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Joseph Archbell a reluctant Burgher, and Guide to General Hamilton 4 years 2 weeks ago #68253

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Joseph William Archbell

Guide, Field Intelligence Department
Trooper, Harrismith Volunteer Light Horse – Anglo Boer War


- Queens South Africa Medal with Wittebergen clasp to J.W. Archbell, F.I.D.

Joseph Archbell’s story and his connection with the Orange Free State can be traced back to the marriage of his parents in Bloemfontein on 10 January 1857. On that day Archbell senior, who hailed from Natal, walked down the aisle in the “English” church to wed Jane Hiscock, the daughter of John Hiscock, of Sand River, Orange Free State.

Born in Howick, just inland from Pietermaritzburg in Natal in about 1867, Joe Archbell was to travel over the Drakensberg at some point in his life, to settle and farm in the Bethlehem district of the eastern Orange Free State, a Boer Republic, becoming a citizen or Burgher of that sovereign state by dint of his residence there. But first he spent time in the thriving hub of the gold mining industry in Johannesburg where, at the age of 30 on 9 September 1897 in the district of the Witwatersrand Goldfields, he wed 17 year old Josephine Eliza Powell who hailed from that neck of the woods.

War and any potential role he would play in it was the furtherest thing from his mind as he went about the daily routine of a farmer – seeing to his crops and his animals and building a legacy for his family. This idyllic bliss was shattered however, in the very last year of the 19th century.

Far to the north of where his lands lay, a crusty old campaigner and President of the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek (Transvaal), “Oom Paul” Kruger, had reached the end of his tether with the “Uitlanders” ceaseless demands for the franchise and a bigger say in the affairs of the Transvaal where they contributed most of the tax revenue and outnumbered the locals.

Having signed a pact with his neighbour in the Orange Free State to the south, Kruger fired off an ultimatum to his nemesis, Great Britain, demanding that Imperial troops be removed from his borders of there would be war. This was met with stony silence on the part of the British Authorities and, on 11 October 1899, war was declared.

President Steyn, sitting in Bloemfontein, was a reluctant combatant. This did change over time as the war progressed but, initially, he would have wanted to avoid war. His army of Burgher Commandos were not as battle-ready as Kruger’s, nor was their arms and equipment as far advanced. Notwithstanding this fact, preparations for war had been taking place, in anticipation of the event, for several weeks before the first shot was fired.

The plan of action was simple – a portion of the Free State Commandos, those from the towns closest to the Natal border, were to mass in Harrismith prior to crossing over the Drakensberg range where they were to meet up with Commandos from the Transvaal who, after entering Natal via Vryheid, ended up converging on the town of Ladysmith, to which siege was laid on 1 November 1899.

The town of Bethlehem and Archbell’s farm in particular, were in the direct path of the advance on Natal. Burghers of the Orange Free State were required, by law, to join their local Commando, take to the field and join the fight on the Boer side. Men like Archbell, English-speaking and inclined to regard England as the “home country”, were on the horns of a dilemma – were they to refuse and remain neutral they risked the enmity and approbation of their friends and neighbours. Were they to obey instructions and fight, they risked taking up arms against family and those with whom they sympathised ideologically.

The decision was made easy for Archbell – he was commandeered - a list in the Free State Archives clearly has his name on a list of those “Burghers commandeered by J.S. Cloete, Veld Kornet of the town of Bethlehem on 1 October 1899”. A comment in the remarks column records that Archbell was “temporarily discharged” and this fits with statements that Archbell made later.




To give justice to his story we turn to the Claim for War Losses form he completed on 23 May 1903, after hostilities had ended. This claim contained a number of statements and it immediately becomes apparent to the reader exactly what role Archbell played in the war.
His affidavit, dated 18 May 1903 reads as follows: -

‘Record of assessment of claim of Joseph William Archbell, Rietpoort No. 50 District Bethlehem

Claimant Joseph William Archbell being sworn states: -

I reside on the farm Rietpoort dist. Bethlehem, I also resided there before the war. I first resided in the late Free State for eighteen or twenty years and then went to the Transvaal where I resided six years. About nineteen months before the outbreak of the war I returned to the farm Rietpoort where I resided until the outbreak of the war.

I never became a registered voter of the Free State. After my return from the Transvaal I did not exercise any voting rights. About eighteen years ago I acted as Deputy Sheriff for Bethlehem.

