UCT Libraries

BC 676 THE MAJOR-GENERAL SIR H. T. LUKIN PAPERS  

Manuscripts & Archives

University of Cape Town Libraries

 

presented to

The University of Cape Town Libraries

by

Mr A. B. C. Ryan

A List

compiled by

Lesley Hart

1980

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

 

Biographical note

 

The Collection

A.

CORRESPONDENCE

B.

DOCUMENTS, GAZETTES, PHOTOGRAPHS

C.

NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS

INTRODUCTION

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Major-General Sir Henry Timson Lukin was born at Fulham in England in 1860 and died at Kenilworth in December 1925. He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School from 1869 to 1875.

He wished to become a soldier but failed to enter the Royal Military College. At the prospect of war with the Zulus he came to South Africa in 1879, and obtained a commission in Bengough's Horse. He was wounded at Ulundi in 1879.

In 1881 he became a lieutenant in the Cape Mounted Riflemen and served in the Basuto War in 1881 and in the Langeberg Campaign of 1896 to 1897. In the South African War, 1899-1902, he distinguished himself, receiving the D.S.O. for his defense of Wepener in the O.F.S. in April 1900. He was given Command of a mounted column and in 1901 of a Cape Colonial division.

After the war he was awarded the C.M.G. and was appointed Commandant-General of the Cape Colonial Forces. In 1912 he was made Inspector-General of the Union Defense Force.

In the First World War he fought in South West Africa, Egypt and France. He had command of a mixed force in the operations in German S.W.A. from March to July 1915. After that campaign, he organized and trained the South African Infantry Brigade, taking them to Egypt in January 1916.  They achieved great success in a campaign against the Senussi in Libya.  In April 1916 the Brigade went to France where they formed part of the 9th Division. They distinguished themselves in the Battle of the Somme in their gallant capture of Delville Wood in July 1916, where they suffered extremely heavy casualties.

In December 1916 Lukin was appointed major-general and put in command of the 9th Division. He led the Division in actions at Arras, Ypres and Cambrai in 1917.

In 1918 Lukin was made a K.C.B.  In February 1918 he went to England because of his wife’s ill-health, where he had charge of the 64th Division until the end of the war.  He retired in November 1918.

He returned to South Africa in 1920 and until his death took an active part in ex-service affairs.  He was a chairman of the Defense Commission of Enquiry in 1924.

He married in 1891 Lily Quinn of Fort Hare.

THE COLLECTION

The Maj.-Gen. Sir H T Lukin Papers were donated to the University of Cape Town Libraries in 1979 by Mr A B C Ryan, and number 130 items.

The papers include letters from several well-known figures, many of them military men. Amongst the correspondents are General D Haig, General Sir H P Gough, Viscount Gladstone and W P Schreiner.  There are also letters of condolence to Lady Lukin after the death of her husband.

There are documents of his commission as Lieutenant in the Cape Mounted Riflemen in 1881 and of other military appointments, and of his decorations, including the C.M.G., C.B., and K.C.B.

Two copies of Supplements to the London Gazette mention some of Lukin's activities in the 1st World War.

There are copies of two of the many speeches made by Lukin after his return to South Africa, when unveiling memorials to the fallen in the 1st World War.

Roughly a third of the Collection consists of newspaper clippings covering Lukin's exploits in the South African War, his activities after his return to S.A. in April 1920 till his death, obituaries, and reports of his funeral, and the erection of memorials to him in various centres in S.A.

There are no restrictions on the use of the Collection, but permission should first be obtained from the University Librarian.

BC 676

MAJOR-GENERAL SIR H. T. LUKIN PAPERS

 

A.

CORRESPONDENCE

No. of items

Al.l-A1.30

Letters to Lukin

 

A1.1-A1.1.1

Copy of 'Extract from army orders, South Africa', 28.5.1901, in which Lukin is granted the local rank of Lieutenant Colonel.  TS

2

A1.2-A1.3

From Colonel P Homan ffolliott, Secretary for Defence, 10.7.1901, congratulating Lukin on his 'dashing attack on a farmhouse', and enclosing a note from the Prime Minister, J Gordon Sprigg, asking him to write a 'warm letter of congratulations'.  MSS

2

A1.4

Telegram from General French, 22.10[1901?], conveying army orders.  MS

1

A1.5

Telegram from General French, 28.10[1901?], placing Lukin under the command of Colonel Scobell.  MS

1

A1.6-A1.7

From Colonel P Homan ffolliott, 18.6.1902, enclosing a letter of commendation from General French about Lukin's work during the war.  MS and TS

2

A1.8

From H B Shawe, Assistant Under Colonial Secretary, 13.6.1904, appointing Lukin as Commandant General of the Cape Colonial Forces.  TS

1

A1.9

From S R Style, Mayor of King William's Town, 9.8.1916, congratulating Lukin and the South African Brigade on the capture of Delville Wood.  TS

1

Al. 10

'Messages and telegrams of appreciation' – to General Lukin and the South African soldiers on the capture of Delville Wood and Longueval, [July, 1916] TS

1

A1.11

From Viscount Gladstone on behalf of the S.A. Hospital & Comforts Fund, 7.12.1916, congratulating Lukin on his appointment to the Command of the 9th Division. TS

1

A1.12

From Sir Charles Fergusson,Corps Commander of the XVIIth Corps, 28.7.1917, thanking Lukin for a letter, and for the 'loyalty and good-will' of the 9th Division.  MS

