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R.E.Garner - from the M.M.P. to the Uitenhage V.R. and a few stops in between 5 years 6 months ago #60492

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Richard Ernest Garner

Trooper, “F” Troop, Mashonaland Mounted Police – Matabeleland Rebellion
Private, Uitenhage Volunteer Rifles
Private, Marshall’s Horse
Private, 2nd Brabant’s Horse– Anglo Boer War


- British South Africa Company Medal 1896 Rhodesia reverse to Troopr. E. Garner, "F" Troop M.M.P
- Queens South Africa with clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg and Diamond Hill to 357 Pte. R.E. Garner, Uitenhage V.R.


Richard Garner, perhaps he was called Dick after the fashion of the time, was born in Ewell, Surrey on 17 November 1878 the son of a Labourer by trade, and his wife Matilda. Our first glimpse of a young Richard was contained in the 1881 England census where he, along with his parents and siblings Alfred (13), Matilda (8), Robert (7) and Ellen (4); lived at 8 Benhill Terrace in Ewell, Sutton. Richard was 2 years old and the last born of the family.

Ten years later, at the time of the 1891 England census, the Garner family had moved to William Road in Sutton. Mr Garner was now a Carman by occupation. The majority of his siblings had flown the coop leaving a 12 year old Ernest (for reasons known only to himself and his family his names were used interchangeably) at home along with new addition Harriet (9). Elder brother Robert was also in residence and employed as a messenger with the Fire Brigade.

At some point Garner determined that his future lay elsewhere and, having come to this momentous decision, he took passage for South Africa where he intended to settle down. Matters on the southern tip of Africa had been in a state of turmoil for quite some time as the curtain was closing on the 19th century. An uneasy alliance existed between the British Empire and the Boer Republic of the Transvaal under President Paul Kruger.

Further north an intrepid band of “pioneers” under the influence of the great Imperialist Cecil John Rhodes had ventured into territory populated by the Matabele and Mashona tribes in what was to be called Rhodesia. This encroachment by the white man had caused alarm among the tribes and their adherents and, in 1893, had led to conflict between Lobengula and the sparsely settled European traders and their families who now occupied their land. After initial resistance the tribes had been vanquished but animosity was never far from the surface.

In 1896 trouble flared up again leading to open warfare once more. To compound matters the territory had been virtually denuded of anything resembling a police or military force with the bulk of them being temporarily absent to take part in the abortive Jameson Raid. This meant that the Matabele were able to roam the countryside plundering and murdering traders almost at will. Local militia outfits were hastily raised and the remaining settlers were rounded up and escorted into lagers in towns like Gwelo and Bulawayo where, it was felt, they would enjoy a modicum of protection whilst a military force was raised in South Africa to beat off the Matabele.

Garner who had made his way to Rhodesia at some point, joined the ranks of “F” Troop of the Mashonaland Mounted Police. The MMP had been raised and equipped after the Matabele War of 1893. Together with the Matabeleland Mounted Police, it was organised on the basis of a small cavalry regiment which was supported by an establishment of African Auxiliaries. The purpose of this work is not to elaborate on the role the MMP during the conflict but, suffice it to say, the MMP were in the thick of it and Garner would have been exposed to plenty of action.

After the Matabele Rebellion had taken up arms, the Mashona tribe, normally of a more peaceful demeanour, followed suit. The war in Rhodesia finally came to an end in 1897 with those who had fought being awarded the British South Africa Company Medal. Garner was no exception earning the Rhodesia 1896 reverse medal (without clasp). The address provided on the medal roll was c/o the Sunderland Hotel in Johannesburg, the assumption thus being that he had moved back to South Africa.

Peace now reigned on the tip of Africa but this was to be short-lived. As has been alluded to there were simmering tensions between Britain and the South African Republic under Kruger. This spilled over into a declaration of hostilities with Kruger being joined by his ally in the Orange Free State. Initially the theatre of war was confined to Natal (which the Boers invaded) as well as Kimberley and Mafeking; all of which were invested by the Boers. The eastern and southern parts of the Cape Colony were not initially targeted but, as the war wore on and the Boers started to experience reverses, they began to infiltrate the Cape as a source of fresh recruits and of much needed materials and supplies for their Commandos.

With an unbearable strain placed on the small Imperial contingent in South Africa at the time war commenced, the call went out for the raising of local units manned by colonials who were familiar with the terrain. Garner was to serve in a number of them but first turned his attentions to the Uitenhage Volunteer Rifles in whose service he enlisted as a Private with no. 357 at some point in early 1900.

This body of men did not exist prior to 4 February 1892 on which day the corps was formed with a strength of 100 men. The men of the U.V.R. were ordered to mobilise on 11 November 1899 and were placed on the lines of communication at Cookhouse and Witmoss tunnel. From thence they were sent to Cradock, and afterwards one company was sent to Rooispruit and two companies to Thebus, at that time occupied by a column under General Knox.