I was commandeered to go and guard the Basuto Border, after two weeks I returned obtaining a certificate as a British Subject. After I had been at home for a few months this certificate was taken from me. I was informed at the time that the President had cancelled the permit. The Landrost (Magistrate) then told me that if I brought a letter from Field Cornet Strauss, who was Field Cornet of the Ward in which I resided, that my name was not on the Burgers List, I would then get a proper sealed Certificate.

I refused to go to Field Cornet Strauss as he was then in Natal, shortly afterwards in March 1900 I was again commandeered to the Basutoland Border where I remained till the 15th April when I was commandeered to go to Thaba Nchu. The British had already entered the Free State and were advancing to Thaba Nchu, I refused to go. I was then sent back to the Border where I remained till the 8th May when I was released for good and remained in Bethlehem till the British occupation.

I went as a Guide to General Ridley in July 1900. I was only with him a few days. I then joined General Hunter as Guide and Interpreter and was with him till after Commandant Prinsloo’s surrender. After that I joined the 8th Division and was with them until October 1900. I then joined the Bethlehem Town Guard, the inhabitants were then removed to Harrismith where I joined the Harrismith Light Horse till peace was declared.

Annexure 1 is my claim for war losses. Annexure 2 is a detailed list of goods taken from me from the farm Rietpoort by Republican officers. I received no receipt for any of these articles. The 5000 bales of forage were packed in an outhouse and stable. The 40 bags of wheat were packed in my dwelling house also 100 seed oats and 30 bags mealies. The see oats however were not in bags. The 400 lb of tobacco was in leaf already packed for cutting. The horse was a gelding and taken off the farm. The tent, cart and buggy were taken out of a cart house in town.

These were taken when the British were approaching on the town and the inhabitants were ordered by General De Wet to go out of the town. The horse, saddle and bridle were taken from me on the 8th May 1900 when I was sent back to town from the Basutoland Border.
Annexures III and IV are specific lists of my losses at the hands of the British troops. The two oxen were taken from my farm together with some native cattle, the Buck wagon was destroyed on the farm. The reaping machine also. The reaping machine I bought shortly before the war and paid £25 it was still in good working order.

The tobacco cost me £20 all before the war and was in good order. The store and utensils were left in the kitchen on the farm and destroyed there. The carpenter and blacksmith tools were in my workshop. The gate poles were of wood with the necessary fixtures. The harness was for a span of 10 mules and the yokes for 36 oxen.

The wheat was also some in bags and some loose. The seed oats loose and some of the mealies in bags. I know what quantity of wheat, mealies and oats I had there. I got a receipt for 31 bags of wheat and some seed oats, these are not included in this claim. The two Oliver ploughs were destroyed on the farm.

After all my seed oats had been taken and destroyed I purchased 8 bags in town for the purpose of sowing and sent these to my farm. Only one bag of this was sown, the balance was taken by the 8th Division, four of the oxen my natives were ploughing with were taken by the Brigade a few days later.

The farm Rietpoort is registered in my name and names of brothers and sisters. I claim for damages to the houses as I was residing on the farm and it was agreed that I should bring this up in my claim. The Dwelling House was built of stone, the roof of galvanized iron. The house contained 5 rooms, a pantry kitchen and passage. Two of the front rooms had boarded floors and was tiled throughout with board except the kitchen. The house had 9 doors and 6 windows. The house was destroyed and all that was left of it were the bare walls.

The stable was built partly of stone and partly of stone with thatched roof, the storehouse adjoining it was similarly built. The workshop, harness and cart house were built of stone with galvanized roof. The Dairy was a stone building with thatch roof. The large Fowl house was built of wood and wire netting. All these buildings and also Fowl house were destroyed.

Annexure V is a valuation of damage done to buildings, trees and fences by Govt. appraiser J.A. Sugden, and I wish this attached to my claim.

Annexure VI is a certificate of the Resident Magistrate re damage done to building and trees. This I also wish attached to my claim. At the outbreak of the war I removed my family to the town and brought most of my furniture with me. I then packed my grain in the house.

Annexure IV is a list of my furniture which was left in my house in Bethlehem, at the time the residents were removed to Harrismith. These goods were taken and destroyed, the only article that I have recovered was the Side Board which I found in pieces and had repaired. This article is now worth about 2/3rds of the original value.

In November 1900 I inoculated 113 oxen for the Military Authorities for which I received no payment being informed that that the A/C had to be paid by Julius Weil’s Imperial Transport Contractor. Weil also refused to pay me, stating that his contract ended with Government on 31 October 1900, and the oxen were inoculated in November.

