TOPIC:

1116 TROOPER EDWIN ALEXANDER FAIRWEATHER: BETHUNE'S MOUNTED INFANTRY.
1485 TROOPER EDWIN ALEXANDER FAIRWEATHER: STEINAECKER'S HORSE.

Edwin Alexander Fairweather was born on 16th May 1880 to parents Thomas Fairweather (38, a Commercial Clerk) and Elizabeth (31) at Enfield, Middlesex, England.
He was christened on the 10th September 1880 at St. Andrews, Enfield.

The family were residing at Upper Gordon Road, Enfield, Edmonton, Middlesex according to the census of 1891.
Edwin and his parents were joined within the family unit by; Ada H B (17), Kate A (15), Norman A (13), Harold E (9), Paul (7), Victor (4) and Dorothy (2).
Apparently the family were comfortably off as the eldest daughters were not recorded as employed. However, no servants were employed, so one can assume that everyone contributed to the running of an efficient and happy household.

In 1899 Edwin emigrated to Quebec, Canada embarking from the port of Liverpool. He declared himself to be a humble labourer.

At some point, whether to travel to South Africa to work or perhaps as an indulgence passenger to get involved in the South African war against the two Boer Republics of Transvaal and the Orange Free State, he found himself in the middle of this huge conflict.
He attested to Bethune's Mounted Infantry as Trooper 1116 and served with them from 29th October 1900 until 31st August 1901. He described his next of kin as his aunt, Mrs. Rumbelow, Home Farm, Twickenham, London.
Three weeks following his discharge from Bethune's, he enlisted in Steinaecker's Horse at Pietermaritzburg on 21st September 1901 at the age of 21 and again told the recruiting officer that he was a labourer. He was a tall chap for the day being 5' 10 1/2", 160 lbs in weight, had grey eyes, dark hair, no distinguishing marks. Here is next of kin was his father of 224 Richmond Road, Hackney, London.
Edwin's own address was "Whitcot", St. George's Road, Forty Hill, Enfield, London. So his stay in Canada proved to be short on this occasion.
He was discharged on completion of his period of service on 23rd July 1902 after the cessation of hostilities.
He does not appear on any casualty lists for the war, so I am regrettably unable to pinpoint any actions he may have been involved in at this juncture..


Queen's South Africa medal awarded to 1116 Trooper E Fairweather of Bethune's Mounted Infantry bearing clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal, and King's South Africa medal to 1485 Trooper E Fairweather of Steinaecker's Horse. Both medals and clasps confirmed on the relevant medal rolls.




Officially impressed number, rank and naming to the rims.


Officially impressed regimental naming to the rims.

Provenance of the medals: previously in the collection of Bill Woolmore and mounted on black felted board. I'm going to leave them as I found them as they would have presented in Bill's cabinet.


Shortly after returning to England, he married Maude Lydia Cluse in 1904, in Edmonton, London. The union was blessed with two daughters namely, Barbara Lesley Fairweather (1909-1991) and Elaina Mary Fairweather (1913-1997).
Sadly, Maude passed away in 1942 in her 69th year.

During the marriage, Edwin is found to be travelling far and wide around the world. He sailed from London on 31st January 1911 aboard "Highland Laddie" bound for Buenos Aires, Argentina. There is no description of occupation/trade on the passenger manifest.
On 11th October 1928, he travels aboard the ship "Avila" from London to Buenos Aires, this time accompanied by his wife Maude and both of his daughters Barbara (19) and Elaina (15).
Their last recorded address prior to sailing was "Montrose Hotel", Clapham Common, S. W. (London). Perhaps the family had sold up in order to emigrate to Buenos Aires to take up a career opportunity?
He was now an accountant by profession.

On 16th August 1934, Edwin (now a manager) and Maude sailed from Liverpool to Montreal, Canada. They were both aged 54 and travelled in Tour class.


Life in Canada must have been to the Fairweather's liking as they appear to have stayed on there. I do not know the location of Maude's demise in 1942, but Edwin lived to the very great age of 98. He passed away on 2nd May 1979 at New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada. He was buried at Oliver, Okanagan-Similkameen, BC, Canada.

And so ended a long and adventurous life of travel, career and conflict.

