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Cecil Owen Streatfield

Corporal, Cape Mounted Rifles

- Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps Transvaal, Orange Free State and Cape Colony to 3162 Pte. C.O. Streatfeild, Cape M.R.
- King's South Africa Medal with clasps South Africa 1901 and 1902 to 3162 Corpl.C.O. Streatfield, Cape M.R.

Streatfield was born at the Vicarage in Isycoed, Denbighshire, Wales the son of Champion Welbank Streatfield, the Curate and Vicar of Isycoed, and his wife Elizabeth, on 16 September 1878. He was baptised on 13 December 1878

In 1881, at the time of the census, the family was resident at Isycoed Vicarage. The household was rather full with the six members of the Streatfield family, 3 servants, a Governess and a gardener all under the same roof.

It is not known when Streatfield sought pastures green and emigrated to South Africa but at the age of 19, on 29 September 1897, he enrolled as a 2nd Class Private with the Cape Mounted Rifles, number 3162. At he time he had chest measurements of 34 inches, was 5 foot 7 1/4 inches tall, had grey eyes, fair hair and a fair complexion.

On 7 February 1898 he was transferred to "A" Squadron, Mounted Division where, after two years of service he was transferred to "G" Squadron on 1 March 1900. By this time the Anglo Boer War had been raging for five months.

According to "Boots and Saddles" the history of the Cape Mounted Rifles written by P.J. Young, the C.M.R. was about 1 000 strong at the outbreak of the Anglo Boer War in October 1899. The regiment was spread in deatchments over the whole of the Transkeian territories and in a portion of the Eastern Province. While the Eastern Province had a fairly large European population, on the other hand the Transkei was almost entirely occupied by Bantu tribes.


Streatfield in later years with the Wiggill boys - the family he befriended.

'By the middle of November 1899 a detachment of C.M.R. about 250 strong under Colonel Dalgety was posted at Garryowen in the Cala district, where they operated with the Tembuland Field Force under Elliott's orders. A,F,G, and I Squadrons acted with the East Griqualand Field Force, which was under the command of Colonel Stanford with headquarters at Mount Fletcher. These squadrons had a dull spell on garrison duty during the first part of the campaign, though they had a sense of big expectancy.'

'While the main part of the regiment was with Colonel Dalgety in the long and difficult hunt for De Wet, F (Streatfield's), G and I Companies were on garrison duty in the districts of Aliwal North, Barkly East and Lady Grey.

In August 1900 F and G Companies were sent to Kraaipan and Maritsani on the Western Cape-Free State border. When General Settle's flying column was formed a month later at Vryburg, F and G Companies were included in it. They operated around Schweizer Reneke, Bloemhof and Christiana. Thereupon the two companies came under the command of Captain Carstensen, C.M.R. until March 1901 when Major Cantwell assumed command.'

On 21 September 1900 Streatfield was promoted to 1st Class Private and transferred to "F" Company.

'Exciting days followed for some little time. On 17 October Settle crossed the Vaal and pushed on to Hoopstad, and operated in that area. On October 19th a Boer force fell upon the camp at Wegdraai, and after a strong counter attack they retreated quickly. On the 23rd he returned towards Hoopsatd.

On the 25th October Settle keft Hoopstad for the Kimberley district where General Hertzog's commando was making itself unpleasant.

In December 1900 Sir Charles Parsons took over command of Settle's column, then engaged De Wet. A big change came on December 23rd when the column was sent by rail to Victoria West, Cape Colony. This time it came under the command of Colonel Scobell. The men carried on variable operations in defence of the railway line as far as Lambert's Bay near Clanwilliam(West Coast). The work gave them every opportunity for courage and initiative.

In March 1901 the column was transferred to the Cambdeboo Mountains and on to the Jansenville districts. Here the men had many sharp encounters with commandos operating there. In April, however, the column was broken up and the C.M.R. contingent of F, G and I companies returned to the rest of the regiment in the field which was serving with the Colonial Division under Colonel Luikin, then operating in the Cradock area.

During the latter part of the war the C.M.R. were entirely employed in the Cape Colony in collaboration with other troops who were operating against local rebel leaders.'

