Carbutt's Horse/Rangers

Does anyone have anything on this corps?


barry

barry,

Carbutt’s Boarder Rangers were raised in January 1879 for local defense. They were placed under the command of the Colonial Commandant of District No. 1 Strength was 36 Europeans and 35 Native Scouts. (Source: Military History Journal Vol 2 No 4 - December 1972) It does not look like they were involved in any action on the Zulu side of the border.

On the 20th February, Major Dartnell left Helpmakaar with an escort of police, for Ladysmith, the route taken being via the Waschbank Valley. The first night was spent at a farm where there was a garrison of Carbutt's Horse, otherwise known as the "Blind Owls' who lived on rum and dampers. (Source: The Mounted Police of Natal, by H. P. Holt)

This troop was called Carbutt’s Border Rangers, Carbutt’s Scouts or Carbutt’s Mounted Troops (Source: British Settlers in Natal 1824-1857, by Shelagh O’Bryne Spencer)

According to Roy Dutton’s book there were 35 medals issued, all no clasp.

The Medal Roll lists 35 men entitled to the South Africa Medal; 8 of which were returned toWoowich.

Captain Thomas M. Carbutt (Listed as F. M. Carbutt on Medal Roll)
Lt. and Adjutant A. Rusk
Medical Officer F. W. Hyde
Acting Quartermaster N. Coaker
Trooper A. Bailie
Trooper C. Wylde
Trooper W. Marshall
Trooper J. Brown
Trooper J. Grubb
Trooper W. Mastert
Trooper C. Russell
Trooper W. Colling
Trooper J. Green
Trooper M. Mulcahy
Trooper O. Neilson
Trooper J. Lloyd
Trooper W. King
Trooper J. Masters
Trooper H. Brunner
Trooper T. Cullen
Trooper P. O. Shaughnessy
Trooper S. Brooks
Trooper A. J. Bester
Trooper C. J. Bester
Trooper A. Bowes
Trooper W. Wallace
Trooper Dries
Trooper A. Lewis
Trooper J. Griffin
Trooper S. Herbert
Trooper E. W. Score
Trooper W. Leach
Trooper T. Sinclair
Trooper L. Yeates
Trooper R. Schwarz

See also this previous post started by littlehand:

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Petty Officer Tom

Units which earned the medal, but not the bar
Carbutt's Border Rangers.
Durban Mounted Reserve.
Durban Volunteer Artillery.
Pietermaritzburg Rifles.
Royal Durban Rifles.
Southey's Rangers

Hi 24th and PO Tom,

Thanks for your replies.
This was indeed a colourful band. Apparently their main focus in the war was to keep "tanked up" to the level where their equilibrium would only just allow them to mount their ponies. Hence, not much mention of any serious beligerent action involving them recorded in the annals.
A small section on the NMP were garrisioned on Thos' Carbutt's farm in the foothills of the Drakensberg for a period and they were expected, being visitors, to take all the liquid "hospitality" so generously offered by the "Blind Owls" and to maintain the same level of inibriation too, 24/24. Needless to say the NMP's troopers stay with this merry band was shortlived.
That was an aside.
What I am really interested in is the two Tprs Bester listed. Do you know if they were brothers?.

barry

Hi Barry .
Here is some info on the ' Besters ' I doubt they were brothers but cousins or something similar as you will see .
Christoffel Carolus Johannes Bester - Farmer of Bester's Hoek , Ladysmith .
Christoffel William Abraham Bester - Farmer of Fourie's Kraal , Ladysmith .

Hi Petty Officer Tom .
I went through Terry Sole's ' For God , Queen & Colony and found this which may be of use .

Missing from your list is a Trpr . J.Brown & Lt. S. Pike . Some of the names and initials are differant in the Sole book so I will list them .
Lt. & Adj . A. Rusk - Reads as Lt & Adj . A. Busk ,
Medical Officer , F.W . Hyde - reads as Medical Officer , George Clarence Hyde .
Trpr . L Yeates - reads as W. Yeates .
Trpr. C. Wyldie - reads as Clarence Patrick Wylde .
Trpr. R. Schwartz - reads as R. Schwarz.
Trpr. M. Mucahy - reads as Michael Mulcahy .
Trpr . A. Bowes - reads as Alfred Sykes Bowes .
Trpr . W. Mastert - reads as W. Mustert .

Also missing from your list is Qtr - master Thomas . W. Burchmore .
Some of these chaps on the roll have their occupations listed , if you wish to know of them let me know .
cheers 90th.

Hi 90th,

Thanks for the feedback on the two Besters. I will do other checking locally as I believe this was one large family living near Ladysmith who were quite prominent and even had the railway halt near their farm/s named "Besters".

