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There is something quintessentially English about "riding to hounds" - although one couldn't describe him as a "toff", Maurice Strivens moved in the right circles which helped his cause when applying for enrollment in the S.A.C.

Maurice Strivens

Trooper, South African Constabulary – Anglo Boer War

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 & 1902 to 142 Tpr. M. Strivens, S.A.C.

Maurice Strivens was born in Edburton, Sussex on 18 February 1877 the son of George Henry Strivens and his wife Emma Strivens (born Payne). According to the 1881 England census Mr Strivens was a prosperous farmer of 95 acres employing 2 men and 2 boys to assist him. Maurice was a 4 year old child at the time and was joined at Playthorne Farm by his parents and siblings Harry (5), Kate (2) and twins Susie and Nellie (2 months old)

Ten years later at the time of the 1891 England census the family were still on the same farm but the domestic picture had altered somewhat with Maurice, now 14, joined in the house by all the children listed above but with the addition of Christopher Strivens (2) and a whole range of domestic servants.

In October 1899 the might of Great Britain found itself pitted against two obscure little Dutch-speaking Republics at the southernmost tip of Africa in what became known as the Anglo Boer War. Imbued with patriotic fervour the young (and not so young) menfolk of Great Britain sought ways to serve the Empire in one of the many regiments and Yeomanry outfits raised for the war.

Baden-Powell, the “hero” of Mafeking had sought and obtained permission to raise a Constabulary which would operate in South Africa alongside the regular forces pitted against the Boers as well as conduct normal policing duties in the occupied territories and beyond. Strivens was one of the 10 000 who enlisted for this purpose completing the Application Forms at Westminster in London on 4 December 1900.

Confirming his address as Little Buckingham, Shoreham he was 24 years old and a tall 5 feet 8 inches in height. As was required he provided quite a number of referees to go with his application. These will be looked at in detail later but included a Mr H. Head, Mr H. Gorringe, and a Mr G.A. Dell.

Strivens also stated that he was a Farmer by occupation. Able to ride, shoot and swim he stated that he had been part of the 1st Sussex Artillery Volunteers beforehand. Physically he weighed 9 stone 6 ounces and had a muddy complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.

Back to his testimonials – that from Mr Hugh Gorringe of Kingston-By-Sea, Brighton read thus,

“Dear Sir

Hearing that you are a candidate for the South African Constabulary, I have great pleasure in testifying to your fitness for the work. Regarding your horsemanship – you sit your horse well and I consider you a good rider to hounds. I have known you now three years, ever since you came to reside in this neighbourhood, and I can bear testimony to your good character generally – you are at liberty to give my name as a reference, if you wish.

Yours truly

Hugh Gorringe Esq. J.P. for Sussex and late Master of the Brighton Harriers, now Chairman of their Committee.”

That from Henry Head, writing from Buckingham. Old Shoreham, Sussex was not as effusive,

“Dear Sir

Hearing you are a candidate for the South African Constabulary I have much pleasure in testifying to your fitness for the work – I have known you for the last three years as my next door neighbour and I have always believed that your character was good.

Henry Head, J.P. for the County of Sussex.”

Then there was the one written by George A. Dell of “Grindelwald Villa” New Shoreham. Dated 27 November 1900 it read as follows,

“Sir

I have known Gunner M. Strivens for some time as a member of my company and have always found him most willing, courteous, energetic and above all a sober volunteer and can recommend him with every confidence as a member of the S.A. Police.

Geo. A. Dell

O.C. No. 8 Company. 1st Sussex Artillery Volunteers”

The last testimonial came from a Mr A.W. Nye of 34 Duke Street, Brighton and was dated 3 December 1900,

“Dear Sir

It affords me great pleasure to testify to your character and a fit and proper person to become a member of the Mounted Police for South Africa.
Having known you all your life, I am in a position to say that you are an excellent horseman, also the way you have acquitted yourself at various shooting parties, including my own, entitles you to be termed “a good shot”. You are sober and honest and with these qualifications should make your mark in the world, which I heartily wish.”

Passed as Fit Strivens was assigned no. 95 (this later changed to 142) and the rank of 3rd Class Trooper. With this he set sail for South Africa and the war where, shortly after arrival, he was placed with No. 1 Troop on 19 January 1901. This was also the day he signed the Attestation Paper for 3 years service. Strivens was part of A Division operating out of Potchefstroom in the west of the Transvaal and would have seen plenty of action in the area where small pockets of Boers were still evading the block houses designed to hem them in.

On 25 November 1902 he wrote from Crocodile Poort near Zeerust in the Orange Free State to his Troop Commander as follows,

“Sir

I hereby beg to make an application for my discharge by purchase for the purpose of returning to England my presence there being urgently needed.”
His Officer, in forwarding the request, added the comment that, “he wishes to complete 2 years service in the Corps which will end 19 January 1903, his purchase money should be £10 only”

By this time Strivens had risen to the rank of 1st Class Trooper and, as further proof of the high regard in which he was held, his Character was described as Very Good on his discharge papers which were dated 24 January 1903. For his efforts in the war he was awarded the Queens Medal with clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal along with the date clasps South Africa 1901 and 1902.

Having returned to England Strivens continued farming and, if a report in the Sussex Agricultural Express of 2 November 1907 was anything to go by, he had a fair voice on him as well! The article concerning itself with the sixteenth annual showing of the Sussex Chrysanthemum Society read (partially) as follows,

“A splendid musical programme was presented each afternoon and evening, the performers being Miss Dora Breach, Miss Ford, Miss Susie Strivens, Mr Maurice Strivens and Mr Goldie.”

At some stage soon after this he took the bold move of relocating to Malaysia where he became a Rubber Planter. The Straits Times of 2 April 1914 announced the joyful union of Mr. Maurice Strivens and Miss A. W. Hitler. “A pretty wedding took place at Christ Church, Malacca, on Monday afternoon, the contracting parties being Miss Hitler and Mr Strivens.” In point of fact his wife’s names were Annie Winifried (Freda) Hiller and not Hitler.

The couple went on to have a number of children – Maurice, Lewis and George – with Maurice winning the Military Cross for bravery in World War II. Sadly his father never got to hear of it – he passed away in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia in March 1935 at the age of 58.

Maurice Strivens is my late Grt.Grandfather, His daughter Beryl Strivens is my late grandmother. Thank you for the above information

I hope it filled a gap or two in your family history.