TOPIC:

Richard Stokoe

Private, 44th Company, (Suffolk), 12th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry
Civilian Veterinarian, Army Veterinary Department (A.V.D.) – Anglo Boer War
Lieutenant, Royal Army Veterinary Corps – WWI
Captain, Australian Veterinary Corps
Gunner, 30th Artillery Reinforcements Australian Imperial Forces

- Queens South Africa Medal (Cape Colony, Orange Free State) to 6923 PTE. R. STOKOE, 44TH COY 12TH IMP: YEO:
- British War Medal to CAPTAIN R. STOKIE A.I.F.
- Victory Medal to CAPTAIN R. STOKOE.
- 1911 Rama VI Thailand Coronation Medal

Richard Stokoe led an interesting and varied life, a life that took him from his native England to South Africa, to Thailand, to Australia and then back to England.

Born on 7 April 1876 in the Parish of Waltair, Madras, India he was the son of Richard Stokoe, a Captain in the Madras Army, and his wife Fanny, born Weichbrodt. His baptism took place on 4 June 1876 at Vizianagaram.

Like many boys born to British parents in India, Stokoe was sent “home” to England for his education when he had reached a certain level of maturity, attending St. Paul’s School in Kensington, London. The 1891 England census has him as a Visitor in the house of Mr G.R. Kitson, an elderly gentleman living on his own means at 187 Adelaide Road, St. John’s in Hampstead, London. Aged 14, he must have cut a lonely figure in the large household.

Having finished his secondary schooling, Stokoe opted to further his education, enrolling as a student to study Veterinary Science. The Anglo Boer War interrupted his plans – this conflict, long in the making, was fought between the might of the British Empire and two obscure Dutch-speaking Republics in far away South Africa. After a long simmering stand – off war between the belligerents erupted on 11 October 1899 with Commandoes from the Transvaal and her Orange Free State ally crossing the borders of Natal and the Cape Colony the following day. Both of these territories were Crown Colonies and, despite the warmongering in the build up to the main event, insufficient Imperial troops were in the country to stem the Boer tide.

A series of reverses upset the Imperial apple cart at the end of December 1899 in what became known as Black Week, with the result that the authorities rapidly realised that they were in desperate need of additional manpower to augment the Regular Army presence. The call went out for the creation of a “peoples’ army” – a force made up from volunteers from the civilian population in the cities and the counties to add to the fighting strength. This brought into being the Imperial Yeomanry – eventually, as the war dragged on, as many as three contingents of Yeomanry were raised, equipped and sent out to the fighting with the first contingent being the best of the bunch – comprised, in the main, of gentlemen from the city, professional men, clerks and a far better stamp of man than that which was to follow.

Britain in late 1899, as the sun was about to set on the reign of Queen Victoria, was swept up in a fever of patriotic fervour. Stokoe, like many others, responded to the aforementioned call, completing the attestation papers for service with the Yeomanry at Norwich on 3 January 1900. Claiming to have been part of the Voluntary Medical Staff for two months, he was a 23 year and 9 month old Veterinary Student.
Physically he was 5 feet 11 inches in height, weighed 11 stone and had a fair complexion, green eyes and light brown hair. A member of the Church of England, he was passed Fit by the Doctor. Assigned no. 6923 and the rank of Private, he was posted to the 44th (Suffolk) Company of the Imperial Yeomanry (part of the 12th Battalion) and, after a period of 59 days spent on training and assimilation, he departed with his Company for South Africa aboard the S.S. Cornwall from Tilbury Docks on 3 March 1900.

The troops disembarked at Cape Town on 28 March and 42nd and 44th Companies were sent to Maitland Camp for four weeks' training. 12th Battalion was assigned to a Yeomanry brigade under Brigadier-General the Earl of Errol in the Orange Free State. The 42nd and 44th Companies began the 550 miles march to Bloemfontein in mid-April, the first part being a 'show of force' through the area round Stellenbosch and Paarl in the Western Cape.


Map of Free State Actions

According to Stokoe’s Yeomanry file, he fought in the actions at Roodewal, Heilbron, Bethlehem and Rhenoster – all of which were in the Orange Free State and, all of which, were part of the great drive to herd the Orange Free State Commandoes under General Prinsloo, into the net. To create context it must be remembered that, almost at the same time as Stokoe took to the field, the great battle of Paardeberg had been fought and lost by the Boers under Cronje – a leader who had manged to snatch defeat from the very jaws of victory. It was an established fact that Lord Roberts was on the verge of withdrawing his forces from the area but Cronje played right into his hands which resulted in the surrender of almost 4000 men, along with their artillery and supplies, on 20 February 1900.

