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The nickname for the South African Light Horse was "Suikerbula" - this is the story of one of their number.

William Holman Hichens (Hickens)

Bearer, Natal Voluntary Ambulance Corps
Trooper, South African Light Horse
Lance Corporal, Rand Rifles (Mine Division)

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Laing’s Nek and Belfast to 1584 Tpr. W.H. Hickens, S.A. Lt. Horse

William Hichens (or Hickens as his surname was at times misspelt) was born in St. Just, Cornwall in 1869 and was baptised on 2 November of that year in the local Wesleyan Church. His father, Richard, was a Farmer in the area and his mother was Mary Jane, born Holman, from whence his middle name came.

Our first glimpse of William comes courtesy of the 1871 England census where, aged 1, he was at home on the farm in Church Village, Madron, Cornwall along with his parents and siblings Richard (5) and John (3). Bringing up the rear was Domestic Servant, Mary Daniel.

Ten years later, at the time of the 1881 England census, the family were still on the farm – more detail had been provided about the business and we learned that the farm was 100 acres in size and employed 2 labourers. An 11 year old William and his older siblings had been joined by 8 year old Thomas and 4 year old Walter Herbert.

Active in the Wesleyan chapel, William, it was discovered, had a musical talent, a talent that was soon put to good use. The Cornish Telegraph of 23 March 1882 carried the story: -

“WESLEYAN CHAPEL, MADRON - …...The hymns selected were most suitable and after the sermon the choir rendered Pope’s beautiful ode “Vital Spark,” with great precision, the soprano and alto parts being taken by the Misses Boase and Maddern. Master William Holman Hichens accompanying on the harmonium. A good collection was made in aid of the Chapel fund.”

When the 1891 England census rolled round, William was already 21 years old and still residing at home. His father had passed away in the years since the previous census, leaving his mother to tend to the farm. This could be the reason why all William’s siblings, along with himself, were still classed as Farmers. Mary Jane would seem to have been a better farmer than her husband as the family could afford no fewer than three Domestic Servants to cater for their needs.

Tiring of life in England and seeking to make his fortune elsewhere in the world, Hichens took passage aboard the “Gaul” headed for Cape Town, South Africa on 31 October 1896. His occupation is given as “Miner” on the ship’s manifest so, perhaps, in the years since 1891 he had turned to that occupation. Once in South Africa he made his way, as did so many at that time, to the Witwatersrand in the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek (or Transvaal) which was fast becoming the gold hub of the world with new and exciting deposits rich in gold, being made regularly.

He and the thousands of “Uitlanders”, as President Kruger was wont to call the inhabitants of his country of foreign extraction, were unaware that, within a few years, they would be fleeing for their lives – as far away from the “Rand” as possible.

The 11th October 1899 was the fateful day when everything changed. War was declared between the Transvaal and the Orange Free State on the one hand and the might of Imperial Britain on the other. The “Uitlanders” now beat a hasty retreat for parts south – many of them heading for the relative safety of Durban where many of the menfolk enlisted in one or other of the Colonial Volunteer outfits being raised to assist the British in the war. One such was the Natal Volunteer Ambulance Corps which Hichens joined as a Bearer on 9 December 1899. The account on this body of men which follows is based, largely, on reports which appeared in the Natal Advertiser. Most of the information came from a serving member of the NVAC, who started his reports after his arrival at the front and shortly before the Battle of Colenso on 15/12/1899.


An 8-man stretcher party at Chievely

The name of the Natal Advertiser correspondent was not recorded, but he is believed to have been Charles Matthew Finlayson, an “Uitlander” from the Transvaal, who held the rank of ‘Leader’ in the NVAC.

