SAMHSEC
Chairman: Malcolm Kinghorn culturev@lantic.net
Secretary: Stephen Bowker stephen@stephenbowker.co.za
Speaker coordinator: André Crozier andrecrozier@gmail.com
Scribe: vacant
Field trip coordinator: vacant
Passing of Bob Buser on 20 June 2025
SAMHSEC’s condolences to the WCMHS with the passing of Bob Buser on 20 June 2025. Bob “worked jolly hard for the Cape Town branch as their treasurer for many years.” Surely, as fitting an epitaph as any of us could wish for from the Society!
SAMHSEC meeting 9 June 2025
Malcolm Kinghorn spoke about the Queen’s Scarves. During the Anglo-Boer War, Queen Victoria crocheted 8 scarves “for presentation to rank and file so that soldiers who had toiled with the Regiments might be glorified”. The scarves were approximately 1,5 metres long and 25 cms wide. The Queen’s monogram was embroidered in silk on one corner. Four scarves were for Regular and four for Colonial Forces.
War Office correspondence makes it clear that the Queen’s Scarf was not an official award. Recipient selection was to be by Officers Commanding for gallant conduct in the field for which no other recognition had been awarded.
The Regular Force recipients were Colour Sergeants Clay, East Surrey Regt, Colclough, Devonshire Regt, Ferret, West, Surrey Regt and Kingsley, West Yorkshire Regt.
Colour Sergeant Clay is mentioned in the Regimental History as having been wounded at Colenso and again at Vaalkrantz. His scarf is in a museum in Dover.
Colour Sergeant Colclough was selected as a scarf recipient by his Battalion Commander from 8 candidates nominated by fellow soldiers. After the war, he emigrated to Canada and served in the Canadian Army, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. His scarf is in the Manitoba Museum.
Colour Sergeant Ferret was awarded a scarf for gallantry at Colenso. His scarf is in the Regimental Museum in Guilford.
Colour Sergeant Kingsley received a scarf for his conduct on 21 January 1900. When his company was pinned down by enemy fire, Kingsley brought the mortally wounded Company Commander under cover. Later, when the only other officer present was wounded, Kingsley took command and successfully withdrew the company to safety. Kingsley was recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal, which was not approved. The whereabouts of his scarf is unknown.
The Colonial Forces recipients were Trooper Chadwick, Cape Colonial Forces, Privates Coutts, New Zealand Contingent, Thompson, Royal Canadian Regt and Du Frayer, NSW Mounted Rifles.
Trooper Chadwick was an American serving in Robert’s Horse. He had previously been awarded a Gallantry Medal in the Spanish American War. His scarf was awarded for his conduct at Sanna’s Post. After the war, he returned to the United States. The whereabouts of his scarf is unknown.
Private Coutts’ scarf was also awarded for his conduct at Sanna’s Post. He served second tour of duty in South Africa. His scarf is in the New Zealand War Museum.
Private Thompson of The Royal Canadian Regiment ran to assist a wounded man left behind after a failed daylight charge on the Boer laager at Paardeberg on 18 February 1900. Exposed to enemy fire, Thompson lay beside the man stopping bleeding until reached by stretcher bearers under cover of darkness, thus saving the man’s life. At first light on 28 February, after a failed night attack, Thompson ran 300 metres under fire to assist a wounded man, who was killed by another bullet just after Thompson reached him. The Boers surrendered an hour later.
Thompson was recommended for the Victoria Cross, which was not approved. The Royal Canadian Regiment lays a wreath on his grave in Chelsea, Quebec on 11 November each year. His scarf is in the Canadian War Museum.
Private A.H. Du Frayer, NSW Mounted Rifles was awarded a scarf for turning back under heavy fire to rescue a dismounted comrade when ambushed near Karee in April 1900. He took to wearing his scarf as an item of uniform, which it was not intended to be, and adopted for himself the post nominal letters QS. He returned to South Africa after the war and served in the South African Army in German South-West Africa and German East Africa, where he was Mentioned in Dispatches and awarded the OBE. His scarf is in the Australian War Museum.
The recording of this presentation is in the Video Library of the Society website.
SAMHSEC 2nd quarter 2025 field trip 22 June 2025:
attendance of the SA Legion’s Unveiling Service
of the restored gravestone of Lieutenant James
Craig, VC in St Mary’s Cemetery, Port Elizabeth
Stephen Bowker reports:
“The Parade Commander was Legionnaire Terry Pattison. The service was conducted by Reverend Mark Barth, Chaplain of the South African Legion in Port Elizabeth. Piper Sue Durant of the Algoa Caledonian Pipe Band contributed to the service.
The SA Legion hosted lunch at the Maritime Club after the service.
Lt Craig’s military service is covered in Richard Tomlinson’s article in the December 2009 edition of the Military History Journal.”
SAMHSEC RPC meeting 30 June 2025
Robin Smith presented parts 1 and 2 of a 3-part series on relations between Britain and the Boers. Parts 1 and 2 covered the period between Britain’s Annexation of the Transvaal in 1877 and Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897. Part 3 is to follow on 28 July. Robin’s series is to be covered in our August newsletter.
SAMHSEC meeting 14 July 2025
Helmoed Romer Heitman is to tell us about German special operations in World War 2.
SAMHSEC Requests the Pleasure of your Company to talk about military history on 28 July 2025.
RPC meetings are opportunities for you to share your knowledge of a military history subject or book with fellow military historians. Presentations should last approximately 15 minutes to allow time for sharing the pleasure of one another’s company. You can do any number of RPC presentations per year. Please contact André at andrecrozier@gmail.com if you want to share your knowledge. Session 1 28 July 2025 at 1930 South African time In session 1, Robin Smith is to present part 3 of his 3-part series on Britain and the Boers.
Children Feeding Trust Africana and Collectable Book Sale
There will be a large and varied selection of books donated to us over the years on sale at reduced prices.
Date: Tuesday and Wednesday 22 and 23 July 2025
Venue: Walmer Library Hall, Main Road Walmer, opposite Walmer Town Hall
Times: 0900 to 1500