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Refer to medal details and other photographs on “DCMs for the Boer War”

Samuel Heintjies McCallum was born in Cape Town on 29 July 1861. He was the eldest son of Alexander Wallace and Christina (Grace) Frances Helena McCallum being named in true Scottish tradition after his paternal and maternal grandfathers. He was baptised at St. Andrews Church, Cape Town on 18 August 1861.

Samuel’s father Alexander Wallace McCallum was born in Renfrew, Glasgow Scotland on 7 April 1829. Samuel’s maternal grandmother name was Elizabeth Smith. She and grandfather Samuel were married on 30 June 1828 and clearly Alexander was their eldest son. His mother Christina Frances Helena Heintjies was born in Germany in 1844.

As a young man in 1841 aged 12 years Alexander was living at Lanarkshire Scotland and 10 years later in 1851 he is recorded as living with his parents at Calton, Lanarkshire. When he was 29 years old he immigrated with his elder brother Samuel to the Cape Colony departing from Liverpool on 10 July 1858. Sailing on the Edward Oliver he arrived in Table Bay on 5 September 1858. The two brothers travelled further up round the coast with Samuel settling in the area of Port Elizabeth however Alexander returned to Cape Town. The MacCullum family were involved in the leather and tanning business and the two brothers each set about establishing themselves in this business. Soon after his arrival Alexander met the 18 year old Grace (Christina Frederika Helena Heintjies) in Fishhoek and they were married in Cape Town on the 23 April 1860. Grace was 11 years younger than her husband having been born in Cape Town in 1840 where she was baptised in the German Lutheran Church. Samuel, their eldest child, was born a year later on 29 July 1861.

At about this time Samuel’s grandfather and grandmother joined their son Alexander in Cape Town. From the mid 1860’s to the late 1870’s Samuel’s father and grandfather are listed in in the Cape Town Directory as Curriers firstly at No 15 and later at No 106 Sir Lowry Road. In 1871 Alexander even patented a tanning fluid made from the juice of proteas.

It was here at the family home at 106 Sir Lowry Road that Samuel lived when he first worked as a Clerk in Cape Town. Samuel Heintjies McCallum married Jane Frances Jackson sometime between the years 1882 and November 1883 they evidently left Cape Town for the Diamond Fields (Kimberley). Their first child, a daughter named Violet was born on the 28 November 1883 and was baptised at St. Cyprians Anglican Church in Kimberley on the 21 February 1884. It would seem that Violet must have died as a child for later records make no mention of her. Living conditions in Kimberley at that time were far from satisfactory and mortality rates were very high, especially for children. Never the less it seems as if Samuel and Jane had no less than 9 further children.

Samuel quickly became involved in the diamond business washing stones in the vale. He was also reported as working as a diamond prospector in the Kimberley district. In the period leading up to the Anglo Boer War he was employed as an Overseer with the De Beers Mining Company. His residence was at the Kimberley Mine in Dunnel Street.

Samuel Heintjies McCallum first enrolled in a Kimberley Military Corps Rifles on 27 October 1890. (I would guess that this was the Kimberley Scots which were first formed in October 1890 before being absorbed into the new Kimberley Rifles which together with the Diamond Fields Horse were merged to form the Kimberley Regiment in February 1899.) Samuel was promoted Corporal in the new unit on the 13 April 1899 and as Lance Sergeant on the 28 October 1899. He was commissioned Lieutenant on the 25 April 1900 accepting this additional responsibility after the Relief of Kimberley and as later recorded took part in operations in the Orange Free State in 1900 and further operations in the Transvaal and Orange Free State in 1901 and 1902.

No details describing the full reasons for the award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal have been noted other than Kekewich’s remark “Sgt. S.H. MacCullum is deserving of mention for good work.” but it might be presumed that his service was notable on several occasions. It is perhaps sufficient to note that this award was one of only four such DCM awards awarded to both Imperial and Colonial troops throughout the Siege! An unverified source records that he was presented with the Distinguished Conduct Medal on the 29 November 1900 and after the end of the War was paid a Special Gratuity of £20-00 under WOL No 61010/7399 F8 on 11 July 1902. His second "Mention" in Lord Robert’s Despatches of 2nd April 1901 must be regarded as a repeat of Kekewich’s earlier despatch. He resigned his commission ten months after the end of the War on 23 March 1903.

Samuel did not serve in an active fighting role during the Great War. He did however volunteer for home service and served as a Captain in the Cape Town District Rifle Association - his one page service card recording that he served, principally at the Simonstown outpost, for a total of 43 months from 18 August 1915 until he was disbanded in March 1919 . His entitlement to the award of the single British War Medal was certified by Captain & Adjutant C.L. Burton of No 1 Military District D.R.A. The BWM was dispatched to him on 28 November 1924 being recorded against file reference (Regt No 1 List 28 Roll No 1231).