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Frank Batchelar - 5 regiments in 15 months - a well travelled man. 5 years 1 month ago #67794

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Frank Charles Batchelar

Trooper, “A” & “C” Squadrons, Rhodesia Regiment
Acting Corporal, 2nd Brabant’s Horse
Trooper, Midland Mounted Rifles
Trooper, 1st Imperial Light Horse
Trooper, Marshall’s Horse – Anglo Boer War

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Relief of Mafeking, Orange Free State, Transvaal & South Africa 1901 to 20516 Tpr. F. Batchelar, Brabant's Horse

Frank Batchelar (Batchelor in some records) was an interesting man who saw service in the Boer War with no fewer than five different units - this is an almost alien concept to the Regular Army Imperial soldier who stayed with his regiment from, in most cases, start to finish, but the Colonial Volunteers were a different breed. Attesting as they did for initial periods of between 3 and 6 months, they thought nothing of transferring to other units on completion of their “stint”. Batchelar was such a man.

Born in Aberdare, Glamorgan, Wales in about 1860, he was the son of William Batchelar, a railway Station Master on the Great Western Railway, and his wife Harriett. By the time the 1861 Wales census came round he was a 1-year-old baby in the house in Deane Street, Aberdare. Of siblings there were already many with George (10), Mary (9), Fanny (7) and Frederick James (4) preceding him. The family were reasonably prosperous with 14-year-old servant Ann Evans tendering to their needs.

Ten years later, at the time of the 1871 Wales census, a 10-year-old Frank had been joined by Edward (7) and Alfred (6). Some of the older children had moved out but Mary, Fanny and Frederick were there to keep each other company. The family had moved to Bond Street in Swansea and Mr Batchelar was now pursuing the occupation of Railway Carrier’s Clerk. His nephew, 21-year-old James Laker, was also boarding with the family.

With the dawn of the 1881 Wales census Frank was a sprightly 21-year-old, employed as a Grocers Assistant with Taylor & Co. at their shop premises at 6 Castle Square in Swansea. He, along with other employees, lived on the premises in the house of Joseph Leak, the Grocer Manager.

Of Batchelar in the 1891 census there is no sign but, on 12 January 1893 he boarded the Lismore Castle at Southampton destined for Cape Town. Providing his age as 34 he was described as a Miner by occupation on the ship’s manifest.

What happened to Batchelar in the years leading up to the outbreak of the Boer War are a mystery but he appears to have headed to Rhodesia towards the end of the 19th century, where he became a Store Keeper. His next of kin was provided as Salisbury Hospital, Mashonaland.

The Anglo Boer War erupted onto the world stage on 11 October 1899, pitting the two Boer republics of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State against the might of Imperial Great Britain. Batchelar, already close at hand, enlisted with “A” Squadron on the Rhodesia Regiment on 19 February 1900 with the rank of Trooper. Seven months before this, in July 1899, Colonel Baden-Powell had been sent to Rhodesia to raise two regiments in order to protect the borders of that country and of the Bechuanaland Protectorate in the event of war. Recruiting began on 10th August, and the two regiments, namely, the Rhodesian, under Colonel Plumer, and the Protectorate, Colonel Hore, were raised, trained, and equipped before war broke out.

In September 1899 Baden-Powell took down to Mafeking the Bechuanaland Regiment, leaving Colonel Plumer with the Rhodesian Regiment, and some of the British South Africa Police, to watch the northern and north-western borders of the Transvaal, and if possible to keep the railway from Bulawayo to Mafeking open. Plumer and his regiment stationed themselves at Tuli, where about 100 British South Africa Police were already posted.

With Mafeking laid siege to, Plumer and his force sprang into action. On the 6th March Lobatsi, 60 miles from Mafeking, was reached by his force and on 15th March the Boers attacked his force resulting in substantial loss to the Rhodesians. After more fighting Sefetili, 30 miles northwest of Mafeking, was reached, and a message sent into Baden-Powell was duly replied to. Colonel Plumer and his little force had done, and continued to do, all that men could do to keep the enemy off the town. On 26th March they made an incursion into the Transvaal to within twelve miles of Zeerust, and on the 31st they reconnoitred to within six miles of Mafeking.

On 1st May 1900 100 men of the British South Africa Police from Mashonaland joined Plumer. On the 12th he received a message that Colonel Mahon would be on the Molopo on 15th May, and on the 14th he was joined by a reinforcement of over 100 Queensland Mounted Infantry, dismounted, and a Canadian battery of 4 guns. On the same day he, with about 800 men and 8 guns, set out, and succeeded in joining hands with Mahon on the Molopo on the 15th. The combined effort to relieve the besieged in Mafeking was underway.

On the 16th the engagement outside Mafeking was fought with the town being entered on the 17th before dawn after some intensive fighting. On the same day the Boers were driven from the confines of the town, and on the 20th Plumer occupied the town of Zeerust, and afterwards Ottoshoop and Polfontein. Thereafter, Baden-Powell and Plumer combined forces and moved farther east, occupying Rustenburg on 10th June.

