TOPIC:

Our grandfather, Harry Enstrom, enlisted with the British Army in October 1899 in Durban, South Africa and was assigned to Bethunes Mounted Infantry. Harry was involved in the skirmish which took place at Scheeper’s Nek and sadly on Sunday May 20, he received gunshot wounds to the chest, shoulder and buttock. From all accounts he was taken prisoner and was listed in the Times Newspaper (U.K) of July 21, 1900 with the names of other prisoners who were handed back to the British by the Boers under a Flag of Truce. He was discharged from service on July 29, 1901
I would appreciate any information regarding this skirmish.

Rosalie,

Here is a synopsis of the battle: www.angloboerwar.com/forum/5-medals-and-...unted-infantry#73078

It is also mentioned on p180-181 here: www.angloboerwar.com/images/pdf/TimesHistory04-05.pdf

The location is described as being 6 miles south west of Vryheid.

Best wishes
David

I have been through the attestation papers for Bethune's MI but there is not one for him unfortunately.

This was the only unit he served in during the Boer War.

It took many years of research but I do have photograph copies of all his medical records which were found in the archives in Kew, U.K.

Hi Rosalie - The file you obtained from the NA is his PIN 71 file (71/2512) which was created as he was invalided to pension. I have the QSA and PIN 71 file to one of his comrades who was also severely wounded at Scheeper's Nek and invalided to pension.



813 Tpr. E. Boyes, Bethune’s Mounted Infantry. PIN 71/1522
Queen’s South Africa Medal clasps Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith.
Severely wounded in action Scheeper’s Nek 20 May 1900.
Taken prisoner Newcastle 21 July 1900.
Edward Boyes enlisted 30 December 1899 giving his next of kin as Mrs. L. Child, 11 Hadland Street, Rotherhithe London SE. ‘E’ Squadron of the BMI under Captain Goff were ambushed by a large party of Boers after being lured into a trap by a small number of Boer decoys. The squadron was fired upon from three sides, from a rocky outcrop and two farmhouses. Reportedly not a single man remained unscathed. The squadron lost 29 officers (including Goff) and men killed, two men died of wounds and 45 wounded including Boyes. Sustained gunshot wounds to the right thigh, hip, shoulder and chest. A medical report dated 3 November 1900 assessed his degree of disability at 75%. Discharged medically unfit for further service at Cape Town 3 December 1900. A medical report dated 7 January 1902 stated that although he had no effects from the wounds to his shoulder and chest, he had a large scar on the upper and outer side of his right thigh and hip with much wasting and loss of power to the leg. His degree of disability was again assessed at 75% and he had not been employed since his return to England. A further medical report dated 14 January 1903 stated that he had great loss of power and atrophy of the muscles in his right leg together with a loss of sensitivity. He was assessed as “practically totally incapacitated from earning his livelihood as a labourer or seaman, the latter his usual occupation for 9 years previous to enlistment” with the additional comment that he “is not sufficiently educated for clerical work”. He stated that he had attended the London Hospital but had been told that nothing further could be done for his disability. A later medical report dated 21 August 1919 stated that he had extensive superficial scarring with some adhesion plus one inch of wasting of the thigh and 1½ inch wasting of the calf. A subsequent medical report dated 15 July 1920 confirmed much of the previous findings but added that he had a dropped foot and the wasting of the thigh was now 1½ inches and his calf 1¾ inches. His degree of disability was reassessed at 40%. Died at Brook Hospital, Shooter’s Hill 12 May 1943.

I obtained the details of the action from the South African Military History Society website.
samilitaryhistory.org/vol165rs.html

David