TOPIC:

Archibald William Henry Grubb

Trooper, British South Africa Police (Matabeleland Mounted Police) – Matabele Rebellion 1896
Trooper, Cape Mounted Rifles
Acting Sergeant Major, South African Constabulary
Lieutenant, 1st Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry – Anglo Boer War
Captain, Labour Corps - WWI

- British South Africa Company Medal (Rhodesia 1896 reverse) to TROOPR. A.W.H. GRUBB. B.S.A.P.
- Queens South Africa Medal (CC/OFS/TVL) to 719 SERJT: A.W.H. GRUBB. S.A.C.
- Kings South Africa Medal (SA 1901/1902) to Lieut. A.W.H. GRUBB. I.Y.
- British War Medal to CAPT. A.W.H. GRUBB
- Victory Medal to CAPT. A.W.H. GRUBB

Archie Grubb was born in Bruff, County Limerick, Ireland on 5 December 1874 the son of James George Grubb, a Bank Manager with the National Bank, and his wife Sarah Pearce Grubb. The family was a reasonably affluent one and Mr Grubb was able to keep two servants whose task it was to look after the Grubb family – mother, father and two children – Archibald had a younger sister, Alice.

As was customary for boys born into middle class families Archie was sent away for his schooling. From 1883 to 1885 he attended Clonmel Grammar School, for boys of the Protestant persuasion (the Grubbs were Church of Ireland) – the school was inspected in 1881, two years before Archie arrived, generating a rather critical report which stated that, “As a boarding school it was a failure” and the amenities for the nine boarders were inadequate, having no bathroom, and “water is only obtained by being pumped up, with a troublesome process.” The teaching standards were marked by a “want of soundness and efficiency.” This led to the resignation of the headmaster.

That it had improved by the time of Archie’s arrival was doubtful – he stuck it out until he went to H.M.S. Conway as a cadet for further instruction. His school report revealed a hitherto undisclosed fact – that his previous school had been Ebury College in Rhyl. The report is separated into “Naval” and “School” – from March 1888 until he left in July 1889 - on the Naval side, his ability was rated as Fair; his application as Satisfactory whilst his Conduct varied between Very Good and Excellent. On the School side his ability and application was regarded as Moderate whilst his conduct was, again, Very Good. His principal added a rather cryptic comment under the Application column – “Good when present but has been absent most of the term.”


H.M.S. Conway

HMS Conway was a naval training school or "school ship", founded in 1859 and housed for most of her life aboard a 19th-century wooden ship of the line. The ship was originally stationed on the Mersey near Liverpool. Clearly the intention was to carve out a nautical career for Archie, although whether this was his father’s wish or his own is unknown.

Thereafter followed a period from 1890 to 1895 where he was tutored both privately and by army tutors at Clifton in Bristol, England. It was at this time that, according to the London Gazette of 17 October 1893, he was appointed as a Second Lieutenant with the 5th (Militia) Battalion of the Royal Munster Fusiliers. The Cork Constitution of 3 July 1894 carried the news that:

“The 5th Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers, County Limerick Militia, assembled for training at the Strand Barracks today. The strength of the regiment is 650, of which 60 are on leave and the remaining 590, it is expected, will be reduced as usual, but to a trifling extent, by absentees. About 150 of them will be accommodated in the barracks, and the remainder will be under canvas in an adjoining field. Colonel H.J. Brown is in command and the officers are - …. Limerick City Artillery attached; A.W.H. Grubb etc.”

On 28 July 1894, scarcely three weeks after the training camp referred to above, Grubb, according to the Army & Navy Gazette, resigned his commission. What was the cause? We can’t be sure but perhaps it had to do with a planned move to the southern tip of Africa which is where we find him in 1896 – as a Trooper with the British South Africa Police. Grubb’s arrival on the Dark Continent either coincided with the outbreak of the Matabele Rebellion of 1896 or, he was already in the country and enlisted with them for the skirmish.


Map detailing Grubb’s “African Safari”

In an ‘Application for Promotion in the Colonial Service’ he was required to divulge all “Employment from completion of education to date of entering the public service.” Fortunately, this provides us with a thorough synopsis of where and when he found himself. He states that he served as a Trooper with the Matabeleland Mounted Police (M.M.P.) whereas his medal is issued to him as a Trooper with the B.S.A.P. (British South Africa Police) – this discrepancy is easily explained - following the formation of the Matabeleland Mounted Police in 1895 with 150 members, it and the Mashonaland force were collectively referred to as the Rhodesia Mounted Police. This was run directly by the Charter Company until 1896, when it was reorganised into an independent entity called the British South Africa Police (BSAP.) Grubb can be forgiven the confusion in thinking that he was a member of the M.M.P. as opposed to the B.S.A.P.

