (W) Trooper H.B. Garbutt Corporal H. Purser Trooper C. J. Goodwin Trooper W.F. Gann Trooper H.H. Schwegmann Trooper G.J.L. Golding Trooper H.F. Schwegamann Trooper H.W.M. Gillespie Trooper A.E.O. Schreiber Trooper L. Handley Trooper J.F. Stevenson Trooper J.P. Howroyd Trooper J. G. Kirby Trooper W. Hillary Trooper F.L. Lucy Trooper R. Harger Trooper Edward lake Trooper P. Hoar Trooper J. Morphew Trooper C.B. Herns Trooper J. McDonald Trooper J.B. Hobday Trooper E. Middlebourough Trooper E.A. Hopkins Trooper H.D. Matson Trooper J.H. Harries Trooper N.L. Norton –Smith Trooper P.E. Inman, (D) Trooper N.L. Noel Trooper F. Jones Trooper D.L. Nagle Trooper E.L. Jones Trooper A. Nipper Trooper A. B Jones Trooper O. Nannestad Trooper A.H. Johnson Trooper G.E. Oddy Trooper G.S. Jameson Trooper J. Pittaway Trooper J. Kurz Trooper W. H. Pay Trooper J. Koster Trooper H.S. Parkes Trooper P. Kemp Trooper A. Pucher Trooper A.C. Brandon Trooper S. Sarsland Trooper F.W. Bannister Trooper J. Schmidt Trooper T.F. Brickhill Trooper G.F. Schofield Trooper A.T. Burne Trooper H.E. Smith Trooper A.W. Cox Trooper G.Sharp Trooper R.H. Clarence Trooper R.G. Scorey Trooper J.R. Crickmore ,(K) Trooper E. Thompson Trooper L. Colenbrander Trooper G. Twomey Trooper H. Cullingworth, (W) Trooper A. Tomlin Trooper G. H. Chudleigh Trooper J.W. Tunmer Trooper A.H. Crawford Trooper C.F> Tunmer Trooper B.L. Crawford Trooper A. Theunissen Trooper C.R. Daniel Trooper H.F. Torlage Trooper F. Dawson Trooper F. Vahl Trooper H.C. Dinklemann Trooper R.K. Watson Trooper J.D. Hotman Trooper A.C. Westley Trooper H.E. Essery Trooper D. Scully Trooper H.D. Ryder Trooper C.F. Spradbrow Trooper F.A. Routledge Trooper C. Stewart Trooper A.G Redman Trooper G. Schram, (K) Trooper J.H. Rode Trooper A.W. Starr Trooper W. Rodgers Trooper L.H Studd Trooper J. C. Ratcliff Trooper G.H. Wayne Trooper W. Slatter Trooper W. Winsor Trooper H. Stuhr Trooper C. F. Wilkins Trooper H. Stuhr Trooper C. F. Wilkins Trooper C. Sander Trooper W. Waugh Trooper F.W. Sander Trooper A. Walker Trooper A. F. Sander, (W) Trooper R. Crosby- Wade Trooper H. W. Sander

SIGNALLING DETACHMENT Sergeant H.D. Hemsworth Trooper F.M. Piccione Corporal J.J. Flood Trooper C. Roper

AMBULANCE DETACHMENT Lieutenant- Surgeon R. W. Hornabrook, (W) Trooper S.Harrop,(D) Vet-Lieutenant S.T. Amos Trooper N. Jelseth Sergeant J.Whittaker Trooper A. McKenna Corporal R.J. Kelly Trooper J.G. Pennell Trooper G.W. Bradshaw Trooper C.Pulford Trooper D. Donalson Trooper R.M. Ridgway Trooper J. Donalson Trooper G. Thomas, (D)

