Welcome, Guest
Username: Password: Remember me
  • Page:
  • 1
  • 2

TOPIC:

Brevet Major H.H. West of the Natal Police and S.A.M.R. 7 years 3 months ago #50838

  • Rory
  • Rory's Avatar Topic Author
  • Away
  • Senior Member
  • Senior Member
  • Posts: 3323
  • Thank you received: 2120
Henry Herbert Wilson West

Sub – Inspector, Natal Police – Anglo Boer War
Captain, Natal Police – Bambatha Rebellion
Captain & Brevet Major, 3rd South African Mounted Rifles – WWI


- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Natal, Transvaal & South Africa 1901 to SUB-INSPTR H. H. WEST, NATAL POLICE
- Natal Medal with 1906 clasp to CAPT H. H. WEST, NATAL POLICE
- 1914/15 Star to CAPT H. H. WEST, 3rd S.A.M.R.
- British War Medal to CAPT H. H. W. WEST
- Victory Medal to CAPT H.H.W. WEST


Henry West was a long serving Natal Policeman with more than 26 years of dedicated service to his name. He was born in Essex, England on 18 June 1864 the son of Henry West, a Tobacconist for his own account and his wife Mary Ann. Of the family in the 1871 census there is no trace but, when the 1881 England census rolled round the family were resident at 193 High Street Borough in Southwark, London. Mr West was all of 60 years old with his wife a good deal younger at 47. Next followed Henrietta (24), Ellen (11) and Emily (7). Henry was the only boy and was 16 and still at school – a rare thing for the age and indicative of his father’s obvious wealth.



Quite what it was that decided Henry to seek greener pastures away from England we will most likely never know but at some stage he set sail for South Africa making his way to the Headquarters of the Natal Police in Pietermaritzburg in the Colony of Natal where, on 14 March 1883, he attested for service with that illustrious body becoming a Trooper with no. 659 at the age of 20. A large man – he was described as being 6 feet 1 ½ inches in height – he had blue eyes, dark hair and a fresh complexion.

It wasn’t long before his leadership qualities were recognised and he received his first promotion – to the rank of 1st Class Trooper – on 13 March 1884, a year to the day after commencing service.

There was some uneasiness amongst the men of the Natal Police in those far off days, for although the force was organized originally for defence as well as a police force, the authorities were continually at loggerheads when discussing the problem as to whether the Natal Police were to be soldiers or policemen, or both. The Commandant, knowing how frequently they had been called upon for military service, stated at this time, that a high state of efficiency or discipline could not be maintained when men were scattered throughout the colony, under the control of non-commissioned officers only, a certain amount of drill being necessary to instil discipline and ready obedience to orders, without which any body of men becomes a mere demoralised rabble in the presence of an enemy.

It was pointed out then that it was possible to employ the police in a dual capacity by forming troop stations in different places, under the command of an officer, each detachment having enough men to drill and keep in training. In the event of trouble with the natives, troops from the various outlying stations were called into their district headquarters which proved effectual in checking native risings, as a united body of police under the present system could get to the scene of a disturbance within a few hours of the order being given.

When West joined the corps in March 1883, the headquarters were still in a queer little shanty in Church Street, Pietermaritzburg. There were about a hundred men stationed at the building, which had inadequate accommodation for most of them. The majority of the troopers slept under canvas in the small yard, where there were also about eighty horses picketed. Even in those days the men were having a hard time, and the recruits were dispatched to out-stations as quickly as possible after they had been drilled at headquarters. The uniform was then a black one, and the men carried a carbine at the side of the saddle, its muzzle resting in a bucket. West remained at Headquarters before being posted to “S” Division which was based at Bulwer, a very rural setting in the foot of the Drakensberg Mountains.

When the year 1885 opened, the force consisted of 300 Europeans and 25 natives, but a wave of retrenchments passed over the colony, and the threat to reduce the number of the Natal Police was carried out to some extent. But the following year a much more serious step was taken in this direction, the Europeans being reduced to 180 all told, and the whole of the native policemen were wiped out. This made it exceedingly awkward for the Europeans at work on the backstations (such as West in Bulwer), they being deprived of one of their most useful sources of information. This situation only improved in 1889 when the finances of the Colony improved.