1

Al. 13

From Sir Charles Fergusson, 25.9.1917, congratulating him 'on the doings of the Division.'  MS

1

A1.14

From General Ivor Maxse, Corps Commander of the XVIIIth Corps, 28.10.1917, thanking the 9th Division for their work while in his Corps.  MS

1

A1.15-A1.15.1

Copies of telegram from General Sir H P Gough to the 9th Division [Oct/Nov. 1917]

2

A1.16-A1.17

From Major General Sir William Lambton, 28.12[1917?], wishing Lukin and the 9th Division success in 1918.  MS

2

A1.18

From General W Birdwood of the Australian Corps, 2.1.1918,  congratulating Lukin on being awarded the K.C.B.  TS

1

Al. 19

From Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, 14.2.1918, on the occasion of a memorial service at Delville Wood.  MS

1

A1.20-A1.22

Copies of a letter from Sir Douglas Haig to the War Office, 20.3.1918, praising Lukin.  (Each copy slightly different). TSS

3

A1.23-A1.23.2

Copies of letters from General Sir H P Gough and Lieutenant- General Sir Walter Congreve [February/March 1918] on the occasion of Lukin leaving the 9th Division.  MSS and TSS

3

A1.24

From W P Schreiner, 5.4.1918.  MS

1

A1.25

From General Sir H P Gough, 1.7.1918, in reply to a letter of congratulations from Lukin. MS

1

A1.26

From W P Schreiner, 15.11.1918, informing Lukin of his retirement from Union Defence Force upon pension, and acknowledging Lukin's services.  TS

1

A1.27

From Sir Douglas Haig, 16.11.1918, re - end of the War.  MS

1

A1.28

From Sir Douglas Haig, 12.8.1919, in reply to a letter from Lukin, and wishing him well for his return to South Africa.  TS

1

A1.29

Telegram from W P Schreiner, 18.11.1919, on the occasion of a memorial service at Delville Wood.  MS

1

A1.30

From Walter Bowen, 9.6.1923, thanking Lukin for the gift of a book.  TS

1

A1.31

From Walter Bowen, 22.12.1923, conveying Christmas greetings. MS. (Letter is annotated: 'This man is an Advocate, member of Parliament and blinded in war of /14 to /18')

1

A1.32

From: F H P Creswell, 1.7.1924, persuading Lukin to accept an invitation to be a member of the Defence Council.  MS

1

A1.33

From William M Carter, Archbishop of Cape Town, 11.10.1924, inviting Lukin to become a member of the Council of the Diocesan College.  TS (annotated: 'accepted 14/10/24')

1

B1.4

Warrant conveying grant of appointment as a Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (C.M.G.), 30.9.1902

1

B1.5

Document of appointment as Brigadier-General in the British land forces, 26.1.1916

1

B1.6

Award of Companion of the Bath (C.B.), 3.6.1916

1

B1.7

'Grant of the dignity of a Knight Commander (Military Division) of the Order of the Bath' (K.C.B.), 1.1.1918

1

B2.1

Official announcement of staff changes in the Cape Colonial Forces, 31.5.1904.  Includes Lukin's appointment as Commandant- General

1

B2.2

Supplement to The London Gazette, 20.6.1916.  Contains a despatch From Army Headquarters, Cairo, describing a successful attack led by Lukin to capture Barrani as a stepping-stone in the advance towards Sollum. Lukin is also mentioned in the List of Recommendations

1

B2.3

Supplement to The London Gazette, 10.10.1919, mentions Lukin's retirement as from 15.5.1919

1

B3.1

Speech made by Lukin when unveiling Memorial Buttresses at St John's College, ca.1920-1924.  TS

1

B3.2

Speech made by Lukin when unveiling a memorial to the fallen in Mossel Bay, ca. 1920-1924.  TS

1

B3.3

Tribute to Lukin by the Rector of the Grey Institute, on the occasion of Lukin unveiling a memorial there, ca. 1920-1924. TS

1

B4

Photographs

 

B4.1

Photograph of Lukin making a speech

1

B4.2

Photograph of a house (Lukins?)

1

B4.3

Photograph of a grave

 

1

 

 

B4.4

Postcard of Colonial Coronation Contingents Camp, Duke of York's School, London

1

B5.1-B5.2

Poems of tribute to Lukin, by 'Cyclonicus', and by Maj. E S Clerk (?)dated 19.12.1925.  TS

2

B5.3

Dedication to the fallen of the 1st World War.  MS

1

B6.1

'The African World', 16.10.1926. Special souvenir edition about the memorial ceremony at the South African National War Memorial at  Delville Wood

1

C.

NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS

 

C1.1-C.18

Re - the South African War, 1899-1902 (undated). Include reports of attacks in which Lukin played a prominent part, and of the granting to Lukin the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in Nov. 1901

8

C1.9-C1.16

12.4.1920 - 26.7.1924. Contain accounts of Lukin's arrival in Cape Town, 12.4.1920, and of his public activities until his death

9

C1.17-C1.29

Re - the death of Lukin, obituaries, and re - funeral and memorial services, 16.12.1925 -22.12.1925

21

C1.30-C1.40

Re - memorials to Lukin, 17.2.1927 - 12.11.1932(?)

16

C1.41

Article about Lukin in the Wanderer's Column, Cape Argus, 12.7.1968

1

C1.42-C1.43

Miscellaneous

2

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