BOER-WAR-L Archives

From: "John Wilson" <>
Subject: Re: [BOER-WAR] SOUTH AFRICAN CONSTABULARY
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 18:05:32 +1200
References: <000a01c12300$e30348e0$e438073e@default>

Hi John, see the biography “Baden-Powell” by Tim Jeal (1989, Hutchison) on
B-P and the S.A.C.

He (and Milner) wanted it to be a police force, not a replacement (and
cheaper) military force for the short-term troops that Roberts and Kitchener
wanted to bring home.

He also wanted Englishmen, and young gentlemen not old soldiers. But he was
competing with the army irregular corps and had to recruit many Canadians
and Australians (no mention of New Zealanders, or South Africans and
Rhodesians).
Also the colonials were cheaper as they had their own gear (eg horses).

Many Canadians were said to be wasters ie drunkards, and he got Colonel Sam
Steele who had risen from the ranks of the Royal Canadian North-West Mounted
Police. “He was a ruffian famous for his savage discipline and lack of
consideration for man and beast.”

Sorry, Canadians!

Yours, John Wilson (Wellington, New Zealand)


----- Original Message -----
From: John Taylor <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, 12 August 2001 19:19
Subject: [BOER-WAR] SOUTH AFRICAN CONSTABULARY


> Hi Listers
>
> I have recently joined your list and have been listening in for a couple
of
> weeks. I am amazed at the breadth of questions and depth of answers.
>
> I wonder whether there is anyone out there who could help me with some
> information, please.
>
> I have an ancestor who served in the Boer War in the 'E' Division of the
> South African Constabulary; he was 2/Tpr MALLARD E.J., Regtl No E1711.
This
> organisation appears to have sometimes been called 'Baden Powell's
Police'.
>
> We know little about his service at this time, except that he was awarded
> the South African Medal with two Clasps - Cape Colony and Orange Free
State.
>
> We believe that he left UK for SA (but not necessarily directly) on or
> about 26 March 1901. We do not know
> the date on which he set foot on the African Continent, nor do we know
> where. We do know, from the story which he told himself and from
> contemporary newspaper reports, that, on Whit Monday (probably 1901), on
his
> way to join his unit, he was
> captured by the Boers; most of his clothing and all of his equipment was
> taken from him and he was then released to continue his journey. He
survived
> the conflict and returned to England some time before June 1905, when he
got
> married.
>
> Is there anyone on this List who can provide more information, please, in
> general, on the role and actions of the SA Constabulary, or, ideally,
> specifically on the involvement of 'E' Division?
>
> Regards
>
> John
> In Sutton, Surrey, England.
>

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