1.
Why was only one horse, Major, Allowed to return to New Zealand?
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2.
What happened to the other 8000 horses?
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The Boer people were descended from the early
Dutch settlers at the Cape of Good Hope from
1652. When slavery was abolished in 1834 the
alienated Boer farmers decided to resettle in the north beyond the Vaal and Orange
rivers.
So started the “Great Trek”. Constant armed and diplomatic confrontation with British Administration eventually led to the independence of Transvaal and Orange Free
State in 1852 and 1854.
The discovery of diamonds in huge quantities led to the annexation firstly of the
Kimberley region and then in 1877 of Transvaal. In 1879 British Forces invaded Zululand resulting in the disastrous military campaigns at Rorke’s Drift and Ulundi.
By 1880 the Boers rose in revolt against their new British controlled Government. In
a series of skirmishes they inflicted three small but shattering defeats to the British.
The discovery of gold in 1886 attracted an influx of British and other foreign prospectors. In 1896 a further attempt was made to take Transvaal. This was
resisted again.
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3.
Describe what life for a soldier’s horse during the Boer War would have been like?
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4.
Draw a map of South Africa. On the map locate Orange Free State, Transvaal,
Nattal, Johannesburg and New Zealand Hill.
Eight scarves were knitted by Queen Victoria, four of which were awarded to imperial troops and four to colonial, one each to a Canadian, Australian, South African
and New Zealander. Each scarf was awarded for an act of bravery and came with a
gold star and clasp ordered by King Edward VII.
rs were
190 New Zealande
Wounded.
232 New Zealanders died during the
Boer War
58 killed in action
11 died of wounds
136 died of disease (mainly typhoid,
malaria and dysentery)
27 accidentally killed.
Trooper Henry Donald Coutts of the 1st Contingent had the distinction of receiving
the New Zealand Scarf.
Coutts earned his distinction in action at Koornspruit (Sannah’s Post) on 31 March
1900 when he accompanied a British column from Bloemfontein to help capture the
town’s water supply still held by Boers.
When the column was surprised at Koornspruit, Coutts rescued Sergeant Edgar of
the Burmese Mounted Infantry who had been shot through the body. Under galling
fire Coutts managed to get Edgar on his horse and rode him from danger to an ambulance station. The man later died of his wounds.
Coutts was born in Canterbury and served with the Hawera Mounted Rifles prior to
enlistment in the 1st Contingent. After completion of service in South Africa Coutts
returned to New Zealand and re-enlisted with the staff of the 7th Contingent as Captain and Quartermaster.
After the war Coutts continued his military involvement as a Captain in the New Zealand Militia until 1910. In 1916 Coutts, then aged 50 years, lied about his age and
enlisted as a Corporal in the Auckland Infantry Battalion.
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He served in England until his discharge on medical grounds in April 1918. After
spending many years farming near Kawhia and in Taranaki with a side interest in
sawmilling, Coutts died in hospital in Wellington 30 April 1944.
General Ian Hamilton who fought alongside the New Zealanders
throughout the war stated (after WWI) “I have soldiered a long time
now, but I have never in my life met men I would sooner soldier with
than the New Zealanders. I feel the greatest affection for them and I
shall never forget the work they did in South Africa”
The “Times history of the War in South Africa” stated “Of the
services of the New Zealanders in the field it would hardly be an
exaggeration to say that after they had a little experience they
were by general consent regarded as the best mounted troops in
South Africa”.
Has the dubious distinction of being New Zealand’s first overseas casualty in battle.
During the 1st Contingent’s first taste of action at Jasfontein farm in Cape Colony on
18/12/1899 Bradford, aged 29 was hit by a rifle bullet above the hip while trying to
withdraw on horseback under heavy fire from the Boers.
Bradford was seen to fall but appeared dead. It was too dangerous for the others to
rescue him. He was later found by Boers to be still alive but with a grievous wound.
He was taken to a Boer Field Hospital but succumbed to his wound 10 days later.
A memorial to Bradford was erected and still exists on Primrose Hill in Paeroa.
His bandolier is part of the National Army Museum collection, after being used as
the Badge of Office of the President of the South Africa War Veterans Association.
•
The following memorabilia is held at the National Army Museum and is
available for viewing
•
Gus the Horse – this diorama is representative of over 8000 horses shipped to
South Africa From New Zealand.
•
Only one, “Major” the mount of Major Robin the Commanding Officer of the 1st
contingent is known to have returned to New Zealand.
•
Bradford’s Belt – the bandolier of Private George Roland Bradford,
New Zealand’s first overseas casualty in battle. The bandolier was used as the
badge of Office of the dominion President of the South Africa War Veterans
Association of New Zealand, with each bullet silvered and engraved with a
President’s name.
•
The Queen’s Scarf. One of eight scarves personally crocheted by Queen
Victoria and presented to members of the Colonial Forces, (New Zealand’s
recipient was Private Henry Donald Coutts 1st Contingent) for gallantry. It is
understood the scarf is the equivalent of a Victoria Cross although without the
pension for life given to VC winners!
“Rough Riders at War” – Richard Stowers – self published – copyright 2002
The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Military History” edited by Ian McGibbon ISBN
No 0-19-558376-0
With Honour, Our Army, Our Nation, Our History,
By Richard Wolfe
ISBN No 978-0-67-004565-5
http://www.armymuseum.co.nz