by Don W Pedler

A handsome specimen of his type, admired and respected by his friends and even by the foe, his antecedents are unknown and, of possible progeny, possibly the less speculation the better. This example of the Newfoundland breed¹ came to my attention while reading of the welcome accorded to the returning troops of the first South Australian Contingent to the Boer War, 1899-1902. At the dinner in their honour. Nelson the Regimental Pet was given a prominent place on the stage. The dog, it was stated, had been taken prisoner by the Boers and had subsequently escaped. Research has brought the following to light.

On Tuesday, 31 October 1899, amid great excitement, the 1st contingent with Nelson as mascot, boarded the Medic and, on 1 November, left for the war. The ship arrived at Cape Town on Sunday, 26 November and on the 28th, the unit entrained, eventually arriving at Orange River: described as a "dreadful place, very sandy—dust dreadful—worse than Broken Hill".²

Thursday 7 December saw them on the march to Witteputs, thence to Belmont. The dust was terrible, "like fine snuff'. The march was through heavy sand under a thunderstorm with tremendous lightning. Fatigues and outpost work seem to have been the norm for the South Australians.

Thursday, 25 January 1900 began with dismounted drill and riding tests. I cannot say how Nelson fitted in with the movements of the troops. With the men on foot he may have kept up, but once the unit was converted to mounted infantry, problems must have ensued. Perhaps the dog travelled with the baggage wagons, but may have been left at the main camps when the mounted troops went out.

Private Frank Cornish³ wrote from Norval's Font, on 20 March:

"Nelson's (not private Nelson's, but the dog's) return was a pleasant surprise to all of us, and especially to his owner. He had been captured by the Boers at Maider's Farm and was taken by them to Colesburg where he was left by them upon their retreat. He was found there by some of our men."

The period during which Nelson was missing was one of great activity. Lieutenant Powell (South Australia) and Major Eddy (Victoria) were killed and there were many other casualties. Lance Corporal W Rust⁴ stated:

"Nelson has been in the thickest of the fighting and has also experienced the novelty of being a prisoner of war in the hands of the Boers. He was captured on February 13  but on March 5 escaped. We were on the tramp when he returned. McWilliams⁵ of the West Australians and our Sergeant Laycock⁶ found him returning in the direction of Colesburg, and escorted him back to the company. Needless to relate. Nelson received an oration from his 'comrades-in-arms'. We have learned to love the noble animal, and his absence put a dampener on us all. Our company was offered £50 for Nelson at De Aar but as money would not buy him, the liberal offer was politely refused. The Colesburg people said the Boers held our pet as a great prize and decorated him with the colours of the Orange Free State, but he discarded their old rag for the dear old union Jack. He richly deserves a war medal after displaying such intense loyalty to England. We are going to have a cloak made for him, and if anyone in South Australia would like to contribute towards its cost or present him with something to wear, we would feel grateful".

Lance Corporal Rust also named Private Edge⁷ as Nelson's owner. That the dog was popular with other troops is indicated by a photograph in my possession in which a Colour Sergeant of the Gordon Highlanders is shown "skylarking" with Nelson at Englin Camp, January 1900.

The South Australians were based on Arundel during the dog's absence and carried out extensive patrols. March 10 at Norval's Font, camping near Bloemfontein during Easter. Operations took in Kuree Kloof from April 24, Kroonstad 12 May, Pretoria 5 June ("usual piquets and patrols" were Rowland's laconic remarks for a great round of activity), Koomati, men shot at hippo, but failed to kill it.

On 27 September, the unit took part in a review for the birthday of the King of Portugal. On 3 October, having apparently "argued the toss" with both Lord Roberts and Lord Kitchener over which of the Contingent would be permitted to return to Australia, it was finally agreed that all could go. Nelson and men embarked on 3 November at Cape Town and arrived in South Australia on 30 November to a great reception.

This has been a very brief account of the conditions under which men and mascot served during their year in South Africa.

Nelson was featured in a cartoon in a local newspaper in which he is shown on a stage. A cross inscribed, "for valour" hangs from his collar. The cartoon's caption reads, "Mr Nelson will soon deliver his famous lecture, 'Boers I have barked at' ".

