Hey Mark, that's for the comment. On the Burghers I have never seen a comprehensive piece on them, meaning 1870s period. I have notes from the Cape Archives about how in the Cape they operated and, in some cases, lists of Burghers that were mobilized and there is a massive two volume set the CA hold that lists every man in the colony liable to be called up......it's like the old telephone books. What sort of information are you looking for?
Thanks Cam! I was intrigued by the SAM medal I have listed to Nelson’s Burghers who were only circa 15 men some from Middleburg and wondered if I could research any more on them or the general Burgher part of the story.
Hey Mark. The interesting thing with the Burghers and the SAM, is that very few actually applied for the medal and in many cases, whole contingents never received the medal - the number of medals does not actual equate to the strength of a burgher contingent. When I was researching the Moorosi Mountain campaign I discovered that some of the Burgher contingents received no medal, while others did. It's either down to the commander not bothering, or the authorities did not process the medal claim. Or, due to the large number of desertions it's possible it was collective punishment.
Of my records extracted from the Cape Archives, there is no surviving pay sheets for Nelson's Burghers or the Middleburg Burghers for 1877-79. As I am trawling through the burgher records, I will keep an eye open for anything relating to either.
That’s really interesting and I know of the 13 issued on their medal roll 3 are listed as having gone back to the mint. Their roll is also listed in the title Zulu & Basuto Wars - Including Complete Medal Roll 1877-8-9. My assumption is not long after the AZW was done a lot of these guys would have picked up arms against the British for the FBV so it’s not surprising details are sketchy in that context. Thanks Cam. Really appreciate the insights 👍🏻👍🏻Mark
That’s a hell of a piece Cam! Is there anymore detailed reading available specifically on the Burgher units??
Hey Mark, that's for the comment. On the Burghers I have never seen a comprehensive piece on them, meaning 1870s period. I have notes from the Cape Archives about how in the Cape they operated and, in some cases, lists of Burghers that were mobilized and there is a massive two volume set the CA hold that lists every man in the colony liable to be called up......it's like the old telephone books. What sort of information are you looking for?
Thanks Cam! I was intrigued by the SAM medal I have listed to Nelson’s Burghers who were only circa 15 men some from Middleburg and wondered if I could research any more on them or the general Burgher part of the story.
Hey Mark. The interesting thing with the Burghers and the SAM, is that very few actually applied for the medal and in many cases, whole contingents never received the medal - the number of medals does not actual equate to the strength of a burgher contingent. When I was researching the Moorosi Mountain campaign I discovered that some of the Burgher contingents received no medal, while others did. It's either down to the commander not bothering, or the authorities did not process the medal claim. Or, due to the large number of desertions it's possible it was collective punishment.
Of my records extracted from the Cape Archives, there is no surviving pay sheets for Nelson's Burghers or the Middleburg Burghers for 1877-79. As I am trawling through the burgher records, I will keep an eye open for anything relating to either.
That’s really interesting and I know of the 13 issued on their medal roll 3 are listed as having gone back to the mint. Their roll is also listed in the title Zulu & Basuto Wars - Including Complete Medal Roll 1877-8-9. My assumption is not long after the AZW was done a lot of these guys would have picked up arms against the British for the FBV so it’s not surprising details are sketchy in that context. Thanks Cam. Really appreciate the insights 👍🏻👍🏻Mark