The enemy, completely demoralised by the determined advance of our men despite heavy losses, broke up into small scattered parties and fled in several directions. Owing to the darkness of the night, rain and thunder, and their knowledge of the intricate nature of the country, several enemy parties managed - to worm their way down the hill without being intercepted by our infantry, only, however, to run up against the detached posts of our mounted infantry, who were guarding all roads in the vicinity. A white flag at last could be seen on the top of the hill. On reaching the summit, at extraordinary sight presented itself. Scattered in all directions were broken furniture, burst open trunks and tin boxes, blankets, bedding, clothes, tins of food, broken bottles of wine and beer, smashed up rifles, gramophones, telephones, and a medley of every conceivable sort of thing. The Germans had built several good mud houses, with glass doors and windows, good furniture, carpets, pictures, etc., in them. Signposts erected, pointing the way to defensive posts and pickets, two fine cement-built reservoirs of water, a vegetable garden, caves converted into granaries, and filled with mealies and guinea corn. Cattle, pigs, and sheep browsing about and chickens galore. This was very clear and conclusive proof of the conviction of the Germans that the mountain was impregnable, and their intention to either make it a point d'appui in case of a reverse of their troops in the south, or, at any rate, a position they meant to hold indefinitely and from where they could continually worry us. The food supply for troops and carriers proved of great value to the British. Every possible approach up the mountain was commanded by loopholed 'sangars,' and the whole defence of the position carefully thought out and arranged for. It was only due to the defective shooting of the enemy that our losses, which were severe, were not far heavier."

I Iive at Stanmore, Sydney; but, being in Calcutta at the out-break of war, I Joined the Calcutta Volunteer Battery which was ordered to British East Africa. The photograph of the gun was taken when actually firing in action at Serengiti, a German camp, which we attacked at the beginning of our advance into German East Africa, and is one of six belonging to the Calcutta Volunteer Battery. The other photograph shows four of our men decorated like Red Indians. We are ordered by the general to put grass into our helmets when going into action; The bush here is so dense that we very rarely see the enemy, even when only 50 yards away. The man on the left of the picture is Corporal Sivbright, [editor's note: possibly 86 Bombardier JS Seivwright] who won the D.C.M. in the action of Lateema, outside Taveta.

Mates

We are also lucky to have two pix taken by 1660 Gunner Harold Lester of the Calcutta Volunteer Battery.

The first is of Lester's gun in action:

Click to view attachment

Gunner H. Lester writes:
Click to view attachment

DCM Recommendation for 86 Bombr. JS Seivwright, No. 8 Fd Bty. (Calcutta Vol. Bty).

For conspicuous gallantry when bandaging a wounded man under fire and removing him to a place of safety. He also went back across the open for water for the forward observation post under heavy fire.

[extracted from the DCM recommendations, Supplement to the London Gazette, 27 July 1916, p. 7452.]

Cheers

Bill

Chums,

The contingents of South African untis raised for East Africa contained quite a mixture of nationalaties particularly NZ miners, there would no doubt be a similar number of Australians.

Roop

If the grave nformation is correct it would suggest he joined the DeVenters 1st South African Horse, possibly at Potchefstroom. t would appear he ded before embarkation. I am surprised he is not listed on CWGC? Where is he buried?

Sue,

Theres an outside chance that Ralph @:


http://www.southafricawargraves.org/


may have photos for the graves in the Josy area. Give hima try, he may have a volunteer nearby to have a look around.

Also possible service records available at South African Museum of Military Hostory I believe, in Saxonwald, Joburg.

Roop

Family advise that they have the following info on a memorial sheet; Jack Sarich (this is Anthony John) late 2nd Light Horse, General Both's Campaign, German West Africa. Died at Johannesburg Hospital, November 26, 1915, Aged 36 years.

The confusion here then is why it says EAEF on his gravestone? At this date the SWA campaign was over (May 1915) so the conundrum is wether your man was actually under arms at the time of death given that the Union did not actually start to raise troops for East Africa until after 26th November 1915 upon the return of SA offices from a fact finding tour of East Africa. My view is that your man was a civilian at this time and thus the death registers for the Joburg area are your best shot.
(Ref: South Africa and the Great War 1914 - 1918)

Roop

The confusion here then is why it says EAEF on his gravestone? At this date the SWA campaign was over (May 1915) so the conundrum is wether your man was actually under arms at the time of death given that the Union did not actually start to raise troops for East Africa until after 26th November 1915 upon the return of SA offices from a fact finding tour of East Africa. My view is that your man was a civilian at this time and thus the death registers for the Joburg area are your best shot.
(Ref: South Africa and the Great War 1914 - 1918)

Roop

Can you advise where I can get list of SA Boer War enlistments?

Sue

If he served in one of the SA 'Irregular' Forces locally recruited then you could try this site... http://www.britishmedals.us/kevin/wo127.html. It may be a bit of a pain to have to search each transcription and not all of them have been transcribed yet but you never know your luck. That also assumes that if he did serve during the 2nd Anglo-Boer War it was on the British side

Hope it helps.

Steve