Today in Kimberley's History
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On January 12th 1915 the South African forces move in strength into German South West Africa (now Namibia). The forces include the Kimberley Regiment. By the end of the Boer Rebellion, generally dated in January 1915, additional South African Field Post and Telegraph Corps Post Offices had been at the following towns in the Northern Cape region: Namies, Narries, Schuitdrift, Boesmanspruit (west of Kuruman), and Rooidam (near Upington). Some had opened for a few days only. Christmas time at war in South Africa in 1914 saw the military post offices as follows:
The Field Base Post Offices then transferred their attentions to the campaign in German South West Africa and moved close to the various operational forces within that country. Identification Discs, known to all as “Dog Tags” were introduced during the Great War. Initially there was just the one red circular disc made of vulcanized fibre, and the purpose was twofold: it was taken from the body of the dead soldier so as to advise the next of kin; and also to make sure that his pay was stopped virtually immediately. However, in the carnage of the trench warfare, all this did was to ensure that there were many soldiers buried with the caption on their stones reading “Known unto God”. By September 1916 a second disc was introduced being of the same material but coloured green, the red to be taken, the green to remain so that if and when the body was buried his name could be inscribed on the memorial stone. The standard rifle carried by most if not all the Imperial soldiers was the short-magazined Lee Enfield, known to the Quartermaster’s stores by the acronym SMLE and to the soldiers as SMELLY! This rifle would remain in service with the British army until the early 1960s. Primary information source courtesy of Kimberley Calls...and Recalls Facebook Group
Extract from "The diary of a doctor's wife" by by Winifred Heberden
This interesting diary of the Siege of Kimberley covers the period 16th October 1899 to 21st February 1900. At the outbreak of the war, Winifred's husband, Dr. G.A. Heberden, (affectionately known as 'Jack' to his family and friends), was the District Surgeon of Barkly West; and when it was realized that the Anglo-Boer War was inevitable Dr. Heberden decided to offer his services to the Imperial Forces in Kimberley, and that night he tied his three year old son, Reggie, to his back with a blanket and, together with his wife and 19 year old cousin, Harry Gibbs, left everything they possessed behind and rode on horseback the 23 miles into Kimberley. Dr. Heberden was enlisted as Surgeon Captain under Imperial Orders. (The diary is available online in two parts: Part One and Part Two.) News has come in of a victory of Sir George White's at Ladysmith, which the Boers actually attacked. The English took and retook the positions several times; the enemy finally being driven off on all sides at the point of the bayonet with heavy losses. This is the first time Boers have attacked a fortified position with anything but artillery.
Our Relief Column is still at Modder River and have occasional skirmishes with the enemy. We suppose they are waiting for Lord Roberts and reinforcements - so possess our souls in patience still. We hear today that poor little Kuruman has had to surrender after a whole day's fighting against the Boers, who had returned after being beaten before, with a big gun, and the weak defences of the place were unable to withstand a bombardment. Captain Bates, the 'Jameson Raid' man, who cut the wires and fences then, was taken prisoner; and also our old friend Mr Hilliard, the Magistrate, amongst them. The fight took place on New Year's Day, and is one of the pluckiest incidents of this part of the country. |
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