WITH BULLER’S RELIEF FORCE Sergeant L. Castera Corporal A. Austin, (W) Trooper S. Bennett Corporal H. Bristow Trooper F.W. Burke, (W) Trooper H. Austin Trooper P.A.M. Cox Trooper H. G. Bazley Trooper L. Caster Trooper W.A. Bird Trooper F.F. Chuchill Trooper H.W. Church Trooper G. Caray Trooper B.C. Davey Trooper F.W. Roberts Trooper C.H. Gibb Trooper P.E. Smith, (W) Trooper G. Gray Trooper E. Stephenson, (W) Trooper F.W. Higgins, (W) Trooper J.F. Thring Trooper T.R. Harbottle Trooper H.K. Vere- Hodge Trooper T. Leech Trooper P. Wilson Trooper C.T. Young

RECRUITS SINCE THE SIEGE

Trooper W.J. Andrews Trooper G.O. Huntley Trooper J. Abraham Trooper E. Holgate Trooper O. Angus Trooper J. Herrick Trooper W.C. Alder Trooper W.H. Harber Trooper C.J. Arundel Trooper W. Jones Trooper J. Burns Trooper G.E. Jones Trooper R. W. Beall Trooper C.R. Jones Trooper E. Bristow Trooper H.A. Joel Trooper C. Burrus Trooper R. V. King Trooper J.A. Burrus Trooper J. Lloyd Trooper J. N. Brown Trooper H. Lace Trooper G. Brown Trooper G.A. Logan Trooper E.W. Burton Trooper W. H. Moore Trooper M. Carroll Trooper W.B. Millar Trooper J. Dunwell Trooper W. Mitchell Trooper J. Davidson Trooper C.C. Murchie Trooper W. Eeles Trooper G.F. Morley Trooper W.J. Freeman Trooper E.E. Nuttall Trooper S.A. Fraser Trooper F. Nicks Trooper H.P. Forster Trooper E.Owen Trooper R.E. Garbutt Trooper G. Olsen Trooper W. Griffis Trooper E.M. Olsen Trooper H. Granger Trooper R.T. Paterson Trooper W. G.V. Grice, (D) Trooper D.C. Phillips Trooper C.A. Howroyd Trooper G.H. Perrin Trooper W.T. Howell Trooper L. Price Trooper H.W. Hunter Trooper S. Robbins Trooper J.W. Huntley Trooper F.C. Ruysch Trooper G. Rogers Trooper J. Shields Trooper T.L. Ruston Trooper H. Thomas Trooper P. Starling Trooper D. Tweedie Trooper G.A. Sefton Trooper J. Vincent Trooper A. Stewart Trooper M.Watsom Trooper H.A.J. Scruse Trooper G.G. Watson Trooper T. Sim Trooper H.L.R. Watt

HONOUR’S ROLL

KILLED IN ACTION

Lieutenant W.J.Clapham, at Lombard’s Kop Trooper G. Schram, at Ladysmith Trooper J.R. Crickmore, at Ladysmith

DIED OF DISEASE

Corporal J. Parkhill, at Durban Trooper P.E. Inman, Maritzburg Trooper V.G. Ash, at Ladysmith Trooper S. Harrop, at Ladysmith Trooper G.V. Grice, at Maritzburg Trooper G.Thomas, at Ladysmith

WOUNDED IN THE FIELD

Sergeant- Saddler H. Bull, at Tinta’Nyoni Corporal P.N. Field, at Caeser’s Hill Corporal A. Austin, at Tinta’Nyoni Trooper P. Addison, at Ladysmith Trooper H. Cullingworth, at Tinta’Nyoni Lieutenant- Surgeon R.W. Hornabrook at Caesar’s Hill Trooper A.F. Sander, at Lombard' Kop Corporal P. Lloyd, at Lombard’s Kop Trooper F.W. Higgins, at Acton Homes Corporal H. Silburn, at Bester’s Hoek Trooper E. Stephenson, at Spioenkop Trooper P.E. Smith, at Colenso trooper F.W. Burke, at Spioenkop Trooper G. Brauel, at Ladysmith Lieutenant H.W.A. Richardson, at Caesar’s Hill

