| Stutterheim - A History of the Area |
| A Short History |
|
Bethel Mission | Xhosa History | |
| Von Stutterheim's Mill | Sandile's Grave | Recent History |
| The British-German Legion |
| Formation of the Legion The British-German Legion was formed during the Crimean War of 1853-1856. Due to disease, battle casualties and disinterest at home, the traditionally small British Army was suffering a severe manpower shortage during the war. To help alleviate this it was decided to raise a body of foreign nationals to fight in the Crimea. They were to be called the British Foreign Legion. The response from young men on the continent was greater than expected and the British were able to form these volunteers into separate units based on their nationality. The British-German Legion was born. It would not be the first time that German nationals had fought under the British flag. Unfortunately (or fortunately) the Crimean war ended before the British-German Legion saw action and this left the British Government with a rather awkward problem. How to dispose of all these young men. Most of them could not return to Germany as they had now sworn allegiance to a foreign power. The obvious solution was to ship them off to the colonies. The British-Government wished to settle them in South Africa, in the Border Region of what was then "British Kafferia" and volunteers were called for. While many decided in favour of India or the America's and some chose to remain in Britain, 2362 accepted the British Government offer of settlement in South Africa. A breakdown of this figure reveals 59 officers, 42 Cadets and 2261 non-commissioned officers and men. In addition there were 30 wives of officers, 331 wives of other ranks and 155 children. A total of 2918 settlers. Conditions of Settlement Their conditions of Settlement were as follows: They will be liable to serve as military settlers from the date of their landing in South Africa, and for seven years after their location. They are to resist the attacks of an enemy, or to aid the civil power They are to attend for exercise on such days as the Governor may appoint during the first three years (not exceeding 30 days in any one year) and to muster every Sunday for church parade. For the last four years they are to attend for exercise on such 12 days in each year as the Governor may appoint, and for muster every Sunday for church parade. They will receive free rations from the day of their landing, and for one year after their location, or a commuted money allowance of equal value. They will receive full pay up to the day of landing, and from this will be deducted the following advances to be made previous to embarkation, Sergeants £5, Corporals £3, Privates £2-15-0. From the day of landing in South Africa and for three years from the date of their location they will receive the following rates of pay: Pay of colour sergeant - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - 1s 2d per day (s = shilling, d = pence, 12d equalled 1s and 20s = £1) The Officers will receive from the day of their landing in South Africa, and for three years after their location, half of their present rate of pay. When called out for active service all ranks shall receive full pay equivalent to regular troops. Every man was also to receive a plot of land on which to build a home, a plot of land on which to farm and a building allowance. The extent of all three depending on his rank. Transport of the Legion to South Africa Those members of the Legion who had volunteered to come to South Africa were placed under the command of Baron Richard Von Stutterheim, the commanding officer of the British-German Legion. They were considered to be "military settlers" as opposed to civilian settlers and were transported to the Cape Colony as a military unit. An effort was made to increase the number of women accompanying the Legion to Africa as it was thought (correctly), that men with families would make better settlers and be less likely to wander off. Those who had a fiancé in Germany were allowed to send for them and those who did not were encouraged to find wives in Britain. As a result several mass marriages took place before the departure of the Legion, some of them actually aboard the ships just prior to departure. Free passage was granted to all wives and children. The Legion (including women & children) was transported to the Cape Colony aboard six sailing ships. The ships did not sail in company and stopped over at the Cape of Good Hope before continuing on to East London. By early February 1857 the last ship had arrived and the entire Legion had been landed. Settlement of the Legion East London, the main port serving the border area in which the Legion was to be settled, was at the time no more than a single, muddy, building lined street. The Legion's time at East London was very brief as they were moved inland as soon as possible to prevent congestion. When the last ship arrived, those who had landed first had already arrived at Fort Murray, approximately 25 miles inland. From Fort Murray the individual units of the Legion was dispersed to their stations. |
The following map shows where the
legion was located
and approximately how many men in each settlement.
Click here to see current day map for scale
| Unfortunately the men of the legion were not farmers
or craftsmen, but soldiers. Add to this that they were by
disposition adventurers and for the most part without
families, and it becomes clear that not many of them
would make successful settlers. Many of them soon became
dissatisfied with their lot. The members of the Legion
came to dislike their dual status as both soldier's and
civilian's. They were not free to go where they pleased
and do as they pleased, as ordinary citizens would be.
Attempted desertions were common though usually
unsuccessful, as there was no-where to desert to.
Additional German families were imported in 1858 to try
to alleviate the desertion problem, but without much
success. However these additional families were farmers
not soldiers and therefore made excellent settlers. Disbandment of the Legion |
| By 1858 it must have been clear to the British authorities that the men of the Legion were not going to become successful settlers. They were however serving as a successful stopgap in protecting the Cape Colony's Border Region, enabling most of the British troops formerly stationed their to be transferred to India, where the so called "Indian Mutiny" was in full swing. As the Mutiny dragged on much longer than had been anticipated, it was suggested, possibly by Officers within the Legion, that a German Regiment be raised to serve in India. It was soon found that more than half the men of the Legion, tired of their unsuccessful pastoral lives, were eager to serve in such a unit. In September and October 1858 approximately 1100 men of the Legion embarked for India. The vast majority of these did not return to South Africa, but went on to serve in the British Army as regular soldiers. Those members of the Legion who remained were generally those who had made a successful transition to civilian life. |
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| Over the next few years the remaining men of the Legion were gradually discharged from service or transferred to other military units. The last were discharged and the Legion formally disbanded in February 1861. While it can be said that the plan for "military settlers" was an ill-conceived failure, it should also be noted that their presence did bring military stability to the region during a turbulent time... and more than a few ended up staying. |