TOPIC:

Louis Charles Poisson

Sergeant, Durban Light Infantry – Anglo Boer War
Colour Sergeant, Durban Light Infantry – Bambatha Rebellion
Sergeant, 1st Infantry (Durban Light Infantry)
Sergeant, 2nd South African Infantry – WWI

- Queens South Africa Medal (Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal) to 100 SERGT. L.C. POISSON. DURBAN L.I.
- Natal Medal (Bambatha Rebellion) with 1906 clasp to COL. SGT. L.C. POISSON. DURBAN LIGHT INFANTRY.
- 1914-15 Star to SJT. L.C. POISSON 1ST INFANTRY
- British War Medal to SJT. L.C. POISSON, 2ND S.A.I.
- Victory Medal to SJT. L.C. POISSON, 2ND S.A.I.

Louis Poisson was born in Savanne on the island of Mauritius on 10 August 1872 the son of Marie Sylvanine Lousteau and someone suspected to be her paramour. Her first husband having passed away in 1868, it wasn’t until 11 June 1874, two years after Louis’ death that she married Charles Melidor Poisson. Poisson senior brought his family out to South Africa on 12 March 1886 landing in Durban on the East Coast where they settled. Many Mauritians made the journey to take up lucrative employment opportunities in the thriving sugar cane industry on both the North and South Coasts of the Colony of Natal.


Poisson at the time of his nuptials in 1897

In December 1893 he enlisted with the Durban Light Infantry for peace-time service and was assigned No. 100 and the rank of Private. Together with the Natal Mounted Rifles, the D.L.I. was one of the oldest regiments in the Colony with a fine reputation which attracted a number of volunteers to its ranks.

On 25 August 1897 he wed Louisa May Mollieres in a private residence in Durban. He was described as a Machine Man by trade and was employed by the Natal Government Railways, the enterprise he was to spend his entire working life with. Losing no time, the couple set about the business of making a family – something they managed with consummate ease – with no fewer than ten children entering the world in their home over the course of the next decade - May Louisa Sylvanie Poisson (1898-1911); Charles Edward Poisson (1899-1969); Louis Arthur Poisson (1900-1948); Eugene Alfred Poisson (1902-1949); Marguerite Maud Poisson (1904-1982); Marie Julia Poisson ((1905-1955); Esther Alice Poisson (1908-1979); Edith Irene Nancy Anne Poisson (1913-2001), Reginald George Poisson (born in 1915) and Ernest Leslie Poisson (1918-1978).

As the end of the 19th century neared tensions which had been rising between the two Boer Republics of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State burst into open warfare and those resident in the southernmost tip of Africa woke up to the fact that they were at war on 12 October 1899. Poisson received the call-up towards the end of September, in anticipation of war, by which time he had progressed to the rank of Sergeant with “B” Company – for some unfathomable reason called the Irish Company.

Once assembled in Durban, the Durban Light Infantry was entrained for Colenso. The duty of the regiment on arrival was the safeguarding of the all-important road and rail bridges over the Tugela. Thus, it was that “B” Company under Lt. J.H. Nicholson, together with a detachment of Naval volunteers established Fort Nicholson, South West of the station at a distance of about 500 yards from the Tugela River, but with command of the road bridge. Fort Nicholson consisted of four trenches forming a square with a layer of sand bags on the surface. A very rudimentary structure. Spaces between the sandbags provided loopholes and these were covered by yet more sandbags. The Naval gun was in the centre of the Fort and tents were pitched inside. The digging was carried out with enthusiasm, assisted by Africans who were adept at this sort of work.

Initially there wasn't much happening, with the odd party of Boers on horseback seen in the distance. But on the 1st of November things began to change with Boers and artillery pieces observed a few miles to the north. On the 2nd of November, it was claimed that the Boers were within striking distance of Colenso and were closing in fast. Shelling of Colenso began on the morning of the 2nd, but the shells fell short. Fort Wiley and the railway bridge were obviously the targets.

At 2:15 p.m. there was an attack of some force on Fort Molineux and a company of the Dublin Fusiliers under Captain Hensley, and half of “B” Company (which was Poisson’s Company) of the Durban Light Infantry under Lieutenant Hood, set out in extended order on the left of the railway line in order to relieve the pressure on “A” Company. Some shots were fired which had the effect of clearing the left flank of Fort Molineux.

With the Boers pressing closer, the order was given for the withdrawal of the whole force to Estcourt. Camp was struck, kit packed and conveyed to a point on the railway line in the direction of Chieveley. 470 men of the Durban Light Infantry with their guns were entrained. The operation was not observed by the enemy and the trains departed without interference.

On the 9th of January 1900, the Battalion moved up from Estcourt to Mooi River to relieve the Dublin Fusiliers. A big Depot at Mooi River, a large hospital and the necessity to guard the important railway bridge provided many duties for the men. “B” Company was located for a time on Fusilier Hill, about two miles from the village.

Having played a very small part in the operations for the relief of Lady Smith when that event came on the 1st of March 1900, the Durban Light Infantry, and many of the other volunteer Natal units were kept in operation for a few months longer until in October of 1900 they were demobbed and sent home. Although they still remained on strength, they were released from active duty on the 1st of October 1900.

Poisson’s active service in the Boer War now came to an end although he was, like his comrades, kept on strength until the cessation of hostilities on 31 May 1902 – should their services be required. For his efforts he was awarded the Queens South Africa Medal with clasps for Transvaal and the Relief of Ladysmith.