This victory left the way to the relief of Kimberley almost wide open. It also had the effect of paving a way for the British Army to march on Bloemfontein. Despite initially fierce resistance, the back of the Free State Commandoes was broken and the British were able to enter Bloemfontein unmolested on 13 March. Once the capital had been secured, the fight could now be taken to the rural areas to the east of the Free State. While Roberts marched relentlessly on to Pretoria, this task was left in the capable hands of Sir Archibald Hunter, among others.

By the time 42nd and 44th Companies with the battalion staff reached Bloemfontein the advance into Transvaal had already begun, and 41st and 43rd Companies had moved on. What remained of the battalion was now supposed to join a yeomanry brigade under Col Viscount Downe, but in the event was reassigned as 'Corps Troops' under Lord Roberts's main army.

The battalion's march was uneventful but, because there were scattered parties of Boers still active in the area, it had to deploy advance and flank guards at all times. News arrived that the Boers under Christiaan de Wet had overrun several garrisons along the railway and destroyed the Rhenoster bridge. Roberts sent his chief of staff, Major-General Lord Kitchener back to organise the defence of the line of communications.

Stokoe was part of a small group of Yeomanry who were involved in the Roodewal Incident on 7 June 1900.

After his failure to relieve the Zwavelkranz convoy, Major Haig, who was in command of 1,000 “details” from various infantry regiments, had moved up to railhead a few miles further north, leaving a detachment of thirty men to guard the stores at Vredefort Road. Seven companies of the Derby Militia and some Colonial Scouts were at Rhenoster River bridge and at Roodewal, three miles further south, one company of that battalion, with a company of the Railway Pioneer Regiment, amounting altogether to about 150 men, were guarding a large consignment of stores left on the side of the railway. Lastly Lord Roberts, on hearing of de Wet's presence near the railway, had ordered Kelly-Kenny to reinforce the garrison of Kroonstad with the Buffs and the Oxfordshire L.I., some Yeomanry (Stokoe among their number), and the 17th Battery, all under the command of General C. E. Knox.

On the 6th De Wet divided his force into three columns, for the purpose of delivering three simultaneous attacks on the railway next day. The northern column consisted of 300 men with one Krupp under Field-Cornet Steenkamp, their objective being Vredefort Road Station; the main body, with four field guns and a pom-pom under General Froneman and Field- Cornets Du Plooy and Nel, was sent to surprise the Derbys at Rhenoster River; the third party, which was the smallest, was led by de Wet himself to Roodewal. All three columns arrived at their appointed destinations before daybreak of the 7th, and met with complete success. Steenkamp overpowered the small garrison at Vredefort Road, and captured the stores, but he was afterwards engaged in a running fight with the rest of Major Haig's details, who had hurried down by train on learning of the attack. The bridge over the Rhenoster River, which had just been repaired by the Engineers, was naturally again destroyed.


Map of Bethlehem

At Roodewal the garrison, on hearing of de Wet's advance, intrenched themselves as best they could behind the railway embankment with the aid of the stores they were guarding, and de Wet was unable to secure the position until he was reinforced by the main body and the guns after the surrender of the Derbys. The stores here, said to have been of the value of £100,000, were looted by the Boers, and all that could not be carried away, including the mails, were burnt on the veld; communication between Kroonstad and Pretoria was cut, and the line for several miles was completely broken up.

Next, Kitchener moved south with a column including the 42nd and 44th Companies IY and brought the Boers to action near the Rhenoster River. 44th Company was involved in two-hour fight to clear De Wet from his position, then early next morning the company was roused from its camp to ride 2 miles to where the Boers were attacking an engineers' train. Later that morning they drove the Boers off some hills, but had to return to the camp which had been attacked. The following day (11 June) the two companies together with some infantry and artillery were ordered to escort a convoy of provisions to Maj-Gen Hector MacDonald's column at Heilbron. All went well on the first day of the march, but early on the second the convoy came under Boer shellfire and had to retire until the escort had cleared the Boers and the march could continue.

