TOPIC:

I like to think of these as one of two types. First those Americans who went to South Africa because they believed in the cause, and second those whi ended up there because of circumstance and decided to join up because they were adventurous.

I have a QSA to an American Orderly on the hospital ship Maine. He got the Natal bar. I know of a QSA to someone in the ILH who was born in Chicago but I don't know why he was in South Africa.

What is nice about units such as those on the Boer side is that they stuck together and were named for their country, such as the Hollandse Corp.

Nick,

You may be interested to read the account of Burnham in Rider Haggard's book, Days of My Life .

No mention of the VC that I can see

Regards
David

This offer was reported in the Yorkshire Herald, 23 Jan 1900:

This is from The North-Eastern Daily Gazette, Wednesday, 1 Nov 1899:

David,

On 12 February 1900 an internal WO memo (WO32/7930) was sent to the Secretary of State for War (Lord Lansdowne) noting:

'you have before you an offer from a Colonel of American volunteers of 2,000 men. This number is of course uncertain, and it is not clear how they are to be obtained.'

Landsowne's response was. 'I would not have anything to do with him, so far as the WO is concerned.'

Chamberlain was equally as firm on 21 February:

'Mr Chamberlain laid great stress on the importance of no recruiting being attempted in the United States. Any Englishman in the United States who may wish to join must cross very quietly and as private individuals, into Canada. On no account is any open recruiting to be countenanced in the States.'

This was further emphasised on 28 February. Chamberlain's views were:

'that the scheme of recruiting in USA is most dangerous for diplomatic reasons.'

Best wishes,

Justin

How interesting.

The attestation papers for some of the South African units show the men to be born in the USA but I guess they could have made the journey at any time, not just when war was declared.

Regards
David