| Notes: | 12/6/1901: EA Radloff to DA: In May 1900 surrendered to General Brabant and was allowed remain on my farm after having passed a surety bond of £1000. A few weeks after that he was ordered by Major White into Ladybrand to report myself which I did, signed parole, returned to my farm until 16 Nov 1900, when 9 armed Boers came ordered me to appear without delay at their camp at Hammonia, which I point blank refused.
The following day reported this to Major White upon which he advised me to remain in Ladybrand which I did until the 8 May 1901, when I was ordered to the RC here.
My wife and three daughters remained at the farm until 22 March 1901 when I availed myself of the opportunity when Col Pilcher passed to bring my family into Ladybrand.
On 6 May last I was fined by the magistrate of Ladybrand £10 for castrating a little dog belonging to one of the soldiers after the sentence was passed Major Vaughan got up and said that I was supposed to have been very bitter at the commencement of the war, and that people had informed against me, and that I had to leave with the next convoy for Bloemfontein RC.
With reference to the castration of the dog allow me to explain the following, at the time I had a thorough-bred fox terrier which I had tied up in the bedroom, notwithstanding this I had a great deal of trouble with dogs coming to the house but the dog in question was the most persistent coming into the house, for common decency's sake and for the sake of my children to get rid of the dog I castrated the dog.
I am at any time prepared to declare under oath that I had not the least idea to whom the dog belonged, the town being infested with dogs, I was under the impression that it was left behind by one of the refugees.
[Continues with a rather long story about this, and paid the soldier who owned the dog £1.]
20/6/1901: HF Wilson to Commandant, Ladybrand: Asking if there is anything else against the man.
Note on file: 18/6/1901: CSRC: Yes the man was sent in partly on account of this act. I think he was loyal by what an Englishman here tells me, and vouches for him.
9/7/1901: Reply to Radloff: Military exigencies render it impossible to allow him to return. Ads that after full consideration re question of dog, HH does not deem it advisable to interfere with the decision of the RM in the matter. |
British Concentration Camps