Individual Notes
Note for: Alice Veale, Chr. 12 Mar 1660 -
Index
Christening: Date: 12 Mar 1660
Place: Iddesleigh, Devon, England
Individual Notes
Note for: Arthur James Malet Veale, 17 May 1871 - 5 Mar 1944
Index
Christening: Date: 1904
Burial: Date: 7 Mar 1944
Place: Gadzema, Southern Rhodesia
Individual Note: 1881 census - attending Percy Sandilands school in Wolborough, South Devon -gives his age as 9, born in Cape Colony, South Africa.
1904 - Living in North West Africa.
He was involved in the Rebellion of 1896 and in the Boer War (in the Imperial Yeomanry Scouts) - he also served between 1915 and 1918 in the Nyasaland Volunteer reserve.
Arthur was in the Pioneer Corps Police, and in the Pioneer Column which brought white colonization to areas north of the Limpopo River in 1890. Before his death in 1944, he was the last surviving member in the colony of the BSA Company who attended the raising of the flag at Fort Salisbury on Sept. 13, 1890. At some point in time he was made a freeman of the city of Salisbury. He died at Gatooma Hospital 05 March 1944 at the age of 73. funeral was on 07 March and the service was taken by Rev R P Finch Expenses were paid for by the Pioneer Society.
Reminiscence, written at Gadzema, Southern Rhodesia in 1931 and sent to Howell Wright in 1937:
SOME REMINISCENCES OF A DISPATCH RIDER OF THE B.S.A.C.P.
As I look back today & recall so vividly the experiences of my pioneering days, it seems almost unbelievable that so many years have elapsed since I with my comrades in the B.S.A.C.P. were camped at Macloutsi preparing for our move northwards. Having joined B Company in 1889 we had started from Kimberley & got thus far on our journey, having joined forces with Bechuanaland Border Police, who fell in with us at Elebe en route. At Macloutsi we had to remain some time awaiting other companies of the B.S.A.C.P. to come up with us & when all were mustered we set off into the great unknown. At Tuli, on the Shashi River we joined forces with Col., Frank Johnson's Pioneers in company with Selous, the famous hunter, who was to be our guide throught the wilds of Mashonaland, & proceeded on our way with a gang of about two hundred of Khama's natives cutting the road for us. An hour before daylight every morning we were called up to man the wagons which had been drawn up in laager overnight, to be in readiness in case of attack at dawn by the fierce Matabele who had been sent by King Lobengula to intimate to us that shoud we proceed further into Mashonaland we should meet with a warm reception. Our greatest asset at this stage was a very powerful search light which put fear into the souls of the superstitious natives. From Tuli we proceeded but slowly, the B.S.A.C.P. section with Major (now Colonel) Frank Johnson's Pioneers forming one column under the command of Colonel Pennefather. leaving two companies, one at a place selected as a suitable spot for a fort which was called Fort Victoria, the other at Fort Charter.
As everyone knows we arrived at our ultimate destination - Salisbury - on Sept. 12th, 1890, where we assumed occupation to the aaccompaniment of gunfire and the hoisting of the Union Jack on the spot now known as Cecil Square. The actual date on which this ceremony took place has been and is still a matter of some controversy, and although it seems unaccountable that there should be any doubt on the subject and I was myself present on the occasion, I cannot remember whether it was on the 12th Sept. or as late as the 1st October that the flag was hoisted. My chief duty after arrival in Salisbury was to ride dispatches for Major Forbes, my commanding officer, whom it was always a pleasure to serve, his unfailing consideration for his men making him universlly popular through out the company, so it was with some regret that I left B Company to join a new Arillery Company known as F, stationed at Charter, which I did because my particular chum was transferring. It was from this point that my adventures as dispatch rider really began.
It was December when I left Salisbury and from then onwards during the next three months I never remember such a season of heavy rain. We were, however, more fortunate here as regards shelter, having quite good rainproof huts, whereas in Salisbury, until just before I left our only shelter was our blankets pegged over us on a forked stick, and owing to the incessant rain one was often wet through for days on end.
