TOPIC:

My grandfathers - Ernest George Goodyer, of Rhodesia, joined the French's Scouts as a Sergeant in 1899, and transferred to the Provisional Transvaal Constabulary in June 1900.
Percy Osborne joined the Cape Police in 1902 as a Private from UK, CP1 then transferred to CP2.
Any info on these units would be much appreciated
Chuck Osborne,
New Zealand

Welcome to the forum, Chuck.

There is some information on two of these units on the site:

French's Scouts: www.angloboerwar.com/south-african-units/334-frenchs-scouts . EGG is listed on the nominal roll.
Cape Police: www.angloboerwar.com/south-african-units...-cape-mounted-police

There is very little on the PTC. I would like to find out more.

Best wishes
David

Many thanks, David,
Much appreciated.

David

I think the matter of the Provisional Transvaal Constabulary has come up before, so I might be repeating myself here.

After the British took Pretoria in June 1900 the need for a civil police force in the newly occupied Transvaal was evident, hence the PTC. Amongst the first 'recruits' were a group of freed Natal Police POW's. It must have been convenient to use freed POW's rather that repatriating them.

Perhaps other men with previous policing experience, who had not been POW's, volunteered their services.

The PTC ceased to exist, as did other temporary constabularies in the OFS and Transvaal, when the South African Constabulary was established in October 1900.

Regards
Brett

Many thanks also, Brett.