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Osmond Charteris Du Port – D.S.O.; 5 x M.I.D.

Wounded in Action – Ladysmith, 14 November 1899

Lieutenant, 67th Battery, Royal Field Artillery and “A” Battery, Royal Horse Artillery – Anglo Boer War
Lieutenant Colonel and Officer Commanding 35th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery – WWI

- Distinguished Service Order (GV)
- Queens South Africa Medal (Cape Colony; Talana; Defence of Ladysmith; Orange Free State; Transvaal; Laing’s Nek) to Lieut., O.C. DU PORT, “A” Battery, R.H.A.
- 1914-15 Star to MAJOR O.C. DU PORT. R.F.A.
- British War Medal to LT. COL. O.C. DU PORT
- Victory Medal + M.I.D. Oak Leaf to LT. COL. O.C. DU PORT

Ossie Du Port was born in Ramleh, Egypt on 9 July 1875 the son of William Janvrin Du Port, a Channel Islands born Engineer and Bey (gentleman) based in the port city of Alexandria and his wife Margaret Sophia Paterson Du Port. As was almost always the case with the sons of Victorian gentlemen who found themselves resident outside of the United Kingdom, Du Port was sent “home” for his education. He was a pupil at Harrow and it was whilst there that he learnt of the death of his father on 20 June 1891. His mother was living at 24 Norland Square, Notting Hill, London at this point in time and, unlike so many others who were left destitute on the passing of their spouses, was left handsomely situated with an inheritance of £26 608. Du Port, whilst at Harrow, had as a fellow scholar, none other than the young soon-to-be-famous Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill.


Harrow School Class of 1892 - Churchill is top extreme left, hanging over the staircase

Having finished his schooling Du Port decided on a career in the military. At the age of 20, on 20 November 1895, he received a Commission in the Royal Artillery and was posted as a subaltern to Dover. As the 19th century wound to a close the long-festering animus between the two Dutch-speaking Boer Republics of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State and Great Britain burst into a declaration of war on 11 October 1899. The very next day the borders between these two states and the British Colonies of Natal and the Cape in South Africa were crossed. In the case of the Natal border, Boer Commandos from the Transvaal crossed over from Utrecht and Vryheid whilst those from the Orange Free State crossed over the Drakensberg mountain range – both intent on heading for the Port of Durban from where they could prevent any attempt to land troops, ordnance and supplies to help the British cause.

Within a few days they made a bee-line for Dundee which, defended as it were by a mere 4000 men under Sir William Penn Symons, wasn’t expected to put up much of a fight. The main Boer army to invade Natal was that of General Erasmus that came down the main north-south road through Newcastle. Simultaneously, General Kock took a smaller force on a parallel route to the west of Erasmus, while Commandant Lucas Meyer entered Natal via its eastern border from Utrecht.

Actual fighting commenced at 3.20 am on the morning of 20th October, when a Mounted Infantry picquet of the Dublin Fusiliers was fired on and driven in. At 5.40 am the Boer artillery opened fire from Talana Hill on Dundee and the British camp. There was a delay before fire could be returned, the British artillery horses being at water. The batteries harnessed up and hurried through Dundee, coming into action in the open ground beyond the town, quickly silencing the outnumbered Boer guns. As his artillery bombarded the Boers, Penn Symons, prepared to attack their positions on Talana Hill with his infantry, forming with the Dublin Fusiliers massed in the front rank, the Rifles in support behind them and the Royal Irish Fusiliers in the third rank.

Du Port, just prior to the outbreak of hostilities, had been sent out to South Africa with the 67th Battery, Royal Field Artillery – the famous “Chestnut” battery. It was his battery that was credited with the firing of the first shell.


67th at Talana - Du Port has his arm resting on a cannon.

Penn Symons insisted his regiments attack in conventional close order, an unrealistic tactic against an enemy armed with modern magazine rifles.

