TOPIC:

I have a medal to a fellow who has the comment below entered in the Remarks column of his medal roll.

I can find no trace of this body. Anyone able to help?



Rory

A possibility?

Natal Government Railways Bridge Guards

This force was raised at the end of September, 1899, in Natal, recruited chiefly from the outside employees of the Natal Government Railways. Their duties were to guard the railway bridges in northern Natal, open to sabotage or destruction in the event of war with the Boer Republics then imminent. The unit was enrolled under the orders of their Commandant, Mr. J. W. Shores, Engineer-in-chief of the Natal Government Railways, assisted by district deputies. The unit was armed and equipped by the Natal Volunteer Department. All bridges of any importance were guarded by at least three guards, who performed valuable services until, their numbers being too small to put up much resistance against attack, they were withdrawn southwards progressively aa the enemy in force advanced into Natal. Upon the advance northwards by the British forces after the Relief of Ladysmith, and the damaged or destroyed bridges were repaired or restored, the Natal Bridge Guards resumed their former duties until towards the end of the war, and they performed valuable services of a monotonous and often arduous nature, small enemy raiding parties of two or three individuals more than once getting through to the bridges on mischief bent. But none ever succeeded in such attempts owing to the vigilance of the guards, who were gradually relieved as the military block-house system was extended to all vulnerable parts of the railways, particularly bridges.

The uniform worn was the usual khaki with felt hat. No badges or letters were worn. The unit was really a railway police force, which was maintained and paid by the railway department.

Gentlemen......

Here is something I posted 8 years ago......
Natal Government Railway Guards

Mike

Interested Forum members
In the "Detailed history of the Railways in the South African War, 1899-1902" (Vols 1 and 2), a chapter is devoted to the Railway Police. Page 223 has three pages with tables showing distribution of RP and summary of arrests and convictions.
The force went through three phases; June to Sept 1900, thirty men attached to Railway Staff depot for discipline, From Sept. 1900 to Feb., 1901, it was increased in strength (HQ at Pretoria, later at Johannesburg) with a different structure and really was a species of Military Police. Later, the RP was re-organised again with an appointed Assistant Commissioner.
If any member is interested, I can photograph the requisite pages of the Detailed History - there is a fair bit of detail there.
Have I ever heard of a QSA to the RP? No. I would imagine that the medals would be impressed to the various Railways (CGR, NGR, IMR).
Regards
IL.

Yes please IL - would you place the images here or do you want to send via email?

Regards

Rory

Rory
If you could let me have your email, I will send the pages this evening.
I have sometimes pondered that - in the dearth of QSAs to interesting Colonial mounted units - one could do a lot worse that assembling a collection of gongs to CGR/NGR/IMR and throw in the stalwarts of the RPR; whose contributions to the campaign are so often passed over. Indeed, it is hard to see how the whole South African campaign could have been brought to a successful conclusion without an efficient railway system.
Regards
IL.
ps - a certain person did a stint with RP here many years ago.