After the relief of Mafeking the Rhodesian Regiment was split up with the greater portion accompaying General Plumer to the Rustenburg district. The bulk of the Regiment was, during July, August, and September, operating to the east of Rustenburg and to the north of Pretoria. In Lord Roberts' telegram of 22nd August, he said that Paget reported from Hammanskraal that Baden-Powell was engaged with Commandant Grobler's rear-guard all the previous day.

Grobler was driven back on the east of the Pienaar's River. During the fight, Baden-Powell's and the enemy's advance guards galloped into each other. The Rhodesians suffered severely in this action. In the despatch it was stated that, as a result of this fighting, 100 British prisoners were rescued and 25 Boers captured. Soon after this, about the end of September, the year for which the Rhodesian men were engaged expired, and they were disbanded. Neither the regiment nor the Rhodesian Volunteers seem to have suffered any casualties in action after 22nd August 1900.

Batchelar, his thirst for action not yet satiated, took his discharge from them on 20 October 1900. He had earned the coveted Relief of Mafeking clasp to his Queens medal with them and had served with “A” Squadron until 1 April 1900 before transferring to “C” Squadron.

Ten days later, on 30 October 1900, (the time it took him to travel from Pretoria to Port Elizabeth), he attested for service with 2nd Brabant’s Horse. Assigned no. 20516 and the rank of Trooper, he took to the field. By this time the 2nd Regiment had been ordered to the eastern Transvaal to take part under General Button in the movement from Belfast to the Portuguese border, crossing some of the most difficult terrain in South Africa.

In November they were 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. During the last quarter of 1900 a portion of the corps, including Batchelar, was with Bruce Hamilton in the Orange River Colony. In the despatch of 8th March 1901, dealing with the events for the preceding four months, Lord Kitchener said that when, in November, it became apparent that De Wet was to attempt to invade Cape Colony, he (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.

In his telegraphic despatch of 15th December 1900 Lord Kitchener said, "During the recent operations in the Zastron district, a party of Brabant's Horse became detached, and being surrounded in a defile had to surrender". The casualty list showed 3 men killed, 11 wounded, and 106 missing.

The mishap was unfortunate, coming after so much good sound work; but at that time numerous small columns and patrols were then pursuing the enemy, who was in great strength in the south-east of the Orange River Colony, while to keep touch with him forces had to be greatly scattered, and there was always a chance of any little detachment being cut off.

Batchelar, ever the wanderer, didn’t hang around until Brabant’s was sent down to the Cape Colony; at Cape Town on 12 March 1901 he took his leave of the regiment, time expired, after 134 days. He had attained the rank of Acting Corporal and a Character rating of Very Good. His home address he provided as 5 Russell Street, Swansea – this tallies with the 1901 Wales with his family resident there.

Still thirsting for action Batchelar joined the ranks of the Midland Mounted Rifles with the rank of Trooper and no. 49. This regiment came into being in the second phase of the war for the purpose of assisting to expel the invaders from the Cape Colony. In April and May 1901, the time Batchelar was with them, they were often in action, and were said to have done very well on two occasions in the latter month, particularly at Zwagershoek. At Doornhoek, on the 13th, they had Lieutenant P E H Coombs and several men wounded.

In the despatch of 8th July 1901, dealing with the operations against Kritzinger's and other commandos, Lord Kitchener said: "On the 21st of June a party of 60 Midland Mounted Rifles—a local corps— was surrounded and captured by Kritzinger between Cradock and Graaff Reinet; 9 men were killed and 2 officers and 10 men wounded". According to the published casualty lists the number of killed and wounded was slightly larger. It is satisfactory that the detachment made a very good fight, and that there was no surrender until the losses became out of all proportion to the end to be gained in holding out.

It is unknown whether or not Batchelar was one of those taken prisoner – by this stage of the war the Boers had no means whereby prisoners could be sheltered and fed and the practice was to strip them of their clothes and turn them loose in the veld either the same day or the day after capture.

Working his way back to Port Elizabeth, he took his discharge, time expired, from the M.M.R. only to enlist with the 1st Imperial Light Horse three days later, on 24 June 1901. It is here, on his attestation papers, that we get our first glimpse of what Batchelar looked like physically. Aged 40, he was described as being 5 feet 8 inches in height; weighing 140 pounds and with a dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair. He had a foot size of 7. Confirming that he was born in Aberdare, Wales he was assigned no. 2403 and the rank of Trooper.

At the time of joining the I.L.H.’s glory days were almost over. Consigned to recent history were their exploits at Elandslaagte, Long Valley in the Siege of Ladysmith and the role they had played in the Relief of Mafeking. They still had a vital role to perform, however, and Batchelar was determined to be part of that process for the next six months, at the rate of 5 shillings per day.

