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Joseph Baker

Wounded in Action – Rhenoster River, near Heilbron, 4 October 1901

Private, Commander in Chief’s Bodyguard
Private, Kitchener’s Fighting Scouts – Anglo Boer War

- Queens South Africa Medal (Orange Free State/Transvaal) to 25609 PTE. J. BAKER, KITCHENER’S F.S.

Joe Baker was born in Rotherham, Yorkshire on 10 August 1869 the son of William Baker, a Drayman at the local Ironworks, and his wife Georgina. At the time of the 1871 England census, the family were living in Wellington Street in the suburb of Greasbrough. They were a compact unit with 2 year old Joseph being the only child.

Ten years later at the time of the 1881 England census, as was to be expected in Victorian England, the family had grown with the addition of Ellen (7) and Clara (5) as new playmates for a 10 year old Joe (he was actually 11 ½ but we won’t let semantics get in the way). The Bakers had also moved to 250 Carbrook Street in Sheffield, some 20 minutes away from their previous address. Mr Baker was still employed in the same capacity.

At some point towards the end of the 19th century a young Baker decided to leave the family fold and seek greener pastures in more exotic climes. To this end he chose South Africa as a destination and this is where he found himself when war erupted on 11 October 1899. The Anglo Boer War was long in the making - frustrated by Britain’s attempts to interfere in her sovereignty, Paul Kruger and his Transvaal Republic allied themselves with their southern neighbour and fellow Boer Republic, the Orange Free State, in an aggression pact.

The abortive Jameson Raid of 1896 in which a British-backed force was soundly and embarrassingly routed at the gates of Johannesburg served to further strengthen Kruger’s resolve that the British administration were up to no good. This acted as a catalyst to rearm and a fortune was spent on the purchase of the most modern Mauser rifles for the Commandos and heavy artillery pieces from Krupp and Creusot for the State Artillery of the Transvaal Republic.

An ultimatum for the British to withdraw their troops in Natal and the Cape Colony on the borders with the Transvaal and O.F.S. was, as expected, ignored and the Boers invaded both colonies the next morning.

Baker seems to have taken his time before committing to a rifle and uniform – attesting on 7 January 1901 at Cape Town for service with the Commander in Chief’s Bodyguard. His Record of Service indicates that, at the age of 31, and an Engine Driver by occupation, he attested at the Maitland (Cape Town) camp. He provided his father, William Baker of 167 Chelmsford Street, Attercliffe, Sheffield as his next of kin and was single. Assigned no. 25609 he took to the field.

Commander in Chief’s Bodyguard

In November 1900 Lord Roberts issued an order empowering Major Laing to raise a fighting regiment, 570 strong, with 2 guns, 2 pom-poms, and 2 machine-guns, to be called 'The Bodyguard'. So great was Laing's popularity that he almost at once got over 1000 recruits. The corps took the field in the Orange River Colony. Unfortunately, the first reference to them in a despatch was in connection with a grievous mishap which took place on 3rd January 1901. In his telegram of 6th January Lord Kitchener said: "From reports of some wounded who have arrived at Heilbron, it appears that a detachment of Bodyguard 120 strong, belonging to General Charles Knox's force, came in contact with a superior number of the enemy near Lindley. I regret to say that Lieutenant Colonel Laing, 2 officers, and 15 men were killed, 2 officers and 20 men wounded.

Fortunately for Baker he missed out on the aforementioned action having joined the regiment four days after it took place. Whilst with them he was deployed in the Orange Free State where, in February and March the corps were several times engaged.

In April, May, and June, the Bodyguard, 1000 strong, under Colonel Chesney, was in a column which operated in the Eastern Transvaal under Brigadier General Bullock, and in July under Brigadier General Spens. They had no very serious fighting while the Bodyguard was in the column, but towards the end of July they had skirmishes in which Captain O'Flaherty and 1 man were killed and several wounded. Not long after this the corps was disbanded, many of the officers and men joining other regiments. This was certainly true of Baker who, on 1 August 1901, transferred to the 2nd Kitchener’s Fighting Scouts with the same number, 25609.

The attestation papers he completed on this occasion at Johannesburg.

