[ CGHGSM (1) Bechuanaland ];
QSA (2) Defence of Marking, Transvaal (760 Pte C. E. Pyper. Cape Police);
KSA (2) (760 Pte C. E. Pyper. C.P. Dist 2)
Christoffel Everard Pyper was born on 28 May 1876 in Ceres, Cape Colony to a father of the same name (1845-1884) and Christina Magdalena Van Wyk, Baptised 2 March 1877. Religion: Dutch Reformed. Reportedly enlisted in Landrey’s Horse (Trooper) and served in the Gun War (Basuto War) 1880-1 (not on the roll for this clasp) but this was probably his father. Served in the Bechuanaland Rebellion 1896-7 (CGHGSM (1) Bechuanaland) in Landry's Light Horse. Enlisted in CP D2 on 26 May 1899. Single. Trade: Farmer. 5'7" with brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. His sick record shows he had a sore throat for 6 days from 2 June 1899 and cardiac excitability for 8 days from 10 August 1899.
During the siege it was reported that 'Yesterday Durand and Pipers [sic], troopers Cape Police D1 [sic], were out sharpshooting in the Brickfields, they are both Colonial Dutchmen but thoroughly British. Time after time they have done excellent sniping work. They are, like most of their Corps, very enthusiastic in volunteering for 'potting Boers'' (Algie, 12 December). 'Good Service by Snipers - The Colonel Commanding has much pleasure in calling attention to the excellent sniping done by Privates Durand and Pyper, Cape Police, D2 on the 12th Instant. It appears that they took a position in the rocky ground between the lazaretto and the rifle butts, on the night previous; during the day they observed four of the enemy approaching and having allowed them to get within 600 yards fired on them. They knocked over three of them, and soon afterwards the enemy sent a stretcher party under a Red Cross flag and carried off the men who had fallen.' (MM034, 18 December). ‘One Boer, who for some extraordinary reason, wore a white shirt (which he will never do again) occasionally showed his back over the edge of a shelter he was constructing for himself, acting apparently on the principle of the ostrich, Trooper Piper [sic] of the Cape Police eventually got him, and at the same moment, his friend who was firing from a loop-hole, fired at Piper; fortunately Currie, who was covering the loop-hole, fired almost simultaneously and got him too, to the huge delight of the Cape Boys’ (Baillie, 30 January). 'Private Pyper, Cape Police D2. is hereby granted the acting rank of Corporal while employed as assistant to Sgt Abrams, in charge of Stadt Watchmen.' (MM139, 9 May).
KSA re-issued 28 January 1910.
He married Johanna Jacoba Le Roux (1882-1946) in Mafeking, 24 December 1900. Both were resident in Mafeking at the time. They had two children, Christoffel Everhardus and Petrus Andreas. He died 25 June 1947 in Kuruman aged 71.
There are many variants on his middle name.
My grateful thanks to Adrian Ellard for his help with this research.
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