Although the conditions at the old barracks in Pietermaritzburg had always been both unpleasant and insanitary, it was not until an outbreak of enteric fever laid a large number of the men out, and killed five of them, that new premises were obtained. Recruits were moved to the site of the present barracks on a hill overlooking Pietermaritzburg, where a camp was pitched, and the handsome building, which was to be used as headquarters, was soon afterwards erected. This building is still in use as a Police Station today.

On 1 January 1891 West was promoted to Lance Corporal with promotion to Corporal coming on 10 February 1893 and then to 1st Class Sergeant on 1 September 1895. It was around this time – on 16 June 1895 – that he featured in a Minute Paper termed “Deputation to prosecute for Sergeant West” wherein the Attorney General was asked to sign “the enclosed deputation in favour of Sergt. West, who will be stationed at Weenen in place of Sergt. Milne”. The upshot of this was that West was able to prosecute cases in the court there. He also served at “O” Division at Nkandla in Zululand before being brought back to headquarters in Pietermaritzburg.

Life continued and, having further distinguished himself in the eyes of his superiors, West was appointed to the rank of Sub-Inspector on 21 February 1898. This was no mean feat as, with the very low attrition rate and unusually long service among officers in the Natal Police, promotion normally waited on the death or eventual retirement of an officer. Not long after this, on 11 October 1899, Natal woke up to find itself at war with the two Boer Republics of the Orange Free State and Transvaal.

A hundred men remained at headquarters, and there was constant drill and target practice with the men being kept busy and in readiness for any eventuality. Certainly, until Ladysmith had been relieved, it must be assumed that West had remained at headquarters to assist with the planning and direction of the remaining police officers left to continue with their duty in remote areas south of the Tugela. After this he must have been deployed with Bullers’ forces who entered the eastern Transvaal to take the fight to the Boers there as he earned not only the Natal but also the Transvaal clasp to his Queens Medal.

The war over on 31 May 1902 normal policing duties were resumed and West was transferred to Estcourt where he was resident when, on 13 October 1902, he tied the marital knot with Olive Kathleen Tucker, a 20 year spinster from Durban, at St. Paul’s Church in Durban. West, at the age of 38, was almost double his wife’s age.

Police work wasn’t always the stuff of high drama as characterised in books and the cinema – it often involved the mundane and an element of drudgery that went with it. Natal, pre 1910, was still a Colony under the Crown complete with a border between itself and the foe of not so long ago – the Transvaal. Movement across this border was normally strictly monitored and policed to ensure that no “undesirables” filtered into Natal undetected.

On 26 June 1903 West forwarded the names and descriptions of four Europeans who had been sentenced to a fine of £1 or 14 days hard labour for travelling on the Railway without tickets. Two of these men were Boer War veterans – Edward Hart had served in 2nd Kitchener’s Scouts and the Natal Mounted Infantry whereas William Sullivan had been with the South African Light Horse. Gervis French and John Pieters, it was suspected, were sailors who had “jumped ship” – all had come from Johannesburg. It was found that Hart and Sullivan were entitled to free passage on account of their service whilst in respect of the other two, West asked, “Shall I have them sent back over the border or sent down to Durban?” The answer wasn’t forthcoming.

Barely a year later, on 4 February 1904 West had to deal with the case of an undesirable immigrant – one Fred Floyd. On that day his Sergeant wrote to him as follows,

“Sir

I have to inform you that an European named Fred Floyd was charged before the Magistrate yesterday and sentenced to pay a fine of 10/- or to be imprisoned for 3 days, he is at present in gaol doing the imprisonment.

This man does not give a good account of himself and I think he is an undesirable immigrant. He states that he was a Steward aboard a French boat which he left at Port Elizabeth 3 weeks ago and walked up along the coast, an impossible feat in the time, he on being questioned by me displays a marked amount of ignorance about the country south of Durban and I think it very probable that he has deserted from some ship there.”