This links with what appeared in the Times History of the War (Amery, Vol. 4, page 272), “Lord Kitchener reached Taaibosch, in the Free State, on the 9th (June), and after leaving a garrison at that post, moved further south on the 10th with the 2nd battalion Shropshire Regiment, six companies South Wales Borderers, 200 Mounted Infantry, including Nesbitt’s Horse, the 43rd and 44th Companies Imperial Yeomanry, two guns 74th Battery, and four guns of the 81st battery.”

The company joined Lieutenant-General Lord Methuen's column, which was cooperating with Kitchener's, and together they drove De Wet south-west towards the Brandwater Basin. A large force was now assembled under Lt-Gen Sir Archibald Hunter at Frankfort. This was joined on 29 June by MacDonald's column from Heilbron, including 42nd and 44th Companies IY and mounted troops from various units as well as the infantry of his Highland Brigade. Hunter now took over all operations in NE Free State. Pushing De Wet into the Brandwater Basin he reached Reitz on 7 July and Bethlehem on 11 July. Here he established a base and disposed his forces in a cordon round the basin.


IY engaging Boers at Bethlehem

The end of 1900 brought with it the end of Stokoe’s 12 months service with the Colours. According to his service record he suffered with Rheumatism and this could well have influenced his decision to not reenlist with another unit. He was discharged at his own request from further services in connection with the war in South Africa on 19 December 1900 and set sail for England where he resumed his veterinary studies.

By the time the 1901 England census rolled round Stokoe’s parents had returned to Great Britain. His father had retired from the army with the rank of Colonel and had taken up residence at “High Trees” in East Bergholt, East Sussex. At home when the enumerator called round was Richard (24) and described as a Veterinary Student, his 28 year old brother Charles and sister Frances (21). Their needs were catered for by Bessie Rookyard, the Cook and Eunice Fenner, the Housemaid.

Having qualified as a MRCVS (London) on 17th December 1901 Stokoe decided that it was time to return to South Africa and the Boer War which was still raging. On this occasion he was returning, twelve months after he had departed the scene, not as a mere Private with a Yeomanry draft but as a Civil Veterinary Surgeon attached to the Army Veterinary Department. The lot of a Civilian Veterinary Surgeon in the Boer War was an unenviable one – working conditions in a badly run and poorly equipped Army Veterinary Department were atrocious and, coupled therewith, was the fact that the Civilian Vets were given no military rank and were thus unable to exercise any semblance of discipline over those assigned to work with them. This was ironic as those who died in service were given the funerals accorded to Lieutenants.

The was over on 31 May 1902, Stokoe decided to remain in South Africa for a period of time. He is recorded as a member of the Volunteer Corps as Veterinary Officer to the left wing of the Imperial Light Horse from the conclusion of hostilities in 1902 to 19 June 1903. Whilst thus employed he tried to secure a permanent position with the Government Service, writing from the Potchefstroom Club on 26 February 1903, he addressed himself to the Director General of the Agriculture Department as follows:

‘Sir

I have the honour to enquire, if you received my application of the 13th inst. Would you also be good enough to inform me if there is any chance for me being employed in your Department. As I am anxious to obtain employment here, or failing obtaining of any such employment I intend returning to England, as when a D.V.S. is appointed to any District, a private practice is entirely out of the question.
Trusting you may take a favourable view of my previous application.

Your obedient servant

Richd. Stokoe M.C.R.V.S.

As a rejoinder, a telegram was despatched asking “If your application is entertained. What date could you join?”

This last must have provided Stokoe with a glimmer of hope but it was not to be – the Headquarters of the South African Constabulary (to whom his request had been referred) informed him on 2 March 1903, that ‘no vacancies exist for Veterinary Surgeons.’ Disillusioned, Stokoe wrote back on 17 March requesting that his testimonials be returned to him.

With no gainful employment and no immediate prospect of procuring any in the near future, and with his services with the I.L.H. no longer required, Stokoe made good on his previously expressed intention and left South Africa for India where, no doubt, he felt better opportunities awaited him. The register of members of the Emulation Lodge, Bombay of the Free Masons informs us that he signed up on 17 December 1903 as a 27 year old Veterinary Surgeon. He resigned his membership on 20 June 1905.

His movements then become a bit hazy but, by 1908 he had moved across the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea to Thailand where, according to the Thailand Register, he was in the employ of the Royal Forestry Department (of Siam) as an Assistant Conservator. This made sense as the forestry trade at that time employed a multitude of elephants making the presence of a Veterinary Surgeon a necessity. Initially registered as living in Raheng in 1908, he had moved to Lampang in 1913. The Royal Forestry Department was effectively under British control during this period. He was known to have sent many ‘tick’ samples back to London for study.