2nd Kitchener’s Fighting Scouts

In August 1901, not long after Baker joined them, Colonel Wilson, with the 2nd KFS, was railed to the Orange River Colony. In this sphere of their operations they had endless marching and constant fighting, and always made good use of their opportunities. The column had the good fortune to be working under and often with the renowned Colonel Rimington.


Conan Doyle's map of the Northern OFS - I have highlighted the spot where Baker was wounded

On 4th October Wilson, marching from Kroonstad to Heilbron, was attacked near the Rhenoster River, but drove off the enemy. The regiment lost 4 killed and 6 wounded, including Lieutenants F G Schnadhorst and E E Jones, both severely wounded. Lieutenant Schnadhorst died of his wounds three weeks later. Baker was one of the six men wounded.

The Hawera & Normanby Star of 30 November 1901 carried the story in more detail under the heading “Kitchener’s Scouts Outnumbered – Five Commandos Concentrated” it read: -

“Heilbron, 7 October 1901

Last Friday the Second Regiment of Kitchener’s Fighting Scouts, under Colonel Wilson, had an exciting engagement on the Rhenoster River, between Heilbron and Kroonstad. The following are the details of the engagement on the Rhenoster River: -

The Boers having heard that a column without guns was marching from Kroonstad to Heilbron concentrated five commandos about 500 strong under Commandants Boshoff, Taljaard, Venter, Meyer and De Wet, on the Rhenoster River, presumably with the object of capturing our convoy, which had to pass through an awkward drift.

By a smart night march Colonel Wilson’s column of the Second Regiment of Kitchener’s Fighting Scouts arrived at the Rhenoster at dawn on Friday. Colonel Wilson sent a squadron of 50 to reconnoitre towards Paardekraal and select a suitable camping ground. The Boers, who were occupying strong positions on the hills, allowed the squadron to proceed about three miles undisturbed, when they suddenly opened a heavy fire. A desperate fight ensued, the Scouts fighting pluckily until their ammunition was almost exhausted. Thirteen men were captured.

During the fight Colonel Wilson sent a squadron on the right flank to overlook the position where Captain Murray and 10 men, who had been detached previously, were engaged with some 70 Boers, and whose ammunition was nearly exhausted when reinforcements arrived. Being too weak to force the Boer position Colonel Wilson made a detour to the left, fighting actively until sunset. Our men behaved splendidly throughout. Colonel Wilson saw 7 dead Boers on the field, and fourteen others, either killed or wounded were seen carried off by the enemy, who admitted these casualties to our ambulance doctor.”

Baker was in L Squadron of the "Scouts" and, apart from the news correspondent's version of events as provided above - there was also, thankfully, a number of eye-witness accounts to the action. One such comes via Pte. Ernest Honison of G Squadron whose letter home appeared in the Clarence & Richmond Examiner of 30 November 1901. It read as follows: -

"Writing from Heilbron on the 17th of last month, Trooper Ernest Honison of 2nd Kitchener's Fighting Scouts states: -

We started on march on September 30th. On the 3rd instant the Boers attacked our Cossack Posts and we followed them for several miles until the country became too difficult. We then retired to camp. The next day will always remain fixed in my memory, because during it, our regiment was badly cut up. The Boers left us alone until we had outspanned. Our Cossack Posts were put out as usual, and the Boers began their attack by firing on them. On hearing the firing squadrons G and L squadrons were immediately called out, G taking the right and L the left. My troop was on the left centre.

On reaching within 200 yards of the Boers, they opened fire on our centre left. We immediately retired to cover, and three of us immediately advanced and took up a position about 250 yards from the Boer position. This move on our part stopped a demoralisation of our squadron, for when they found that we were holding the position, they started to advance to our help; but were forced to retire in consequence of the heavy fire that was opened up on them, both by the Boers and our own Cossack Post on the ridge opposite.

As our own men's fire was too heavy, we were forced to retire. The squadrons were then able to locate the Boers entrenchments, and forced them to retire. As they were retiring the Boers came across L squadron, which had taken up a position on our left. The Boers, being reinforced, rushed the position occupied by that squadron on all sides. As they were dressed in khaki it was impossible to distinguish friend from foe. Our casualties were 5 killed, 14 wounded, and 25 taken prisoner. Those who were taken prisoner were stripped naked and sent into Heilbron. Without boots, trousers and coats they came in. We are expecting daily to be again attacked, as we are surrounded by Boers, and their stronghold is only six miles from here."

