Sir Evelyn Wood (Late Commander of Flying Column) attempts to secure Zulu War medal for Boer wagon owner

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Wood's Request for Struben
Adjutant General
    I heareby certify that Mr. Frederick Struben
was present with the Flying Column under my command from
March to July 1879 as owner of a large number of wagons
forming part of the Transport Train.  Although not enrolled
in any corps he yet rendered signal services as a Volunteer
in the campaign in undertaking such duties as the charge
of forming a defensible laager with wagons and assisting
in the formation of intrenchments and defences, which his
long experience of the country and its languages and its
natives enabled him to do with singular skill.
    Mr. Struben was present with the column during the
battles of Kambula & Ulundi.  At the former he voluntarily
offered himself & his employes to take their places with
the other defenders of the Laager and did actually do so
and assisted throughout the battle to its close.  At Ulundi
Mr. Struben again offered himself for the defence of the
Wagon Laager, as he was not allowed to accompany the
square that actually fought the battle.
    Mr. Stuben performed these services over and above any
work as owner of wagons that could be expected of him
and did so freely and without asking for any remuneration [sic]
or special privileges.  The spirit & courage & desire to
help on the campaign that he showed was of the greatest
assistance and helped to inspire and keep up a similar
spirit throughout the Transport Train.
                                                                                 As
                       (reverse)
    As I consider that Mr. Strubens services were equal to
those of very many of the numbers of the Colonial Corps
who will become entitled to the South African Medal
& clasp for 1879, I would strongly recommend that
he have the Medal bestowed upon him and I enclose
the form filled in for approval.
    Although Mr. Struben was not actually enrolled and
in receipt of pay as a conductor, yet he performed all
the duties of me and I constantly appealed to him
for advise and assistance.
                              (Sd) Evelyn Wood Brig. General
                                     lately Com’dg Flying Column
Chatham
11.Oct.80
                                    True Copy.
                                         A Maude. Capt.
                                              Act’g. Bat Major
Chatham
Oct.11.80.
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Reply to Wood's Request for Struben                              


                                   Extract
                                   Horse Guards
                                     War Office,
                                                 S.W.
                                   31st August 1881.

    The case of Mr. F. Struben appears
however to be that of a civilian, who
was not officially appointed to the
Commissariat and Transport Department
and who did not receive Government
Pay, under these circumstances, the
Secretary of State for War has ruled
that the decision already conveyed to
you in letter form this Department
68/South Africa/215 dated 7th March last
must be adhered to.
                              I have ?
                              (Sd) RB. Hawley
                                            D.A.G.
To
   Major General
         Sir E. Wood K.C.B. V.C.
             Transvaal
                  South Africa
         
                     D.A.General,
                     Please note & pass to A.C.G. Hughes for
                  Communication to Mr. Struben.   To be returned please.
                                               By order (Sd.) A.H. Wavell
                                                                           Col. ADG
                                                                                for C.F.S.
                             Hd.Qs.
                                ?
                             3/10/81

                                     (reverse)
Assist. Adjt. General
                            P.M.Burg
                Noted, and a copy sent to
A.C.G. Hughes C.M.G. for the information
of Mr. Struben.
                          (Sd)   H.J. Brownrigg
                                            D.C.G.
                                       Distr. Com. General
                                               N.F.
PMB
5/10/81

                   True Copy
                           Col
                    A.A.General
HdQs.
MMB
27/10/81
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Hi Isandula
So it seems Mr Struben didnt get the medal which it seems he certainly deserved !
Cheers 90th

This is a very interesting letter indeed, did it come from the National archives?

The application has parallels to a SA 1879 medal I have to Louis Byrne who was KIA at Rorkes Drift. He is not on the medal roll and my thoughts have been that due to his Civilian status he would not have been entitled to the medal, unfair as it seems!. However his medal is a late issue, named in the style of a Colonial issue QSA medal (and late issue type medal itself). It is also only named ‘L A BYRNE’, no rank or unit. This is just how medals were issued to some civilians for the Boer War. I thought it may have been a case of rules being relaxed in later years- although I have no proof or and key application letters to back my thoughts up. These letters although proving nothing as far as Byrne’s case is concerned, do suggest a reason for him not being on the roll I think.

The other interesting point for me is that if an important ZW participant such as Wood couldn’t get a medal issued to someone he recommended as it was against the rules of issue, what chance would the family of a fallen civilian have.

Obviously if anyone has any information regarding the issuing of Byrne’s medal, I’d be delighted to hear

Jager1

Jager 1, I acquired these two communications from another Zulu War collector in a trade a few years back. Evelyn Wood, even with his distinguished service record, does not seem to have had enough "pull" or influence with the higher authorities to secure the medal for Struben despite this detailed letter as to Struben's contributions at Khambula and Ulundi. I was quite pleasantly surprised to find reference to the Struben/medal result in the book that I have pictured in my post. Isandula

Hi Isandula / Jager
After reading the above post yesterday , I do seem to recall that either Wood , or another high ranking officer tried unsuccessfully , on another occasion , to have a medal bestowed on another individual ? . I have no idea which book or paper I saw it in , but fairly sure it happened another time at least ?
Cheers 90th

Thanks Isandula. The issuing authorities were certainly very strict, regardless who the application was from, I've found the same with other medal types.

Wonder if Stuben did get the medal at a later date.

90th, they were certainly very strick regarding issuing of medals, due to lost accounts, Raaff didn't even get one despite getting the CMG for the War..

Jager1

Hi Jager
Possibly it was Raaf that I've read about ? . I do remember thinking it was a bit rough the individual not being awarded the Medal ! . I've been checking your site often , a couple of times I missed seeing some interesting one's which had been sold .
Cheers 90th

It was indeed regarding Raaff 90th, it seems after he had left his unit, one of Raaff's Officers had been left with the accounts to hand in to the authorities but had dumped them! - this was enough to have Raaff's SA medal to be forfeited!

Thanks re site

Jager1

Hi Jager
Thanks for clearing that up for me , and you never cease to have some very interesting items up for sale
Cheers Mate , 90th