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Good Afternoon Everyone.......

My last purchase of the year and an expensive one but to me well worth it.......

My Christmas present to me......

Mike

(P.S. Last unless a Dated or 4th Dragoon Guards comes along LOL)

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Born 9/1/1866 in South Africa (probably Namaqualand as he was baptised at that location 25/2/1866).

He served in the Boer War with the Namaqualand Border Scouts from the 2/2/1901 with the rank of Sergeant. He was commissioned Lieutenant 19/1/1902 still with the Namaqualand Border Scouts and was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 29/7/1902) still with the Namaqualand Border Scouts. He transferred to the Guides 1/8/1902.

He was a farmer and occupier of Koukram. Involved in remounts and sheep inspection. [Member of Glenn Von Zeil's Grandmothers family].

He died 9/6/1954 in South Africa.

It is believed that his brother Robert Rich also served in the Namaqualand Border Scouts and is the Lieutenant Robert Rich on the medal rolls.

In 1901 the High Commissioner of South Africa instructed Lt. Colonel Shelton, 3rd Royal West Surrey Regiment, and ordered him to secure the rich copper mines of Namaqualand, the railway line linking the mines with the coast, and the port of Port Nolloth.

Lt Colonel Shelton, with the support of a limited number of regular troops and local men recruited and trained by the copper companies, built defences in the towns, along the railway line and at Port Nolloth. The Namaqualand Town Guard Battalion was an amalgamation of various local Town Guards, while the Namaqualand Border Scouts were a mounted force with a dismounted one, which primarily served along the railway line.

The Namaqualand Border Scouts (about 360 strong) in the words of a British officer who, although not belonging to them, saw much of their work, "They were an excellent force, which did a great deal of hard patrol work under Colonel White”, and had several stiff brushes with the enemy. They were conspicuous for consistently refusing to surrender when surrounded, as patrols were at times. They would keep up a fight till dark, and although half of them were killed the survivors of the party would escape. They made wonderful marches without water in their desert country". The work of the regiment was very similar to that of the Border Scouts. The corps was employed in their own district in 1901 and 1902, and had the good fortune to be part of the garrison of O'okiep when that town was besieged April 4th to May 4th 1902. The force which held the town made a most excellent defence, and were complimented by Lord Kitchener.

Book: O'okiep, The Defence and Relief of O'okiep, Cape Colony, 4 April to 4 May 1902, by Brian Kieran Page: 140
Ex-Woolman Collection

Thank you for sharing your lovely new addition to the collection.

Interestingly, I see he is one of only 5 MID's to the Namaqualand Border Scouts,

A very nice was to close out 2024, Mike!

A tidy medal Mike! Maybe entitled to the O'okiep Copper Mine Medal?

Moranthorse1 wrote: A tidy medal Mike! Maybe entitled to the O'okiep Copper Mine Medal?

If I read the O'okiep Book I am sure that he did...... Now to find it......

Thanks Mike

Hi Mike,

I had a look in the medal roll, "Medal for the defence of O'Okiep 4th April to 4th May 1902" as compiled by Don Forsyth a number of years ago. Unfortunately, his name does not appear. Although it is perhaps worth digging further, as it is a nominal roll.