TOPIC:

I came across Major Panzera whilst investigating the “Murder at Mafeking” when a Lieutenant Murchison shot a War Correspondent.

Major Panzera gave evidence at Murchison’s November 1899 Court Martial.

Mr. De Kock called Major Panzera to testify to the character of Lieutenant Murchison, who counsel pointed out, was on the reserve list of officers and therefore in possession of a clear record. Major Panzera said that on many occasions he had observed in the accused certain mental peculiarities, which although not marks of insanity were such as one might observe in persons who had suffered from sunstroke or fever.

Mr De Kock was defending Murchison.

This led to the discovery of this photo on the Australian War Memorial website – this is a foc low res image but you can download a high res image but you will be a bit poorer.



The description of the photo is as follows: MAFEKING, SOUTH AFRICA, C. 1900. MAJOR F.W. PANZERA, OF THE BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA POLICE, AND LIEUTENANT COLONEL COURTENAY VYVYAN STUDYING PLANS OF THE TOWN DEFENCES. (DONOR C. BOOTH)

The photo is doubly interesting for me as Vyvyan served as President of the Court Martial which sentenced Murchison to death.

Also this on-line article from the IoM Times of 9 June 1917.

www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/history...knckaloe/panzera.htm

Colonel Panzera

Colonel Panzera was apparently very well regarded by his contemporaries. One of the letters sent to his family in my collection is from General A.J. “Alex” Godley O.C .New Zealand Forces in WW I and commander at Gallipoli. Godley was Commander Western Approaches during the Mafeking Siege and refers to Panzera as his “old friend” who he was in regular contact with.







Although in an earlier post in this thread Baden Powel had very positive things to say about Col. Panzera after the latter’s death, the vastly different personalities of the men must have given ample room for disagreement.

Everhard - do you have a photo of Godley? He also served on the Court Martial which sentenced Murchison to death.

Smethwick, unfortunately not. There are some decent pictures available on the internet though.



So in the group shots shown in the various threads on this site, if you see a John Cleese lookalike, that's probably the Kiwi.