Aussie Nurses in the Boer War

It was 27 February 1900. After 10 days continuous bombardment by besieging British forces, the 4000-odd Boer irregulars holding out at Cronje's laager near Paardeberg Drift in South Africa were at their last gasp.

In the opening months of the Boer War the burghers had looked invincible. Now, on the verge of their first major defeat, a white bearded old farmer stumbled from behind part of the impoverished fortifications, waved a white flag and marched toward the enemy.

It came as a shock to the farmer to find that his particular section of the opposing frontline was held largely by doctors and stretcher-bearers of the New South Wales Medical Corps. 

It was even more surprising to the old man to discover that none of these men the least interest in accepting their surrender. Brushing all those offering to surrender to one side, Surgeon-Captain Thomas Fiaschi, pursued by the rest of his men, dashed toward the ring of overturned enemy wagons to begin a hunt for the wounded.

New South Welshmen had been waiting time for this chance to perform some real work. However, the sight that now met their eyes was daunting just beyond the laager in holes resembling graves dug two or three metres deep into the sandy slopes of the tank and covered with tarpaulins, lay Boer wounded.

They had no doctors and almost no medical aids. A few sat up stolidly puffing pipes. Most were prostrate, writhing in agony from wounds that had grown gangrenous and smothered with flies. Many eventually died but at least their last hours were spent in some comfort as the New South bearers rushed them to a nearby forward dressing station. The more serious cases were then sent to the well-equipped New South Wales field hospital for immediate operation.

The medical services attached to the New South Wales contingent put its British counterpart and other colonial units in the shade during the Boer War. Its organisation was due entirely to its commanding officer, Surgeon-Major William Williams, who had created single-handedly a New South Wales Army Medical Corps that was the foundation of the Australian Medical Corps. In World War I the efficiency and heroism of Australian medical teams under fire would become a legend.

In January 1885 Britain became involved in a war in the Sudan and New South Wales immediately offered a contingent. Williams was among the first to volunteer and was appointed Surgeon-Major and Principal Medical Officer of the contingent. After the Sudan he went on to England to complete a course in army medicine before returning to Sydney to set up the New South Wales Army Medical Corps.

The result was that in 1899 when the Boer War broke out and New South Wales again offered troops, the New South Wales Army Medical Corps, product of 10 years training and hard work, stood ready for immediate service. Williams commanded the seven officers and 85 men of the half-field hospital and half-bearer company that arrived in South Africa in December 1899. By the following February the entire corps was in South Africa and in the forefront of the British advance northward.

Observers quickly noted the unusual mobility of Williams' specially designed ambulance compared to the lumbering ambulance train of the Royal Army Medical Corps. Then the real worth of the corps became apparent when combined British and colonial forces under Field-Marshal Roberts trapped the 4000 Boer irregulars of General Piet Cronje at Paardeberg Drift.

During the 10 days the battle raged the British suffered heavy casualties. Never before, however, had British regulars known stretcher squads so alert and on the spot, seemingly in position to whip away the wounded the instant they fell.

But the surprise of the British Tommy was nothing compared with the amazement of the defeated Boers. When the end came for them on the morning of 27 February, one party of Boers could find nobody to accept their surrender.

A squad of New South Wales stretcher-bearers that had rushed forward the moment they sighted the old man's white flag told him to refer the matter to a Canadian brigadier farther down the line. As it turned out the surrender terms were not acceptable to the Boers and 30 minutes later they returned to their trenches to resume the battle. There they found themselves rubbing shoulders with New South Wales medical teams whose only concern was with the wounded.

In the end the New South Wales Army Medical Corps won more honours and decorations than any other unit serving in South Africa. At the end of the war Williams himself was rewarded with the honorary rank of Surgeon General.

FOR VALOUR  Australia's first VC When Neville Reginald Howse braved a hail of Boer bullets to rescue a wounded comrade, he became the only member of medical forces ever to receive Empire's highest decoration for bravery. (at that time) General Christiaan de Wet was the most wily of the Boer commanders, a former businessman who perfected the art of guerrilla a warfare.  By July 1900 the Imperial High Command so concerned about his activities, which were fast making him a folk hero to the Dutch inhabitants of the Cape that it sent a mounted infantry brigade under Brigadier-General C P Ridley to pursue and neutralise De Wet and his mobile band. Attached to Ridley's force were members of the New South Wales Army Medical Corps, led by Captain Neville Reginald Howse.

On July 22, news reached Ridley that De Wet had derailed and looted a train at Rhenoster Poort, before moving towards the Orange Free State village of Vredefort, less than 15 kilometres away. The British general immediately sent part of his force, accompanied by members of the Medical Corps. to investigate. As the Imperial troops rode into range, De Wet opened fire - with deadly effect.

Among the first to fall in the forward line was a young trumpeter, who lay shot through the bladder and bleeding severely as his comrades were forced to retreat.

Captain Howse did not hesitate. Digging his spurs into his horse, he charged through literally a hail of bullets to the wounded man. The Boer Mausers soon found their target and the brave doctor's horse dropped dead under him. Undaunted, Howse grabbed his medical bag and raced forward on foot. Reaching the trumpeter, he dressed his wound and, while bullets flew all round him, lifted the man and carried him to safety.

For his courage, Captain Howse was awarded the Victoria Cross - the first Australian to receive the Empire's highest decoration for bravery. The Victoria Cross was only the first of many awards and decorations won by Howse during his outstanding military career. 

After being mentioned in dispatches, he returned to his practice in Orange. He was mayor of the town when World War 1 broke out in 1914, and immediately volunteered for active service. At Gallipoli he won several medals for his bravery and skill in attending to the wounded. By November 1915 he was promoted temporary Surgeon-General, in charge of all ANZAC medical services in the Mediterranean area.

C.1899. Doctor Patrick Henry Lang, Medical Officer of the Australian Imperial Regiment which formed part of the 4th Imperial Contingent to South Africa. (donor Dr. P.S. Lang)

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