Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (2) Natal, South Africa 1901 (191 Tpr: W. Torlage. Umvoti M.R.);
Natal (1) 1906 (Cpl: W. H. H. Torlage, Umvoti Mtd. Rifles.)

From the City Coins auction, 4 November 2022

QSA (0) (37 Tpr. J. Driemeyer. Umvoti M.R.)

Entitled to Relief of Ladysmith and SA01.

Also listed on the KSA roll.

From City Coins 72, 3 December 2021

QSA (4) TugH, RoL, Tvl, LNek (217 Corpl: C.J. Smith Umvoti M.R.)

Picture courtesy of Noble Numismatics

Natal (1) 1906 (Tpr G.W.Bayley, Umvoti Mtd Rifles). Impressed.

I cannot see any Boer War service for him.

Picture courtesy of Noble Numismatics

BSACM Matabeleland 1893 (Troopr J.C.H.Klintworth. Victoria Column);
QSA (2) Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith (163 Serjt: J.Klintworth. Umvoti M.R.);
1902 Coronation Medal 1902 (unnamed)

163 Troop Sergeant Major J. Klintworth confirmed on nominal roll of Umvoti Mounted Rifles. Served with unit from 29 Sep 1899 to 11 Jan 1903.

Ex. W (Bill) Woolmore Collection.

If Meek had been wounded while serving with the UMR, the event would have been recorded in Coghlan's exhaustive history of the regiment. Such excitements were rare while the UMR was on its generally peaceful active service, so the event would have attracted a lot of attention. Doing so while with the VCR has, as far as I know, left no published record. If one exists at all, it is likely to be hidden in the Maritzburg Archives.

Brett

I wouldn't know where to look David. This sort of record is hard to find if it exists at all.

Regards

Rory

He is listed on the UMR nominal roll as joining 4 Oct 1899 and serving to 11 Jan 1903.

Will you be able to find more information on the arm wound?

Herewith the QSA with clasps Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal and Laing's Nek to 270 Corpl. W.E. Meek.

He enlisted on 1.10.00. as a Sergeant with the Natal Volunteer Composite Regiment (No.26) and was promoted to Lieutenant on 22.1.01. where he was Officer Commanding No1 Troop, No1 Squadron. Meek was an interesting chap who was accidentally wounded in action (shot in the arm) at Dundee on 30 June 1901

He was commended for his actions near Nondweni on 28.7.01 and at Nqutu, Zululand in Aug 01.He also saw action with Boers near One Tree Hill, Natal on 26.9.01. and was Discharged (unit disbanded) on 31.7.02.

He is missing his KSA if anyone knows its whereabouts.

Regards

Rory

The early days of the UMR are closely tied to their Commanding Officer during the Boer War, Lieutenant-Colonel George Leuchars DSO, who also represented Greytown in Natal's Legislative Assembly. He still commanded the regiment in 1906 in the early days of the Natal (Bambata) Rebellion, although he relinquished that command to become OC Troops in Natal, for which he was rewarded with a CMG. His political career also bloomed, and he went on to become Sir George Leuchars KCMG.

His achievements in representing the interests of the Colonists of Natal did, however, have a darker side. In his account of the UMR in the Natal Rebellion, and the Colonist's 'scorched earth policy', Mark Coghlan quoted from the Zulu newspaper, 'Ilanga Lase Natal' as follows:
"The country would be better if whitemen such as Leuchars, a wizard of the worst type, were removed."

A few years ago on this forum, I wrote about the non-award of the QSA to the black soldiers and policemen of Natal, which resulted from the opposition of some white colonists, most notably George Leuchars. This is the relevant extract from that thread:

The situation was summed up in the book 'Long,long ago' by R C Samuelson (Durban: Knox [1929]), and the relevant section of the book is copied below. Samuelson was a lawyer in Pietermaritzburg, who became a champion for causes involving the Zulus. His advocacy for justice for the Zulus strained his relationship with white Natalians, even though he was instrumental in founding and raising the Natal Native Horse, which gave valuable assistance to the Colonists against Zulu rebels during the Natal Rebellion of 1906.

Brett

“At the close of the Boer War, I spoke to the late Honourable Robert Jameson about these Scouts’ medals and, when the Natal Parliament was sitting, he then asked the then Prime Minister if the Scouts would get their medal, and the answer was that they would. When Joseph Chamberlain came to Natal, the Leaders of the Scouts interviewed him at Government House, and they referred to their medal which they hoped to get, and he thanked them for their valuable services and told them he would see that they got their medals. The Volunteer Department of Natal appointed me to get a correct list of all Scouts that had worked during the war, and also appointed ….. Simeon Kambule and Jabers Molife to assist me. The list was prepared, checked, and passed to Colonel Wales, who also strongly recommended that these medals should be given to those men.
Then, unfortunately, the late Sir George Leuchars, having been appointed Secretary for Native Affairs, thought it his duty to prevent the giving of these medals to those Scouts. I waited on him, as he and I had been school boys together, to find out his grounds for his action, and he said he objected because these men would parade their medals before the Boers and irritate them. I told him that the Natives valued the medal more than the white people, and would not dangle them about, or wear them for the purpose of annoying the Boers. At any rate, the medal was their right as loyal soldiers of their Sovereign, which should not be withheld from them in any circumstances. I told him also that even coloured drivers had received the silver medal. I have that list to this day, as a record against the foolish and weak acts of the officers of that day which has done so much harm to the prestige of the Home Government, and the White race out here. The medals were never given these men, and most of the leaders have died, leaving their children with the feeling that the White man cannot be trusted.”

No doubt because the enemies in 1906 were rebellious Zulus and not white Boers, Leuchars' attitude changed. All the men of colour on the side of the Colonial government were awarded the Rebellion Medal. Ironically, those rewarded included the Zululand Police. most of whom had done more for longer during the Boer War for no medal. One such man may well have been Private Veba of the Zululand Po;lice, whose Rebellion Medal is shown below.

Brett