Anglo-Boer and Zulu War anecdotes with Louis Eksteen

Victoria Cross holder Private James Osborne.

Last week Victoria Cross holder Corporal John James Clements who fought in the Second Anglo-Boer War was featured in this series.

This time I will discuss another Victoria Cross holder who fought during the First Anglo-Boer War of 1880-1881. Sometime last year I had a visit from Bill and Ann Seward from Wigginton in Hertfordshire, England.

They were pleasantly surprised to see a display at Fort Amiel on Private James Osborne who is buried in in the cemetery in their little village of Wigginton.

After the end of his service, Osborne returned to Wiggington, Hertfordshire in England. He married and had two children, a son and a daughter. For 26 years he worked on the estate of Tring Park who belonged to Lord Nathaniel de Rothschild, an extremely wealthy landowner.

He usually found work on his estate for anyone who was unemployed and then often allowed them to live in cottages on his estate. In 1913 a stroke left Osborne partially paralysed. He lived in a cottage on the estate until his passing on 1 February 1928, aged 71 years old.

The Boer Republic of the Transvaal was annexed in 1877 by Great Britain. During the earlier part of 1880, the headquarters of the larger portion of the King's Dragoon Guards, as well as the headquarters of the 58th Regiment were established at Wakkerstroom, not far from Volksrust.

In July and August these troops were withdrawn from Wakkerstroom and replaced by one company of the 94th Regiment under Captain Froom. He was relieved on 17 December by Captain H.M. Saunders, with two companies of the 58th Regiment. The garrison strength consisted of 120 men.

On 30 January, 1881, the garrison made a successful raid on a farm occupied by the Boers, capturing 150 horses and cattle, plus blankets and provisions.

On 22 February, shortly before the final Battle of Amajuba, a skirmish took place when the Boers attempted to cut off some local Africans returning to their homesteads near the town.

During the fight, Private Mayes' horse was shot, and he was wounded and hid in the long grass. Another dismounted man, Private William Bennett, was shot after being knocked off his horse. His leg was shattered and he lay for two hours in the grass until a Boer, having seen the incident, waved a white cloth and planted it near where the man lay to indicate his whereabouts, and that he needed help.

A stretcher party was sent out and he was brought into camp, but amputation of his leg was necessary and he died that night.

Having seen Private Mayes fall, Private James Osborne rode straight from cover to the spot, from two to three hundred yards, in front of a line of some 40 Boers. He managed to drag Mayes on to his horse, and slinging Mayes's rifle over his shoulder, and with bullets flying all round, one hit Osborne's rifle, both men and horse escaped.

Their comrades had helped by keeping up an accurate fire on the Boers. On 24 March Lieutenant Gossett of the 95th Regiment arrived, notifying the garrison that peace had been made.

For his bravery Private Osborne was awarded the Victoria Cross.

The London Gazette citation read as follows: “For his gallant conduct at Wesselstroom [Wakkerstroom, originally known as Marthinus-Wesselstroom], on the 22nd February, 1881, in riding, under a heavy fire, toward a party of 42 Boers, picking up Private Mayes, who was lying wounded, and carrying him safely into camp.”