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That's a wild story and the fellow was fortunate to escape unharmed as baboons are very dangerous!

The 1st Bn. Scots Guards had a pet baboon, "Jimmy", which before his capture had belonged to the Transvaal Staatsartillerie. He gets a whole page in Capt. J.H. Cuthbert's The 1st Battalion Scots Guards in South Africa 1899-1902.

"Jimmy" was a dog-faced baboon, and was discovered at Leeuw Kop, about thirty miles east of Springs, by Stephen, who was clearing farms. He then belonged to the Staats Artillery, but was accidentally left behind during the Boers' hurried retirement before General French's columns. He was attached to Colonel Pulteney's staff, who all became devoted to him.
He had many tricks, amongst the most eccentric being his ability to put one foot behind his head and the other three into his mouth at the same time. When in camp he was firmly chained to a stout peg, but he constantly managed to pull it out in order to visit various friends he had in the neighbouring bivouacs. Eventually, having planned a night attack by himself, he surprised a Boer family at their evening meal; but poor "Jimmy" frightened the women so much that they sent out black boys, who killed him with knobkerries. Those who knew him will always regret his loss and remember the signs of pleasurable recognition which he used to give as he trekked into camp at the tail of the "Jimmy wagon" (Cuthbert, p. 154).








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