It was whilst employed thus that the singular honour of being awarded the 1911 Thailand Coronation medal came his way. This was for the coronation of Rama VI (King Rajiravudh). Only a certain number of foreign dignitaries and foreigners employed in positions of authority in Thailand were awarded the medal. It was also the first time that foreign guests had been invited to the ceremony which took place between 29 November and 11 December 1911.

Almost as an aside, in the same year Stokoe gained a mention in a newspaper report covering the theft of items from the “Highland Glen.” Two seamen had been brought to trial for various thefts with the Chelmsford Chronicle of 8 November 1911 reporting that,

‘Mrs Fanny Stokoe, of Osborne Place, New London-road, Chelmsford, wife of Colonel Richard Stokoe, said her daughter left England in the Highland Glen on June 27th. Her name was Maud Mustard. The fan produced; witness recognised as one of her daughter’s wedding presents. Her daughter was in South America.

Colonel (sic) Richard Stokoe, a forest officer in Siam, said he recognised a pair of drill trousers which he gave to his brother-in-law Mr Mustard.”

Having tired of life in the Far East, Stokoe betook himself to Australia to commence a new chapter of his life. Sailing from Singapore aboard the “Charon,” he arrived at the Port of Western Australia, destined for Freemantle, on 25 November 1913. Just over a year from the date Stokoe arrived in the country, the world found itself at war – on this occasion, only twelve years since the last shot was fired in the Anglo Boer War, the protagonists were Great Britain on the one side and Imperial Germany on the other. As part of the Empire, Australia lost no time in throwing in her lot with the Motherland – but it was with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps that Stokoe first served, sailing to England from Victoria aboard the “Moldavia” to join up and serving from 13 May 1915 until 13 July 1916 as a Lieutenant in both England and France. (He was gazetted as a Lieutenant with the Army Veterinary Corps in the Supplement dated 24 July 1915)

After his 1 year term of engagement was complete, Stokoe, never one to take a back-seat, returned to Australia on 14 July 1916 aboard the “Kaiser I Hind”, destined for Freemantle, to attest with the Australian Imperial Force, signing the required forms for the Australian Veterinary Corps on 8 September 1916. Confirming his Boer War service, he provided his address as Shrewsbury Esplanade, Middle Brighton, Victoria and his next of kin as his wife, Ada Stokoe of 263 High Road, Lee, London. Aged 40 years and 4 months he was described, physically, as 5 feet 11 ½ inches in height, weighing in at 161 lbs and with a medium complexion, blue eyes and hair that was turning from black to grey. By way of distinctive marks about his person he had a scar on the inside of his left shin and a scar on his left buttock.

He embarked at Melbourne aboard the S.S. Clan Mac Corquodale on 19 September 1916 bound for Egypt with the rank of Captain, disembarking at Suez on 19 October 1916. His service with the Australian Army Veterinary Corps was short-lived, being of only four months duration and would appear to have been in the capacity of Transport Officer accompanying horses that were being sent to the front. His papers mention that he was appointed “for voyage only” returning to Ballarat aboard the “Armadale” from Egypt. His appointment was terminated on 18 January 1917.

Stokoe could have viewed himself as a spare part – where, after all, did he fit into the machinery of war? He had tried his hand with the R.A.V.C. but wasn’t offered an extension of his contract. Likewise, the Australian counterpart of the aforementioned had only seen fit to make use of his skills for a very brief time and for a specific purpose. What was a 42 year old man to do? The indefatigable Stokoe opted for the most unlikely of options – attesting for service with the 30th Reinforcements of the Australian Field Artillery.

Completing the attestation forms on 5 March 1917, he confirmed all the service we know him to have had. The only noticeable change being that his address was now Mersea House, Fernhill Road, Sandringham, Victoria. Assigned no. 37555 and the rank of Gunner, he was officially appointed only on 1 August 1917 at Maribyrnong. Initially based at the Recruits Battery at Royal Park, he was posted to the F.A. Reinforcements on 14 March. He then embarked aboard the H.M.A.T. “Port Sydney” at Melbourne on 9 November 1917 disembarking at Suez on 12 December 1917. From there he moved on to Alexandria boarding H.M.T. Karoo disembarking at Toranto on 22 December before boarding once more, this time destined for Southampton where he disembarked on 4 January 1918 and went into Camp at Heytesbury.


