TOPIC:

I have just acquired a QSA to PW Koen of Damant's Horse - on both the nominal as well as medal rolls, reference is made to his transfer to the Burgher Scouts. I can find almost nothing on these chaps. Does anyone know who they were?

Regards

Rory

Hi Rory
I found this on line from the Hansard UK Parliament web site.

Dutch Burgher Corps Of Scouts
Volume 101: debated on Monday 20 January 1902

Dutch Burgher Corps Of Scouts 1902

MR. JOSEPH A. PEASE (Essex Saffron Walden)
I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, whether he can state to what extent the Dutch in South Africa are assisting the forces of His Majesty the King, and if he can give the approximate number of Dutchmen now serving in South Africa under the British flag.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (MR. BRODRICK, SURREY, Guildford)
Certain burghers of the late Republics in South Africa have been formed into a Burgher Corps of Scouts. At present some 2,000 are so employed, and are doing excellent service.

Archive image of the Burgher Scouts

As this was debated in January 1902, the only Burgher force of approximately 2000 could only be the National Scouts, who numbered about 1700, add in the ORC Vol. and you get about 2000 burghers, if there was a separate unit of that size called the Burgher Scouts we would certainly be aware of it

There was a post a few years ago of a QSA that had been named 'Tpr J Delaney Int Burgher Scts'.



If you are searching on Ancestry, he is listed as 'Joseph Delany'

Frank Kelly noted that the man 'would have worked for the Military Intelligence Officer Zoutspanberg who also had the job of Assistant District Commissioner Northern Transvaal after his appointment at the special request of Lord Kitchener himself at the beginning of 1902.' This ties in with Dave's post.

Delaney's medal is listed on the FID role. Why it is not named to the FID is not clear.

Thank you for all the input - I still wonder why a chap from a Colonial Unit, in this case, Damant's Horse, would be seconded to the Burgher Scouts - Koen was never on the Boer side and was a mere Trooper.

Herewith his group - the WWI trio is to Brands Free State Rifles