| Silburn | Percy Arthur Baxter | | Captain | SILBURN, PERCY ARTHUR BAXTER, Captain, was born 10 May 1876 son of A Silburn, of Durban, Natal. He was educated privately, and joined the Cape Mounted Rifles in 1891; was present at the annexation of Pondoland, 1893; passed the School of Gunnery, 1898; returned to South Africa on the outbreak of the Boer War, and served with Gough's composite regiment in the Relief of Ladysmith. He served as Staff Officer to Generals Sir John Dartnell and General Hamilton in the Transvaal and Orange River Colony. For his services in this campaign he received the Queen's and King's Medals with seven clasps; was mentioned in Despatches, and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 26 June 1902]: "Percy Arthur Baxter Silburn, Captain, Natal Volunteers. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". The Insignia, etc, were sent to the Commander-in-Chief, Natal District, South Africa, and presented by the Governor of Natal at Durban 19 March 1903. He was Secretary of the Natal Defence Commission in 1903, and retired in 1904. Major Silburn was Chief Leader of the Militia Reserves in 1905. He was MLA for Alfred County, Natal, from 1906 to 1909, and was Staff Officer and Gunnery Instructor, Colonial Forces, Natal. He has been Member for Durban in the first Union Parliament of South Africa from 1910. He wrote 'The Colonies and Imperial Defence', 'The Governance of Empire' (1910), 'The Evolution of Sea-Power' (1912). Major Silburn was a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and was made a CBE in 1918. He married, in 1901, Marie Antoinette, daughter of J T Riley Hartley, of Maritzburg, Natal, and they had three sons and one daughter.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) |
