TOPIC:

Heinrich Diedrich Rehmann

Trooper, Natal Police – Anglo Boer War
2nd Class Sergeant, Natal Police – Bambatha Rebellion
Sergeant, 3rd South Africa Mounted Rifles

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Natal and South Africa 1901 to 1767 TPR. D. REHMANN, NATAL POLICE.
- Natal Medal (Bambatha) with 1906 clasp to 2 C SGT. D. REHMANN, NATAL POLICE

Diedrich Rehmann, if a short obituary written in respect of him is to be believed, “At the age of 16, having realised what was in store for him under the slave driving military rule, emigrated to America, where he spent some little time there; but finding, under the eagle, his ideas of freedom were not realised he came out to Natal where, under the British flag he found true freedom.”

Born in Bramsche, Prussia in about 1878, he was the son of Johan Heinrich Rudolf Rehmann and his wife Agnes. There is certainly an element of truth to parts of the above account – whether he travelled alone or with a companion we don’t know, but Heinrich Rehmann is on the register of those entering the United States of America, via the notorious Ellis Island, in January 1893. Destined for New York City, the 14 year old lad (not 16 as intimated previously), had boarded a ship at Bremen and was down as one of those intended for a “Protracted Sojourn” as opposed to a transient visit.


Rehmann as a boy in his native Prussia. A few years after this he would tackle the U.S.A. on his own.

As we know, Rehmann didn’t find the Land of Free a very enticing prospect, eventually making his way to the southern tip of Africa where at Pietermaritzburg in the Colony of Natal on 5 November 1896, he enlisted for service with the Natal Police. Assigned no. 1767 and the rank of Trooper, Rehmann provided a testimonial from a R. Meyer of 610, 11th Avenue, New York and confirmed that his next of kin was his mother, Louisa Rehmann of Bramsche in Germany (perhaps Agnes was another of her names).

Now aged 19 years and 6 months, he was a Farmer by occupation, 5 feet 9 ½ inches in height with a fresh complexion, brown hair and blue eyes. He had no marks about his body which could identify him should the need arise. He had also developed a reasonable proficiency in English by this time, and was able to communicate in that language, besides his native German. Having settled down to life in uniform, Rehmann was attached to the headquarters of the Natal Police, based in Alexandria Road, Pietermaritzburg.

Less than five years after he had enlisted, on 11 October 1899, Natal woke up to find itself at war with the two Boer Republics of the Orange Free State and Transvaal. The long simmering tensions between the Imperial Authorities in Britain and Kruger and his ally, had erupted into full-scale war. The Natal Police were placed on a war footing and were divided up into three disparate groups – the first contingent was to become part of the Natal Field Force and take part in the actions leading up to the Relief of Ladysmith which had been besieged on 1 November 1899. A second contingent became the Melmoth (Zululand Field Force), tasked with keeping the Boers at bay in the northern extremities of the Colony. Yet another contingent, was holed up in Ladysmith, awaiting relief. But by far the largest number of NP personnel remained either attached to headquarters or left to am their lonely outposts which dotted the countryside.

Of the hundred or so men that remained at headquarters, Rehmann was one. There was constant drill and target practice with the men being kept busy and in readiness for any eventuality. It would seem that his services were not needed in the fighting line and, the war over on 31 May 1902, he returned to normal policing duties, having earned the Natal and SA 1901 clasps to his Queens Medal.

In the meanwhile, Rehmann’s record of service reflected that he had been assigned to the station at Mapamulo (near Stanger) and on the border with Zululand. On 11 February 1903 his promotion to the rank of Lance Sergeant was recommended. He was also recognised as a 2nd class Dutch linguist, an important factor as there were many Afrikaans (Dutch-speaking) farmers in his area of operation. On 1 January 1904 he was promoted to 2nd Class Sergeant, based on Seniority, and on 5 November 1905, he was re-engagement for a third period was recommended.

Natal, at the time Rehmann was patrolling the large area under his watch, was an unhappy place financially – the Boer War had been a huge drain on the meagre resources of the Colonial government and many and varied schemes were looked at to increase the Colony’s revenue. One such was a hut tax to be imposed on all males over the age of 18 and which was to be collected by the various Magistrates spread throughout Natal with the assistance of the Natal Police, should any trouble arise, and the help of the Zulu Chiefs who would be required to collect the tax and bring it in to the Magistrates.


Rehmann in his Sergeant's uniform

Implementation of this scheme came in early 1906 and there were problems from the outset. A particularly truculent young Zulu Chief, Bambatha of the Zondi clan in the Greytown/Kranskloof area was unhappy with the arrangement and openly went about the land fomenting resistance. This overflowed into open rebellion and the Natal Militia were called out to quell the uprising, the troops being augmented by the Natal Police and twenty native constables under Colonel Mansel. These concentrated at Thornville Junction.