After the earliest set-piece battles of the Natal theatre of operations had taken place during October (Talana, Elandslaagte), and November (near Ladysmith), it was realised that the British army had inadequate medical services in place, and better provision needed to be made for the timely and efficient removal of casualties from the battles that were still to come. Colonel T Gallwey, Principal Medical Officer of Natal, was tasked with raising an ‘Ambulance Corps’ with volunteers drawn from able-bodied men who had thus far not been taken up in Natal’s volunteer regiments (e.g. Natal Carbineers, Durban Light Infantry), and the various irregular units that had been raised locally (e.g. Imperial Light Horse, Thorneycroft’s Mounted Infantry, Imperial Light Infantry).

Although Natal had provided sanctuary to many refugees from the Boer Republics, by December 1899 the number of men who were best suited for military service must have been considerably reduced. While those remaining may have lacked previous military service, and may have been neither skilled horsemen, nor marksmen, there were still enough able-bodied men prepared to aid the war effort. In a matter of days, between one and two thousand had joined the newly-formed non-combatant NVAC. The men came from all walks of life, from gentlemen to labourers. They were commanded by officers who were seconded from Imperial regiments already in Natal.

A report in the Natal Advertiser, gave the numbers involved at the Colenso front as 1200 for the NVAC, and 600 for the NIAC. Soldiers named these men “the Body Snatchers”. They were to save the lives of many wounded men, and they also eased their pain by carrying them on stretchers, which were a more comfortable mode of transport than ambulances.

Atkins (1900) described the NVAC as an “oddly assorted body of men”, wearing an assortment of clothes, including “canvas shoes”, “yawning boots and clothes that must have seen service in the streets of a town”. Pakenham (1979) added that they “dressed in tattered khaki tunics, and a strange assortment of hats, helmets, bowlers and tam-o’shanters.” The “body snatchers” were tough and acquitted themselves well.

Most of the NVAC enlistments took place in Durban on 9 December 1899 (as in the case of Hichens), with other men joining up until 13 December. The first to join soon left for General Buller’s camp at Frere, arriving there on Monday, 11 December. At noon on Tuesday, the NVAC joined Buller’s advance on Colenso by way of Chieveley. The Natal Advertiser correspondent reported that at “sundown, at a picturesque spot, where a beautiful stream ran through a large, tolerably level, grassy expanse, we rested for the night.” This was the calm before the storm that was to give men of the NVAC their first experience of the tasks they had undertaken to fulfil.

On Friday, 15 December, the long-awaited assault on the entrenched Boer line along the north bank of the Tugela River took place, and the Battle of Colenso was fought. The attack soon ran into fierce opposition, casualties mounted, and Buller’s army was effectively routed in a matter of hours.

The Natal Advertiser carried the following report on the activities of the NVAC:

“Now our work began in earnest. At 10 o’clock the first ambulance arrived from the battlefield with wounded men, and shortly afterwards the sections of [the NVAC’s] different Ambulance Companies were ordered to advance, with their stretchers. It was a long walk, varying from three to four miles to the firing line. I went out four times to the front, superintending the removal of the wounded. Some of these were badly hurt, but the majority of those who fell to my lot to bring in were shot through the extremities, the arms and legs …..”

“My section carried off a number of Thorneycroft’s men, and a pluckier set of fellows it would be difficult to imagine. Although wounded badly, they never uttered a sound, and one splendid fellow, badly shot through the liver, insisted on sharing his water with the bearers. Thorneycroft’s wounded behaved with great fortitude.”

The defeated troops began to retire at 2 pm, “but it was not until far into the night that the ambulance and stretcher parties left off work.” Amongst the last to return was Lord Robert Manners, who commanded one of the NVAC companies.

In his account of the events of the following day, the Natal Advertiser correspondent wrote:

“I was instructed to take charge of a party to go to the field to bury the dead. A guide took us the shortest way to do our gruesome work.
While we were busy at one spot a party of four from the other side rode up, comprised of a clean-shaven Englishman from Johannesburg, two Boers, and a doctor. I asked about the Boer loss, which he told me was very small, only four killed and twenty wounded.” These figures were later revised to eight killed and 30 wounded. By contrast, the British lost 143 men killed, 756 wounded, and 240 captured and missing.

