North Molton and the Boer War
Created by John Usmar
In the summer of 1899 the two battalions of the Devonshire Regiment were far apart. The 1st was in India and the 2nd in the United Kingdom. James Bawden was with the 1st and his brother John was with the 2nd. They were the sons of Alfred and Maria Bawden, Alfred was a road and quarryman, who in the 1881 census was living at Poole Court. James was born in 1870 and John in 1879.
In September 1899 the 1st Devons were put under orders for service in South Africa. They travelled across India by train and at Bombay were split between two ships, the “City of London” and the “Sutlej”. They arrived in Durban in early October and it was not long before they were besieged in Ladysmith. In the meantime the 2nd Devons in England had embarked on the “Manila” and sailed for Cape Town and Durban where they arrived in early November.
It was a strange twist of fate that one brother, James, was in beleaguered Ladysmith and the other, John, was with the relieving force that broke the siege.
Through the columns of the South Molton Gazette we can learn a little of what the two men experienced:
25th November 1899 (page 4)
Mrs. Bawden of Northmolton has two sons with the British Forces in South Africa. Private J. Bawden of the A Company, 1st Devonshire Regiment, in a letter dated October 20th says “We have met a lot of Devonshire people out here. The only thing is that things are so dear. If you want a pint of beer you have to pay a shilling for it. Bread is sixpence a loaf, and butter and cheese about two shillings a pound”.
28th May 1900 (page 4)
Mr. Bawden has received another letter from his son, James, who is in the army in Natal. He mentions he has not seen much fighting since the relief of Ladysmith, but he “is anxious to have another go at them”. Plenty of luxuries, including condensed milk, were obtainable in camp, though at high prices.
21st July 1900 (page 5)
A Welcome Home. A most enthusiastic welcome home was given on Friday last to Private J. Bawden of the 1st Devons. The first native of Northmolton to return to the village from the seat of war in South Africa. Private Bawden, who was in the siege of Ladysmith, had an attack of fever, in consequence of which he had been invalided home. As he entered the village the bells rang out and the crowds which had assembled to receive one of their fighting sons, gave him a warm reception. Mr. Bawden then thanked the people for the cordial welcome given him.
21st July 1900 (page 5)
The following letter has been received by Mrs. Bawden from another son, who is with General Buller –
“Charlestown June 17th
Dear Father and Mother,
Just a few lines, hoping it finds you both in good health as it leaves me at present. I was rather put out yesterday as I did not get a letter, as I get one from you nearly every mail. We have had another 5 or 6 days fighting and succeeded in driving the Boers away. We have not had any tents since leaving Ladysmith May 7th till now, so at present we are getting a little rest. I don’t know how much longer it is going to last, but we are expecting it to be over before long. It is very cold here now – just like winter at home. Jack is on his way home and I expect by the time you get this letter he will be home. I wish I was in his place, but my turn will come soon, I hope Jack will have his furlough when he comes home. I hope he will have some money to spend and I hope he will enjoy himself, as I know I shall if I ever come home. I hope you got the money I sent home allright, I shall send some more as soon as I can. If I don’t send it home I shall only spend it. We have captured a lot of Boers this week; they seem to have had quite enough of it. Give my love to all the people in Northmolton that I know.”
11th August 1900 (page 5)
(Letter from a son (John) of Mr. and Mrs. Bawden, with General Buller)
“Sanderton July 6th 1900
“We have been working as navvies every day now for the last week in repairing the railway that the Boers destroyed, but I don’t expect we shall get any extra pay for it. We have all kinds of tales here; some say we are going home this month, but of course we don’t know where we are going. I was glad when Jack wrote me and told me he was going home. He is a lucky chap to get home so easy. I saw Jack Bowen and he told me he saw him before he went home at Pietermaritzburg. Some of the Boers are hanging around here now, a couple of our chaps got wounded last night while scouting. We don’t expect to see any more fighting now and we don’t wish to. I should like to see it finished; let’s get home out of it. I have had enough of this country and I think everyone else has. We have one of the Boer engines working on the line here and a lot of trucks. I suppose they do not have time to take it away. We have to pay very dear for things out here, 1s 6d for a very small loaf of bread, about 2lbs, but we don’t care what we pay for it if we can get it. It is not summer now so we can eat all we can get and more sometimes.”
29th September 1900 (page 4)
Private J. Bawden, of the 1st Devons, is again under orders for service in South Africa. He was invalided home in June last after enduring hardships in Ladysmith during the siege and an attack of fever.
1st February 1902 (page 5)
A hearty reception was given to Private James Bawden, who has for two years and four months been on active service in South Africa, on his return on Monday. He was with General Buller on the relief column for Ladysmith, and his brother, Corporal John Bawden, of the 1st Devonshire Regiment, was among those in the beleaguered town. Private Bawden has been since chiefly engaged in garrison duty in Sanderton, and in spite of sickness and fever that he has suffered, he still maintains a hearty appearance.
Flags were flying from every window, while the bells rang cheerily as he entered the village. The horses were detached from the conveyance in which he rode, and many willing hands were put to the ropes, while the band under the conductorship of Mr. William Treble headed the procession, which marched to the tune of “See the Conquering Hero Comes”. Bawden is the sixth soldier that the village boasts as having safely returned from the war, and still there are Northmoltonians in the field today, fighting under the same old flags.
North Molton early 1900s - From the Archive Database
Another North Molton man serving was Trooper John Merson the son of John Nott Merson and Harriet of Brinsworthy. The South Molton Gazette dated March 24th 1900 reported the following:
Trooper J. Merson, of the Devon Imperial Yeomanry, writing from Las Palmas under
date of March 8th to his friends at Brinsworthy gives the following interesting particulars
with reference to the transport “Manchester Merchant”. “I have been selected from
the Devons for military police duty. A man has been selected from the North Somersets
and one from the Dorsets. We wear a blue and white badge with shining buckle round
the wrist of our tunics, and have a right to patrol any part of the ship from 5.30
a.m. to 8 p.m. We have no other duties to perform day or night. This lasts until
the end of the voyage. We had a church parade yesterday morning at 9.30 a.m. on
the upper deck. Col. Hellier, commanding the division, read the prayers and conducted
the service. Three horses have died from sea-
