TOPIC:

Joseph Rieder

Armourer Sergeant, Cradock Town Guard – Anglo Boer War

- Queens South Africa Medal to Armr. Serjt. J. Rieder, Cradock T.G.

Joseph Rieder must have been an interesting man, certainly among those who lined up for duty with the local Town Guard. There couldn’t have been many Frenchmen among their number.

Born in France near to the German border in about 1860 the son of Joseph and Anna Rieder, he emigrated to South Africa at some stage making a home for himself in the dusty little Karoo town of Cradock which is where we find him at the outbreak of the Anglo Boer War in October 1899. The town itself was temporarily occupied by the Boer forces as they attempted to break through on their way to the coast but were repulsed in the attempt and were soon firmly under British control with one of the occupying regiments being the Sherwood Foresters.

There were a number of skirmishes occurred in the surrounding area, especially in the latter part of the war when Boer flying commando units harassed the British, who were initially less mobile, but there was never a fight in Cradock itself. Local rumour has it that there seems to have been a fair amount of ‘downtime’ because British soldiers dotted at various lookout posts in the impressive array of mountains around Cradock played heliograph chess against each other.

Rieder’s entry into the war as an Armourer Sergeant with the Town Guard happened sometime soon after they were called into being. He later re-attested for further service 6 March 1902; the attestation paper he completed then confirming that he was a Watchmaker and a “Masterman” by trade as opposed to an Apprentice. He was also 42 years old and married to Emma Maria (born Pienaar). As the Armourer for the small unit he would have been tasked with keeping their weapons in tip top condition in the event of any encounter with the enemy. No doubt the attention to detail required for the finicky work of watch making put him in good stead for this task.

In 1901 Cradock became one of the central points where Cape Rebels – farmers and others from the area who had sided with the Boers – were executed after being found guilty of treason. (It must be remembered that the Cape Colony, unlike the Orange Free State and Transvaal) was a British Territory owing allegiance to the Queen.)

Rieder received the Queens Medal for his efforts which was awarded off the roll dated 16 September 1901.

Little is known of his life thereafter and he passed away in the Somerset East Hospital on 9 July 1932 at the age of 72 years 11 months survived by no fewer than 11 children – the last three being minors. His Last Will and Testament makes for interesting reading as he bequeathed the following items to his two sons, Herman and Gustav – “all my tools, machinery, lathe, windmill, revolvers and clocks.” – Proof if ever there was any needed that he was still watch making until the very end.

Another great piece of research, I can understand now how he became an Armourer Sergeant......

Mike