Frank
Douglas Gilfillan is by far the most distinguished man represented in my medal,collection. He came to me with 13 pages of biographical information compiled by the medal's previous owners. There is too much in that account to be posted here, and it may in any case be inappropriate to reproduce here a report made by other people.
Briefly though ..............
Gilfillan was born in 1865 and raised in Cradock, Cape Colony. He followed his father into the legal profession, and, after spells in both Cape Town and Cradock, he moved to Johannesburg, where he became prominent in both legal and social circles. He spent much of his free time in the outdoors, and he was an excellent horseman and marksman. Although a hunter, he was also a dedicated conservationist, later being instrumental in the founding of the Wildlife Society of South Africa,
Gilfillan was one of the political activists in the Rand Club in the 1890's who united to create the Reform Committee. After the abortive Jameson Raid, he and his fellow activists were arrested and imprisoned. They were sentenced to death, but later reprieved and heavily fined instead. The turmoil that followed the Raid worsened and, by 1899, war between Britain and the Boer Republics became inevitable. Gilfillan and other members of the Reform Committee moved to Natal, and, in September they raised a regiment of fellow 'Uitlanders', the Imperial Light Horse. Gilfillan's role in the ILH is well documented in Gibson's history of the regiment, a book that Gilfillan was instrumental in publishing.
Gilfillan was appointed a Lieutenant in "A" Squadron, which spent the early months of the war active in the Relief of Ladysmith operations. Men of "A" Squadron were amongst other Colonials who rode into Ladysmith on 28/2/1900 to end the 118 day siege. After the Ladysmith siege was lifted, the ILH was selected by Lord Roberts to lead the mounted element of the southern force sent to relieve the Siege of Mafeking. Gilfillan was promoted to Captain and he took command of "F" Squadron. Men of the ILH would later claim to be amongst the first in to Mafeking on 17/3/1900.
The ILH then moved to the Transvaal, and, after Johannesburg was captured, Gilfillan's military career came to an end, He was ordered to resume his legal career, where his services were required to deal with the many problems that beset the newly liberated civilian population.
After the war ended, Douglas Gilfillan's career reached new heights in what was to become the Union of South Africa. He was a founder member of the Bowman-Gilfillan legal practice, which still exists. His son Noel had joined the firm, and, when he left to go on active service during World War II, Douglas returned with his old partner, Richard Bowman, to run the firm for the duration of the war. Douglas was 80 when the war ended in 1945. He died in 1948, a much respected and much loved man.
Brett