On the 8th March a force of 130 police and 40 Umvoti Mounted Rifles entered the thorn district at daybreak, intent on capturing Bambatha dead or alive. He had now left the kraal where he had been nearly trapped, and was skulking about in the Impanza Valley, an extensive dip between towering hills, covered with impenetrable bushes of thorns, cactus, and prickly aloes.

As nothing could be gained by staying there (Bambatha had fled to Zululand), the force returned to Pietermaritzburg, instructions being telegraphed to the authorities in Zululand to arrest the fugitive there, but the elusive ex-chief could not be traced.

On the 8th April the police were under orders to join Colonel Leuchars' force, but as it was persistently stated that the rebels had gone over the border into Zululand, permission was obtained to join in the chase after him there. Great difficulty was experienced in getting across the Tugela, at Middle Drift. The water was low, but the bed of the river consisted of huge boulders, round which the wagons had to be drawn, the whole of the track being covered either with stones or soft sand. News was received from a storekeeper that the rebels had passed, going into Zululand the previous day; and the police also met a party of civilians who had been after the rebels and missed them.

Colonel Mansel decided to take another route - Galloway's road to Nkandla, sending the wagons round by Eshowe and Melmoth. The march was a long and tiring one, over mountainous country, the police being accompanied by nearly a hundred of the Zululand Police on foot. The Colonel was informed that Sikananda's tribe, which was in a state of rebellion, might attack the party at any moment, but the troopers pushed on as rapidly as possible, and it was dark when they reached the Nkandla gaol, both men and beasts being exhausted.

Bambatha was reported on the 23rd April to be in the vicinity of Qudeni Hill, so Colonel Mansel set out with every available man at ten o'clock at night. No rations were carried, as it was not expected the men would be away very long, but the march was kept up intermittently all that night. The force, having failed to round up the rebels, returned to the laager at six p.m., having been out for twenty hours. Some of the horses were knocked up, and the troopers, who had had nothing to eat since they went out, were ravenous.

The main body of the police, which went to Fort Yolland by the Galloway road, had an equally exciting trip. Passing along the edge of the bush, they encamped on the top of a very high hill; and at dusk the forms of many Zulus were seen watching in the distance. There was no water either for the men or horses that night, and both were parched after the long and tiring march. The animals were ringed together, and as there seemed every prospect of an attack at any moment, sleep was out of the question. It was later shown that a large impi was going to make an attack, and heavy loss of life was averted by Colonel Mansel's decision to make a quick dash towards Fort Yolland when the first streaks of dawn appeared. With all speed the horses were saddled and hastened down the hill, at the bottom of which there was a spruit. Both the troopers and their animals were longing for water, but strict orders were given that no stop was to be made for a drink as the spruit was forded. With the stream running up to their knees the horses struggled to get their heads down to it, but had to be urged straight through to the other bank.

At three o'clock on the morning of the 5th May a strong force, consisting of 175 Natal Police, 100 Zululand native police, 90 Naval Corps, 30 Natal Mounted Rifles, and 50 dismounted men of the Durban Light Infantry, moved off in the direction of the Nkandla forest. Behind them marched 600 loyal natives, chiefly men of Mfungela's tribe. A few hundred yards from the track there was a Government forester's hut, and this was filled with rebels, who waited until the Zululand Police were well within range, and then opened fire on them. The shooting only lasted a minute or so, the rebels leaving their shelter and bolting into the forest. One man of the native police only was wounded.

The force soon reached open country again, and descended the Bobe Ridge, leading down to the Insuzi River. The slope was very steep in places, and while the Natal Police were dismounted and leading their horses in single file, a body of several hundred natives, who had been lying in wait with Bambata behind a small eminence, charged down on the advance guard of the Natal Mounted Rifles and the native police. The Natal Police hurried up, and for a little while there was a sharp exchange of shots. Lead fell like hail in the ranks of the enemy, until they broke and, leaving a hundred dead on the ground, fled down the ridges on either side.

This was the only time during the rebellion that the police were present when the Zulus charged in open country in the daylight, nor did they make more than one or two charges in the daylight all through the war. A large number of Zulus were on the surrounding heights watching the skirmish, and judging by the manner in which they were seen moving through the forest, they had not anticipated the force going down the Bobe Ridge, but had thought they would keep on the main road to Nkandla, where an attack had been contemplated. It was quite clear that the troops were surrounded, because there was a good deal of sniping from every direction.

While everybody was crowded into the stream it was noticed that the natives were coming down the hills. They advanced in twos and threes until they got within range, and then started sniping. The rear-guard, which was now composed of Natal Police, fired back, and the Zulus disappeared for a time. It had been decided to bivouac for the night, but the position was so unsafe that, though everybody was thoroughly exhausted, and night had come on, the order was given to march back to Fort Yolland a dozen miles away.

The back of the rebellion was broken by the massacre in the Mome Gorge, on the 10th June. The police, to the number of about a hundred, under Sub-Inspector Esmonde White, were attached to Colonel Barker's column in the vicinity of Cetewayo's grave. It was pitch dark when they were ordered to saddle up. Colonel Barker's column consisted of three squadrons of the Transvaal Mounted Rifles, a section of the Natal Field Artillery, a Maxim and one Colt gun of the Transvaal Rifles, and 100 Zululand native police, besides the Natal Police. This force was moved along the valley of the Insuzi, strict orders having been given that the march was to be performed as quietly as possible because it was not certain where the enemy were.