References:

Findmypast.
Ancestry.
Familysearch.
Woolmore, William (Bill), (1980). "Steinaecker's Horsemen South Africa 1899-1903."
djb for attestation document.
Grave registration Canada.

Steve,

A very nice group. Here is his StH attestation

And Bethune's attestation.

Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

QSA (1) Transvaal (1047 Cpl: S. Kennedy. Steinaecker’s Horse.);
[ KSA (2) ]

QSA roll has Sidney (WO100/276p107). KSA roll (WO100/365p176) has Sydney.

No attestation paper found.

Bill Willmore notes: No previous service. Enlisted in SH at Nomahasha on 18 September 1900. Discharged time expired at Komati Poort on 13 July 1902, after the cessation of hostilities.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 (Lt: C. S. Carmichael, Steinaecker’s H.);
[ Great War medals ]

Charles Sherwood Carmichael was born in 1877, presumably in England, and later farmed on the Lebombo Range in Swaziland. During the Boer War he served as a Trooper in No. 2 Troop, E. Squadron, Colonial Scouts, from 6 December 1899, until discharged on 19 March 1900. He then served as a Guide in the Field Intelligence Department. In March 1900, Steinaecker, a lieutenant in the Intelligence Department, selected six scouts for special service. They were Sgt-Major A. R. Colborne with Scouts Charles S. Carmichael, Bernard Duncan, Alfred E. Gray, John A. Lawson, and George Meissner.

With this small party and eight Zulu Nonquai, black members of the Zululand Police, Steinaecker left Eshowe on 3rd April 1900, and rode or walked through Zululand and Swaziland, a distance of 500 miles. Their horses having died of horse-sickness, the party were on foot when the Transvaal border was reached. On their journey they had picked up a British settler, Holgate, afterwards a Captain in Steinaecker’s Horse. He knew the country thoroughly, and as a guide in the last stages was invaluable. The party intended to attempt the blowing up of the great bridge at Komati Poort, but found it too strongly guarded. Steinaecker and three men now struck through the bush, swam the Komati river “when the crocodiles were off their feed,” travelled all the night of 16th June, and on the 17th, after dark, placed nearly 100 lb. of dynamite between the masonry and girders of a bridge at Malelane, forty miles up the line, and destroyed it. The fact that the Boers afterwards restored the bridge does not detract from the credit due to Steinaecker and his gallant men for their splendid piece of daring, which, strangely enough, was never recognised in despatches. Having returned to Natal, Steinaecker now recruited for his “Horse” which served with great distinction throughout the remainder of the South African war. Of the original group, Lawson and Carmichael were locally promoted to Sergeant. Carmichael was appointed Lieutenant in Steinaecker’s Horse on 16 September 1900, and served in Swaziland and in the eastern Transvaal.

On 8 December 1900, Lieutenant Carmichael led a patrol into Bremersdorp, the old Boer capital in Central Swaziland, and took eight prisoners, including two brothers named Stewart. One of them, Vallance M. Stewart, had been given special permission to continue trading in Swaziland when the Boer administration had ordered the whites out of the country and he was also suspected of supplying information on British movements to the Boers. Carmichael ordered Stewart’s wagon to be burned and commandeered his two horses. He was later detained as a prisoner of war in Pretoria. It is not surprising that from late 1900, Steinaekcer’s Horse enjoyed the nickname ‘Steinaecker’s Forty Thieves’ in Komati Poort. Some considered that Steinaecker himself was just a ‘damned German playing the fool as a British Officer’.

Whilst serving with Steinaecker’s Horse the following year, Carmichael was hospitalised but returned to duty on 12 May 1901. He resigned on 29 June 1901 and was issued with the medal and 3 clasps.

Following the outbreak of the Great War Carmichael enlisted on 6 October 1914, as Trooper No 42 in the Imperial Light Horse and served throughout the campaign in German South West Africa (Namibia). On 10 August 1915, he was discharged and on 14 October 1915 he joined the Royal Field Artillery as a Lieutenant. The address of his next of kin was given as Walmer, England. (Ref. Steinaecker’s Horsemen, South Africa 1899-1903, W. Woolmore)

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (1) Transvaal (1621 Tpr: R. Moreland. Steinaecker’s H.) naming officially re-impressed.