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My Grandfather, John Hogan, came out from Brisbane in Australia with remounts for the British soldiers. Not sure of date but he landed in Durban and joined 2 ILH. He had been a stockman in Queensland.

He subsequently joined the Natal Mounted Police and fought in the Zulu Rebellion and in South West Africa in WW1. He was seconded to the British army and promoted from sergeant major to commissioned rank. In 1918 he was invalided out having lost an eye in a trench action. He died in 1970 and I was 17 and I was fortunate enough to have spent a lot of time with him where shared his war experiences. He was at Ladysmith and at Mafeking.

I have always had a keen interest in South African history to the extent that I did a BA at University of Natal, with a major in history(graduated 1976). Professor Duminy was the SA history specialist and I took his courses. Subsequently taught History in Durban and visited the Natal battlefields, both on my own and on school trips.

I think my first book I read was Denys Reitz's Commando. Introduced to it by father (Lt John Hogan DFC,2 Sqdrn,Spitfire pilot) and a keen student of SA history. I still have Pakenham's Boer war on the shelf.

I have my Grandfathers medals and they have been been worn by one of my sons at Anzac day ceremonies when he was an airforce cadet. We live in Brisbane nowadays.However I still have a keen interest in Boer war history.Recently while trawling through the web I found a website on captured Boer weapons by a expat SA Dave George, who lives nearby. All about the carvings on the stocks. Intend to buy the two books he has published.

I should add that my maternal Grandfather, Cecil Tuckett, was in Kitchener's Fighting Scouts. He was born in Durban. Don't know much about any action he took part in or anything about his unit.

Hello Hogan

A warm welcome to the Forum.
Thank you for sharing your story of your Grandfather, very interesting.
It would be great if you could show his medals in the Gallery I am sure the members would like to see them.
Look forward to your future posts.

Regards
Paul

Hello Hogan

I echo Paul's comments and look forward to seeing your contributions to this forum, especially more about John Hogan and a photo of his medals.

Regards
Brett

My Grandfather's medals. The bars on the South Africa medal are Transvaal and OFS. Of interest I have a Natal Mounted Police and Natal Old Comrades Association newsletter dated 1968 and it refers to a number of then current members and sadly some obituaries. Most appear to be Boer War veterans. I'll scan and post later.

Regards
Mike Hogan

Mike

Thank you posting the picture of your grandfather's medals. It is a very fine group. I wonder if the QSA is missing late issue SA 1901 and SA 1902 clasps? I know that the 1902 Coronation Medal was issued unnamed, but he is on the 2nd ILH roll for this medal as 935 Cpl J P Hogan. He is on the 1906 Rebellion roll for the Natal Police as Trooper J P Hogan. (A small point; although many of its men were indeed mounted, it was simply the Natal Police that existed between 1894 and 1913. It was the Natal Mounted Police between 1874 and 1894.) I presume he was with the 2nd or 3rd SA Mounted Rifles in German SWA and, if you do not already have his papers for this period, copies can be obtained from the military archives in Pretoria.

I look forward to seeing the newsletter.

Regards
Brett