Heytesbury

After a long period of ill health and inactivity, the Medical officer then ordered him to No. 2 Convalescent Depot on 20 April 1918. He was then discharged from the Australian Imperial Forces as Medically Unfit on 5 June 1918. He was awarded a Silver War Badge no. 27555 and the certificate that accompanied it on the same day. His Certificate of Discharge revealed that he had served for 1 year and 93 days with the A.I.F. Artillery and was entitled to one Blue Chevron for Oversea service.

A Medical Report on an Invalid, completed in respect of Stokoe at Heytesbury on 3 April 1918 revealed the extent of his malaise. Under medical condition it was stated that he suffered with General Debility which had its origin prior to enlistment. The facts of the case were stated as follows:

“Owing to termination of his agreement with the British Army Veterinary Corps after 14 months service as Captain he returned to Australia. He then did transport work for 5 months with the Australian Army Veterinary Corps as Captain and on termination of appointment enlisted with Artillery in March 1917. When in Australia in Camp he found he could not stand the Battery training and was given work as Lecturer on Stable Management. On arrival in England found to be too slow and unfit for Battery work and so given work in the horse sick lines the hard physical side of which work is proving too severe for him. Suffered from malaria 9 years ago and has had recurrences since last attack in Egypt November 1916 when with A A.V.C. Heart sounds clear. Lungs are clear ….. losing weight and has developed physical weakness and finds it impossible to stand any physical strain weight arrived in England was 13 stone 7lb to 12 stone 1 lb.”

None of the above was viewed to have been aggravated by service. The Medical Board stated further that:

‘He is a tall gaunt man losing weight and has developed physical weakness and finds it impossible to stand any severe physical strain. Aged 42 and old for his years i.e. prematurely aged.” It was also found that Stokoe had a motor car accident about 6 years previously which injured his right hand causing a considerable loss of power.

Now out of uniform Stokoe elected to reunite with his wife and not to return to Australia, The 1919 Electoral Registers have the couple staying at 263 High Road, Lee in London. For his contribution to the war, he was awarded the British War Medal (awarded by the Australian authorities) and the Victory Medal (awarded by the Imperial authorities).

The 1921 England census showed that the couple were destined to spend yet more time apart – Stokoe is listed as a Veterinary Surgeon in the employ of the Ebbw Vale Colliery Company in Wales where, at the age of 46 years and 2 months, he was a Boarder in the Bush Hotel, an establishment in Abertillery, Monmouthshire, owned and operated by John William Thomas.

The Peterborough Standard of 1 April 1938 carried an article which read:

‘The death occurred on Thursday of Mrs Ada Priscilla Stokoe, wife of Mr R Stokoe of “The Chestnuts,” Kimbolton. A native of Kent, Mrs Stokoe was presented at Court on February 27, 1923’

Our next glimpse of Stokoe came courtesy of the 1939 Register – there was no census in 1941 on account of the war. This revealed that he was still practicing as a Veterinary Surgeon but now at Chesterton in Cambridgeshire.

Perhaps his wife’s death, combined with other factors, occasioned him mental distress – on 20th February 1941 he became a voluntary patient in The Cambridgeshire Mental Hospital. Stokoe, now alone as he was for most of his life and there being no children of the union, soldiered on until April 1950 when he passed away at the age of 74.

Sources
- Asian Directories 1908 – 1913
- Stokoe Military Personnel File – Online Australian Military Archives
- Agricultural Dept. (South Africa) file No. A 40347 – application for employment
- Imperial Yeomanry Attestation papers – Ancestry.
- The Times History of the War in South Africa – L. Amery.
- The Army Veterinary Service in South Africa, 1881-1914 (Continued). By H. H. CURSON
- Newspaper reports on FMP

Rory
Another great account of a busy life
Thanks
Clive

Thanks for posting this interesting account, Rory. I'd been looking forward to it since you first showed Stokoe's medals on the forums a few months ago.

Thank you Arthur - I hope it didn't disappoint - every once in a while a medal or a group of medals comes round where you just know (call it a gut feel) the recipient is going to be an interesting character.

Not all, but some of these Victorian fellows led such adventurous lives - it really is a marvel that so much can be discovered about someone who lived so long ago.

Stokoe was one such fellow.

Regards

Rory