Annexure VII were my instructions from the Military Authorities for inoculating and annexures VIII and IX are my accounts rendered to them. I was paid by the Military for receipts = £1084. This was for cattle, horses, Cape Cart and some wheat, but none of the articles for which I got receipts are included in my claim.

Part of the money I had to pay for cattle taken by the British which I had bought before the war and I had not paid for. The only assistance I have received from the Repatriation is that I have purchased horses and sheep on credit.

J.W. Archbell – Bethlehem 18 May 1903.’

If Archbell’s word wasn’t considered enough to prove his loyalty and how he had suffered at the hands of his Boer neighbours, a number of witnesses were called upon to make statements. One such was from a native who worked on his farm: -

‘Claim No. 4824
Witness: Maroenjan (Native)

Maroenjan (Native) having been duly sworn states: -

I lived at Rietpoort farm in employ of Mr J.W. Archbell at the time the British took Bethlehem in the winter of last year – some scouts from a column which was in the Reitz road coming to Bethlehem took from the farm 12 oxen – four of these belonged to a native named Old Boy and 6 to native Klein Boy and 2 to Mr Archbell.

A few days afterwards from a camp just outside Bethlehem some troops came with wagons and took away from the farm wheat, oats and mealies – they took all the seed oats – a room full and all the mealies, about 50 bags – and a large quantity of wheat – nearly two rooms full – only leaving a small quantity.

They came backwards and forwards taking things from the farm during 5 days. They took away the beams and ceilings of the dwelling house and smashed in the windows and loaded up and carted away all the furniture, buckets, cooking utensils, tools and all the wood work and disselboom of a wagon and smashed all wood work off the reaping and tobacco machines – and took away the yokes etc. they took all woodwork of the plough.

After these troops went away I left the farm to work on the Intelligence Department. I have visited the farm several times since then during my occupation as a spy – and there is a lot more damage done – the buildings all having been burnt to the ground only some of the walls standing.

About ploughing and sowing time (August?) I was sent by Mr Archbell to the farm to plough and sow – I took 8 bags of seed oats out on a wagon belonging to a native and sowed one bag of seed oats – the other 7 bags were taken from me at the farm by the troops.

During the time I was ploughing the troops came and took four of the oxen I was using for ploughing with – these oxen belonged to Mr Archbell. The first troops that came to the farm destroyed a wagon wheel belonging to native Klein Boy.

With regard to the cattle (15 mixed cattle) taken from the native Old Booi, the native Nel (son of Old Booi) who is now in Harrismith can give evidence. The following natives now working with the 8th Division Transport could give evidence as to damages on the farm – Pompey – Dolos.

His mark
Bethlehem, 13 September 1903’

A witness who had impeccable credentials was Archbell’s own brother who stated thus under oath: -

‘Frank Tempest Archbell
Bethlehem

Having been duly sworn states: -

The farm Rietpoort, Bethlehem was bought October 1887 by my late father and was made over by him to all his children at the time of purchase, the transfer being made out in the children’s’ names. The transfer is I understand in the Bank of Africa Maritzburg. By arrangement with the family J.W. Archbell, about a year before the war commenced, went to live on the farm which he took over with everything on it at the time to manage and work for his own profit, paying to his mother a certain rent as she had the usufruct during her life.
Up to the time of Mr Archbell’s taking on the farm it had been under my management, and the following is a list as far as I can remember of the things handed over to J.W. Archbell.

- 17 head cattle
- 4 horses
- 1 buck wagon with gear complete
- 1 dog cart and harness

All farming implements and tools

The furniture in the house was mostly his at the time and he took over articles of furniture which had belonged to his mother. At the time of taking over according to prices offered to me and current values at the time, the values of the cattle and horses were £190 and £84 respectively. The wagon cost £63 cash without gear, the gear was worth about £6. The cart and harness £35. The farming implements and tools £15.

These values refer to the properties taken over by Mr Archbell when he took over the farm, since which time he has acquired other properties by purchase, breeding and farming. He purchased from me 3 horses, I purchased for him two cows and two calves. The 3 horses cost £38 and the cattle £27.

J.W. Archbell bought cattle and horses at sales and from private individuals before the war.

F.T. Archbell
3 January 1902.’

It is glaringly obvious, from both Archbell’s own statement as well as others, that he was a reluctant contributor to the Boer war effort. He was posted to the Basuto border on two occasions – a part of the world that wasn’t expected to see much in the way of action – a true statement as it turned out. Eventually, as the Imperial war machine occupied, first Bloemfontein, and then the remainder of the Free State, Archbell was, in a sense, liberated from his obligations as a Burgher, turning his resourcefulness to good account for the British instead.

