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Ernst Joachim Charles Brussow

Private, Cape Police, P.D.1 – Anglo Boer War

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony & Orange Free State to 271 Pte. E.J.C. Brusson (sic), Cape P.D.1.

Ernst Brussow, for this was his correct name, was born in the Eastern Cape of South Africa on 31 January 1869, the son of Friedrich Johann Joachim Brussow, a Farmer of German origin, and his wife, Marie Brussow. The family was a large one with Ernst one of nine children born to the couple.

Having completed his rudimentary schooling Brussow joined the ranks of District 1 of the Cape Police on 16 September 1889 at the age of 20. District 1 was headquartered at King Williams Town, near to East London which is the area from whence Brussow hailed. He first saw action in the Langeberg Campaign of 1896, this was confirmed by the medal rolls for the Cape Police for the Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal.

With the outbreak of the Anglo Boer War on 11 October 1899, Brussow was already a seasoned campaigner, patrolling his beat in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape. Quite what his role was in the war is unknown – there were so many Cape Policemen deployed in almost every facet and theatre of the war that it would be almost impossible to determine what he did.

We rely on the clasps to his Queens Medal to give an indication as to where he saw action – these were the Cape Colony and the Orange Free State. Both very active “hot spots” especially in the second or guerrilla phase of the war when Boer Commandos were on the run from the British dragnet that threatened to engulf them. Of course it was also the time when Smuts and other Boer Generals infiltrated the eastern part of the Cape Colony in search of supplies and sympathetic Dutch farmers to join their cause.

Brussow wasn’t destined to see out the end of the war – he was discharged Medically Unfit on 31 December 1901 and his medal issued off the roll dated at King Williams Town on 12 February 1903. A note on his file reveals that he was to receive a pension of 32 Pounds fro 1 January 1902.

Back in civilian life he wed Johanna Margaret Van der Linde and the couple set about making a family. Records that exist are in respect of the baptisms, in the Methodist Church in East London, of William Henry, born on 6 October 1902; David Peter, born on 27 November 1904 and Dorothy May born on 14 September 1906.

According to a family source Ernst Brussow passed away in 1915 but is his wife who grabbed the spotlight after his death – a coroner’s report revealed that Johanna Margaret Brussow, a 45-year-old Laundress and Dry Cleaner of 12 Union Street, East London, had passed away on 10 October 1917. Her death was due to Vascular Paralysis – “probably caused by alcoholic poisoning.”

Had Brussow’s widow taken to drink after his death or because of it? We can only speculate as to the reason .

Rory,

I was in the Archives last week and found an entry for Brussow which I forgot to mention to you. Anyway here it is, not much but gives you a few dates etc which you can add into your write up. His attestation papers do not exist sadly.

Cheers

Much obliged Adrian! Are there two parts to the form?

Hello Rory,

No, what you see is all there is for him. Below what you see is the entry to another chap ie 2 men per page.