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Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 8:59 am

Hello. I wonder if anyone has heard of a small action at a place called Lebeak's Staadt on May 14 1879 where at least one member of Ferreira's Horse was killed? I would be very grateful for any information. Thank you.

Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 6:05 pm

Neil

This is no doubt R. Wilson you're interested in. You're probably aware that Ferreira's Horse began the campaign as part of Rowland's No 5 column, which was partly broken up early in the year. What they were up to at any given time between February and the beginning of the second campaign against the baPedi in October is not easy to ascertain with certainty from published works (or, at least, the ones I have access to).

I've looked at a few publications which follow closely - or at least mention - the activities of Rowlands, Wood, Mcleod and the various Ferreiras, but haven't seen a reference to an action on 14 May, although other minor engagements did take place around then in the northern theatre, for example that on 18 May. However, if they were still under Rowlands, then they were almost certainly up in the Lydenberg/Pretoria area in May, where he had been planning the second Sekhukuni campaign, before he was relieved of those responsibilities shortly afterwards and switched to the Lower Tugela.

I'm sure someone with specialist knowledge of Rowlands' column or the activities of the various units up in the north will be able to help. For what it's worth, the works I've already looked at are: WA Williams, Commandant of the Transvaal (biog of Rowlands); Peter Delius, The Land Belongs to Us (baPedi & Sekhukuni etc); Huw M Jones, Biographical Register of Swaziland to 1902, and Huw M. Jones, The Boiling Cauldron: Utrecht District and the Anglo-Zulu War, 1879. All are very helpful with the background but don't mention the specific minor action you seek.

Peter

Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 6:38 pm

Many thanks for your reply. I have a medal to a member of Ferreira's Horse and thought I would try to find out what their movements were during 1879. I found the mention of Lebeak's Staadt in a South African Military Society article on line. As you say they were noted as being with the 5th Column in February, but as a matter of interest Smith-Dorrien specifically mentions them as being under Buller's command on reconnaissance with Wood's column on 2nd July, together with other irregular corps. I will certainly carry on looking but any further help will be very appreciated.

Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 6:31 pm

The Colonial Office Despatch of 8th September 1879 is reproduced in the London Gazette of 9th September 1879, recording the following amongst the Volunteer casualties:

Wounded.
Sergeant Robert Wilson, Ferreira's Horse, April
14, Lebeak's Stadt (slightly).

Well, it's a start!

G

Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 6:38 pm

Then, this website that I had not seen before today records a Regimental Sergeant Major Wilson of apparentrly the same name and unit being killed there on 14 May.

http://www.redcoat.info/sasdl7.htm

You win some, you lose some, I suppose.

G