| Steinaecker | Francis Christian Ludwig | | Major | STEINAECKER, BARON, FRANCIS CHRISTIAN LUDWIG, Major, was born in Berlin 28 September 1854, son of Francis L Baron von Steinaecker, Colonel, German Guards, and the Baroness von Steinaecker, (nee Baroness von Thumen). He was educated in the Royal Cadet Corps at Waklstatt and Berlin, and entered the German Army (Leib Grenadiers) in the early seventies. He resigned his commission in 1879, and went to Bulgaria with Prince Alexander of Battenberg. During the Bulgarian Revolution of 1880 he had a command at Plevna, and he resigned about 1885. He led the expedition into the interior of German South-West Africa; returned in 1888, and came out to Pondoland in 1889. He settled in Natal in 1890; was President of the Political Association of this district; joined the British Forces (Colonial Scouts) on the outbreak of the South African War, 1899-1902, on 1 November 1899, as a Trooper. He left Maritzburg at the beginning of March 1900 to break, with a small patrol, the enemy's communication on the Delagoa Line; rode through Natal, Zululand, Tongaland and Swaziland; lost all his horses; smashed Malalene Bridge on the Delagoa Line on the 17th June 1900, and took the Commandant of that line—Van Dam—prisoner. He recruited some British refugees from Portuguese territory, and, by activity of movement, drew considerable numbers of the enemy from the real theatre of war (Dalmanutha). In order to protect the railway between Campmunden and the border, he raised Steinaecker's Horse, in the enemy's country, without base to draw from, without transport or provisions. He landed stores and men at Koxi Bay from HM Gunboat (Captain Gurney); was given command by Lord Kitchener of the Border and adjacent lowland country (Swaziland north to Letruba River). He received the Queen's Medal with four claaps, and the King's Medal with two; was mentioned in Despatches, and given the British decoration of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 26 June 1902]: "Francis Christian Ludwig Steinaecker, Major, Steinaecker's Horse. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". The Insignia were presented publicly by General Lyttelton. Baron von Steinaecker was sent to Netley in April 1902. He attended the Coronation of King Edward at the head of a contingent of his own regiment (Steinaecker's Horse) by direct orders from Lord Roberts, but could never get the Coronation Medal (in spite of official document in hand). He was pronounced medically unfit for further service by Medical Board, London, in July 1902; "received honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel", he remarks, "probably in lieu of pension. Now destitute after ... years of the most ghastly climate South Africa can produce". Baron von Steinaecker married, in 1881, the daughter of Geheimer Ober-Regierungs Rath Kegler, of Berlin. Sir A Conan Doyle tells us in 'The Great Boer War', in the chapter on 'The Advance to Komatipoort', how "Colonel Steinaecker, an ex-officer of the German Imperial Army, with an irregular force of 600 men, had been operating upon the Boer line of communications in the same way as De Wet had on the British, though their operations were necessarily on a smaller scale. The whole romantic adventures of this small force, which passed through Zululand and Tongaland, and eventually made its way into Swaziland, after several times cutting the Boer railway and blowing up Malalene Bridge, are among the most curious and interesting incidents of the campaign. They captured the Boer officer in charge of the line of communication, and they gave work from first to last to a couple of thousand of the enemy, who had to guard the line from their constant descents. Some separate book will no doubt give a full account of the adventures of Steinaecker's Horse". Elsewhere, in describing how a small body of the South African Constabulary were outnumbered by the Boers, Sir A Conan Doyle says: "Another small reverse occurred at a far distant point of the seat of war, for the irregular corps known as Steinaecker's Horse was driven from its position at Bremersdorp in Swaziland upon 24 July and had to fall back sixteen miles, with a loss of ten casualties and thirty prisoners". Sir A Conan Doyle also says: "After the conclusion of Blood's movement in July several of his columns continued to clear the country, and to harass Viljeon in the Lydenburg and Dulstroom districts. Park, Kitchener, Spens, Beatson and Benson were all busy at this work, never succeeding in forcing more than a skirmish, but continually whittling away wagons, horses and men from that nucleus of resistance which the Boer leaders still held together. Though much hampered by the want of forage for their horses, the Boers were ever watchful for an opportunity to strike back, and the long list of minor successes gained by the British was occasionally interrupted by a petty reverse. Such a one befell the small body of South African Constabulary stationed near Vereeniging, who encountered, upon July 13, a strong force of Boers supposed to be the main commando of De Wet. The Constabulary behaved with great gallantry, but were hopelessly outnumbered, and lost their seven-pounder gun, four killed, six wounded and twenty-four prisoners ... Thus in the heart of a native state the two great white races-of South Africa were to be seen locked in a desperate conflict. However unavoidable, the sight was certainly one to be deplored"
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Steinaecker's Horse |