Faced with this news West wrote to the Immigration Officer in Durban for advice,

“Shall I send this man to Durban or allow him to leave when he comes out of gaol tomorrow? Will you please wire me instructions. I have seen this man – my opinion is that he has deserted from a ship in Durban.”

The answer wired back was, “If charge against Floyd is for vagrancy merely let him go with warning that if he does not leave Colony or find work he will be treated as a Prohibited Immigrant.” They were suitably harsh in those days.

Natal in the years immediately after the Boer War was an unhappy place financially – the war had been a huge drain on the meagre resources of the Colonial government and many and varied schemes were looked at to increase the Colony’s revenue. One such was a hut tax to be imposed on all black males over the age of 18 and which was to be collected by the various Magistrates spread throughout Natal with the assistance of the Natal Police, should any trouble arise, and the help of the Zulu Chiefs who would be required to collect the tax and bring it in to the Magistrates.

Implementation of this scheme came in early 1906 and there were problems from the outset. A particularly truculent young Zulu Chief, Bambatha of the Zondi clan in the Greytown/Kranskloof area was unhappy with the arrangement and openly went about the land fomenting resistance. This overflowed into open rebellion and the Natal Militia, the Natal Field Artillery among them, were called out to quell the uprising, the troops being augmented by the Natal Police and twenty native constables under Colonel Mansel. These concentrated at Thornville Junction.

On the 8th March a force of 130 police and 40 Umvoti Mounted Rifles entered the thorn district at daybreak, intent on capturing Bambatha dead or alive. He had now left the kraal where he had been nearly trapped, and was skulking about in the Impanza Valley, an extensive dip between towering hills, covered with impenetrable bushes of thorns, cactus, and prickly aloes.

As nothing could be gained by staying there (Bambatha had fled to Zululand), the force returned to Pietermaritzburg, instructions being telegraphed to the authorities in Zululand to arrest the fugitive there, but the elusive ex-chief could not be traced.

On the 8th April the police were under orders to join Colonel Leuchars' force, but as it was persistently stated that the rebels had gone over the border into Zululand, permission was obtained to join in the chase after him there. Great difficulty was experienced in getting across the Tugela, at Middle Drift. The water was low, but the bed of the river consisted of huge boulders, round which the wagons had to be drawn, the whole of the track being covered either with stones or soft sand. News was received from a storekeeper that the rebels had passed, going into Zululand the previous day; and the police also met a party of civilians who had been after the rebels and missed them.

Colonel Mansel decided to take another route - Galloway's road to Nkandla, sending the wagons round by Eshowe and Melmoth. The march was a long and tiring one, over mountainous country, the police being accompanied by nearly a hundred of the Zululand Police on foot. The Colonel was informed that Sikananda's tribe, which was in a state of rebellion, might attack the party at any moment, but the troopers pushed on as rapidly as possible, and it was dark when they reached the Nkandla gaol, both men and beasts being exhausted.

Bambata was reported on the 23rd April to be in the vicinity of Qudeni Hill, so Colonel Mansel set out with every available man at ten o'clock at night. No rations were carried, as it was not expected the men would be away very long, but the march was kept up intermittently all that night. The force, having failed to round up the rebels, returned to the laager at six p.m., having been out for twenty hours. Some of the horses were knocked up, and the troopers, who had had nothing to eat since they went out, were ravenous.

The main body of the police, which went to Fort Yolland by the Galloway road, had an equally exciting trip. Passing along the edge of the bush, they encamped on the top of a very high hill; and at dusk the forms of many Zulus were seen watching in the distance. There was no water either for the men or horses that night, and both were parched after the long and tiring march. The animals were ringed together, and as there seemed every prospect of an attack at any moment, sleep was out of the question. It was later shown that a large impi was going to make an attack, and heavy loss of life was averted by Colonel Mansel's decision to make a quick dash towards Fort Yolland when the first streaks of dawn appeared. With all speed the horses were saddled and hastened down the hill, at the bottom of which there was a spruit. Both the troopers and their animals were longing for water, but strict orders were given that no stop was to be made for a drink as the spruit was forded. With the stream running up to their knees the horses struggled to get their heads down to it, but had to be urged straight through to the other bank.