Another comrade, Trooper A Husband, also provided an account of the action in which Baker was wounded in a letter published in the Timaru Herald in January 1902. In part, it read as follows: -

"We had left Kroonstad a week with a big convoy, and were within a day's march of Heilbron, when early in the morning we came upon the Boers in large numbers on a big kopje called Paardekop. We intended to camp that night about a mile and a half from this kopje but the Boers surrounded us and began sniping at our pickets until it got too hot and we had to saddle up and move on again. L Squadron were the advance guard; they were sent to charge the kopje, with the result that 4 were killed and 10 wounded, and nearly the whole of L Squadron were captured."

Having recovered from his wounds, Baker was with his outfit on 14th November when the columns of Colonel Byng, South African Light Horse, and Wilson, 2nd KFS, were very resolutely attacked. After two hours' fighting the attack was successfully repulsed by "Byng's rear-guard, which was well and skilfully handled by Lieutenant Colonel Wilson of KFS, and the enemy retired, leaving 8 dead on the field". The telegraphic despatch stated that the rear-guard was composed of KFS, who had all the losses, namely, 3 killed and 8 wounded.

During December 1901 and January and February 1902 the 2nd KFS took part in many big driving movements in the north of the Orange River Colony. In his telegram of 27th January 1902 Lord Kitchener said: "Colonel Wilson, KFS, moved out on Thursday night from Frankfort and surrounded a small laager at Damplatz, capturing 20 prisoners, including Field-Cornet Strydom. During the return march he was attacked by a superior force under Alberts, who was driven off after severe fighting, leaving 5 dead. All Wilson's prisoners, except three, escaped". Kitchener's Fighting Scouts lost 8 killed and 7 wounded. In the despatch of 8th February 1902, dealing with events in that district, Lord Kitchener said that the columns of Keir and Wilson and Damant's Horse "have acted vigorously whenever opportunity offered against the enemy's bands under Commandants Alberts and Ross, which continued to frequent the valley of the Vaal to the north of Frankfort".

In the beginning of March Wilson's column was, with other troops, taken to the Western Transvaal, not long after Lord Methuen had met with disaster at Tweebosch. The 2nd KFS were placed under General Walter Kitchener, and were present at the fiercely fought action of Boschbult on 31st March 1902, when they lost 1 killed and 7 wounded. They then took part in the final great drives, under General Ian Hamilton, towards the Mafeking railway and back to Klerksdorp.

Baker took his leave of the unit at Cape Town on 11 March 1902, Time Expired, some two months before the cessation of hostilities. His Record of Service indicated that his Character rating was Very Good and he was credited with service of 1 year and 64 days. His destination address was P.O. Box 4366 Johannesburg.

Now out of uniform, Baker returned to his pre-war pursuits. His Queens medal was sent to him at 126 Railway Cottages, Fordsburg, Johannesburg.

Baker never married, passing away from a Cerebral Haemorrhage on 8 August 1961, two days shy of his 92nd birthday. He was a retired Engine Driver in receipt of a War Veteran’s Pension when he died at his home – 85 Collins Street, Brixton, Johannesburg. Laura Mary Best, widow of the same address was his major beneficiary. Small bequests from his R2641 estate were left to British relatives.

Pathetically, the estate reported that, “Laura Mary Best died in Johannesburg on 12 August 1960 (a year before Baker). The Executor has been advised by the person that cared for him (Baker) that the little amount of furniture the deceased used was lent to him by his friends.”

Hello Rory

Additional information with regard to the engagement at Rhenoster River near Heilbron

Joseph Baker was in L Company, 2nd KFS



Letter written by Ernest Honison G Company 2nd KFS that appeared in the Clarence and Richmond Examiner, Saturday, November 30, 1901 Page 5





Letter written by Arthur Husband H Company 2nd KFS that appeared in the Evening Post, Thursday, January 1902 page 2









Letter written by unknown trooper that appeared in the Grey River Argus, January 21, 1902 , page 4



Regards

Thank you RR! This certainly adds colour to the engagement. Thank heavens for all these fellows that wrote home.

With your permission I will weave some of the content into my story.

Regards

Rory

Hello Rory

You are welcome, yes it certainly does, and please do.

Regards