Whereas we were better off in this respect, however we fared badly in the way of rations, food supplies being of the scantiest. Certain men in the company were detailed to go out into the villages and procure anything which could be got in the way of foodstuffs from the natives in exchange for "limbo" part of which had been brought with us and part purchased from traders who had followed in our wake, but got stuck in the mud with their wagons for the rest of the wet season. We subsisted chiefly on mealie-meal and green mealies not even supplemented with salt; meat of course we had, but anything more unappetizing than a prolonged spell of the same diet without salt can only be realized by those who have experienced it. We were practically devoid of clothing, some of us being reduced almost to the Mashona vogue of the day, which consisted usually of a string of beads and a cat's skin. By some stroke of good fortune, I personally managed to retain a shirt, a pair of breeches and boots, but it is literally a fact that many a man had no more than a shirt to his back.
Very fortunately Dr. Jack Crogan had followed us with two wagons filled with medical supplies and trading goods; his intention had been to reach Salisbury but he had got hung up between Charter and the Umfuli and it was thanks to his skill and care that many lives were saved and sickness alleviated during these lean times.
One amongst many adventurous journeys that have left an indelible impression on my memory is a ride I had to take from Charter to the Umfuli Station with a dispatch. It was raining heavily and continuously and the road was a swamp. On the outward journey I arrived at the Umfuli after dark and was just about to cross when with a terrific splash a large crocodile dropped into the river from the bank close beside me, so I deemed it advisable to postpone crossing till the morning. I selected a fairly sheltered spot under a large Mahashe tree to make my camp, off-saddled and tethered my horse and started to make a fire, when I was startled by the sound of unmistakable movements amongst the boughs of the tree. Peering between the branches I discerned by the flickering light of the fire a large black form in the act of descending. Feeling certain it was a leopard, I whipped out my Webley revolver and was on the point of firing when the object spoke - just in time to save his skin. It turned out to be a native on trek who had taken refuge there for the night, and we were mutually glad of each other's company; the boy proved useful in keeping a large fire going all night to ward off lions which might have attacked my horse.
Next morning my native went his way and I and the horse proceeded to swim the river, about 200 yards wide. Arriving at the post station just on the other side, I was not sorry to gain the shelter of the huts where I was able to divest myself of wet clothing and get warmed by the fire.
Three men were staioned here to fetch and carry mail between Charter and the Hunyani Post Station. I was detained about ten days awaiting the return dispatch to come back by the man who had taken on the one that I carried. We fared pretty meagrely, mainly on mealies, etc., traded from the natives, and game shot by ourselves. It was during my sojourn that they decided to use the last of their jealously-hoarded Boer meal for bread before the weevils had finished the lot. After sifting out the vermin, which formed the greater part, bread was made out of the musty, evil-smelling stuff, Kaffir beer being used as yeast. The loaves were baked in an antheap "oven" and when we went to take them out, every one had broken open and there they lay in a line, gaping at us like so many hungry mouths. As one of the men remarked, it looked like an omen signifying even leaner times ahead.
Poorly as we fared, the unfortunate horses were still worse off, midges being such a pest that the animals could not be induced to leave the shelter of their stable to graze and we had no feed for them except a few mealies which we were sometimes able to obtain from the natives in exchange for buck meat. Consequently my horse was in a very much poorer condition for the return journey than on the outward trip.
On arrival of the return dispatch I set off back to Charter. Heavy rains had fallen during the past week and the Umfuli was now in flood, so I thought it advisable to strip and tie my clothes to the saddle before crossing, putting the dispatch inside my hat, which I tied securely to my head to keep as much water out as possible. Riding into the river until the horse started to swim, I slipped off his back and laying my had on his mane, we proceeded side by side into the turbulent waters. The current was so strong that we were rapidly washed downstream and the river having widened considerably during the past ten days, it seemed an interminable journey, whilst the thought of "crocs" did not tend to make it a pleasant one. Indeed more than once it seemed almost impossible to reach the opposite bank and I had visions of being swept away altogether. However, my gallant steed, after what seemed an edless struggle, eventually landed me on the opposite shore, seven or eight hundred yards further downstream than the point from which we had started. There, stark naked except for my hat, shivering and dripping wet, I proceeded to unpack my clothing from the saddle, only to find every garment soaked through. After vainly struggling to get back into my tight riding breeches I was finally obliged to abandon the attempt and contunued my ride clad in only a wet shirt.