All this time, apparently, the impi slept peacefully. Besides the darkness, there was a slight mist, and though no Zulus could be distinguished, someone, through impatience or nervousness, fired a shot. A moment or two later pandemonium reigned.

No fighting force could have made much of a stand against such an appalling stream of lead as that which poured down on to the sleeping natives. At comparatively close range shrapnel was hurled into their midst, and from everywhere round them big guns, Maxims, pom-poms, and rifles were belching forth shot as fast as the men could work. Aiming was done by guess-work in the direction of the fires, but it was remarkably successful, for rows and rows of Zulus were afterwards discovered dead in their blankets. They had been riddled as they slept. A few Zulus crept away and escaped, but the valley was lined with hundreds of torn bodies, and the sight when day broke was one which brought a touch of nausea to nearly every white man who had taken part in the shooting.

Bambata and Mehlokazulu, and other leaders, were amongst those who got out of the valley. They, with the remnants of the impi, passed along the bed of the stream, but only to fall into the hands of the column under Colonel McKenzie. Bambata was killed while endeavouring to escape into the main bush. For purposes of identification, his head was cut off. Precisely what role Rehmann played in the hunt for Bambatha is not known but he was awarded the Natal Rebellion Medal with 1906 clasp for his efforts.

The Rebellion over life, once more, returned to normal. On 14 April 1909 Rehmann tied the marital knot with a 24 year old Alice Jane Clark at the All Saints Church in Stanger. He was 30 years of age. A crack shot, he walked away with many a trophy. The Nonquai Magazine (Police magazine) of 1910 under “District Notes”, made mention, under “M” District, that ‘Shooting is still going strong in the district. At the April meeting of the Zulu Border Rifles Club, members of the district police did well, taking 1st, 2nd and 4th prizes. The first prize, won by Sergt. Rehmann was the Club Cup, value 8 guineas, which had been floating for many years.” Rehmann, it seems, was able to augment his income by prize monies he won.



1912 brought about a realignment of the military and police forces in South Africa – this was post the creation of the Union of South Africa in 1910 which brought together into one country the former territories and colonies of the Orange Free State, Transvaal, Natal and Cape Colony. The Natal Police and other Colonial police forces as separate entities fell away and were replaced by a Permanent Force arrangement known as the South African Mounted Rifles of which there were five regiments.

Rehmann fell into the 3rd S.A.M.R. and was ready, when the Great War broke out in August 1914, to be seconded, like so many of his comrades-in-arms, to German South West Africa for service. Sadly, and possibly because the signs of ill-health were already manifest, he was not considered for active service. This was just as well for, on 23 March 1916, he passed away at Addington Hospital in Durban at the age of 37 years and 11 months. The cause of death was a sub phrenic ulcer of the kidney (or renal calculus). He was survived by his wife of seven years and their two children, Henry Andrade Rehmann, born on 20 January 1910 and Sylvia Margaretta Rehmann, born on 18 August 1912.

A life cut short – his obituary, earlier alluded to, completed his story: -

“He joined the NP on 5 November 1896 and took out (sic) letter of naturalisation, became by these letters and in his ideas and sympathies purely British. He was a first rate shot and held several trophies of his prowess, and at the time of his death, had two legs in the Dawson Cup. He was a most pain-staking and careful Non Commissioned Officer and Public Prosecutor, his early death was much regretted by his friends and the public at large who showed their esteem by the large number who attended his funeral. He leaves a widow (daughter of H.A. Clark, J.P. and an old member of the Natal Police) and two children to mourn his loss.”

Thank You Rory..... A Great Morning Read...... Mike

Hi Rory, agree with Mike, a most interesting read. Clearly I still have a lot of work to do on my Natal Police group ito research. A question is whether it is possible to confirm which members of the Natal Police were present at the actions, such as Mombe Gorge? Once again thank you

Thanks Gav

No, nothing like a muster roll which names those actually in Mome Gorge. The best one can go for is that all those with the 1906 clasp stood a very real chance of being in on that particular action. The balance, i.e. those without the clasp, would have remained at headquarters or would not have had sufficient service.

A bit of a lottery really.

Regards

Rory

Hi Rory, I was amazed and delighted to see my grandfather on this site! I came across it by chance when doing a search to see if I could find some more information on his time in New York where he lost an eye in a buggy accident and had it replaced with a glass one. (Must have been the left eye).

I hope you and Sharon are enjoying life in the U.K.

Best wishes,
Eric

Yes indeed Eric - good to hear from you - we are both well and settling in. I'm very glad that you happened upon this post - when at liberty to do so, please send me (you have my email address) the details of the incident surrounding the loss of Herr Rehmann's eye.

Regards

Rory