Natal Naval Volunteers
In 1885 when Russia presented a threat to Great Britain, Durban was undefended and it was feared that the Russian navy might pose a threat to the town. Two heavy guns mounted at the entrance to Durban were thought to be a good deterrent hence the enrolment and training was implemented. Historical records do not make it clear who first initiated this idea, or the formation of a naval Reserve Unit in Durban but it is fair to assume that Harry Escombe and the Port Captain, Captain Ballard probably promoted the idea.
A public meeting was convened at the Central Hotel on 27 April 1885 however the start was delayed because no one would admit to having convened it. Eventually it was decided to continue in spite of this and a committee elected. A further meeting was convened by Harry Escombe on 7 may 1885 and was preceded by a march through town headed by the band of the Royal Durban Rifles. The name of Natal Volunteer Artillery was adopted and two committees were elected. One to draw-up by-laws and the other, to decide upon a uniform and send home to England for the required items.
On Wednesday 11 November 1885 the Times of natal reported that “The Government and the Point Volunteers have come to terms. The Government have agreed to construct a
Battery on the Bluff, to allow Corps to be called ‘Natal Naval Volunteers’ and to give them cutlasses and pistols. The Corps having thus gained the points for which they fought.”
A letter from the Colonial Secretary to Harry Escombe accepts the services of the Corps as a “Coastal Defence Corps” and that the establishment of the Corps will date from 12 May 1885. At about the same time it was agreed that recruits desiring to join would each be required to find two responsible citizens to stand as bondsmen for them and, having been accepted, to pay a membership fee of ten shillings per annum.
It had long been said that the NNV was the first of it’s kind in the British Empire with a continuous history however it should be noted that the distinction belongs to the Port Elizabeth Naval Volunteer Brigade, raised in 1861 but probably merged with an artillery unit.
In April 1888 the unit attended what appears to have been their first camp, held on the Bluff. Apparently most of the ships company continued with their ordinary work in the town, returning to camp by the 6 o’clock boat, which always awaited them at the Point. An excellent feeling existed between officers and men and discipline was well maintained.
In 1892 a concrete platform was built at the Point to support the two 36 pounder-muzzle-loaders lent by Rear-Admiral Hunt Grubbe but there is no evidence that they were anything other than ornaments.
On 18 June 1898, 2 six-pounder breech-loading guns were dismantled from the “Forerunner”, dragged to the Drill Hall in West Street and re-assembled. Field gun drill was evidently a fairly regular affair and actual firing of the guns frequently took place on the Black Beach.
In February 1899, Captain Harry Escombe retired and suggested Lieutenant G Tatum succeed him. Reluctantly, Tatum accepted and the appointment was duly approved by the Governor. The official uniform was jumpers (white or blue), or “frocks” as they were then called, with a cream “flannel” underneath, white trousers and black shoes with a white straw hat, bearing an appropriate ribbon. The flannel was a voluminous garment something like a shortened nightshirt with blue binding at the neck. For anyone with a sensitive skin it had the tendency to cause almost intolerable itching in the summer. It is interesting to note that some of the Petty Officers wore moustaches without beards, despite the fact that this had been forbidden in an Admiralty order to the Fleet on 24 June 1869. It would appear that the regulation was less stringently applied to the naval volunteers.
When the Boer War broke out in October 1899 some members of the NNV were in Ladysmith, where they remained until the siege was lifted, whilst others served with General Buller’s relief force. On Sunday 1 October 1899, Commander Tatum, Surgeon-Captain Fernadez and Lieutenants Barrett and Hoare with 62 men set out for Ladysmith taking with them one 9-pounder, two 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns and their mascot, a bull terrier called “Jack”. Also the same day Lieutenant Anderton with the diminished number of 20 officers and men and Chief Petty Officer Jewitt left Durban by train for Colenso. They took with them two guns, with 200 rounds of ammunition each, 90 rounds of 303 ammunition for each man and a reserve of 3200 rounds.
The Ladysmith party arrived the following day at 6 pm and immediately changed into kharki uniform and establish their camp at Tintown. It was here that they had their first casualty, Gunner C Florens was run over by big gun and was discharged as medically unfit for further service.
