Harry George Price Metcalfe
Born in England in 1879. Enlisted KaR (Private) 10 June 1897. Served in the Bechuanaland Rebellion, 1896-7 (CGHGSM (1) Bechuanaland). Struck off the KaR as he 'joined Baden Powell's' police force without transfer.
Served D Squadron, PRFF (205 Corporal), 11 October 1899 to 13 March 1901. Wounded 26 December 1899. MID 16 Apr 1901. DCM LG 27 September 1901.
Served KaR 10 April 1901 to 30 June 1902. QSA issued 2 December 1903. KSA from KaR issued 5 June 1907.
Served in the Great War. Lieutenant, 11th Infantry (Rand Light Infantry). GSWA operations. Released from Active duty 25 September 1915. On 9 December 1916 he married Gertrude Clementina Higley. Involved in the 1922 Rand revolt.
His obituary appeared in The Times, 2 March 1939: 'The death on February 25 is announced from Durban of Mr Harry George Price Metcalfe. A correspondent writes: The second son of the late Mr and Mrs H G P Metcalfe, of Hawstead House, near Bury St Edmunds, George Metcalfe left England as a boy to live with relatives in South Africa, where he remained all his life. He was an engineer, and was during the whole of his career associated with the Cape and South African Railways. Before going to Durban 10 years ago he was for many years stationed at Pretoria, where he had a large circle of friends. He was a great sportsman and was both a first-rate cricketer and footballer. In later years he had been a hockey enthusiast, and was the 'father' of the Durban teams. There was no sporting event of importance in the district that did not have his assistance and advice. Like his grandfather, the late Henry Christopher Metcalfe, of Hawstead, a distinguished officer of the old 91st (Argyll and Sutherland) Highlanders, he was a born soldier. Long before the Great War his tunic was a mass of medals of the various native campaigns he had taken part in. In the South African War. though only a lad, he joined Baden Powell’s police, and was with that distinguished general throughout the siege of Mafeking. In fact, one of his treasured mementos was a letter from Colonel (now Lord) Baden Powell thanking him for his assistance in making the only gun used by the besieged forces. Later he was severely wounded, being shot through the shoulder, and was invalided home in 1899, returning to South Africa in the following year. Immediately the Great War was declared, Mr Metcalfe at once joined his regiment and proceeded with the South African force to the conquest of German South West Africa. Mr Metcalfe was a widower. He married Miss Gertrude Hickley, a member of a well-known Cape family, but she died 10 years ago. There were no children.'
Source: Defence of Mafeking roll