INVALIDED but RETURNED Captain R. Noble Sergeant- Saddler H. Bull Lieutenant F.O. Stiebel Trooper H. Cullingworth

GRANTED EXTENDED LEAVE (S- SICK)

Lieutenant J. Abraham, (S) Trooper R.E. Garbutt Sergeant A.F. Turner, (S) Trooper A.H. Johnson, (S) Sergeant E. Hillary, (S) Trooper H.D. Matson, (S) Corporal A.J. Harvey, (S) Trooper C. Sander, (S) Corporal- Trumpeter A.E. Mears, (S) Trooper E. Vahl, (S)

INVALIDED TO END OF WAR

Trumpeter- Major P. Carmont Trooper G.S. Jameson Sergeant J.P. Griffiths Trooper P. Kemp Sergeant A. Hilmer Trooper J. Koster Sergeant J. Whittaker Trooper Kirby Corporal H. Bellville Trooper E. Middlebough Corporal G. Carmont Trooper H.L. North- Smith Corporal H. Silburn Trooper L.A. Noel Trumpeter R. Rogers Trooper A. Nipper Trooper G.V. Ash Trooper G.E. Oddy Trooper L.V. Ash Trooper J. Pittaway Trooper C.J. Allen Trooper W.H. Pay Trooper J.A. Airth Trooper H.S. Parkes Trooper H.V. Adams Trooper G.H. Perrin Trooper H. Austin Trooper C. Pulford Trooper E. Agnew Trooper J.H. Rode Trooper C.E. Bryant Trooper W. Rodgers Trooper G. Brauel Trooper H. Stuhr Trooper A.C. Brandon Trooper A.E.O. Schreiber Trooper A.C. Davey, Relief Force Trooper D. Scully Trooper H.W.M. Gillespie Trooper A. Sarsland Trooper C.H. Gibb Trooper E. Thompson Trooper W. Hillary Trooper A.Tomlin Trooper J.B. Hobday Trooper A. Theunissen Trooper E.L. Jones Trooper H. J. Torlage

JOINED COMPOSITE REGIMENT

Major R.W. Evans (promoted Lieutenant-Colonel), Lieutenants F.O. Stiebel, D. Brown, H.W.A. Richardson, Leo C. Adams, Q-M-A-L. Garbutt, R-S-M G.P Parry, Sergeant- Major G.T. Hurst, Sergeant- Tailor H. Mulholland, Sergeants W.A. Russwurn And R. Lyne, Corporal E.R.H. Lewis, Trooper B.L. Crawford, A.W. Evans, J.B. Grinstead, R. Harger, O. Nannestad, A.G. Redman, F.W. Higgins, T. Leech, P.E. Smith, E. Stephenson, J. Abraham, C.J. Arundel, M. Carroll, S.a. Fraser, J. Shields, J. Vincent, F. Eales, F.W. Burton, P. Burns, G. Jones, J.D. Lloyd, Mitchell, C. Murchie, F.A. Routledge, T.G. Watson

IN CHARGE OF HEADQUARTERS

Bandmaster G.R. Gibb

VOLUNTEER COMPOSITE REGIMENT

AD FINEM

This force was formed by volunteers from ten corps, viz volunteer veterinary corps1, Volunteer medical corps5, Hotchkiss gun detachment 6, natal royal rifles8, umvoti mounted Rifles 14, natal field artillery 18, natal mounted rifles 37, Durban light infantry 39, border Mounted rifles 51, natal carbineers 127- a total of 21 officers and 285 non- commissioned officers and men. The formation of this Regiment, with Major R.W. Evans, Natal Mounted Rifles, as Lieutenant- Colonel, in command, released the general body of volunteers, and allowed of their return- an event which could not otherwise have taken place. Members of the Volunteer Composite Regiment signed to the end of the campaign, which was then though to mean two months, but the period of service was afterwards extended to January, 1901.

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