Returning to his work with the Natal Government Railways, Poisson went about the business of life. His equanimity and that of the entire Colony of Natal was rudely interrupted four years later, in 1906, by the outbreak of what became known as the Bambatha Rebellion. The coffers of the Natal Government had been severely depleted by the expenses incurred during the Boer War and additional revenue had to be found to keep the ship of government afloat. One of the ways decided on was to levy a Hut or Poll Tax on every male above the age of 18. Most Zulus accepted this sullenly but without remonstrance. Not so one minor Chief from the Kranskop area, Bambatha of the Zondi clan.


Sergeants of "A" and "B" Companies, D.L.I. with the Militia Force at Mapumulo, 1906 Poisson is seated middle row second from left

Bambatha made his opposition to the imposition and collection of the tax vocally known and set about inciting rebellion to oppose its implementation. As a result the Natal Militia was mobilised in February and, after quelling the first flickers of opposition, was stood down only to be recalled in April when events took a far more sinister turn.

On 23 February “A” and “B” Companies of the DLI were mobilised and proceeded by train from Durban up the North Coast to Stanger from where they marched to Mapumulo. Poisson was a Colour Sergeant with “B” Company. This demonstration of force was enough to bring the rebels to heel and the force was demobilised. The Natal Government Railway Staff Magazine of May 1906 (p227) supplied a photo of their “quota” for the Rebellion which includes Poisson of the Machine Shop.

On 26 April Poisson and his company were recalled to service. They were to participate in the many small actions in Zululand which culminated in the fight at Mome Gorge where Bambatha and his men were finally routed.

With his second “war” now behind him Poisson returned, once more, to his civil employment. He and many others could have been forgiven for thinking that they had donned a uniform for the last time. Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm II had other ideas, taking his country to war against Great Britain on 4 August 1914. Initially it was thought that South Africa would not be involved but a request was received for “urgent Imperial service” – that a force enter German South West Africa and neutralise the radio station that could interfere with Allied shipping in the Atlantic.

Prime Minister Louis Botha and his Minister of Defence, Jan Smuts – both arch enemies of the Crown a mere twelve years earlier – complied with the request only to find that, before effect could be given to it, an internal rebellion, sparked by their decision to support Great Britain, had to be suppressed. This uprising was among Boer loyalists who, still bitter with their defeat, rose in their thousands in the Orange Free State and Western Transvaal and it was only after much blood was shed that peace was arrived at.

Poisson and the DLI were called upon to play their part in the suppression of the Rebellion. He had enlisted with “D” Company of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry (Durban Light Infantry), on 9 October 1914 with no. 370 and the rank of Sergeant; providing his next of kin as his wife of Old Toll House, Umbilo, Durban. “D” Company had been exclusively raised from Railway personnel and was known as the Railway Company.

On 24 November 1914 his “D” Company moved to Harrismith in the Orange Free State to protect the town, remaining there until it joined the Battalion en route to Cape Town on 23 January 1915. Whilst in Harrismith it had a lot do with escorting captured rebels to Kimberley. From Cape Town Poisson embarked for German South West Africa aboard the “Gaika” on 26 January 1915 bound for Walfisch Bay where he disembarked on 29 January. On 25 March his Battalion moved to Swakopmund and from there, on 10 April to Nonidas and Husab where “D” Company was posted to the river bed.

On 27 April the Battalion marched to Riet before, after a frustrating period of yet more marching in desert-like conditions with little to no water and food, being burnt by the harsh sun during the day and freezing cold in the evenings, they were ordered back to Swakopmund and sailed back to South Africa having seen very little fighting. It had been a dreary campaign with an unenterprising enemy who gave them no chance to show their mettle.

The German surrender in German South West Africa came on 9 July 1915 and the occupying force was sent home. Where to now for Poisson? Many of his compatriots were enlisting with the newly created 6th South African Infantry for service in German East Africa (where the attention was now focused) whilst others were either deciding to remain at home or to join the men heading for the slaughter fields of France and Flanders.

Poisson chose the latter course, attesting for service with “E” Company of the 2nd South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 21 August 1915. Assigned no. 4622, he was mustered as a Corporal. He was described as being 39 years old and 6 feet 2 ½ inches in height with a dark complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair and was a Presbyterian by way of religious denomination.

Having sailed for England he, and most of his 2nd S.A.I. comrades were rerouted to Alexandria in Egypt once they had reached Devonport. This was to assist in the fight against the Senussi tribe in North Africa who had allied themselves with the Turks. Having embarked aboard the Saxonia, they reached Alexandria on 29 December 1915 and, after finally prevailing against the enemy, took passage to Marseilles in France in April 1916 to join up with their comrades on the Western Front.

No doubt partially attributable to age, Poisson’s health started to play up and he was hospitalised a number of times with Myalgia, eventually being transferred to England on 23 October 1916 by which time he had been promoted to Lance Sergeant. He was awarded a Silver War Badge and Kings Certificate and repatriated to South Africa. Having disembarked at Cape Town on 5 February 1917, he was discharged from the army as Physically Unfit for further war service on 30 September 1917.

His Proceedings on Discharge Form rated his Military Character as Very Good and he was credited with One year and 261 days service. His age on discharge was given as 45.

Louis Poisson remained as a Chargeman with the Railways his entire working life. He passed away at the age of 77 on 16 January 1947 from Cardiac Digestive Failure, aggravated by Diabetes. His residence at the time was 34 Cunningham Road, Umbilo, Durban.

Acknowledgments:
- The Durban Light Infantry (official history), Volume 1 by A.C. Martin
- SANDF Archives for personnel file
- Natal Government Magazine for 1906 article/photo

Thank you, enjoyed the read. Also, photos of naming are great for reference

Thanks Rory..... Gives me a lot more info on the D.L.I. .......

Mike