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Hi all

I have a QSA to AF Galloway who spent time with both the Colonial Scouts and the Natal Mounted Rifles.

Whilst researching him a reference to an action at Babanango on 13.3.1900 appeared. Can anyone shed any light or add any details to this?

It would be appreciated if I were able to add to my knowledge of the man and the war.

Regards

Rory

No one out there who can shed some light on my query?

I find it scarcely credible given the wealth of expertise on this Forum!

Regards

Rory

Hi Rory,

I hadn't knowingly come across Babanango before so I had a look for information.

There's a reference to Babanango in Maurice Vol 4 which says:

"Natal, during this month, though continually threatened from Botha's Pass and the west, had chiefly to cope with an irruption by the enemy into the Nkandhla and Mahlabitini districts of Zululand. From the former a small column under Major A. J. Chapman (Royal Dublin Fusiliers) temporarily dislodged them by a sharp attack at Babanango on the 26th ; whilst the Boers, attacking in their turn the magistracy at Mahlabitini two days later, were repulsed with loss by the Natal Police, who, in the course of a stout resistance to ten times their numbers, lost seven out of the twenty men who formed the garrison. These successes, however, by no means freed the districts, which attracted the enemy by their fertility after the ruin and desolation of their own veld ; and Lieut.-General Hildyard was compelled later to adopt regular methods of clearance."

But this incident is in 1901 so too late for your man.

Holt's Natal Police history has a couple of mentions but both are from 1901, eg:

"At this time another detachment of Natal Police was constantly patrolling and searching the farms in the Babanango district and a portion of the Vryheid district, sometimes by themselves and sometimes with the 5th Mounted Infantry, there being several small skirmishes. A post was established at Emtonjaneni, and there a considerable number of police remained for over a year until peace was declared."

Attacking the question from the date, 13 March 1900, the event of record is the fall of Bloemfontein that day.

I'll keep looking.

Babanango seems to a term for the area so could the incident have happened nearby? Both Forts Prospect and Itala are in Babanango.

Regards
David

Rory

The information that follows comes from 'Natal Volunteer Record', which was published late in 1900.

A F Galloway was a member of F Squadron, Colonial Scouts, under Captain W Knott. There were seven Squadrons in the Colonial Scouts and F and G Squadrons were part of the Melmoth Field Force.

F Squadron, which was also known as the Zululand Scouts, left Pietermaritzburg on 31/12/1899. It patrolled the border between Mtonjaneni and Nkandla. It also escorted convoys and gathered intelligence and "was part of the first force to enter the Transvaal on 25th Feb. - a reconnaissance towards Babanango following next day. On the 27th, hearing that 900 Boers were advancing, we retired on Melmoth."

"On 13th March, at 5 a.m., Capt. Knott, with 65 officers and men, and 80 Nongqai (native police), attacked the stronghold of Babanango. The Boers escaped in the mist, but all the livestock were captured. At 9 a.m. the Boers rallied to attack, but were repulsed with a loss of killed and wounded, our casualty being Sergt. Cheesman's horse wounded."

"F Squadron was disbanded at the capital on 4th April."

The squadron's only casualty was F Glen, who died in hospital. An entry under the Natal Police records that Glen and a Natal Policeman, Tpr Salter, contracted enteric while serving with the Melmoth Field Force and both died.

After the various Colonial Scouts' squadrons were disbanded, many and perhaps most men joined other units, including the Natal Mounted Rifles.

Regards
Brett

Well done for finding that Brett, You have also reminded me that I must add that document to my site.

Kind regards
David

Rory

I meant to mention in my previous post that I believe the Sergeant Cheesman of F Squadron, whose horse met with misfortune at Babanango, was the same man as Trooper Ebenezer Cheesman, who had served with the Natal Mounted Police during the Zulu War of 1879. He was also with the NMP contingent that served in the Basuto Rebellion of 1881. I have Tpr Cheesman's Zulu War medal so, if you should come across his QSA and CGH GSM, I would be interested in acquiring them.

Regards
Brett