The Natal Advertiser later reported that the NVAC, “justified its existence at the battle of Colenso. Not only was it specially thanked by General Buller, but various military officers expressed their admiration at the courage and coolness displayed by the corps under fire.”

The NVAC returned to Durban, where it undertook a re-organisation of its ranks, and much of the equipping that had not been possible in the frantic week between its first enlistments and its first battle. Their commanding officer, Major Montague Stuart Wortley CMG DSO, “procured what looked almost like a pyramid of boots, from which any size from 6’s to 11’s could be selected by those needing them.” Time was also occupied “in the supplying of knives, forks, water bottles, etc.”

A smaller and better equipped NVAC returned to Frere, where their camp was “situated a few yards away from the scene of the armoured train incident, where Winston Churchill showed his bravery.” The men were kept busy with long marches, regular drills and stretcher exercises. They were told that in future battles each stretcher was to be accompanied by eight men, rather than the 12 used during the Battle of Colenso. Another innovation was to be the creation of a mounted ambulance corps to accompany mounted infantry and cavalry regiments. There were many volunteers for this unit. Recreation included games of football. A promise of a ration of beer disappointingly turned out to be two barrels to be divided between 1 000 men. The end of the 19th Century was celebrated relatively quietly, and the 20th Century started with stretcher drills at 6 am and 11 am.”

The NVAC was also to play a crucial role in the many other battles and skirmishes leading up the relief of Ladysmith on 1 March 1900 – these included the dreadful slaughter experienced by Buller’s forces at Spioenkop on 24 January and the Vaalkrantz and Peter’s Hill actions as well. It could truly be said that the NVAC men were unsung heroes – constantly under fire and operating under the most trying circumstances, they went up and down mountains, returning with the wounded and the dying and conveying them many miles on foot to the base camp where field hospitals were to be found. Hichens, who served with the NVAC until 12 March 1900, would have been one of these men.

Undeterred by the fact that his outfit was disbanded after the Relief, he turned his attentions to the South African Light Horse, enlisting in their ranks as a Trooper with no. 1584.

The SALH had been raised in the Cape Colony in November 1899; the command given to Major (local Lieutenant Colonel) the Honourable J H G Byng (10th Hussars). They had taken part in and played an important role at Spioenkop and, after Ladysmith had been freed, were part of Buller’s Natal Army which headed through the Biggarsberg rolling up the Boer opposition and driving them out of Natal. Hichens missed out on their earlier actions but was with them for the post-Relief campaign.

On 6 June 1900 Hildyard received orders to reconnoiter Van Wyk as a position for heavy guns, and he detailed the SALH, which had been under his orders since he started for Utrecht, to carry out the reconnaissance. The SALH occupied the hill with slight opposition, but the Boers on Botha’s Pass, realizing the importance of the hill, made a bold attempt to retake it. They climbed the south-western side on the hill and, setting fire to the grass, hotly attacked Colonel Byng, who had his men extended along the north western crest line of about three miles.

Seeing from their determined efforts to retake the hill that they had no intention of letting him reoccupy it easily a second time, if he withdrew from it now, Hildyard decided to turn the reconnaissance into a definitive occupation of the hill.

After several hours fighting the Middlesex regiment were sent up the hill, the rest of the brigade were brought up from De Wet’s farm, and the defences were strengthened. At nightfall the Boers, who had not succeeded in making any ground, retired. Steps were at once taken to place long-range guns on the hill and the Naval Brigade brought a 12-pounder up to the summit. On this day the Boers opened a desultory fire from the 6-inch gun on Pougwana.

7 June was spent in concentrating the troops for the attack upon Botha’s Pass. The attack on the Pass was to be carried out by infantry in echelon from the right, in order to conform to the shape of the hills in front of them. One squadron of the SALH was to occupy Spitzkop, the other 2 to cover the left of Wynne’s advance.