Subsequently they were relieved by the 9th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifles and proceeded to Schoombie, ultimately being transferred to Colesburg. Two companies were mounted and equipped at Cradock and sent forward to join General Clement’s column at Arundel, under whom they fought their way to Bloemfontein (Garner was one of this number), where they were incorporated with the First City Mounted Volunteers (Grahamstown), the whole being renamed “Marshall’s Horse”.

They were engaged in the general advance under General Ian Hamilton, taking part in all the engagements up to Pretoria and Diamond Hill, under Generals Hart and Barton, from the 27th July to 19 December 1900. Garner was one of the troops who on 29 May 1900 was were north of an east and west line through Klip River Station, and east of a north and south line through Krugersdorp Station thereby earning the Johannesburg clasp to their Queens Medal.

Likewise he was one of those present, on either June 11th or 12th, 1900, who were east of a north and south line drawn through Silverton Siding and north of an east and west line through Vlakfontein thereby earning himself the Diamond Hill clasp to the same medal.

But, despite the fall of both Johannesburg and Pretoria, the Boers refused to surrender or give up the fight – they merely moved their “Capital” eastwards to Waterval Boven in the direction of modern-day Mocambique. Garner’s war too was not yet over. Having seen service in Marshall’s Horse and its forerunner, the Uitenhage Volunteer Rifles, he enlisted, on 31 October 1900, with the 2nd Battalion, Brabant’s Horse with no. 20028 and the rank of Private. His attestation papers have his initials as “E.R.” his names, as mentioned beforehand, being interchangeable. He provided his next of kin as Mrs. M. Garner of 35 Haddon Road, Sutton, Surrey and claimed that he was 22 years old.

The 1901 England census confirmed that his parents were indeed resident at the above address – his father was now a 61 year old Carter in the employ of the Sutton Council.

The 2nd Brabant’s Horse were, in November 1900 operating in the area of Frederickstad in the Central Transvaal with General Barton.
They had skirmishing very frequently, and on 11th December had 1 man killed and 3 wounded. In November, it became apparent that De Wet was to attempt to invade Cape Colony, Lord Kitchener railed certain forces from the Transvaal to the south of the Orange River Colony; these included the 2nd Regiment of Brabant's Horse. On about 18th to 24th December the regiment had much fighting about Steynsburg, Cape Colony—the object being to prevent the Boers working south. When it was seen that Kritzinger and Smuts, about 16th December, had effected an entrance into Cape Colony with about 2000 men, more troops were railed from the Transvaal to Naauwpoort.

In February 1901 a portion of Brabant's Horse was operating in the south-west of Cape Colony, and Lieutenant J M Grant gained mention near Lambert's Bay on 1st March. Near Jansenville on 20th March 2 men were killed and 6 wounded in an action when Colonel Scobell and Colonel Colenbrander inflicted a severe defeat on Scheepers and Malan. As can be seen Garner and his comrades hadn’t been mere spectators – they had some hard fighting against an increasingly desperate and innovative for.

On 15 May 1901 he took his discharge from the regiment at Cape Town. Now aged 23 his occupation was provided as “Bookbinder” and he was credited with 198 days service with a Character rating of “Very Good”. He signed his Record of Service as “E. Garner”. His Brabant’s Horse medal roll has a “Yes” in the Laing’s Nek clasp column but it is unclear as to when he would have earned this clasp if at all.

The war finally over on 31 May 1902 Garner, at some stage, returned to his native England. The 1911 census has him living, aged 33, at 26 Whitcombe Street, St Martin in the Fields, London & Middlesex, England. He had been married for five years to Mary Elizabeth and had a 4 year old daughter, Georgina Stella (who had been born in Johannesburg in 1907) and a 1 year old son named after him, born in Croyden, Surrey. He was a Launderer for his own account by occupation. An active Free Mason he was a member of the Stuart Lodge Chapter which he had joined in the same year.

A year later another child was welcomed into the world in the form of Harry Alfred. The family were living at 58 Church Road in Hanwell at the time. That he was still an active employer was evident from his daughter Georgina’s marriage certificate on the occasion of her nuptials in Hornsey on 31 August 1929, where he signed his name (this time as R.E. Garner) of 36 St. Joseph’s Road. His profession being provided as Launderer.

Richard Ernest Garner retired to Chelmsford where, in 1939, he was resident in Wanderer’s View with his wife. He passed away in 1954.








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R.E.Garner - from the M.M.P. to the Uitenhage V.R. and a few stops in between 5 years 6 months ago #60495

  • QSAMIKE
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Thank You Rory...…

Mike
Life Member
Past-President Calgary
Military Historical Society
O.M.R.S. 1591

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R.E.Garner - from the M.M.P. to the Uitenhage V.R. and a few stops in between 5 years 6 months ago #60501

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Much obliged Mike

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R.E.Garner - from the M.M.P. to the Uitenhage V.R. and a few stops in between 5 years 6 months ago #60505

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Another great story Rory-I especially like the detailed photo's especially the BSAC medal-is the small r at the end of Troop a distinctive naming feature on these medals?

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