At three o'clock on the morning of the 5th May a strong force, consisting of 175 Natal Police, 100 Zululand native police, 90 Naval Corps, 30 Natal Mounted Rifles, and 50 dismounted men of the Durban Light Infantry, moved off in the direction of the Nkandla forest. Behind them marched 600 loyal natives, chiefly men of Mfungela's tribe. A few hundred yards from the track there was a Government forester's hut, and this was filled with rebels, who waited until the Zululand Police were well within range, and then opened fire on them. The shooting only lasted a minute or so, the rebels leaving their shelter and bolting into the forest. One man of the native police only was wounded.

The force soon reached open country again, and descended the Bobe Ridge, leading down to the Insuzi River. The slope was very steep in places, and while the Natal Police were dismounted and leading their horses in single file, a body of several hundred natives, who had been lying in wait with Bambata behind a small eminence, charged down on the advance guard of the Natal Mounted Rifles and the native police. The Natal Police hurried up, and for a little while there was a sharp exchange of shots. Lead fell like hail in the ranks of the enemy, until they broke and, leaving a hundred dead on the ground, fled down the ridges on either side.

This was the only time during the rebellion that the police were present when the Zulus charged in open country in the daylight, nor did they make more than one or two charges in the daylight all through the war. A large number of Zulus were on the surrounding heights watching the skirmish, and judging by the manner in which they were seen moving through the forest, they had not anticipated the force going down the Bobe Ridge, but had thought they would keep on the main road to Nkandla, where an attack had been contemplated. It was quite clear that the troops were surrounded, because there was a good deal of sniping from every direction.

While everybody was crowded into the stream it was noticed that the natives were coming down the hills. They advanced in twos and threes until they got within range, and then started sniping. The rear-guard, which was now composed of Natal Police, fired back, and the Zulus disappeared for a time. It had been decided to bivouac for the night, but the position was so unsafe that, though everybody was thoroughly exhausted, and night had come on, the order was given to march back to Fort Yolland a dozen miles away.

The back of the rebellion was broken by the massacre in the Mome Gorge, on the 10th June. The police, to the number of about a hundred, under Sub-Inspector Esmonde White, were attached to Colonel Barker's column in the vicinity of Cetewayo's grave.

It was pitch dark when the police were ordered to saddle up. Colonel Barker's column consisted of three squadrons of the Transvaal Mounted Rifles, a section of the Natal Field Artillery, a Maxim and one Colt gun of the Transvaal Rifles, and 100 Zululand native police, besides the Natal Police. This force was moved along the valley of the Insuzi, strict orders having been given that the march was to be performed as quietly as possible because it was not certain where the enemy were.

All this time, apparently, the impi slept peacefully. Besides the darkness, there was a slight mist, and though no Zulus could be distinguished, someone, through impatience or nervousness, fired a shot. A moment or two later pandemonium reigned.

No fighting force could have made much of a stand against such an appalling stream of lead as that which poured down on to the sleeping natives. At comparatively close range shrapnel was hurled into their midst, and from everywhere round them big guns, Maxims, pom-poms, and rifles were belching forth shot as fast as the men could work. Aiming was done by guess-work in the direction of the fires, but it was remarkably successful, for rows and rows of Zulus were afterwards discovered dead in their blankets. They had been riddled as they slept. A few Zulus crept away and escaped, but the valley was lined with hundreds of torn bodies, and the sight when day broke was one which brought a touch of nausea to nearly every white man who had taken part in the shooting.

Bambata and Mehlokazulu, and other leaders, were amongst those who got out of the valley. They, with the remnants of the impi, passed along the bed of the stream, but only to fall into the hands of the column under Colonel McKenzie. Bambata was killed while endeavouring to escape into the main bush. For purposes of identification, his head was cut off. Precisely what role West played in the hunt for Baath is not known but he was awarded the Natal Rebellion Medal with 1906 clasp for his efforts.