At 10 a.m. on the 8th, bombardment by the heavy guns commenced, and the SALH occupied Spitzkop without opposition. The British batteries then came into action and shelled the slopes of the Drakensberg. No opposition was encountered and, covered by a very heavy artillery fire, the infantry began to climb the steep slopes. As soon as the infantry reached the top, the Boers opened a sharp fire on them from the crevices where they were hidden. A Colt gun and several other guns were dragged up and opened fire on the Boer positions, clearing their trenches. The Boers then set fire to the grass and retreated. The mounted troops were brought down to the foot of the hill whilst the infantry had to settle down in the cold.

The success of the operation enabled Buller to enter the Orange Free State and the effect of the capture of Botha’s Pass on the Transvaalers was immediate, with several of the commandos who had remained near Laing’s Nek after the retreat from Helpmekaar hastening away to join Louis Botha’s forces in the neighbourhood of Pretoria.

9 June was sent dragging the artillery and transport up Botha’s Pass. On the 10th Buller took the Volksrust road, and after a march of about twelve miles, entered the Transvaal at Gansvlei. During the afternoon 2 squadrons of the SALH, who were acting as advanced guard, fell upon some of the Boers who were retreating across Buller’s front, consisting chiefly of men from the Lydenburg Commando, who had escaped from Botha’s Pass. A very sharp engagement took place, in which both sides came to close quarters. The SALH were disengaged from a difficult position with the help of the 19th Hussars and some heavy guns, but not until they had lost 6 killed and 8 wounded.”

The Boers now concentrated their forces on a nearby hill. For Buller to progress he would either have to make a 20-mile detour around them or attack. He decided on the latter course, determining to attack the cleft in the hill known as Alleman’s Nek. The SALH were ordered to cover the rear of this attack and took no part in it. On 12 June Buller resumed his march along the Volksrust road. About 4 miles from Alleman’s Nek the SALH, who were advance guard for the day, came in touch with a few small parties of the enemy. Some guns were brought into action and the Boers driven off. By 11 o’ clock the station outside Volksrust was in Buller’s hands.

By the 28th of June the SALH were stationed in Standerton. During this period the railway line and telegraph were cut several times. Reconnaissance’s were made against some of Botha’s party by the SALH, from Standerton but they were not further involved.

During the remainder of June and the month of July 1900 the Natal Army, of which the S.A. Light Horse was a part, was employed in occupying and fortifying posts on the Pretoria-Natal railway and the south-east portion of the Transvaal. In his telegram of 13th July, Lord Roberts mentions that on the night of the 11th the SALH by good scouting had prevented the Boers from destroying the railway near Vlaklaagte, and that Lord Dundonald had captured a Boer camp.

On 7th August General Buller commenced his advance from the railway to meet Lord Roberts' army near Belfast. On several occasions there was sharp fighting, in which the SALH had a most prominent share. The 22nd August saw them in the advance to Komatipoort where Walter Kitchener was sent with 2 battalions of his brigade and 4 squadrons of SALH, to the south-east of Van Wyk’s Vlei. The Bethal and Carolina Commandos were well posted under cover of kraals and boulders and Kitchener was unable to make much of an impression on them, the men returning to camp in the afternoon.

On the 27th General Buller attacked the immensely strong position held by the Boers stretching across the Delagoa Railway. Bergendal was the point selected for the chief attack. The enemy was thoroughly defeated. On the 29th the SALH drove the enemy out of Waterval Boven capturing five waggons in the process. Buller's force now moved north of the railway and after some fighting occupied Lydenburg.

All the while Buller and his Natal army were making steady inroads as they marched inexorably towards a junction with Roberts who had moved out from Pretoria. The intention was to hem the remaining Boers into a corner thus curtailing their movements and setting the groundwork for the big push to confront and defeat them.


The South African Light Horse in the field

On 2 September 1900, at Rietfontein, the Boers made the unusual mistake of showing their numbers and position, two squadrons of the SALH were ordered to rush their position, being joined by Strathcona’s Horse. Although very heavily shelled, the mounted troops found good cover behind some old walls, and maintained their position throughout the rest of the day, before being withdrawn into bivouac at 6 p.m.