It was one of those miserable days we get sometimes during the summer months when a cold, drizzly rain is accompanied by a driving easterly wind. Fast going was impossible owing to the bad road and also the poor condition of my horse and the further I proceeded the colder I got, with no chance of getting dry. Several hours of this joy-ride brought me to the welcome sanctuary of one of Dr. Jack Crogan's wagons, but when I attempted to dismount I was so numbed with cold as to be unable to do so, and the men in charge of the outfit had to come to my rescue and lift me off. They rolled me up in warm blankets, put me to bed in the wagon and gave me hot coffee, and the warmth and comfort soon sent me into a sound sleep from which I did not awaken until the following morning.
My garments being now dried and myself not much the worse from the previous day's adventure, I again set forth on my journey. Two miles ahead I came to another stream about 30 feet wide and badly in flood. Very much doubting whether the horse would get across, I took the reins off his bridle and buckled them together to form one long strap of which I fastened one end to his halter. I then drove him into the water and as soon as I saw him swimming, dived in and holding the other end of the reins arrived on the opposite side. When the horse got to the bank which was steep and slippery, in spite of my efforts to drag him up, he staggered backwards, snapping the rein as he tumbled head over heels into the water. Fortunately the wagon drift was not far off and whilst the animal literally rolled downstream, I raced along the bank and managed to intercept him at the crossing where I dashed into the water and grabbed him by the halter. Here I waded in, removed the saddle and after some persuasion induced the terrified beast to clamber out of the river. After a short rest I re-saddled and started off on foot leading the horse which was staggering painfully with exhaustion. Fortunately Dr. Jack Crogan's next wagon was not far beyond and on arrival there the horse fell down absolutely done in, while I myself was seized with a king of ague. The men in charge took me in and put me to bed, massaging my chest with embrocation until I regained my breath and circulation. After a few hours rest and a meal I again set forth on foot leading the horse which was now in a very pitiable condition. No sooner had I resumed my journey than the rain, which had ceased for a short time started again. Just after sundown, I came upon the wagon of a trader who had followed our column with a load of merchandise. Anticipating with relief the prospect of shelter for the night, I approached him with that object in view, but alas - the reception I met with was - "Another of those d___d police - get to hell out of it." and the night I spent was as near to at as well could be except that the rain might have quenched even the fires of Hades
I plodded on, the rain pouring down till I was literally walking in running water, the flow of which was the only guide to direction, as I knew the remainder of my road was on a slope and by keeping the water running from left to right I was able to avoid losing my way. After what seemed hours of stumbling along in the darkness we ran up against a large antheap where the horse collapsed and nothing I could do would get him on his legs again, so there was nothing for it but to make a night of it on the spot. I unsaddled and crawled to the top of the antheap to get out of the water; then taking the pugaree off my hat I wound it round and round my head covering my face and neck and buried my hands in my breeches pockets in the endeavour to keep off the swarms of mosquitoes which nevertheless caused me untold torment the whole night through. Very early in the morning, unable to endure any more of it, I got up, dragged the horse to his feet and set off again. The rain had at last stopped and after about two hours of weary plodding we arrived at Charter, where I collapsed completely and as for the horse, it was shortly afterwards found dead.
My next destination was hospital, where I remained nearly three months, malaria having got such a hold that it seemed impossible to shake it off. Dr. Crogan did everything possible under very difficult conditions, even to distilling spirits from mealies, as we had nothing in the way of medical comforts. When at last I was pronounced convalescent, I took up my duties once more, but the wet season being now over, under less unpleasant conditions. Food and clothing began to arrive and things improve generally; the remainder of my service might almost have been described as a life of ease compared to the hardships which had gone before.
