The Natal Volunteer Transport Corps came into being as an emergency unit in Pietermaritzburg in August, 1899, when it became clear that war with the Transvaal and Orange Free State Republics was inevitable and imminent.
The Anglo-Boer War broke out in October, 1899, and the Natal Volunteer Force, having been mobilised on a war footing on the last day of September, had taken, the field.
There was no regular transport corps in Natal till March, 1910, but a nucleus of such a corps had existed for some years prior to the war in the form of the mule transport and organisation of the Natal Public Works Department which, when the necessity arose, as twice it did, was taken over bodily — personnel, mules, wagons, carts and gear — and was given a temporary but definite status in the Volunteer Force of which It ipso facto formed a self-contained unit. By 1910 a standing transport corps in the Natal Militia Force organisation (the force was changed from Volunteer to Militia in 1903) had been formed while the transport organisation of the Public Works Department formed an auxiliary. This militia transport in peace time was employed by the Government in civil work by arrangement with the Defence Department. In March, 1910, the corps on formation as a permanent unit, became the 2nd Mounted Brigade Train, Natal Militia Force, and continued as such till it was absorbed, in 1913, into the Union Defence Force Supply and Transport Corps.
The first commander was Captain George Geddie, the Superintendent of Transport under the Public Works Department, big in body and mind and just as big in his regard and sympathy for his personnel and his animals. His Second-in-Command was Lieut. C. Victor Hosken, similar to his chief in mind and humanity. Upon the death of Captain Geddie, Lieut. C. V. Hosken was appointed to the command as Captain. Three other officers were appointed later in the persons of Lieutenants B. T. K. Markham, Courtency Hosken and H. W. P. Hallett, who had served as N.C.O.'s in the Corps; Captain Ambrose Prior, previously of the Natal Royal Rifles, was attached later as Senior Supply Officer when the Corps also undertook supply services.
The original strength of the unit was two officers, eight mounted European conductors consisting of a warrant officer and seven N.C.O.'s, with two coloured drivers per wagon. The number of wagons and carts on the strength varied considerably from time to time. Ten mules per wagon and four per Cape cart and Water cart were the usual teams. Three hundred mules went into the field upon the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War and only ten losses occurred. A tame baboon, Alfred, the mascot of the corps and a very important member of the unit, completed the establishment and was borne on the ration state. Joe Fisher was Senior Driver and father of the other drivers. A finer driver and animal master would have been hard to find — quiet, dignified, firm and just and entirely reliable. He usually drove the Cape cart of the O.C. with Alfred perched up beside him.
A reserve of approximately ten per cent, of personnel, animals and vehicles was kept as a stand-by. Three hundred Argentine mules of a very fine stamp were purchased towards the end of the Anglo-Boer War as a reserve, but in 1904 all reserves in animals and vehicles were sold out of the services, most of the drivers returning to their former service with the Public Works Department.
In war time ox wagons — at one period over 250 — with necessary animals and personnel were hired and taken into the service as Second Line Transport. The mule transport was used as First Line Transport, the whole being organised as ft Mounted Brigade Train. Ambulances, Cape carts and water carts were also part of the transport organisation, being detailed for service with units as required, as were the mule wagons.
During the Zulu Rebellion of 1906 — 1907 (the Natal Volunteer Force was changed to Militia in 1903 and the Natal Volunteer Transport Corps had dropped the Volunteer in its name and had become Natal Transport Corps) the personnel of the corps was 5 officers, 12 W.O.'s and N.C.O.'s and 20 other ranks. The number of wagons, mule and ox, was 640. The number of mules was 1,180 and oxen 7,600 including reserves. The position at that time was rendered extremely difficult and complicated by the prevalence of East Coast fever amongst the cattle in some of the districts operated in. The corps was normally organised in two sections each under an officer, sometimes with an assistant officer, with a warrant officer and four sergeants and a varying number of other ranks.
The European personnel were armed with revolvers for personal protection but the Coloured drivers were not armed although a revolver and ammunition were normally carried with each section of mule wagons. The baboon, Alfred, armed himself with a broken yokeskey, mainly to scratch his own back with, and nothing would induce him to part with it except in exchange for a tasty morsel, which disposed of, he would grab the yokeskey for further trading-in purposes.
Upon the cessation of hostilities of the two wars — the Anglo-Boer War and the Zulu Rebellion — the bulk of the unit reverted to the work and control of the Natal Public Works Department. This was a most economical plan and ensured that the unit was always in good condition, ready at a day's notice to resume its military duties and status, the European personnel being borne on the strength of the corps and retaining their military ranks and standing. The corps bore and fully merited the motto * Semper Paratus.' It was always ready.
It is recorded that the mules were of an uncommonly fine type, every one a carefully selected animal. Their teams were the just pride of their Coloured drivers, themselves all picked men for their driving skill, animal-mastership, sobriety and stamina. And they all, men and animals alike, had need of all the toughness they possessed to have come through so well all the work and hardship they were at times called upon to perform and endure. The corps was a most ably commanded and organised unit and ever elicited the highest encomiums on every task placed upon it and performed during the several campaigns it took part in.
During one period of its existence the Natal Transport Corps took over additional duties as a Supply Corps with its usual efficiency. But this was really to fill a hiatus in the military organisation and for the sake of economy. The official --.tide of the unit remained the same although while filling the dual role it was often referred to as the Supply and Transport Corps or simply S. and T.
