Anson A. Maher

Posts : 11 Join date : 2023-03-05

Hi - researching my great-grandfather; apropos this obiturary published in 1938 that makes reference to his 'involvement' in the Anglo-Zulu wars and forming the Kimberley Light Horse, neither of which I have been able to verify. While he delivered several lectures in the 1890's in the USA on the subject - but I have yet to obtain any record of the content.

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Posts : 11 Join date : 2023-03-05

A. A. Maher

Subject: Re: Anson A. Maher Sun Mar 05, 2023 10:47 pm

cmeghan,

No exact matches on my database, there was a Trooper Maher, no initial given, who served in No. 3 (Bettington’s) Troop, Natal Horse.

The Kimberley Light Horse were formed in 1876, but amalgamated with the Du Toitspan Hussars in 1877 to form the Diamond Fields Horse. The Diamond Fields Horse served against the AmaXhosa people in the 9th Cape Frontier War 1877-8, but did not serve against the AmaZulu. I can find no-one by the name of Maher in the D.F.H.

The title of the Kimberley Light Horse was resurrected during the 2nd Boer War.

JY

Posts : 11 Join date : 2023-03-05

Wow', thanks - Trooper Maher is the first record of any Maher from the period & place; still haven't see the image of the obituray. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

(still not seeing the image of the obituray, I've tried to post a couple of times)

Posts : 11 Join date : 2023-03-05

wow, wow, wow.. No.3 (Bettington's) Troop, Natal Horse, I see was directly involved in the incident relating to the Prince Imperial;

Anson A. Maher delivered a lecture on his experience, in 1893 to the Sandy Spring Library in Maryland, the ssubject of which specifically includes a reference to the loss of the Prince Imperial

as per pic (if I can get the image to load..)

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Subject: Re: Anson A. Maher Mon Mar 06, 2023 12:04 am

cmeghen,

I imagine it is because you are “newbie” that you cannot post images are you using a photo-hosting site?

There no fewer than twelve Mahers on the Medal Roll - nine of which were British regular forces, and three Colonial forces, however, the only one without an initial is the Trooper in No. 3 Troop Natal Horse.

JY

Posts : 11 Join date : 2023-03-05

images are now loaded!
I have a copy of 'Frontier Light Horse' Simpson, on its way- would the No3 Troop of Natal Horse have served within the FLH, do you know?
exited to learn more
Thanks again

Subject: Re: Anson A. Maher Mon Mar 06, 2023 9:35 am

cmeghen,

No, they were separate units. The Frontier Light Horse were originally formed in 1877 for service in the Eastern Cape against AmaXhosa. They subsequently served in aborted Sekhukhune campaign of 1878, before joining No. 4 Column of the British Invasion of Zululand. After the re-organisation for the second invasion No. 4 Column was redesigned as Wood’s Flying Column.

There were three troops of the Natal Horse, these were formed in February 1879 from the European officers and non-commissioned officers of disbanded 3rd Regiment, Natal Native Contingent.

No. 1 Troop (de Burgh’s) Troop served with the 1st Division, under Major-General H. H. Crealock, and subsequently in Lt.-Colonel C.M. Clarke’s Column until they were disbanded in September 1879.

No. 2 Troop (Cooke’s) Troop also served with the 1st Division, under Major-General Crealock, they were disbanded in July 1879.

No. 3 Troop (Bettington’s) Troop, also known as Bettington’s Horse, served with the IInd Division, under Major-General E. Newdigate and the advance to Ulundi of that division. The troop was eventually disbanded in October 1879.

JY

Posts : 11 Join date : 2023-03-05

its seems like a fair bet then that he served with No 3. Troop,
I have an archive request to the library where he lectured in 1893, which may reveal more, if there is a surviving transcript (unlikely), but
thanks again for sharing your knowledge!