I am looking out for some Natal Carbineers badges and buttons for you. A local medal dealer has a scratch box in his shop which is filled with such things. Watch this space.

barry

Hi Have the following Bester medal in my collection:

NO CLASP TPR C J BESTER CARBUTT’S BORDER RANGERS

Carolus Johannes Bester, farmer of Bester’s Hoek, Ladysmith

The unit should really have received the 1879 clasp as they crossed into Zululand as part of a larger force to visit the battlefield of Isandhlwana in May 1879

Jager1

90th,

All of the names I listed were from the Medal Roll. I misspelled Mulcahy and Schwarz and Wylde’s names, and left J. Brown of the list. Shouldn’t try to type when I’m tired. I will edit the original post to correct that.

None of the others you mentioned were on the Medal Roll. I did find Quarter Master Burchmore on another source, but it was “Birchmore” on that one.

Medical Officer Hyde is listed as “F. Hyde” on the Medal Roll and “F. W. Hyde” on the other source.

Lieutenant A. Rusk is listed as “A. Rusk” and “A. Busk” on the other source.

The other source is The South African Military History Society Military History Journal, Vol 2 No 4 – December 1972.

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If anyone has Roy Dutton’s book “Forgotten Heroes of the Basuto and Zulu Wars”, maybe they can post the names that he listed and compare with Sole’s. Dutton did record that only 35 medals were issued to Carbutt’s Border Rangers. If we add Lieutenant S. Pike and Burchmore we now have 37. It is possible that these two applied for their medals after realizing their names had been left off the original muster.


Petty Officer Tom

Hi POTom .
Dont we hate Roll's !. :lol!: :lol!: . Certainly no two are ever really alike are they ??. .
Cheers 90th.

You might get something here.

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Hi All,
here are some more details in connection with the Carbutt's Border Rangers you may find interesting,

CARBUTT’S BORDER RANGERS

CARBUTT, Thomas Munro. (Captain)
Born 1835 in the Leeds district of Yorkshire, second son of Thomas Carbutt (1794-1868), Gentleman Squire and Mary Catherine nee Lancaster (1807-1882). During his youth, he travelled Germany studying both Art and Music before immigrating to South Africa in 1856 to pursue a farming career.Thomas senior on his visit to South Africa acquired land at both Umzinto and Elandslaagte in which Thomas Junior had farms. Married Miss Catherine Mary Robinson, (1830-1876), who bore him two sons Ernest and Herbert. Appointed Captain of the Corps 3 January 1879. Resident of the Ladysmith area before finally acquiring a farm at Doornhoek, where he died in 1900. Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

RICE, Stepen. (Lieutenant)
A Farmer of Watersmeet, Ladysmith. Listed on the Muster Roll only, not on the Medal Roll.

RUSK, A. (Lieutenant/Adjutant)
Name given in the Natal Government Gazette as Busk. Appointed Lieutenant to the Corps 14 January 1879. Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

HYDE, George, Clarence. (Medical Officer)
Born 1833 in Aller, near Langport and Wells, Somerset, England. Served as a Medical Officer in the Crimean War between 1854 and 1856 and at completion of the conflict moved to India where he practiced medicine. In 1859 immigrated to Durban and set up a partner ship with a Doctor Taylor. Married Miss Frances Sophia, daughter of British Naval Officer George Gage Heathcote in 1863. She bore him five children, two daughters and three sons. Served as Surgeon to the Royal D'Urban Rangers, being nominated in May 1864. Moved to Aller's Farm, near Ladysmith in 1867 from were he served as District Surgeon and J.P for almost twenty years. . Appointed Medical Offer to the Corps 3 January 1879. Known to have treated the wounded from Rorke’s Drift at Helpmaakar. Initial given on the Medal Roll as F. Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

BURCHMORE, Thomas W. (Quartermaster)
Born 26 April 1818 in Flamstead, Hertfordshire, England. Eldest son of George Burchmore (1786-1838) of Roe End Farm and Ann, nee Norton (1794-1866). Married 23 May 1841 at Caddington, Bedfordshire to Mary Walton and had children. At this time his profession was listed as Grocer. Immigrated to Natal as a Byrne Settler in April 1850 and by 1852 was living at 1 Greyling St, Pietermaritzburg employed as a Constable. Joined the Natal Carbineers as a founding member in 1855. Profession changed to that of Butcher from early 1856 and although declared insolvent continued this trade up to 1866. Moved his family to Ladysmith by 1870 where he worked as a Butcher and Slaughterman before securing employment as a Clerk, Law Agent and Conveyancer before being appointed as Officer for the Sale of Gunpowder for Ladysmith. During 1877 and 1878 resided at Harrismith before returning to Natal late 1878. Appointed Quartermaster to the Corps 14 January 1879, but does not appear to have seen active service. In his later career he was a Trustee of the Ladysmith Building, Investment and Loan Society having also returned to the Butchery trade and owing the Crown Hotel, Ladysmith. Died 20 August 1890. Not listed on the Medal Roll of the Carbutt Border Rangers.

