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Harry Herbert Patrick - a two-war Eastern Cape Veteran 4 years 3 months ago #67199

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Herbert Harry Patrick

Pte. H.H. Patrick, Queenstown Rifle Volunteers – Bechuanaland Campaign of 1879
Pte. H.H. Patrick, Queenstown Rifle Volunteers - Anglo Boer War


- Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal with Bechuanaland clasp to Pte. H.H. Patrick, Queenstown R. Vol.
- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony & Wittebergen to Pte. H.H. Patrick, Queenstown R.V.


Harry Patrick was born in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape of South Africa on 7 September 1871, the son of Benjamin Patrick, a Farmer and his wife Louisa, born Mould. Growing up he had several siblings to keep him company in the form of Thomas Henry, Walter George and sisters, Charlotte Louisa and Amy Maria. He was baptised in the Trinity Presbyterian Church in the City of Saints on 9 November 1870.

In his twenties he was drawn to the ranks of the Queenstown Rifle Volunteers – an Eastern Cape-based regiment which had been raised on 20 April 1860 and which had fought in the Gaika-Gcaleke War of 1877. The regiment had been disbanded in 1880 only to be re-formed in 1883 when it underwent a subtle name change to Queenstown Volunteer Rifles. In 1891 the strength of the outfit was 140 strong and in 1897 79 members of all ranks served in the Bechuanaland Campaign.

An outbreak of rinderspest in the Taung district north of Kimberley in 1896 led to a number of affected cattle, belonging to the natives, being shot at the behest of the Cape Government. This led to open rebellion among them and, stirred up by an ex-convict Chief Galishwe, they took up arms against the authorities which led to the death of a number of traders and members of the Cape Police who were sent to restore order in late 1896.

The Cape Government, jolted into action, decided, on 18 February to raise a volunteer force to deal with the troubles. By 5 July two companies of Queenstown Volunteer Rifles, Patrick among them, were encamped at Kathu, on their way to Gamasep to relieve other detachments. At last, on 27 July, the main column struck camp and moved out for Gamasep. Arriving there the following afternoon they spent until the 29th in detailed reconnaissance, in final preparation for an attack next morning.

The main objective was Galeshwe’s position in Gamaluse Kloof, the plan being to outflank on both sides during the night. As part of the “Blue Column”, they were required to advance on the left from Gamasep at 02h30 to turn the enemy’s right flank. By daylight the stage was set for an assault but it was a complete anti-climax, the enemy having evacuated the kopje days before.

Eventually the scrappy campaign drew to a close with the defeat of Galeshwe and the Bechuanaland Field Force returned home having attended a farewell parade at Kuruman on 13 August 1897. For his part in the conflict, Patrick was awarded the Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal with Bechuanaland clasp. This medal was only authorized by Queen Victoria in 1900 and had to be applied for.

Back on the land Patrick continued his farming and peace prevailed, but the two Boer Republics of the Transvaal and Orange Free State, to the north of the Eastern Cape, had other ideas – they were at loggerheads with Great Britain and war erupted on 11 October 1899. Initially this was confined to the Northern Cape and Natal but, as the war progressed, Commandos made incursions into the southern and eastern Cape in search of supplies and manpower among the Dutch-speaking sectors of the population.

Patrick, spurred on by this impending threat, rejoined his old unit, attesting at Queenstown in early 1900with no. 622 and the rank of Private. The Queenstown Rifle Volunteers, strength 245, were stated to be part of the garrison of that town, and they were then mobilised and under arms. After General Gatacre arrived the corps, slightly increased in strength, were under his command and did useful service, freeing the regular troops for action at the front.

As time went on the authorities came to think more highly of the various Colony Volunteer Battalions, and when Brabant was clearing the Dordrecht - Jamestown district in February and March 1900, the Queenstown Volunteers formed part of his force. They were not with Colonel Dalgety in Wepener in April, but under General Brabant took part in the operations for the relief of the brave garrison: thereafter they formed part of the Colonial Division in the advance northwards and seemed to have always done well.

After Prinsloo had surrendered in the Brandwater Basin, the Queenstown Volunteers continued to operate in the Orange River Colony, and in August General Kelly-Kenny issued the following Order, which speaks for itself: "The Lieutenant General commanding the Line of Communications wishes the following incident to be made known throughout his command. Colonel Ridley, Imperial Yeomanry, with about 240 men mostly Colonial Troops—Queenstown Volunteers—while engaged in a reconnaissance north-east of Winburg on August 23rd was cut off and surrounded by 1500 of the enemy with three guns. Ridley and his little force, notwithstanding two days' shelling and rifle fire, and three nights' sniping, held their position until relieved.

The enemy twice demanded his surrender without avail. His loss was 30 killed and wounded. The Lieutenant General brings this gallant defence to the notice of his command with the view of showing how a few determined men, skilfully commanded, can hold their own even in an unprepared position, much more so in positions carefully entrenched such as ours".

Lord Roberts in his telegram of 26th August also referred to the engagement with satisfaction, and praised the defence. Three of the Queenstown Rifle Volunteers were killed and 14 wounded, including Lieutenant C Smith. It wasn’t long after this that, on 17 August 1900, Patrick took his discharge from the regiment, having earned the Queens Medal with clasps Cape Colony and Wittebergen – this last was granted to all troops who were inside a line drawn from Harrismith to Bethlehem, thence to Senekal and Clocolan, along the Basuto border, and back to Harrismith, between July 1stand 29th, 1900, both dates inclusive.

Harry Patrick passed away in the Frontier Hospital in Queenstown on 20 August 1928 at the age of 56 years 11 months. A General Farmer in the Elliott district by occupation, he had succumbed to a combination of a duodenal ulcer, rupture and peritonitis.

He was survived by his wife, Iris Annie (born Hart), whom he had married in 1916, and two children, Dennis Herbert and Iris Nora Patricia












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