To the Leicester’s and Du Port’s 67th Battery was assigned the duty of guarding the camp with its great quantities of stores. These infantry were soon in extended order advancing to a wood, which the commander had decided to use as a breathing place. The wood was gained between 7 and 8 am, the 13th and 69th Batteries meanwhile keeping up a heavy and accurate fire on the enemy's positions. About 8.50 the infantry again advanced, and as they left the wood had to face a terrible rifle-fire both from their front and flank. Sir W Penn-Symons, who had been exposing himself with rash bravery, fell mortally wounded about 9.30; Brigadier General Yule, now in command, directed the infantry to move to a wall stretching some distance along the hillside, from which wall a very heavy fire was being kept up by the Boers.

The two batteries redoubled their efforts. The 1st King's Royal Rifles on the right first reached the wall, followed by some companies of the Irish Fusiliers; the Dublin Fusiliers also made their way up a little later. After another breathing space under cover of the wall the troops jumped the wall and scrambled up the steep face. At 1 pm the crest was gained and the enemy fled. Within easy range of the British artillery were to be seen "clumps of 50 and 100 men on which guns could have inflicted great loss. The enemy, however, displayed a white flag, although they do not appear to have had any intention of surrendering, and in consequence the officer commanding Royal Artillery refrained from firing".

One of the British batteries, firing from the open ground outside Dundee, failed to identify the troops on the top of Talana as British and continued to fire on the crest, inflicting unnecessary casualties and hindering the assault. Several senior British officers were killed or seriously wounded by British artillery fire. It is unknown whether or not this dubious honour fell to Du Port’s guns.


The 67th's Guns at Talana

On the 21st General Yule moved his camp to a better position. On the 22nd he resolved to retire on Ladysmith. At nine at night in silence the force set out by the east or Helpmekaar road, the dying general, the wounded, and the doctors being left behind. A great mass of stores had also to be left to the enemy, as its destruction would have made him suspect the intended retreat; while, on the other hand, a twelve hours' start was absolutely necessary. To have fought their way to Ladysmith would have been an impossible task for Yule's column in that hilly country. As it was the elements were not favourable. The rain at times fell in torrents; roads knee-deep in mud and swollen spruits made marching very heavy work, while but little sleep was obtainable between the 21st and 26th.

On 22 October “the enemy were found strongly posted along the ridge from Impati down to Glencoe Junction. The 69th and 67th Batteries came into action against them, and the Hussars had an encounter with a small party. Suddenly Long Tom opened again on the force while halted at Glencoe. After a brief cannonade, rain again intervened, and the whole force trudged back through the mire to the position from which they had started in the morning, accompanied by occasional shells”.

Lieutenant Howard Gill of the 21st Battery, R.F.A. kept a detailed diary of events around this time. His entry for the 24th October makes mention of Du Port. It read as follows: -

“At the grey of early dawn the Dundee column begins to come in. I never saw, and I never hope to, a more pitiable sight. They had been marching without rest for three days. All their tents and kit left behind. They look simply too wretched for words, yet all seem wonderfully cheery now they’ve met us and are looking forward to a good feed and rest in Ladysmith and then to beat the Boers back with us. Rumours would constantly reach the front (of the column) that the rear was being attacked and that the guns were cut off, and on the whole I am told by Du Port, whom I met for the first time since Plymouth days and in his usual cheery mood, it was the most awful time he had ever spent.”

On the three following days the Boers concentrated to the north of Ladysmith, and on the 29th General White resolved to again take the offensive next day in an effort to prevent the Free State Commandos from linking up with those approaching from Dundee. The action is variously known as Lombard's Kop, Farquhar's Farm, Nicholson's Nek, and Ladysmith. The last name seems the most appropriate. For the main features of this battle the official despatch must be relied on. Briefly, General White's scheme was to take the Boer positions, Long Hill and Pepworth Hill, north of Ladysmith; to throw forward part of his cavalry between and beyond Lombard's Kop and Bulwana on the north-east to protect his right flank, and to seize Nicholson's Nek, or a position near it, on the north-west, from which the rest of his cavalry could operate in the event of a Boer retreat.

At 11 pm on the 29th the 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers, 1st Gloucesters, and 10th Mountain Battery marched off towards Nicholson's Nek. At a hill called Cingula some stones were rolled down from above; there was a momentary confusion, during which the mules carrying the mountain guns and ammunition stampeded. Some of the infantry charged and took the hill without difficulty. The officer in command then ordered the remainder of the force up the hill, and some stone works were set up in the darkness; but when daylight appeared it was seen that the perimeter was such as to make the task of holding the top one of difficulty.