(Signed) A. J. Mallet Veale
Gadzema
S. Rhodesia
Nov. 16th, 1931
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OBITUARY FROM THE RHODESIA HERALD, Monday, March 6, 1944:
PASSING OF 1890 PIONEER
DEATH OF MR. ARTHUR MALLET-VEALE
Mr. A. J. Mallet-Veale, last survivor in the Colony of the B.S.A. Company's Police who attended the hoisting of the flag at Fort Salisbury in 1890, died yesterday morning and will be buried in Salisbury this afternoon. The funeral procession will leave Mashford's at 4 p.m.
Mr. Mallet-Veale had been ill for about a year. He passed away in Gatooma Hospital, aged 73.
He was born at Caledon, in the Cape, on May 17, 1871. He attested in the B.S.A. Company's Police at the age of 18 on December 2, 1889. He was trooper No. 74 in B company.
Soon after the Occupation Colquoun sent him to stop Major Forbes's small force which, after capturing Macequece, was continuing on the way to the coast to attack Beira. By a great feat of hard travelling he caught up with the force in time and delivered the despatches.
MILITARY RECORD
After the Occupation Mr. Mallet-Veale saw service in the 1896 Rebellion and the Boer War. In the Boer War he first served in the Imperial Yeomanry Scouts, rising to sergeant. During the later part of the war he was a captain in the Cape Town Highlanders.
From 1915 to 1918 he was on the Nyasaland Volunteer Reserve.
Of recent years Mr. Mallet-Veale had lived at Gadzema. He is survived by his wife, the well-known artist.
Only three men who were present at the first hoisting of the flag in Salisbury in 1890 are now living in the Colony. All were members of the Pioneer Column - Mr. T. W. Rudland, the Hon. Lionel Cripps and Mr. Jack Crawford.
The flag on the Pioneer flagstaff in Cecil Square was flown at half-mast yesterday for Mr. Mallet-Veale._______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Rhodesian Herald, Tuesday, March 7, 1944
1890 PIONEER BURIED
IMPRESSIVE SERVICE IN SALISBURY
The funeral of the late Mr. A. J. Mallet-Veale, the 1890 Pioneer who died at Gatooma on Sunday morning, took place in Salisbury yesterday afternoon, and in spite of the unpleasant weather a fairly large and representative gathering attended.
The impressive service at the graveside was taken by the Rev. R. P. Finch, and B.S.A. Police buglers souded the "Last Post" and "Reveille". Members of the B.S.A. Police also acted as pallbearers. Mrs. Mallet-Veale was the chief mourner.
Among those present were Captain F.E. Harris (Minister of Defence), Colonel T.E. Robins (representing the B.S.A. Company), Brigadier J.S. Morris (representing the B.S.A. Police), Mr. Godfrey King (representing the 1890 B.S.A Police Society), Mr. T.W. Rudland (representing the 1890 Pioneer Corps), Mr. Jack Carruthers (representing the 1893 Column), Colonel A. J. Tomlinson (representing the Rhodesian 1896-7 Society), Major Staley Jackson (representing the Pioneers and Early Settlers Society), the Mayor of Salisbury, Mr. Chas. Olley (representing the City of Salisbury, of which Mr. Mallet-Veale was a freeman), Mr. and Mrs. T.O. Richards, Mr. F. Brooks, Mr. Boardman, and Mr. L.F. Bibra.
THE WREATHS
Wreaths were sent by the following:
Mrs. Mallet-Veale; Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Williams; Mrs. T.O. Richards; Mr. and Mrs. Donald Black; Mrs. J. Arnold Edmonds; Mr. and Mrs. Holderness; J. L. Crawford; Fannie; Mr. and Mrs. T.O. Richards; Mr. and Mrs. Staley Jackson and family; the Courtney family; Captain F.E. Harris; the President and Directors of the B.S.A. Company; the Inspector-General, Officers, N.C.O.s and Men, B.S.A. Police Society; the Rhodesia Pioneers' and Early Settlers' Society; the Mayor and City Councillors, Salisbury; the Pioneer Corps Association (Cripps, Crawford, and Rudland).
Individual Note: Arthur Mallet-Veale in 1924.
Individual Note: Arthur in 1944, three years before his death.