Having taken to the field he was in action on the 17th July when a strong force of the enemy, well posted, were attacked. Shortly thereafter, on the 31st of that month Lieutenant L. S. Sanders and 1 man were killed near Lichtenburg in the west Transvaal.

In the third quarter of 1901 many troops were moved from the Western Transvaal to other districts with the 1st I.L.H. being taken to the north-east of the Orange River Colony. In his despatch of 8th September 1901, Lord Kitchener said, "A third mobile column, which will work from Bethlehem (Orange River Colony) as a centre, has just been organised at Harrismith: It will be under the command of Brigadier-General Sir John Dartnell, and will consist of the two regiments of I.L.H. specially equipped with a view to securing increased mobility".

In September it became apparent that General Botha was about to attempt a reinvasion of Natal, the 2nd I.L.H. was ordered to Eshowe on the Zululand Border to assist in keeping the enemy out of Natal with the 1st I.L.H. remaining in Bethlehem to provide support if necessary.
"This force which was specially organised with a view to mobility has already justified its existence, and some excellent long-distance raids have been undertaken. The most successful of these took place on the night of the 28th September, when after a circuitous march of 38 miles from Bethlehem Lieutenant Colonel Briggs surrounded the town of Reitz at dawn on the 29th. Here he captured 21 prisoners. His return march, however, was much opposed, and several unsuccessful attempts were made at night by parties of Boers, said to be under De Wet, to surround and rush his force".

In the despatch of 8th November 1901, Lord Kitchener said, " From Bethlehem Lieutenant Colonel Briggs with the 1st I.L.H. has carried out several long-distance raids in all directions, whereby the country round for a radius of 25 miles has been completely cleared". A great converging movement was also foreshadowed, and among the troops to be employed the 1st Regiment was to act from Bethlehem and the 2nd from Harrismith.

In the despatch of 8th December the results of that movement are given, but the main body of the enemy, which it was hoped to surround, escaped. Lord Kitchener praised highly the way in which the troops bore the very great strain. About the middle of November both regiments were again in a big operation, but few of the enemy were found.

On the 24th the 1st and 2nd Regiments "surprised Laurens' commando between Eland's River Bridge and Bethlehem, killing 2 Boers in their attack and capturing 12 prisoners". This success was followed up on the 27th by a combined force of the 1st and 2nd I.L.H. under Lieutenant Colonel McKenzie and Lieutenant Colonel Briggs, in which 24 prisoners, 150 horses, and 800 cattle fell into our hands.

The despatch of 8th January 1902 describes further operations under General Elliot, in some of which the I.L.H. took part. When returning to Eland's River Bridge General Dartnell was hotly attacked. "After leaving Bethlehem on the morning of 18th December the latter officer found himself opposed by a large force of Boers under De Wet, who, occupying a position along the Tyger Kloof Spruit, disputed his further advance, whilst he vigorously assailed General Dartnell's flanks and rearguard; sharp fighting was maintained throughout the day.

Every successive attack was gallantly repulsed by the two regiments of the I.L.H. until the approach from Bethlehem of the column under Major-General B. Campbell, who had established signalling communication with General Dartnell during the progress of the fight, finally compelled the enemy, about 3 pm, to beat a hurried retreat in the direction of the Langberg. A few days after this, before dawn on the morning of the 25th December, the enemy surprised and captured the camp of a battalion of Yeomanry at Tweefontein, inflicting great loss.
As soon as the disaster was known the I.L.H. were ordered to the spot, but the Boers, who had got a good start, were not overtaken.
This would have been the last action in which Batchelar participated – he took his discharge, time expired, on 30 December 1901.

Having fought, albeit for short periods of time, with various units across the length and breadth of the country, Batchelar could have been forgiven if he decided to hand in his saddle and rifle. Made, however, of sterner stuff, he enrolled in Marshall’s Horse with, believe it or not, No. 1 and the rank of Trooper.

By the time he enlisted in early 1902, Marshall’s Horse was operational in the west of the Cape Colony where fighting was continuous and the marching very severe. On 24th March at Rhenoster Valley a detachment of Marshall's Horse was badly cut up, losing 7 men killed and 1 officer and 7 men wounded. Despite qualifying for the Cape Colony clasp, Batchelar was already entitled to the Relief of Mafeking clasp which, in terms of the rules, nullified the award of the Cape Colony clasp.

His war over, Batchelar returned to civilian pursuits but, perhaps as a consequence of his exposure to the elements, perhaps as a result of an illness he contracted during the war, the sad news of his passing on 26 July 1902, was made known. At the age of 43, Frank Batchelar, unmarried and alone, died in the Provincial Hospital in Port Elizabeth. The latest address provided for him was Elizabeth Street, Port Elizabeth.

It was left to the House Surgeon, in the absence of any family or friend, to certify his death.