Guns moving to take up a new position at Ladysmith

In the morning the Boers massed round the hill, ascended its steep sides, and firing from the rocks round the edge of the top, soon did much damage. At 12.30 a white flag, unauthorised by any of the senior officers, was put up at an outlying sangar and the Boers flocked in. The flag was endorsed by those in chief command, and the whole force surrendered. This, of course, was not known to Sir George till late on the 30th, although from men and mule-drivers who had come back into Ladysmith in the morning he knew that his operations on the left were foredoomed to failure, if not to disaster.

At 3 am on the 30th Major General French moved out with the 5th Lancers, the 19th Hussars, and some Natal Volunteers; but at daybreak he found that he could not get much farther than the exit of the pass between the two last-mentioned hills; indeed by 8 am he could barely hold his position, and was thus of little use in protecting the right of the main attack. West of French's cavalry was what was intended to be the main attacking force under Colonel Grimwood, to consist of the 1st Liverpool, 1st Leicester, 1st and 2nd King's Royal Rifles, and 2nd Dublin Fusiliers, with the 21st, 42nd, and 53rd Batteries RFA and the Natal Field Battery. By some unfortunate bungling or confusion of orders the artillery intended for Colonel Grimwood did not accompany him, but branched off, taking along with them the Liverpools, Dublin Fusiliers, and two companies of the Mounted Infantry.

West of Grimwood was Colonel Ian Hamilton with the 1st Devon, 1st Manchester, 2nd Gordons, and 2nd Rifle Brigade. The latter battalion had arrived in Ladysmith at 3 am that morning, and only joined the rest of the brigade on the field at 6.30. With Hamilton the 13th, 67th, and 69th Batteries RFA were intended to be.


67th position in Ladysmith sector

The original scheme of the action involved that Colonel Grimwood's brigade would turn half-left and work inwards to Pepworth Hill, but at an early hour he was very heavily attacked from his right front and right flank. Accordingly he had to turn in that direction, extend his front greatly, throw his whole people into the firing line, and when that was done he had the greatest difficulty in maintaining his position even after the 21st and 53rd Batteries came to his support. About 8 am General White sent the 5th Dragoon Guards and 18th Hussars and the 69th and afterwards the 21st Batteries to assist French, the 13th and 53rd Batteries supporting Grimwood. At 10 am the Manchesters were taken from Hamilton and were also sent to support Grimwood. Even with this diversion of force to the right he could gain nothing. "This condition of affairs continued until 11.30 am, when, finding that there was little prospect of bringing the engagement to a decisive issue, I determined to withdraw my troops". The 67th battery, chiefly engaged near the centre against Pepworth Hill, and along with the 42nd silenced the Boer big-gun fire from that hill, although greatly outranged.

Another account of the action on the 30th read thus: -

“Colonel Pickwood’s Brigade Division of Artillery, comprising the 13th, 67th and 69th Batteries engaged the Boer guns on Pepworth Hill. The 42nd and 67th Batteries (Captain Manifold) were pushed forward into the open. “This movement at once attracted a concentrated and accurate shrapnel fire from the gunners on Pepworth, and men and horses began to fall. But the British plied their guns with such good effect that, in spite of scathing shrapnel, in another 20 minutes they were only answered by desultory shots. While they dealt with the guns on Pepworth Hill and to the north of Long Hill, one of the Boer guns suddenly enfiladed them at 3,000 yards range from Long Hill, and before the 67th could silence it the 42nd had lost an officer and several men killed and wounded. The covering of the retreat by the British batteries was the one bright spot in one of the gloomiest days of the British Army. Barely have British batteries behaved better; they fell back generally at a walk, never more hastily than a trot; yet the only support which they at first received was the little that they could afford each other while covering the withdrawal of the whole”. The Times History of the War in South Africa, Volume III page 161.