On 13 October 1899, Lieutenant Barrett and Master Gunner Hall and 34 men, with one 9-pounder and a Hotchkiss gun, were detailed for “Cove Redoubt.” By the 2 November, Lieutenant Barrett was attached to the Manchester Regiment on Caesars camp. They did not have to wait long to see action because on 13 November they engaged a 6-inch Boer gun on Middle Hill, north of Caesars camp, to cover the return of Mounted Infantry from a sortie.
On 6 January the Boers attacked Caesars Camp and Wagon Hill. Master Gunner Hall was in charge of two guns and Lieutenant Hoare had the Hotchkiss. From 3 November to 7 January the NNV were continually under fire and Major-General Hamilton complimented them on their cheerful behaviour under trying circumstances. During the battle of Platrand the men of the NNV fought hard`all day with their big guns and rifles and it was amazing that none of the detachment was hit, although several men had clothing torn by bullets.
Like the rest of the Garrison times were tough for the NNV, “Enteric and dysentery made sad havoc among us and our great genial doctor, Fernadez, made up for us a concoction of carbolic etc. We had to take a wine glass full after breakfast.”
The party, under Lieutenant at Colenso, built two outposts at Fort Wylie and Fort Nicholson. Nothing much happened until 2 November when they were shelled from Groblers Hill which was obviously quite effective because on the 3 November they received orders to evacuate Fort Wylie, spike their guns and leave their ammunition. This order was disobeyed because they brought all their equipment and ammunition with them back to Estcourt. Lieutenants Anderton and Chiazzari with 47 men reported to captain Jones RN at Frere. Thereafter it seems that the NNV were working both with the Royal Navy and, at times, as their own unit because at the Battle of Colenso they were operating 4.7-inch Naval guns whereas on 22 December they took charge of a 4.7-inch gun.
On 10 January the detachment left Chieveley and joined General Warren’s Column, their duty was as gunners shelling the Boers from Mount Alice. They took part in the Vaal Kranz battle and were also involved in the Breakthrough from Colenso to Pieters from 12 to 28 February 1900.
On 20 February they set out for Pieters Hill and were marching for four days. On 25 February they rigged up sheer legs in the dark to mount their guns. The enemy saw their lanterns and opened heavy fire, smashing them. On 27 February they were still at Pieters Hill and there is an entry in the Diary, which merely notes “Mentioned in despatches.” As no names were given for this honour it seems that the whole detachment was referred to.
Captain Jones RN of HMS Forte told Commander Tatum that the services rendered by Lieutenant Chiazzari in the “pontoon business at Colenso” were invaluable. As a result, Lieutenant Chiazari was awarded the first Distinguished Service Order ever to be conferred upon a non-regular officer in any arm of the service,
“We are two jolly little sailor guns
And they hauled us up a long way from the sea.
We’ve given up the ocean with its undulating motion
For the rocks that are as steady as can be.
Och, Puffing Bill, you may puff, puff, puff
But you cannot shoot like we.
Though we’re only 4.7w e can send your men to heaven
Or their craven hearts with terror inspire.”
Anon
5 January 1900. So we worked on by candlelight, with picks and shovels and a coil of rope. Assisted by the Manchester’s pickets we pegged on until we could hardly keep our eyes open. Some fellows would sit down and by sheer exhaustion immediately fell asleep, but our drill instructor made matters lively for them and at length we got the biggest of the stones away. How we pulled and strained to ease it out. To express our feelings at these particular moments no words are adequate. On the one hand the all but over powering desire to rest, on the other the indomitable determination to accomplish what we had been set to do; the knowledge of the urgency of our task and the whisperings of anticipation of an achieved accomplishment.
David Gullan Winton Gunner NNV
November 28th ….the next one just passed over our pit and struck the cook house and knocked it down injuring our Indian cook and Gunner hatch, bursting some large stones some five or six tons weight and gunner Hatch’s overcoat was blown to pieces. Whilst the fire is going on I have been cutting my name in the rock so that it will be seen in years to come.
Petty Officer Franklin NNV
On 2 October 1899 the full muster roll was entered in the NNV manuscript as:
1 Commander, 4 Lieutenants, 1 paymaster, 1 Medical Officer, 1 Chaplain,
1 Instructor, 1 CPO Secretary, 1 Carpenter, 1 Chief Petty Officer, 1 Quartermaster,
4 Petty Officers 1st Class, 8 Petty Officers 2nd Class, 9 Leading Gunners and 104 Gunners.
The information here was derived from various sources but in the main from “SA Inkonkoni” by Captain SHC Payne.
David Gullan Winter account