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Hi Brett

As promised my G/fathers military details/.

Squadron Sergeant-Major William Powell Stevens.
He enrolled on 31st March 1891- H Troop- Natal Carbineers. (Regimental Number 138) In the Muster Roll of the Natal Carbineers (Anglo Boer War 1899-1902) he was listed as a NCO.. a sergeant in the Relief Column. He received promotion three times in his army career from Corporal on 11th April 1898, to Sergeant on 1 Jan 1900 and after he enlisted again in 1902, as Squadron Sergeant-Major on 27 Feb 1903. In 1906 he fought in the Zulu War. He resigned finally on 18th March 1910 at the age of 38 and was put on a Supernumerary list. He was awarded 5 medals.

His brothers, Tpr F.N. Stevens R, Tpr Barnard John Stevens and his uncle Tpr Frank Stevens, also served in the Natal Carbineers as troopers on relief column in the same regiment, I believe.

Sent to me by M. Coghlan is in Chapter 4 of his thesis around page 33 or so :

I quote "Though apparently referring to 16 November 1899, the action in question with regard to the Boer Complaint, is probably the Ennersdale skirmish on the Day of the armoured train ambush - the 15th, discussed in Chapter Two. Commenting on his part in this incident, Park Gray described how he and his half-section, a man by the name of Stevens, switched to Dutch to partially extricate themselves from a potentially fatal confrontation with a larger Boer contingent that, in heavy rain, had mistaken them for Boers." unquote

I do attribute this piece as the "Stevens" in question to GF William or his brother's, as their mother was Dutch, they would have had to have been tweetalig enough to sound convincing? I am not sure if there would be anything written down saying precisely who the man "Stevens" in question was. It is not important though , just interesting enough to spice up an otherwise dry family tree full of dates.

Just some things on a lighter note. My father loved to tell us all the war stories his father told him. I don't remember them all now it was a long time ago, but one I remember vividly, one time during the ABW, in very bad weather, heavy mist, rain etc, anyhow the visibility was very poor and the group GF William was with came up on what they thought was a group of Boers, they opened fire only to discover it was a flock of sheep

GF William had the desire to be a soldier from a very young age. In a previous war he wanted to join his Uncles and was told "no" he could not go. However he hid in an ox cart and arrived in camp regardless, he was punished and sent home immediately.




Regards D

Hi D

Many thanks for sharing your records. I find the family anecdotes as interesting as recorded history, even when they are muddled or exaggerated. Finding details about the life of an otherwise forgotten 'other rank' has been one of the more satisfying aspects of my research during the past decade or two.

Regards
Brett

I have two photos one of William in his uniform (head and shoulders) and another... a group photo of the Warrant Officers's and Sergeants Natal Carbineers Colenso Camp 1909. But being a 'Post' ABW photo and (no names) except for William circled in red which is a shame as it does tend to spoil the photo for the interest of anyone else. Not sure if it would be appropriate to put it up on here ?? Let me know if it is wanted at all?. If you yourself would like an email attachment copy for your interest in the Natal Carbineers let me know. My cousin sent this to me around 2009 and it also has a "label" embedded in it with W.P. Stevens details so not sure if it would be wanted? . I also have a letter to S.S.M Stevens on a NC letter head (it is an original)albeit laminated. A discharge certificate (photostat). An original of the Resolution adopted by the Parliament of Natal on the 31st July 1906 to the Militia also laminated.

I have found my email correspondence to M. Coghlan from quite a few years back and these details were not in my previous post, so I will add them here. I did not furnish him with the details of the uncle and the other brother as I did not have them, hence their absence below.......

Quote:
"I have discovered the details that you want and will list
them below. I do have plenty of information about the ABW activities
with which the Stevens brothers were involved, if you are still
interested in that: I have several manuscript on the topic of the
Carbineers and Natal Volunteers in the ABW and the Stevens brothers, as
members of No5: the Estcourt-Weenen Squadron, would have been in the
thick of things as far as the relief column was concerned. Please let me
know if you are interested in that."