The Rebellion over life, once more, returned to normal. West was transferred down the South Coast to the village of Umzinto and it from here, on 29 May 1908 that he entered into successful negotiations with a local farmer, Mr P.J. Farrell of Isipofu, for the leasing of a site for the Isipofu Police Camp on his farm “Links” for the sum of £18 per annum.

1912 brought about a realignment of the military and police forces in South Africa – this was post the creation of the Union of South Africa in 1910 which brought together into one country the former territories and colonies of the Orange Free State, Transvaal, Natal and Cape Colony. The Natal Police and other Colonial police forces as separate entities fell away and were replaced by a Permanent Force arrangement known as the South African Mounted Rifles of which there were five regiments. West fell into the 3rd S.A.M.R. and, in September 1913, attended the 2nd Military Law Course at the Union of South Africa Military School at Tempe in Bloemfontein.

War clouds were looming once more – on this occasion far more serious than those attending either the Boer War or the Bambatha Rebellion – when it erupted in August 1914 what was to become known as the Great War involved players on the international stage on a scale hitherto unknown. West, already in uniform had his days filled with the nitty gritty of life – arranging for his Holiday Concession Tickets and for the refund of his Messing Charges whilst undergoing instruction at the Military School previously mentioned.

On 23 August 1914, just over two weeks since war was declared, he was deployed with the rank of Captain with the 3rd Regiment, S.A.M.R. His file reflects his next of kin as his wife of the Commercial Hotel in Greytown providing us with the hint that he had been transferred there.

But before he entered the theatre of war he had unfinished business – complaining to the Inspector General, from Tempe on 20 January 1915, that a certain Captain Rutherford had been promoted ahead of him, something which he regarded as unfair. This went as high as the Minister who politely responded that there was nothing untoward about the matter at all.

On 27 April 1915 a query arose around the Railway charges in respect of “40 packages Furniture for West from Pietermaritzburg to Greytown” - further indication that he had moved there – it subsequently emerged that he had been transferred there from Nkandla in Zululand on 1 July 1913.

West wasn’t destined to spend a long time in German South West Africa – he embarked aboard the Galway Castle on 27 May 1915 – and, after braving the dust, thirst and general unpleasantness of that theatre of the war he returned to the Union and was released from service on 9 July 1915 – the day the Germans surrendered at Otavi signalling the end of the campaign for which he was awarded the full complement of World War I medals. By this time he was on an annual salary of £445.

By October 1915 he was stationed in Durban and time was beginning to tell on his career – on 17 November he was on the list of S.A.M.R. officers “who have reached the age of 50 years” and it was recommended that he “be medically boarded with a view to ascertaining whether he is still fit for service.”

A month later he was applying for the issue of free tickets “on repayment for Mrs West and her son, from Newlands (Cape Town) to Durban, including excess luggage ticket. In this connection I have to inform you, that during his absence on Active Service, Captain West, for private reasons, sent his family to Newlands, from his Station, Greytown, to live.” He was once again disappointed with the authorities declining his request.

On 23 December 1915 Captain Louw (S.A.M.C.) attached to the Durban Hospital wrote that “we have this day examined Capt. H.H. West and that he is in good health and fit for full duty (this includes Active Service)”. On 4 November 1916 he applied for promotion to the rank of temporary or local Major on the following grounds –

“Captain West is in charge of the S.A.M.R. at Durban. He states that at present there are 150 officers of the Pay and other Departments at the Demobilisation Camp there, and many more may be expected in the near future. He states that many of these Officers hold superior rank to himself with service ranging from 1 and 2 years as against his 31 years of service. He states that he frequently comes into contact with them both officially and privately, and he feels that as an old servant of the Colonial Government, he is placed in an invidious position and wishes that the means of relief asked for in his application may be granted”. This plea would appear to have fallen on deaf ears as no “relief” was forthcoming.