Howard Gill’s diary for the 29th/30th provided this account: -

“About 10 a.m. Walker saw a team bringing up a gun onto Long Hill to enfilade them. He informed the Colonel who ordered the 67th to take ground to their right and silence it. This they proceeded to do but unfortunately were slow in coming into action, and did not silence it until it had been firing enfilade fire into the 42nd for 5 minutes with terrible effect.

The 42nd and 67th remained here till the end of the day, covering the retirement of the infantry, and retired last themselves from that part of the field, when ordered. Now to return to ourselves. Down on the plain in our left we can see the gallant 13th and 67th batteries and by the way the shell burst among them one after another, it strikes me they can hardly come out with a man left alive. We are filled with admiration for their steadiness. To our left front I see a sight I never expected to, our infantry retiring in two and threes at the double.”

After this debacle the Boers surrounded Ladysmith, laying siege to the town, its people and the garrison there. Placing their heavy ordnance strategically on the most prominent hills around the town, they were able to lob shells into the lines and amongst the streets and shops at will. While his erstwhile classmate (Churchill) was at Colenso attempting to bribe people to get in to Ladysmith, Du Port and thousands of others were desperate to get shot of the place.



Map of battles

Sporadic attempts to break the stranglehold were undertaken by both sides but after a while all serious efforts were abandoned and the town and its inhabitants settled down to a daily routine which included dodging the shells hurled into it by Long Tom and other guns.

One such effort was made on the 14th when Brockelhurst went out with the 5th Lancers, 19th Hussars, two squadrons each of the Imperial Light Horse and Border Mounted Rifles, and the 21st and 67th Batteries, with instructions to turn the enemy off Rifleman’s Ridge. The I.L.H. established themselves on Star Hill, north-east of Rifleman’s Ridge, and the rest of the force endeavoured to work around by Field’s Farm. The Boers on the ridge, some 400 Vrede and Bethlehem burghers, defended themselves vigorously, while the Boer guns joined in from different points. The British guns expended a great deal more shell … but no attempt was made to push home an attack which might have easily succeeded, and early in the afternoon Brockelhurst withdrew. His withdrawal was the signal for a hot shell fire, in which Bulwana joined as the retreating force came within range”.

Page 53 of “How We Kept the Flag Flying” stated that: -

“The forenoon of November 14 was a day which promised much, but in the end fizzled out rather tamely. On the night before a farmer … had got news from his Kaffirs that the Boers would attack the following day, and when they opened a heavy fire on the town before breakfast, apparently as a screen for some ulterior purpose, it looked as though for once truth and rumour were identical items. Some of our guns had gone out at daybreak, and when early in the day they opened with crashing salvoes it looked as though they were really coming in at last.

Nothing of the sort. Our guns had merely gone out to clear a few square miles of kopjies to the south and west, which had become a favourite hunting ground of the Boer sharpshooters. For nearly three hours our Armstrongs searched many square miles of country. Our mounted infantry dodged around meantime as supporters to the batteries, but never got a chance. The intention was, I imagine, to cut off and, if possible, capture a Boer gun that was enfilading us. They were compelled to desert it for a time, but the minute our mounted infantry showed in sight, so fierce a fire of rifles rang along the Boer ridges that to have gone for the gun would have meant heavy loss. On our retirement they came back as usual to their old positions”.

The trusty Howard Gill’s diary for 14th November had this to add to the equation: -

“About 8 a.m. we hear that the orders have been entirely changed and that all the Cavalry (except the 19th Hussars), ourselves and the 67th are going out to Blaauwbank to capture or destroy enemy’s guns. We none of us look forward to the job and expect to get half annihilated by Long Tom and other guns as we cross Range Post Ridge. We don’t get orders to move until 11 a.m. instead of going out under cover of dark as was arranged. The 5th Dragoons and 67th battery go first. To our surprise and delight Long Tom doesn’t wake up until we are all over the ridge and out of his sight. The 67th come into action on Sign Post Ridge where they are out of effectual range and never discover the Blaauwbank gun.

…the 67th pass us and with the I.L.H. take up a position on the other side of Flag Spruit and enfilade Blaauwbank with their fire. However not a single Volunteer or Cavalryman makes the slightest attempt to take any position or kopjie and the I.L.H. (with 67th battery) are the only ones who let off their weapons at all. The I.L.H. had dismounted and were on Star Kopjie, firing across at left kopjie from a position which was actually further from the enemy than the 67th battery were.