On 9 September they were in action again – it was found that the Boers were holding some rocky ridges in front of the Mauchberg, five miles south-east of Paardeplaats. Guns were brought up to pave the way for the infantry, who came up and drove the defenders from the mountain with a fine rush. As the Gordon’s reached the top of the mountain, the SALH and Strathcona men were sent after them, racing for the summit. An outburst of excited cheering brought up Sir Redvers Buller, who saw the whole of the Boer convoy within artillery range and making desperate efforts to escape.

A word from Buller and the SALH galloped down the hill in pursuit, but in place of what appeared to be an easy road from the top, the SALH found a steep and winding track, while a series of steep ridges still lay between them and their prey. The moment that the irregulars threw themselves from their tried horses and advanced towards the ridges, a furious fire was opened on them. The Boer rearguard refused to give an inch and the convoy was thus able to pass off into the distance.

In October the SALH were taken to Pretoria, and on the 15th were there inspected and complimented by Lord Roberts. In the second phase of the war the regiment was mainly employed in the Orange River Colony. In his despatch of 8th March 1901, Lord Kitchener said that in the beginning of December 1900 Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry and the SALH were railed from Standerton and Volksrust respectively to Bloemfontein, and were sent to occupy a line of posts between Thabanchu and Ladybrand, east of the capital. De Wet was then trying to get into Cape Colony, but was headed off by Charles Knox and driven north again.

The bulk of the Boers broke through the line above-mentioned and got away to the Senekal district, but in his telegram of 15th December Lord Kitchener was able to say that the SALH and Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry captured one 15-pounder taken at Dewetsdorp, one pom-pom, several waggons of ammunition, 22 prisoners, and some horses and mules. Soon after this the SALH and Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry were, with other troops, railed to Cape Colony to operate against Kritzinger and other leaders.

Both regiments took part in many a memorable pursuit. In January 1901 the SALH was constantly in touch with the enemy, and on the 16th, in the Murraysburg district of Cape Colony, a detachment acting as advance guard became engaged with a strong force of the enemy. In February De Wet himself with a considerable force got into Cape Colony, but being hotly and constantly pressed by numerous columns, including Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry and the SALH, he was driven out again on the 28th February minus 200 prisoners, all his guns, waggons, and ammunition.

Hichens, who had by now seen plenty of action, took his discharge from the South African Light Horse on 25 February 1901. By this time both Johannesburg and Pretoria had been occupied by the British forces and many of those who had fled, deemed it safe to return to the Witwatersrand. Hichens, now back in familiar territory, joined the ranks of the Mine Division of the Rand Rifles as a Lance Corporal with no. 28175. This outfit were raised to protect the mines, the lifeblood of the Transvaal economy, from disruption and destruction by the Boers.

Hichens was awarded his Queens medal which was issued off the SALH dated at Elandsfontein on 15 July 1901. His previous service with the NVAC had been recognised with the award of the Tugela Heights and Relief of Ladysmith clasps – both of these, according to the roll, were returned to the Mint.

The war over, Hichens turned his attention to his childhood occupation, that of farming. He purchased “The Brook” in the Ermelo district of the eastern Transvaal. It was here, on 19 November 1942 at the age of 73 years 2 months and 3 days that he breathed his last, succumbing to the combined evils of exposure, myocardial degeneration and senility. He had never married and had no children. He left his estate of £1119 to his New Zealand nephew, George Spencer Hichens – the son of his brother Walter Herbert Hichens

Thank you for this excellent article!
William Holman Hichens is a relative of mine as I am directly descended from his uncle. His brother, Thomas Spencer Hichens, was killed in 1902 while fighting with the New Zealand Mounted Rifles.
Is William's medal in your possession?
Best regards
Rob Hichens

It is indeed Rob.

Send me your e-mail address and I can send you quite a bit of info.

Regards

Rory

Great, thank you!
My email address is [email protected]
Cheers,
Rob