Streatfield was still enrolled with "F" Company with the rank of Corporal on 29 September 1902 (Regimental Order 49). At the time he was recorded as being 24 years of age, 5 foot 8 inches in height , his eyes were grey/brown and his complexion was fresh. He was recorded as having no "trade".

For his service in the Boer War he qualified for both the QSA and KSA medals. The former with State bars Transvaal, Orange Free State and Cape Colony.

On 30 April 1903 Corporal Streatfield purchased his discharge from the CMR whilst still with "F" Company.(Regimental Order 92)

Post war, Streatfield secured employment with the Cape Provincial Department of Agriculture as a Sheep Inspector in the Transkei (Eastern Cape) Divison. On 20 February 1904 he wrote to the Resident Magistrate at Mount Ayliff as follows,

"Sir, I have the honour to request that I may have a piece of land allotted to me in Mtiwane's Location on which to build and grow forage etc. I have the Headman's consent fro a site about 2 acres in extant. I have the honour, your obedient servant etc. C.O. Streatfield, Sheep Inspector, Area 18B Mt. Ayliff"

Accompanying this letter was a diagram of where the requested land was situate.

On 9 March 1904 the Resident Magistrate, Mr Alfred S. Leary, addressed a letter to the Chief Magistrate, Umtata wherein he states that 'the piece of ground in question is within a few hundred yards of Mr. Donald McKenzie's store and, as no provision has been made for him, the Inspector is entireley dependant on the hospitality of the McKenzie family on whom he has been quartered since appointment. The Headman and people are willing and I beg to recommend Mr. Streatfield's application.'

On 16 May 1904 the Acting Chief Magistrate at Umtata, one A.H.Stanford, forwarded this application to The Secretary, Native Affairs Department, Cape Town with a recommendation that the request be approved.

On 6 June 1904 the request was approved by the Acting Secretary in a letter to Leary at Umtata. This was on condition that an annual payment of 2 pounds in advance be payable. In due course this was ratified by the Surveyor General's Office on 30 June 1904.

Living in close proximity to the McKenzie clan seems to have paid dividends for Streatfield as he married one of the daughters, Anne. According to the Kokstad Advertiser of 22 September 1905 "A pretty wedding took place in the Roman Catholic Church, Mount Frere, on Thursday last, the contracting parties being Mr. Cecil V. Streatfeild, son of the Rev. C.W. Streatfeild, Lillington, Leamington, England, and Miss Annie ("Girlie") McKenzie. The church was tastefully decorated for the occassion with forest climbers and arum lilies. The Reverend Father Vernet officiated and the bridegroom was attended by Mr. R.J. McKay as best man. The bride who is a great favourite with all in the village, most of whom have known her since childhood, entered the sacred edifice with her brother at 11 a.m., to the strains of the "bridal march."

After the ceremony a reception was held at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. R.J. McKenzie, where the summer house and croquet lawn had been tastefully decorated and arranged to receive the guests"

The gentleman from whom the medals were acquired stated that Streatfield had lived for many years in the Ramsgate area of the Natal South Coast and had been a small time property speculator buying and selling the odd house at a profit.

His wife, Anne (born Mckenzie) whom he had married in the East Griqualand area of the Eastern Cape, passed away on 3 September 1943. There were 2 children born of the marriage, both dying prematurely at age 4 and 14 years.

According to Death Notice no. 3006/65 in the Cape Archives, Cecil Owen Streatfield passed away of Senile Myocarditis at the Port Shepstone Hospital, aged 86 years and 11 months on 17 August 1965. At the time he was the retired Secretary of the Ramsgate Health Committee.

The South Coast Herald of Friday, 27 August 1965 carried the following,

"The passing of Mr. C.O. Streatfield is deeply regretted. He was loved and respected by all who knew him and the older residents of Ramsgate will remember his outstanding work as Secretary of the Ramsgate Helath Committee. "Streatie" was one of the few surviving members of the original Ramsgate Bowling Club and was a keen player until only a few years ago"

The only living relative mentioned in his Last Will and Testament was a nephew, Reverend Cannon Gerald C. Streatfield of the Rectory, Binfield, Bracknell, Berkshire, England.