The Second Matabele Rebellion (the first had been fought three years earlier) was an uprising by the Matabele tribe against the white man’s continued expansion in what they perceived as their territory. Emboldened by the claims of their witch doctors that they would be impervious to the bullets of the Europeans who were flooding into the country in search of fortune, the Matabele went on a killing spree – targeting small and remote settlements and butchering the European inhabitants. The B.S.A.P. at this time had been drastically reduced in number with most able-bodied men enlisting with Jameson as part of his ill-fated invasion of the Transvaal leaving only a handful of men to counter the Matabele threat.

Several Field Forces were hurriedly called into being and the white inhabitants of the larger settlements of Salisbury and Bulawayo went into laager with those from the outlying areas joining them. Grubb, as part of the B.S.A.P. would have been part of one of the Field Forces whose task it was, not only to take the fight to the marauding Matabele, but also to help defend the laagers’ from incursions. For his efforts he was awarded the British South Africa Company Medal (Rhodesia 1896 reverse.)

Leaving the B.S.A.P. on the expiration of his term of engagement, Grubb decided to remain in South Africa. Heading south he went Cape Town from where, on 21 February 1898, he addressed a letter to The Commissioner, Cape Police, King Williams Town stating that,

“I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 19 February. I have made a copy of my discharge and filled in application forms as directed by Chief of Police here. Should you consider my application favourably I respectfully request that your reply be addressed to me care of Office of the Chief of Police, Cape Town.”

Heading for King Williams Town in the Eastern Cape (the Headquarters of District 1) he completed Candidate’s Papers for the Cape Mounted Police on 3 March 1898. These divulged that he had been in the country for 1 year and 3 months and confirmed his previous B.S.A.P. service. They also informed us that he was 5 feet 8 inches in height and weighed 10 stone. He had brown hair, grey eyes and a fair complexion. Now 23 years old, he claimed to be able to speak “Matabele kaffir slightly” – Colonial experience and a knowledge of Dutch of Kaffir being a prerequisite for the job.

Having satisfied the requirements for the post, he was assigned No. 1560 and the rank of Trooper, he set about his work for 6 shillings per day. Neighbouring the Transkei border, Cape Police District I was tasked with not only normal policing duties – conducted mostly alone, on horseback over many miles in isolated rural areas – but also with making sure that the Xhosa tribesmen behaved themselves, especially when it came to stock theft which was rife.

The outbreak of the Ango Boer War found Grubb stationed in this neck of the woods, far from the madding crowd as it were – certainly very far from any Boers who, in the early stages of the conflict, confined their forays to the northern parts of the Eastern Cape. Grubb waited until the 3 years of his contract was up before moving on. His Record of Service with the Cape Police (page 97 in the register) was unremarkable.


A typical S.A.C. Sergeant

But where was he headed? With a solid policing background it was small wonder that his next stop was with the South African Constabulary. This para-military force had come about at the instigation of the hero of Mafeking – Robert Baden-Powell – who had recognised the need for a body of mounted men who could fill the vacuum in the recently conquered territories of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal. Although the war was from over when the SAC took to the field, vast expanses of territories and towns now fell under British rule and a police force who could combine normal policing duties with an active combat role, in support of the Regular Army, had become essential.

Describing himself as a Constable, Grubb completed the attestation forms for the SAC on 23 March 1901 – engaging his services for a 2 year period as opposed to the normal 3. He confirmed his previous stints with the B.S.A.P. and the C.M.P. and commenced with the rank of 2nd Class Sergeant and No. 717 attached to A Division which was headquartered in the Northern Transvaal (Pretoria.) On his transfer to B Division on 1 August 1901, his number changed to 514.


Receipt for purchase of discharge

Grubb’s S.A.C. service was never going to be a lengthy one – his undoubted talents recognised, he was promoted to Lieutenant rank and transferred to the Imperial Yeomanry after purchasing his discharge for £20 on 14 October 1901 – seven months into his contract. He had earned the Transvaal clasp to his Queens Medal, along with the Cape Colony clasp earned with the C.M.P.

The Imperial Yeomanry had come a long way since its inception in early 1900. By the time Grubb joined their number, the second contingent had learned to cope with the conditions in the country and, after a period of exposure to the elements and the enemy, had developed a backbone and were ready and willing to put up a fight should the need arise. Grubb was assigned to the 1st Battalion until being posted to the 5th Company of the II Battalion on 14 March 1902.

As things stood, the war was winding down to its inexorable end – this came on 31 May 1902 with the signing of the Treaty of Vereeniging and, not long after, Grubb resigned his commission with a view to returning to civilian pursuits.

What next for Grubb? On 14 October 1902 he commenced his first day of employment with the Transvaal Civil Service – the Mining Department – on an annual income of £360 plus a Personal Allowance of £40. Mining, specifically gold mining, had long been the mainstay of the old Transvaal Republic and, with the British Administration gradually returning the mothballed mines to full production, there was an urgent need for competent administrators and officials to manage the portfolio. The mines had, fortunately, not been dynamited by the retreating Boers as had been threatened. Instead, in what proved to be a masterstroke of diplomacy, the ZAR official Krause, had persuaded his Boer comrades that, whatever the outcome of the war, their future lay in the ability of all those concerned to get the mining economy back on track in the shortest time possible.