Subject: Re: Anson A. Maher Wed Mar 08, 2023 8:16 am

There is a photo (dateable to the 1890s) and genealogical reference to Anson Adelbert Maher on https://www.geni.com/people/Anson-Adelbert-Maher-jr/6000000027214869988 Since he was A A Maher II, presumably either he himself or his father was your man.
The Archival Collections at the Hagley Museum & Library has a reference file on an Anson A Maher as a vestryman at St. John's Church Wilmington NC in 1895 in its Francis Gurney du Pont Papers.
The National Library of Ireland has a letter from Major Anson A Maher to Col. Maurice Moore dated 1.8.1914 in its Colonel Maurice Moore Papers.
Hopefully, one of these might contain a ref to help you.

Posts : 11 Join date : 2023-03-05

Thanks- yes my man is A. A. Maher, and A. A. Maher II is his son; and indeed A. A. Maher III his grandson, my 1st cousin once removed. It is A. A. Maher direct connection with the Zulu wars that I am trying to ascertain, and his military service, as he returned from Africa to USA in 1882 using the rank of Captain and I have no idea under what command he obtained the rank, while sometime in the 1890's he starts to use the rank of Major.

But simply focussing on his stated connection to the Anglo-Zulu wars, there is scant documentary evidence, even though he was giving public lectures on the subject in the 1890's, as per the above snippet from his 1893 lecture to the Snady Spring Library, where he references the Prince Imperial; and other examples as per attached:[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

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and the AA MAher from 1916 passport[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Subject: Anson A Maher . Sat Mar 18, 2023 2:56 am

Thanks for sharing the Passport photo cmeghen , interesting thread .
90th Very Happy

Subject: Anson A Maher . Sat Mar 18, 2023 3:11 am

cmeghen
Just looking in the Forsyth Rolls for 1877-78-79 there's no Maher in Bettington's Horse , he does appear in Dutton's Roll ' Forgotten Heroes Zulu & Basuto Wars ; Including complete Medal Roll 1877-8-9 ' with no initial but is spelt Maher with an Asterix... stating he was from the Supplementary Roll as are many others on this list , he was entitled to the Medal with 1879 Clasp , he's also listed in Terry Sole's ' For God , Queen & Colony ' as Maher again no initial .
90th Salute

Posts : 11 Join date : 2023-03-05

Thanks - pity the Bettington theory is blown -out, I was liking the link to his persoanl account of the death of Louis Napoleon IV. But it remains plausible that he was a Trooper in the colonial forces, without rank. I have now found a scrap reference in 1914 to service with the United States Cavalry. Located in the files of Lt. Col. Maurice Moore, Inspector General of the Irish Volunteers (1913-1916). This I might imagine was with the Texas Volunteer Guard, in the period 1883-1890, as he was living and working in San Antonio Texas, during this period. He marries in 1883 with the rank of Captain, whihc perhaps he attained in the US Cavalry, and went on to attain the rank of Major. Although it is interesting that in the 1914 scrap record, the rank of Captain is crossed out, and Major is used.

Posts : 11 Join date : 2023-03-05

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Subject: Anson A Maher . Sat Mar 18, 2023 1:57 pm

Hi cmeghen
I may not have explained in my post properly that although Maher isn't listed in the Forsyth Roll as being in Bettington's Horse , he was mentioned as being in Bettington's Horse in the Dutton Book , and the Terry Sole Book . So he may well have had some connection with the P.I. ?
90th Salute

Posts : 11 Join date : 2023-03-05

ah, thanks for that.. its a better story!

Subject: Anson A Maher . Sat Mar 18, 2023 2:12 pm

yes we'll stick with that ! .
90th

Subject: Anson A Maher . Tue Mar 21, 2023 12:55 pm

cmeghen
I mentioned the other day that Maher wasn't in the Forsyth Roll for Bettington's Horse , but , looking for something else I see Forsythe has listed the Supplementary Roll for Bettington's Horse ! , so , the 44 names on the Supplementary Roll are actually in Forsyth , just not near where the Bettington Roll is located ! . Hope that makes sense ?
90th Salute