Aldershot Military Cemetery 1


IF STONES CAN TALK……………

This headstone, of Margaret Maistre, wife of Quarter Master Sergeant Henry Maistre, who died aged 29, 2nd October 1888.  The inscription on the headstone reads



“Mrs Maistre was decorated by Her Majesty with the Order of the Royal Red Cross for her services in nursing the wounded after the Action of Bronkhurst Spruit, Transvaal 20th December 1880
This Monument is Erected to the memory by the officers (Past and Present) of the Regiment
 
 
 
Overview

The Battle of Bronkhorstspruit, 20th December 1880, was the first major engagement of the First Boer War (1880 – 1881).  It took place by the Bronkhurst Spruit, river, a few miles east of the east of the town of Bronkhorstspruit

Background

The previous year, 1879, on the grounds of bankruptcy of the Transvaal, having been supported by at least some of the some of burghers, the British Government formally annexed the Boer Transvaal Republic.  The majority of the Transvaal’s suffrage holders were opposed to the British Government decision. 

By the end of the year, the threats from the Zulu and Bapedi had removed any tolerances that the majority of the Boer population may had to request  any protective presence given by the British troops, and administrators in the Transvaal.    

Early 1880, the new Liberal Government, had opposed to the annexation and the reduction of the British troops’ presence, had quietened the unrest in the Transvaal.  The new British Prime Minister, William Ewart Gladstone, had informed the Boer leader, Paul Kruger “the Queen cannot be advised to relinquish her sovereignty over the Transvaal” December 1880, under Paul Kruger and Piet Joubert, 4,000 Boer burghers met near Pretoria to proclaim restoration of the Republic.

Pretoria, the small British military detachment and government were surrounded, by armed Boers. The other British garrisons were scattered across the Transvaal.  The 94th Foot, were ordered from Lydenburg to secure Pretoria.

Battle


Marching from Lydenburg to Prestoria, the 94th Foot under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Philip Robert Anstruther comprised of 6 officers and 246 men, as well as 12 men from Army Service Corps, with additional 4 men from the Army Hospital Corps, when left of the column, 250 Boers appeared, having crept 200 yards of the British

The 94th Foot, had seen action against the Zulus at the Battle of Ulundi.  The rear of the column, was brought up with wagons and carts, carrying the families and baggage of the troops.

Anstruther at the front of the column, was approached by the English-speaking Boer messenger, Burgher De Beer under a flag of truce and bearing a letter. The letter warned Anstruther, that the Boers, would shoot within minutes.  The letter was from the instruction from the triumvirate, who declared the independence from British administration of the South African Republic.  Anstruther refused to withdraw and give the instruction in the order that the ammunition from the ox carts, be circulated to the column.  Before the column could form skirmish formation at 12.30pm the Boers opened fire.  Dr Beer gave a further 6 minutes for the British to form formation.

The officers were killed within the first 15 minutes.  The horses and oxen were killed.  The mortally wounded Anstruther, who had been shocked by the attack, gave the order to surrender.  During the attack that only lasted 15 minutes, 156 British soldiers had been wounded or killed, the remainder of the troops had been taken prisoners.  The Boers, themselves only suffered 5 casualties.

 
During attack, which became known as the Massacre of Bronkhorst Spruit, two members of the 94th Foot, Colour Sergeant Henry Maistre and Sergeant James Pearce, had been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal each, when during the attack, both had carried the Colours, and fallen wounded, seeing the danger they were in they and capture, they were able to conceal the Colours in the bed of Mrs. Fox, who had been herself lying dangerous wounded in a hospital wagon.  Mrs. fox made a fully recovery afterwards.  The Colours played a vital role.

The gallant actions, of the wives of the battalion, Mrs. Fox, Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Maistre, who provided nursing assistance to those soldiers who had been wounded or dying.  For their actions, they were awarded the Royal Red Cross Decoration.
 
Royal Red Cross Decoration

 
It was two years later, that the Royal Red Cross had been instituted by Queen Victoria, solely women who had been shown special devotion and competency in their nursing duties with the Army within the field.  It was the following year, 1884, that Mrs. Fox, Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Maistre were the first earliest recipients of the Decoration, apart of the Royal Family.

The Decorations states the courageous conduct and devotion in their attendance on the wounded during the action at Bronkhorstspruit and the following months afterwards which the wounded were held prisoners of war.
 
Mrs. Fox

Mrs. Fox was the husband of Quartermaster George Fox.  Whilst she was attending to the wounded, she herself was shot in the abdomen.  The bullet was never extracted.  During the months that reminder of the wounded were prisoner of war, she continued to give aid, while she was weak and suffering.


Early 1888, at Cambridge Barracks, Portsmouth, Mrs Fox, died from effects of wounds received at Bronkhurst Spruit, Transvaal.  She is buried at Highland Road Cemetery, Portsmouth.
“Mrs. George Fox Wife of Quartermaster George Fox Connaught Rangerws (94th Regiment) Who died at Cambridge Barracks, Portsmouth on the 22nd January 1888 from effects of wounds received in the Action of Bronkhurst Spruit, Transvaal
For her Heroic and Unselfish conduct on that occasion in nursing the wounded desperately wounded though she was herself.  She was decorated by Her Majesty with the Order of the Royal Red Cross
This Monument is erected to her memory as a token of affection and esteem by the Officers (Past and Present) Non-Commissioned Officers and Men of the 2nd Connaught Rangers
 

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