PJ Stevens:
Regimental No: 146
Enrolment: 10 September 1891 ('H' Troop)
Address and occupation: 'Sutherland', Rotcher's Post, farmer
Promotion: Cpl 10/6/1894; Sgt April 1900.
Resignation: 14 January 1903 (to Reserve)

You were correct about his being wounded, severely as it turned out at
Colenso on 15 December 1899. There were 4 Volunteers killed (troopers BW
Warren, David Grey, Peter Adie and HN Jenner. Apart from Stevens, the
wounded were Lt MacKay (severely); Lt Wilson (slightly); Sgt Stevens
(severely); Trooper King (severely); Trooper Agnew (badly); and Trooper
PE Smith (slightly)

WP Stevens (William Powell)
Regimental number:138
Enrolment: 31 March 1891 ('H' Troop)
Address and occupation: Weenen, tobacco grower
Promotion: Cpl 11/4/1898; Sgt 1/1/1900; Squadron Sergeant-Major
27/2/1903
Resignation: 18 March 1910 (to Supernumary List)

Sources: Natal Carbineers Service Register; NC Strength Return 25 March
1899; NC Numerical Roll, c1877-1914.

unquote

I also found W.P. Stevens's discharge certificate dated 31st January 1912 he was discharged from the NC in consequence of the supernumerary list being abolished. His service was 20years and 306 days. Medals and decorations SA Queen's & 5 clasps
Native Rebellion 1906
Long Service

It is a pity I do not have more on the brothers or the Uncle, it is not that I am disinterested in them just we have not discovered more.
Before I am in danger of throwing too much trivia on here I will leave it at that.

Hi D

I am very grateful to you for sharing the Stevens' information. I will add it to my NC files. I will e-mail you about the possibility of getting copies of the items you mentioned. There must be other forum members who would be interested in seeing pictures of at least some of these items (e.g. the portrait pic of William).

J Stalker's 1912 history of the NC includes the Colenso 1909 photograph and the men in it are named. Another photograph in this book is of the Sergeants in 1898 and P J Stevens is included.

I spent many of my childhood years in the Estcourt/Weenen area and it was then that my interest in Natal's military history started. Consequently, Carbineers from this area have featured in my research and medal collecting. I have four QSA's awarded to men of the Estcourt/Weenen Squadron. Since only this one squadron was involved in the 'Relief of Ladysmith', such medals are harder to find than the 'Defence of Ladysmith' medals awarded to men of the other NC squadrons.

P J Stevens' farm, "'Sutherland', Rotcher's Post", is probably in the Weenen district, since the Rottcher's were (?still are) a prominent farming family in this district. Can you confirm this?

Regards
Brett

Hi Brett ,
Yes absolutely I am willing to share any war memorabilia on the forum. I always view these things as a part of history and if not shared what's the use of them ! It's great to see these things all "come together". I will put up both photos, tomorrow. I may have more to share in this regard later, but as stated earlier things here need to be sorted through.

You mention Rotcher’s post that is very much in my interest and has been for quite a while. I am trying to find old land maps of the area with demarcated areas in the 1850’s,as my GG /GF Francis Stevens. [(I am not sure they exist ? very much hoping they do) according to info I have here] they came and settled under the Hecket and Ledget emigration scheme . It is just for sake of interest when visiting these areas of family history to have the exact locations. How ever he was granted land to purchase on the border of Natal and Zululand in Weenen County, apparently this was part of the government strategy at the time for the protection of Natal and only military men were offered farms along the border. (Francis was a Soldier in England and was stationed at Garrison, Sheerness, in Kent (probably where W.P. Stevens inherited his need to be a soldier, in fact the soldier ‘thing’ goes back a few generations to the Wellington era) It states he buried Ann his wife on their farm “Sutherland”. The eldest son William (G /grandfather) [ also lots more info on this, my 1st cousin is a wonderful FH researcher along with all the American and English 4th cousins are)]whom gave me most of this the FH info) left home to marry in 1868, he purchased a neighbouring farm, Doorn Vlackte. In the family bible ( in my possession) belonging to my grandfather William, given to him on his 21st birthday the inscriptions says “William Powell Stevens from his affectionate Father and Mother on his 21st birthday “Belle View” Weenen 1893”. They farmed Tobacco and Cattle. My visit was the first and all too fleeting and there was no time to scout. I love the area !!!!!. On a closing note it was also a very emotional visit for myself. This is probably way too much info here, but the only way I can explain the Rotchers post farm story

P.S. I never answered your question properly in the previous post, I was very rushed when writing it, I do not know anything about 'Rotchers Post' when I saw it in the records I just assumed it was just part of an address. So not sure if or how the Rotchers fit in or at least how "Sutherland" fits into the grand scheme of things. It is in Weenen County though. Not sure if borders have changed recently but it certainly was in those days. You are very lucky to be able to have stayed and visited the area! I have been very eager to go and spend time there, it is so far from the Cape and as I mentioned earlier my visit was a brief one. I believe the people who live in Weenen go back a long way and have a history of lots of things to memory. My brother visited the little museum which has some ABW memorabilia. In fact in all my dealings with people from there by correspondence or spoken I get a strong impression it is a place that has not changed much in many many years. which I think is nice
D.