From the Observer, 15 December 1900, "The Dog Nelson, We are informed that the ownership of the dog Nelson which went to the Boer War wit the South Australians and returned with them by the Harloch Castle has been a matter of some little dispute amongst the contingent, but the dispute has been set at rest—at any rate for six months—in consequence of the animal having been placed in quarantine under the care of the Chief Inspector of Stock, Mr Valentine. It appears that the Customs authorities somewhat neglected their duties in the first instance by not quarantining the dog upon his arrival. No one can remove Nelson from quarantine without Mr Valentine's permission, under heavy penalty."

In August 1901, a committee was formed in Adelaide to raise funds to erect a memorial to commemorate "The first true consolidation of the Empire and the part taken by Australia therein".⁸ This memorial was to become known as the National Memorial. On 22 August, it was suggested that the horse. Bugler,⁹ and dog. Nelson, cold be sent round the country towns in the care of a returned soldier who could lecture with lantern slides. The horse and dog were inspected and reported fit and made available by their owners. J Petrie¹⁰ and A Bates¹¹ were appointed as lecturers. They were to receive £2 each per week and divide 5% of the takings. 

At Hambly Bridge, 24 October 1901, a successful program to boost the memorial funds was held.¹² Biograph views accompanied the lecture. Nelson did the rounds with his collection box, gathered in lots of the kiddies spare coin and some of the coin that the older members of the crowd could not under ordinary circumstances spare. At Kapunda,¹³ the takings and interest were not high, possibly due to handbills giving the impression, "that the funds being collected were for the erection in West Australia of the memorial for fallen soldiers". Trooper Petrie explained the true reason and eventually £5-12-6 was raised. In Gawler,¹⁴ 30 November, a continental was held. The attendance was fair considering the unfavourable night and the collection realised £10-16-0.

The final audit of the National Memorial Fund shows that the net proceeds of the "Bugler" tour were £142-9-3.

I do not know if Nelson was present at the unveiling of the memorial on 6 June 1904.

In a letter to Lt-Col Howland dated 8 February 1906, Mr J Melloor thanked Colonel Rowland for the loan of a photograph of, "the poor old dog Nelson". A copy of the photograph was made and presented to Mrs J M Ennis. The lady was Honorary Secretary of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and she "cared for the faithful animal up to its death". The date of death was not given. This letter is the last tribute I have found to a popular and well loved pet.

Acknowledgments:

Mr David Vivian, Mr L Field, RSPCA (SA) Sources not given above

Records of Australian Contingents to the War in South Africa, edited by Lt Col Murray RAA, Melbourne, 1911.

South Australians and the South African War 1899-1902, compiled by George A Newbury, 1988.

¹  The weight of a fall grown Newfoundland can vary from 50 to 70 kilograms (110-150 pounds). Their temperament is described as, "Wonderful, a gentle giant". My thanks to Carole Whitelock of ABC Radio's Sunday Program (5AN 891 in South Australia). back

²  Background from the field notes of Captain (later Major) F H Howland, Commanding Officer, 1st South Australian Contingent back

³  F C Cornish, Gunner, South Australian Permanent Artillery, Private, No. 17, 1st South Australian Contingent, Private, No.2668, 4th Australian Commonwealth Horse. back

⁴  William Rust, Trumpeter, South Australian Permanent Artillery,, Private/Corporal, No.23, 1st South Australian Contingent, Sergeant, No.258,5th South Australian Imperial Bushmen. back

⁵  George Frederick MeWilliams, Major, 1st West Australian Contingent (Medical). back

⁶  Frank Laycock, No.4, Sergeant, 1st South Australian Contingent, Lieutenant, 8 Australian Commonwealth Hofie, Captain, Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force. back

7  Arthur Edge, No.80, Private, 1st South Australian Contingent, No.220, Sergeant, 5th South Australian Imperial Bushmen, Lieutenant, Anzac Provost Corps. back

⁸  Minutes of the South African War Memorial Committee. back

⁹  Bugler was the property of Mr J E F Johnstone, prominent in raising funds for the 3rd (Bushmen's) Contingent and for the memorial. The horse was put up for sale with the highest bidder donating the sum bid and returning the horse for another sale. This became known as the "bugler system". The horse spent its last days at "Kingsoourt" near Eudunda, South Australia. back

¹⁰  James Ellis Petrie, No.121, Private, la South Australian Contingent back

¹¹  Arthur Samuel Bates, No.88,1st South Australian Contingent back

¹²  Gawler Bunyip, Friday, 1 November 1901.back

¹³  Kapunda Herald, Friday, I November 1901.back

¹⁴  Gawler Bunyip, Friday, 6 December 1901.back

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