The Casual Observer

A.J. Montgomery: Part 3 – Baptism of Fire at the Battle of Colesberg

By Dean McCleland in Other Family Histories 14 September 2018 0 Comment

A member of the 10^th Hussars and a survivor of the sinking of the SS Ismore near Paternoster, Arthur John Montgomery recounts his part in the successful routing of the Boer forces outside Colesberg during January 1900 with the cavalry still using swords and lances aginst the Boers’ mausers.

AJ’s narrative has been edited for readability and grammar, but it still largely remains the voice of the author narrating his impressions, concerns and fears during his baptism of fire outside the dusty hamlet of Colesberg in the northernmost part of the Cape Colony.

Main picture: Painting of A.J. Montgomery of the 10th Hussars

AJ Montgomery: Part 2 – Survivor of the SS Ismore Ship Wreck in 1899

By Dean McCleland in Military History 12 September 2018 3 Comments

Despite opposition from his family, Arthur John Montgomery enlisted as a Cavalryman on the 4^th May 1897 in London. Travelling to Newbridge, Ireland, he then underwent his training. After completion of his course and promotion to a Corporal, he was posted to Aldershot in England. Rumours of an impending war in South Africa were confirmed on the 11^th October 1899 when war was declared.

As a member of the 10^th Hussars, AJ Montgomery – “Monto” to his friends – was shipped to the Cape. On November 4th, the vessel embarked 455 men of the 63rd Field Battery, No.9 Company of R.A.M. Corps, “A” Squadron of 10th Hussars, and one troop of “B” Squadron, plus 6 field guns, 334 horses and 22 vehicles, stores and ammunition, and sailed for South Africa in the early morning of November 6 under command of captain Frederick Crosby. On the early morning of the 3^rd December 1899, the SS Ismore struck a rock off Columbine Point 13 miles from the Dassen Island.

This is the personal story of AJ’s experiences on that fateful voyage from embarking on the SS Ismore on the 4th November 1899 until he is once again on terra firma on the 3^rd December 1899. The narrative has been edited for readability and grammar, but it still remains largely the voice of the survivor narrating his concerns and fears during his eventual voyage.

Main picture: Painting of AJ Montgomery of the 10th Hussars

CO2 Emissions: Glimmer of hope?

By Blaine McCleland in Other Miscellaneous Topics 26 August 2018 0 Comment

There is a glimmer of hope for humanity as the UK reduced its CO2 emission levels to below that of 1894 when Karl Benz patented the petrol vehicle.

Unfortunately the outlook for the world is not good as the UK is responsible for only 1.2% of emissions and the whole of the EU 9.6%

Main picture: CO2 Emissions in the UK from 1850 to 2016

Quo Vadis: NDE, LBJs & other TLAs

By Dean McCleland in Hiking 26 August 2018 0 Comment

With Quo Vadis’ resident chef not being in attendance on the Barrett’s Coaches Hike at Kaapsehoop, I expected some twittering in the ranks about the attendees’ inability to prepare food. Little did I expect that a member of long standing, and generally not given to being ill-disciplined, would sink to a new level of incompetence: he forgot his food altogether.

The generous members of Quo Vadis stepped into the breach and offered their own food to a Comrade in order to prevent him from contracting anorexia.

This was but one of the numerous incidents which beset the hike to Barrett’s Coaches on the Kaapschehoop Trail in August 2018.

Main picture: Rob & Dean in front of one of the many huge rocks littering the area

Estina Dairy Farm: The World’s Greatest Business Plan

By Blaine McCleland in Current Affairs 16 August 2018 0 Comment

Even according to the most favourable estimates, the Estina Dairy Farm was at best, a marginal enterprise. Even giving the proposers the benefit of the doubt regarding its viability, surely the accountants who perused the proposal would have poked numerous holes in the financial logic.

On checking the current status of this project, the Sunday Times has uncovered an even deeper hole.

Port Elizabeth of Yore: A Potted History of Willows

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 14 August 2018 10 Comments

I would have preferred to have written a definitive history of Willows, albeit short, but as I have been unable to uncover much information about this iconic resort, I will invoke my right to present a potted history with a several facts added as a spicing on the top. Even as regards photographs, there is a dearth of them covering the early years.

Like many Port Elizabethans, the McCleland family stayed at Willows at some point in their lives. In our case it was over the Easter holidays. Sometimes we even took our home-built canoe along but as the main pool was miniscule, it could, in all honesty, only be used when the facility was not crowded.

Main picture: Two views of Willows separated by 50 years

Janine McCleland: A Celebration of Her Life

By Dean McCleland in McClelands 30 July 2018 1 Comment

After spending the past decade in pain, undergoing numerous operations and ultimately becoming effectively bed-ridden about five years ago, Janine passed away on Tuesday 10^th July 2018.

This is the family’s eulogy to a life taken far too young.

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Birth of the Standard Bank

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 20 July 2018 1 Comment

John Paterson was at the forefront of many of the developments in Port Elizabeth. Amongst these were the establishment of the Grey Institute and the Eastern Province Herald. Perhaps the least obvious creation of John Paterson, was that of the Standard Bank.

It was to be in 1857, that Paterson, a prominent Port Elizabeth businessman, was to turn his hand at banking when he attempted to commence a bank with the title The Standard Bank of Port Elizabeth. A prospectus was duly issued reflecting a proposed capital of £ ¼ million.

Main picture: The first building erected specifically for the Standard Bank

Mill Wheels Grinding: The Orphans

By Bev Young in Port Elizabeth of Yore 18 July 2018 0 Comment

{aka Yenta searching for mills- like any good Jewish Donna Quixote would do}

As any writer/researcher or mill-chaser will allow, there are times when one is stumped. You sit with a collection of faded sepia photographs, of mills, and try as you may, they simply have no story, or were ignored in the course of history, and their records are lost.

All you get when you search from rumours, “I’m sure there was a mill here long ago” – not much help hey?

Main picture: Mill of Julian Francis Langholm

Mill Wheels Grinding – The Crumpled Mill, Mansfield

By Bev Young in Port Elizabeth of Yore 16 July 2018 3 Comments

{aka Yenta searching for mills- like any good Jewish Donna Quixote would do}

[Of the 384 mills built in the Eastern Cape, a collective of grist, big wooden wheel- wind, paddles, and horse mills, wooden wheel on top of the mill, only 90 have been identified to date. Of the 1000 mills built in South Africa, all genres, approximately only a further 20 have been recognized.]

This settler mill, has a very sad tale of great expectations, mayhap no business plan in place, and ended up as a crumbling, neglected, ruin of a mill. {Circa 1840}, Mansfield, the land, itself, is a vast old ‘settler, landmarked farm’, holding copious amounts of fresh water from the strong stream, to the left of the photograph; {the water provided is so endless, that it supplies the village of Port Alfred with fresh water} circa 2018. Perfect for this large ‘grist-mill’ {the one with the large wooden wheel} .

Main picture: Mansfield Mill in 1987

A member of the 10th Hussars and a survivor of the sinking of the SS Ismore near Paternoster, Arthur John Montgomery recounts his part in the successful routing of the Boer forces outside Colesberg during January 1900 with the cavalry still using swords and lances aginst the Boers’ mausers.