There were occasions where Archbell just missed being in action on the Boer side. According to Times’ Official History of the war, Volume 3, Page 361, President Steyn had “brought up the Bethlehem Commando and other detachments from the Basutoland border” – this was in February 1900 and these men were sent to Colesburg to ward off General Clements advance. Archbell just missed this as he was back in Bethlehem until being sent back to the Basuto border in March.




In his statement, Archbell mentions that he “went as a Guide to General Ridley in July 1900” and that “I then joined General Hunter as a Guide and Interpreter and was with him until after Commandant Prinsloo’s surrender”. Ridley was in charge of the Mounted Infantry under General Hunter and, after Bethlehem had fallen on 7 July 1900 and the Boers had retired to the Wittebergen (the Brandwater Basin) he would have scouted for Ridley for the first few days after the British forces had entered the town.

Hunter, who headed up the VIIIth Division, was in full command of the British forces in the north-eastern Orange Free State. Based in Bethlehem he was set to launch an all-out attack on the masses Boer forces in the Basin however, he was restricted from doing so by his lack of intelligence of the terrain around him. The Times History, Volume IV, page 319 tells us that: -

‘The second cause of delay was General Hunter’s very natural ignorance of the country in which he had to operate. The maps available of the Brandwater Basin and of its surrounding mountains were of the sketchiest description. The only information of value was from the half-dozen inhabitants of Bethlehem, Fouriesburg and Harrismith, who acted as guides”. This number undoubtedly includes Archbell as one of the guides.



Prinsloo's surrender in the Brandwater Basin

As mentioned, Archbell went on to serve for a brief while in the Harrismith Volunteer Light Horse where he served with his brother Frank.
This outfit was established in January 1901 under Captain H. Hawkins. It comprised some 100 members, most of whom were English-speaking inhabitants of the town. The HVLH performed duties in the town but extended its activities to the district as guides and scouts for Imperial troops in laying waste the countryside. While the detachment was away most of the shops in the town remained closed owing to the fact that many of the shop assistants belonged to the HVLH.

The only incident worthy of note in which the HVLH was involved occurred on 28 July 1901. A report was received that some 80 Boers, under Commandant F Jacobsz, had occupied hilly country on the farm Saaihoek in the district of Witzieshoek. Some 600 Yeomanry and the HVLH, sent out from Harrismith, came across 40 Boers all of whom, while evading possible capture, occupied some of the surrounding hills. Jacobsz and the remaining Boers then arrived on the scene. While the HVLH began to retire, a group of Yeomanry was ambushed on a ridge. In this action 3 were killed (including one officer) and 5 wounded while 32 were captured. On the Boer side there was only one casualty, Jacobsz, who was severely wounded. The Boers allowed the British to take their dead and wounded back to Harrismith. The remainder were held captive until escorted to Basutoland. From there they walked back to Harrismith, arriving a week later. It is not known if Archbell took part in this specific action.

On 31 May 1902 the war was over and, as has been seen, Archbell returned to his farm to pick up the pieces of his life. The rebuilding phase had begun, helped, it has to be said, by an injection of money from his successful compensation claim. At some point he tired of farm life and moved to the South Coast of natal where he lived in the small seaside town of Umkomaas.

Widowed, he wed again in Umzinto on 25 March 1920 at the age of 52, to Josephine Emma Thompson, a 44 year old spinster. He was still described as a Farmer. He passed away at his dwelling house in Doondside, near Amanzimtoti, on 7 October 1943, aged 76, and was survived by his second wife and three children – Florence Winifred Archbell; Doris Muriel Tedder and Dorothy Eliza Glaister. His farm, Willow Glen was bequeathed to his children






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Jospeh Archbell a reluctant Burgher, and Guide to General Hamilton 4 years 2 weeks ago #68263

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Rory
Having some interest in the I.D./F.I.D. I had a look in the Buxton roll on the odd chance. His entry is under the Intelligence Dept., Harrismith District (which would be expected). I also had a look through the actual roll pages -again you never know - and it shows his HLH number as 150.
Buxton records a total of 40 Wittebergen clasps awarded to the FID; just eleven single clasp Wittebergen entitlements.
I have always been interested in the operations in the Brandwater Basin which resulted in the Wittebergen clasp. A larger number of captives than that taken at Paardeburg and some splendid scouting done by Lovat's.
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