The 67th were too near and had some casualties from rifle fire, Lieutenant Du Port being shot through the leg.” The “South African War Casualty Roll for the Natal Field Force” records that Lieutenant O. C. Du Port, 67th Battery, was slightly wounded on 14 November. 10603 Bombardier J. Claridge was severely wounded, and Trooper G. Schraam, I.L.H. was killed in action.

The Royal Artillery Museum hold the papers of Major General E.O. Hay - in a letter from Major Manifold, O.C. 67th Battery to Hay dated 20 January 1900 he wrote: -

"I have had one rather good day's firing since the siege began, when my Battery accompanied the Cavalry Brigade on reconnaissance. Du Port was on that occasion wounded but after a month in hospital has returned, I am thankful to say, sound and well, he's a really good officer."

On another occasion, undated, the same correspondents were at it again. This time round Manifold wrote: - "I will write no more for the present, we are all well except Du Port, wounded in the leg, but he is doing well."

Du Port was also involved in the action at Wagon Hill (Platrand) on 6 January 1900 – the last attempt by the Boers to break the stalemate. We defer to Howard Gill's diary for the last time - his entry for 22 January 1900 mentioned that, "Buller's heavy guns at it again this morning. They generally keep it up at night as well. I go up to Kings Post to visit Du Port. Get very wet!!"

The siege of Ladysmith lifted on 28 February 1900, Du Port continued on with the Natal Field Force - engaged in operations in Natal from March–June 1900 (the turning movement on the Biggarsberg and the relief of Dundee) and at Laing’s Nek (12 June) where he served with “A” Battery, Royal Horse Artillery. From there he was involved in operations in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria July (29 November 1900) and the action at Bergendal near Lydenburg. He also saw action in the Orange Free State – all whilst with “A” Battery. Buller’s dispatch (London Gazette 8 February 1901) in respect of Bergendal refers: -

“Early in the morning of the 27th August, the. 2nd Cavalry Brigade, under Colonel (local Major General) J. F. Brocklehurst, M.V.O, "A" Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, under Major E. A. Burrows, the 53rd Battery, R.F.A., under Major L. G. F. Gordon, two pompoms, and the 4th Division Mounted Infantry, under Captain (local Major) H. K. Stewart (Reserve of Officers), were sent forward with directions to cover the front of the advance, and at the same time -to throw their left forward across the Belfast - Dalmanutha ridge, and obtain Artillery positions whence they could shell from the north Bergendal and the northern slopes of the ridge, thus attacking in reverse any of the enemy who might attempt to reinforce Bergendal and the ridge behind it from the north while we were attacking it from the south. This duty was remarkably well carried out by General Brocklehurst. Excellent gun positions were selected by Major Burrows, Royal Horse Artillery, and the 4th Division Mounted Infantry were extremely well placed, and General Brocklehurst's dispositions generally inflicted great loss upon the enemy, and contributed considerably to the success of the day's operations.”

The Battery was present at Pretoria at the ceremony of the annexation on 25 October 1900, and shortly afterwards returned to England.

He was Mentioned in Dispatches in Lord Roberts’ dispatch of 10 September 1901 – most likely for his efforts in the Defence of Ladysmith. According to the 1901 England census, Du Port was at the Cavalry Barracks in Dorchester, Dorset on 31 March 1901 as an unmarried, 25 year old officer.


Ossie Du Port, his wife and other family members

The war over a semblance of normality returned to Du Port’s life. He was awarded the Queens Medal with six clasps for his efforts and was married to Hilda Melvill Bagshaw in Dover, Kent on 17 September 1902. Their first child, William Osmond Du Port was born in Dover in the first quarter of 1904 followed by the birth of John Antony Melvill Du Port in Plumstead, London on 5 July 1905.