On 6 May 1918 a Medical Report on an Invalid was conducted in respect of West at No. 3 Convalescent Camp. No specific complaint was addressed although he claimed that “I have at intervals of some months, touches of rheumatism in shoulder, and back, which do not interfere with my duties.”

Three months later Headquarters in Pretoria were advised that “Captain Henry Herbert West has changed his name to Henry Herbert Wilson-West, vide enclosed documents”. The document referred to was an advertisement in the Natal Mercury dated 16 August 1918 confirming that there should be no hyphen between the names Wilson West.

As Officer Commanding “B” Squadron of the 3rd S.A.M.R. at Durban he wrote, on the day the war ended, 11 November 1918, to the Adjutant in Pietermaritzburg asking that he be granted retirement with the rank of Major. His wish was granted and, with effect from 21 January 1919 he was a Brevet Major. This was just in time as he officially retired, having attained the age of 55 years, on 18 June 1919 – but this was not the last we were to hear from West. Having returned to live in the United Kingdom in 1935 he passed away at the House of Compassion in Thames Ditton, Esher, U.D. on 18 March 1954 at the age of 80. His address was provided as Royston, Portsmouth Road. Of his family (wife and son) there was no sign and he was identified by his niece, B.D.C. Marr of Thurlestone High Street, Shepperton on Thames.

A sad end to a man who gave a lifetime of service.







Attachments:
The following user(s) said Thank You: djb, Frank Kelley

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Brevet Major H.H. West of the Natal Police and S.A.M.R. 7 years 3 months ago #50839

  • djb
  • djb's Avatar
  • Away
  • Administrator
  • Administrator
  • Posts: 31549
  • Thank you received: 4500
I was looking forward to reading this account Rory and you certainly did not disappoint.

Best wishes
David
Dr David Biggins

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Brevet Major H.H. West of the Natal Police and S.A.M.R. 7 years 3 months ago #50841

  • Frank Kelley
  • Frank Kelley's Avatar
  • Offline
  • Senior Member
  • Senior Member
  • Posts: 6739
  • Thank you received: 954
Just superb Rory, you know, this is really what medal collecting should be all about, the details, no matter how small, actually relevant to a particular fellows service, just going down to your sixth paragraph, tell me more about the queer little shanty in Church Street, is it still extant, I'd be particularly interested to see an image if you have any?
Seasons greetings and regards,
Frank
The following user(s) said Thank You: Rory

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Brevet Major H.H. West of the Natal Police and S.A.M.R. 7 years 3 months ago #50842

  • Rory
  • Rory's Avatar Topic Author
  • Away
  • Senior Member
  • Senior Member
  • Posts: 3323
  • Thank you received: 2120
No Frank - sadly the shanty no longer exists and has been replaced by a massive concrete edifice.

Compliments of the Season to you and yours as well

Regards

Rory

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Brevet Major H.H. West of the Natal Police and S.A.M.R. 7 years 3 months ago #50843

  • Frank Kelley
  • Frank Kelley's Avatar
  • Offline
  • Senior Member
  • Senior Member
  • Posts: 6739
  • Thank you received: 954
That is a great shame, I have always felt Pietermaritzburg to be a very special place, absolutely steeped in it's own history as well as that of the old Empire, notwithstanding, time waits for no one and marches ever onward.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Brevet Major H.H. West of the Natal Police and S.A.M.R. 7 years 3 months ago #50845

  • QSAMIKE
  • QSAMIKE's Avatar
  • Offline
  • Senior Member
  • Senior Member
  • Posts: 5792
  • Thank you received: 1873
On the BMF during the Christmas Truce there is a thread entitled "Guilty or Not Guilty..Coveting Medals in someones collection".......

Well this is a group that I would Covet.....

Great work Rory......

Mike
Life Member
Past-President Calgary
Military Historical Society
O.M.R.S. 1591

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Page:
  • 1
  • 2
Moderators: djb
Time to create page: 1.213 seconds
Powered by Kunena Forum