Witwatersrand G.M. Co.

With a steady income in the bag, Grubb set about finding a wife. On 31 March 1904 at Johannesburg he wed 26 year old Laura Isabella Morrell, a Calcutta born lady living at Quartz Street, Johannesburg. The 29 year old Grubb provided his address as Krugersdorp which is on the West Witwatersrand. A year later, on 21 August 1905, the Governor’s Office in Johannesburg addressed a letter to The Right Honourable A.J. Lyttelton, Secretary of State for the Colonies, in London. This letter read as follows: -

“I have the honour to forward herewith an application by Mr A.W.H. Grubb, a 1st Class Clerk in the Mines Department of this Colony for an appointment as a District Commissioner in West Africa. Mr Grubb has given every satisfaction in the Mines Department and his application is strongly recommended by the Acting Commissioner of Mines.”

Accompanying this letter was Grubb’s “C.V.” – most of the contents are known to us but he does mention that he had “lived in various parts of South Africa since 1896” which confirms when he arrived here.

Despite there being approval for his move Grubb allowed the opportunity to slip by. Five long years went by before he dipped his toe into the transfer waters – the Prime Minister’s Office, Pretoria, on 9 February 1910 wrote as follows: -

“Ministers have the honour to forward herewith an application by Mr Grubb of the Transvaal Mines Department for an appointment in the Colonial Service in one of the West or East African Protectorates. In June 1906 Mr Grubb was offered an Assistant District Commissionership in Southern Nigeria which he was however unable to accept owing to the illness of his wife.

In view of these circumstances Ministers have the honour to recommend that his further application be forwarded to the Secretary of State for the Colonies for consideration.”

But it was a case of shutting the stable door after the horse had bolted for Grubb, who had made his move too late - on 16 March 1910 Downing Street wrote back to the Governor, The Earl of Selborne:

“Please inform Mr Grubb that, as he is now thirty five years of age, I fear he is too senior to be considered for one of the junior administrative appointments in East of West Africa and I regret that there is no reasonable prospect of my being able to comply with his wishes.”

This must have been a blow to Grubb who had, for many years, set his sights on career advancement elsewhere in Africa. Undeterred, he soldiered on until, in 1914, the world as he knew it altered radically – the Great War erupted on 4 August of that year. Arriving at the port of Liverpool aboard the Llanstephen Castle from Durban on 17 September 1917, Grubb offered his services to the war effort and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Labour Corps – the London Gazette of 30 November 1917 confirming his appointment with effect from 9 November. Not long after he crossed the Channel to commence serving in France from 3 December 1917.

He was promoted to Captain and moved to the General List before the war ground to a halt on 11 November 1918. His British War and Victory medals were posted to The Mines Department, PO Box 376, Pietermaritzburg, Natal. Now that peace prevailed once more, he returned to South Africa and continued on in the service of the Mines Department. Perseverance is its own reward and, after many years of toil, Grubb was rewarded with promotion to the role of Deputy Commissioner of Mines. The Union of South Africa’s Government Gazette of 24 August 1923 carrying the following insertion: -

“It is notified for general information that Archibald William Henry Grubb has been appointed Acting deputy Commissioner of Mines, Natal, during the absence of James Evelyn Vaughn, with effect from 1 August 1923.”

Whether or not this position was ever made permanent is unknown but Grubb’s career was now winding down as he approached his 50th birthday.

He passed away at the Bear Hotel, Havant, Hampshire on 19 April 1931 at the age of 56 years and 4 months and was survived by his wife and son, George. He had moved to England before his death and was living at 37 Bullingham Mansions, Kensington.

Acknowledgments:
- Find My Past and Ancestry - census data; school and military records; probate
- South African National Archives – S.A.C. record; Mining Department Correspondence
- Various Internet sites for maps and photos
- British Newspaper Archive for Gazette information
- Adrian Ellard for C.M.P file and register.

Hi Rory,

A great write-up as usual.

I recall at an auction a while a ago there were a number of medals to the same family name (Grubb) and wondered if they were all related to your man; do you know if they were or was it just a co-incidence?

A very enjoyable and interesting read, Rory. Many thanks.

Sturgy wrote: Hi Rory,

A great write-up as usual.

I recall at an auction a while a ago there were a number of medals to the same family name (Grubb) and wondered if they were all related to your man; do you know if they were or was it just a co-incidence?

Hi Sturgy

I asked the very same question of the auctioneers the day I collected the group. I was assured that the only thing the various Grubb medals on offer had in common was the surname of the vendor.

Regards

Rory