COAKER, N. (Acting Quartermaster)
Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

BAILLIE, A. (Trooper)
Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

BESTER, Christtoffell Willim Abraham. (Trooper)
A Farmer of Fourie’s Kraal, Ladysmith. Initial given on the Medal Roll as A.J. Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

BESTER, Christtoffell Carolus Johannes. (Trooper)
A Farmer of Bester’s Hoek, Ladysmith. Initial given on the Medal Roll as C.J. Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

BOWES, Alfred Sykes. (Trooper)
A Carrier by profession. Resident of Ladysmith. Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

BROOKS, S. (Trooper)
Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

BROWN, J. (Trooper)
Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

BRUNNER, H. (Trooper)
Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

COLLING, William. (Trooper)
A Farmer of Zuurfontein, Ladysmith. Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

CULLEN, T. (Trooper)
Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

DRIES. (Trooper)
Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

GREEN, J. (Trooper)
Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

GRIFFIN, J. (Trooper)
Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

GRUBB, J. (Trooper)
Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

HERBERT, S. (Trooper)
Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

KING, William. (Trooper)
A Carrier by profession. Resident of Ladysmith.Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

LEACH, William. (Trooper)
A Farmer of Bellair, Durban. Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

LEWIS, A. (Trooper)
Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

LLOYD, J. (Trooper)
Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

MARSHALL, W. (Trooper)
A Manager of Maryville, Ifafa. Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

MASTERS, J. (Trooper)
Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

MASTERS, W. (Trooper)
Surname given on the Muster Roll as Mustert. Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

MULCHANY, Michael. (Trooper)
A Constable of Ladysmith. Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

NEILSON, O. (Trooper)
Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

RUSSELL, C. (Trooper)
Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

SCHWARZ, R. (Trooper)
Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

SCORE, E.W. (Trooper)
Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

O’SHAUGHNESSY, P.J. (Trooper)
Name given on the Medal Roll as P.O. Shaunghnessy. Applied for his medal in 1893, being listed in both the Border Horse and the Frontier Light Horse. Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

SINCLAIR, Thomas. (Trooper)
Applied for his medal in 1882. Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

WALLACE, W. (Trooper)
Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

WYLDE, Clarance Patrick. (Trooper)
A Farmer of Groot Mielie, Tuin, Estcourt. Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

YEATES, L. (Trooper)
Initial given on the Muster Roll as W. Medal for South Africa 1879, no clasp.

Regards

Phill

Phil. Great post. They are certainly an elusive lot. Could find anything on these chaps on the web.

Hi all,
Does anyone have anything on this corps and if so, is a Bru du Wold ( Zulu name ; uWoli ) listed as an officer.


barry

Hi Barry

Take a look at the following link, there is a Bru du Wold

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Hi Phill .
Thanks for the detailed post on Carbutt's Horse / Rangers . I've printed it and put it in Terry Sole's book in case it's needed another day . .
cheers 90th.

Hi Barry.
I'm certain this unit wasnt formed until the late 1890's . I checked Owens Badge book of S.A . Their unit badge is shown as
1897 and a couple of other Badges much later . There is no mention of them in the Medal Roll or For God , Queen & Colony .
cheers 90th.

Thanks graves79 and 90th,
What I do know is that Bru du Wold was of Norwegian descent and lived down in the Port Shepstone or Harding area of southern Natal.
He was a soul mate of Henry Lugg, who was one of the defenders of Rorkes Drift. He had a very commendable military track record too.
Legend has is that if you fancied your skin you did not come up against these two.
The unit may have been the Umzimkulu Mounted Rifles or maybe even BMR.
What I am really interested in is his biographical details.


barry

Hi Barry.
Here is one from a unit you won't see everyday .

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cheers 90th.

Hi 90th,
Indeed, not a run-of-the mill trooper. Carbutts itself is little known.


barry

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Thomas Munro who had his own private army in the Zulu war of 1879, “Carbutts Mounted Troopers, a unit that patrolled the Berg and cleaned up after Isandlwana. 
Source:ladysmith History.

ORIGINAL SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL / ZULU WAR MEDAL
1877-9
VERY RARE!!!
 
FULL SIZE MEDAL
 ISSUED TO TROOPER A. BAILIE  - 
CARBUTT'S BORDER RANGERS
A Unit called Carbutt's Border Rangers, led by Captain F.M. Carbutt.
35 medals were issued to this unit and 12 medals were returned to the Mint.

There was no clasp to these Medals as the Unit did not cross the Border.

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