The uniform of the corp was the universal khaki mounted pattern with plain shoulder straps, no flash or distinctive coloured facings. A plain one-inch wide leather strap en-circled the smasher hat, the brim of which, as usual in the South African forces, was turned up on the left side and bore the device N.T.C. in monogram form. The plain block letters N.T.C. were worn on the shoulder straps and the buttons of the corps bore the same letters in miniature in relief.
The Natal Transport Corps took part in all the field operations engaged in by the Natal forces, commencing with the Anglo-Boer War of 1899 — 1902 including the Defence and Relief of Ladysmith and the preceding and succeeding operations in Natal, Transvaal and Orange Free State.
In 1906 came the Zulu Rebellion in its three phases, two in 1906 and the other in 1907, Here again the corps rendered invaluable service, taking part in the operations on all the fronts and theatres engaged in by the Natal Militia Force.
Again in the German South-West Africa campaign and in the preceding operations in the Transvaal, Orange Free State and northern Cape Province (before the amalgamation of the N.T.C. with the Union Transport Service) the Corps took its customary full part on all the fronts and lines of communication. In German South-West Africa the work was always heavy and exhausting but the work of the mules was beyond praise. Their casualties, extremely few, were due to overwork and privation from shortage of food and water.
The casualties suffered by the corps due to enemy action were negligible. Most of these, other than those mentioned above, were of mules and drivers captured by the enemy in action during the latter part of the Anglo-Boer War. But these were all recovered in subsequent operations none the worse for their short sojourn with the enemy. Casualties amongst the ox teams were also very low — less than one hundred.
No personal decorations were awarded to members of the Natal Transport Corps during its existence. This overlooking of several well-known and deserving cases was for long a puzzle to the Natal regiments and gave rise to considerable criticism. Several Mentions-in-Despatches, however, were made and with these the Silent Service of the Natal Forces had to be content.
The Natal Transport Corps, as such, formally came to an end on 30th June, 1913, when it was reconstituted as the 2nd Mounted Brigade Train combined with the Natal Service Corps, till the middle of 1914, when it was absorbed with the Union transport service. The corps has ever since upheld its aforetime traditions and record of efficiency, ever ready at a day's notice to go anywhere and do anything asked of it. The compiler of this history was closely associated with the Natal Transport Corps during most of the war periods it served through. Parts of this history arc written from his own personal and long experience of the unit.
The following might well serve as an epilogue to this history. It was written by Mr. W. A. Squire, a War Correspondent of the "Natal Mercury," in July, 1900. It adds point to the sub-motto of the corps—" Your animals first, then yourselves."
" Transport and Commissariat. It was the close of a very tiring and exceedingly objectionable day in May, 1900. The veld was blazing on either side of the road for miles on end, and here and there in the distance the fiercer flames of a burning farm lit up the sky that was heavy with smoke and the dust clouds kicked up by the eight miles of transport wagons, horses, oxen, cavalry, artillery and infantry. The British Army, under General Buller, was moving from the kloof below Helpmakaar towards Dundee. Kemp's farm was 25 miles away from the starting point and it had to be reached that night. Twenty-five miles with mule-wagons and ox-wagons, heavily laden, through a cloud of dust and smoke over a rought road! The mounted volunteers, under General Dartnell, were in front and the food and supplies had to keep up with. them. Outside the Church at Beith some of the Carbineers were halted. It was dark and through the lines went the murmured wish that the column would move no father forward that night Suddenly through the smoke at a trot rattled the mule wagons of the volunteers. A thick-set Scotsman was directing the drivers. I looked at him—he was enveloped with soot, smoke and dust that continually enveloped him. Kemp's farm, eight miles ahead, had to be reached, and he was going to reach it. Away he went. My horse, hitherto footsore, seemed to gain life and spirit by example. The way those mules, horses and wagons rushed along in the semi-darkness, without accident, will always be a matter of wonder to me. But, in three hours' time, the whole of the Volunteer Transport was parked, with mules fed, and the rations served out to men and horses. The incident was one of many during the forward movements in May and June until General Buller's force reached Volksrust. The men who were mainly responsible for this work were Captain George Geddie and Lieutenant C. V. Hosken, special service Transport Officers, and Lieutenant A. Prior, of the Natal Royal Rifles, was Commissariat Officer. Before the war Colonel Royston had received from Mr. Geddie of the Public Works and from Mr. Hosken of Boston pledges of assistance on behalf of the country. On 28th September, 1899, the transport and Commissariat Officers received 24 hours' notice to get into the field. On the 30th September all stores and plant were in Lady-smith. Starting with 300 mules this department worked hard throughout the Siege and subsequent movements, and returned 290 mules to the Colonial Government in better condition than that in which they were received twelve months before. Ninety of these mules and nine wagons were lent to the Imperial Government. At Ingogo Captain Geddie once said to me: "We always look after abd feed our mules before we look after ourselves." Major General Dartnell wrote to Captain Geddie, Lieut Hosken and Lieut Prior: "To place on record my high appreciation of your services .. Though there has been a great strain from time to time upon the Transport, including the strain of the Siege of Ladysmith, your department has never failed and this is undoubtedly due to your organisation and management. On behalf of the Government I thank both yourselves and your staff for your good work.!"
Source: Short History Of The Volunteer Regiments Of Natal And East Griqualand, Past and Present. Compiled by Colonel Godfrey T Hurst, DSO OBE VD, Honorary Colonel of the Natal Mounted Rifles.