Things were going just as swimmingly on the career front – Du Port was put to work as an Instructor at the Royal Military Academy from 1 January 1904 until 11 September 1904. He was then created an Officer of a Company of Gentlemen Cadets (R.M.A.) from 12 September 1904 until 11 September 1905. Thereafter he was a Commander of a Company of Cadets (R.M.A.) from 12 September 1905 until 31 December 1911. He also served as Adjutant, Royal Artillery from 10 December 1908 until 9 December 1911. Whilst in this role it is suspected that he was posted to South Africa, possibly on secondment, as his son, Peter Leonard Du Port, was born in Tempe (the military base) in Bloemfontein, Orange Free State on 19 February 1911. The 1911 England census shows that Du Port’s wife and three children (including two month old Peter) were living in a military establishment. There was no sign of Du port himself.

On 26 February 1913 he retired with the rank of Major and lost no time in making a permanent move to South Africa, purchasing the farm Serui in the Makwiro District of Hartley in Southern Rhodesia, and taking up the mantle of gentleman farmer. Later on, he added the farms Chingford, Ngwesi and Golden Kopje (in the Lomagundi District) to his assets. According to his estate, these were valued at £14,361 and he also had £8,000 worth of assets in South Africa.

When the European War broke out, he cabled to England offering his services, and was recalled with the rank of Major. He spent some time in training Kitchener’s Army, before being sent to France in May 1915 with his Regiment. He commanded 35 Brigade R.F.A. from 11 March 1916 until 4 February 1917, serving in France and Belgium from 31 May 1915 until 11 November 1918. Du Port was M.I.D. no fewer than five times, and awarded the D.S.O. “for distinguished conduct in the field” (L.G. 4 June 1917).

That he was kept busy as the war drew to a close is evidenced by the case of Sapper Frederick William Edmonds of the 3rd Tunnelling Company. This fellow was wounded in action (slightly) on 17 June 1918 but remained on duty. He appeared before a Field General Court Martial held at Bracquemont on 17 October, 1918 charged with the following:

Charge: (1) Joining in a mutiny 25/9/18 (2) Disobeying lawful command
Finding: (1) Guilty (2) Not Guilty
Sentence: 2 years hard labour
Confirmed: by Lt-Col O.C. Du Port Commander, 1st Corps H.A. 18/10/18

Under authority by the 5th Army Command on 3 November, 1918 the above Sentence was suspended.

After the war he continued in service with the Army of Occupation on the Rhine, before retiring for the second time in 1919. He was promoted Brevet Lieutenant Colonel on 3 June 1919.


Southern Rhodesian Cabinet

Returning to farming in the Harley District in Southern Rhodesia, he was elected to the first Legislative Assembly in 1924 as a Member for the Rhodesia Party in the Hartley Constituency, where he came second with 422 votes against Sir Ernest Will Sanders Montagu’s 426 votes. The death of Sir Charles Coghlan in 1927 necessitated a Cabinet reshuffle, and he was given the portfolio of Minister of Agriculture and Lands. He held this portfolio for a year before being defeated at the polls in the 1928 election, coming second with 187 votes against the 250 votes to Rodger Edward Downes of the Progressive Party. His place in the Cabinet was taken by Mr. R. A. Fletcher.

Osmond Du Port died on 21 June 1929 while travelling back from England to Cape Town on the Garth Castle. He died of nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys), causing uremic convulsions, and was buried at sea. He and his wife had travelled to England on holiday, but he was not in good health and had seen various doctors, who advised him, bizarrely, to have most of his teeth removed. He subsequently visited a specialist and a health clinic at Windsor, and was informed that the illness was not serious. This proved to be a mis-diagnosis. His Will was made at Dover on 31 October 1919 with all his worldly effects to go to his wife. He set up a Trust comprising his wife, his brother A. C. Bagshawe and his cousin Winifred Evelyn Du Port. The income from his real estate was to provide his wife with means for the remainder of her life. Then the properties were to be bequeathed to their children or, if any were deceased by then, their grandchildren. His widow was still living at Serui in 1953.

Acknowledgements:
- Various - as mentioned in the body of the work above.
- Ancestry for photo of Du Port and family
- ABWF site for battle maps
- Members of the Great War Forum
- The Ogilby Muster for Hey's letters

That is excellent, Rory. Many thanks.