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In 1895 my father signed on to go to South Africa to the mines in Rhodesia but before he got away news came of the Jameson Raid into the Transvaal; then comment was rife that these men were being signed on to join Jameson instead of going to the mines. My father said that Earl Grey had something to do with it.

Well early in 1896 he went off to the Transvaal, and early in 1897 he sent for me.

1897

I bid adieu to my sister at Emma Villa and my friends around, stayed a week or two with my aunt Jane at Tynemouth and then sailed from Southampton on the Union Boat Athenium on 22 February 1897. After an awful rough and cold passage through the Bay we got fine weather.

In the sports, I won the quoits, and pulled my way into the final in the stick-pulling competition. In the semi-final I met one of the stewards who was a Sandaur pupil and supposed to be a strong man, but I didn’t fear his strength, for although he was well built, he appeared to me too soft to be strong. I pulled him over fairly easily. In the final I met a tartar, he was a Swede or Scandinavian, about 23 or 24 years of age, about 13 stone, and like an ox.  Well he just about dislocated my shoulders before I gave in, but give in I had to; he was the strongest man I ever pulled against.

Arriving at Cape Town I made my way to the station and took a 3rd class ticket to Johannesburg. I won’t forget the accommodation in a hurry, it was wooden seats for three of us. I sat in a corner for three days trying to get sleep but failing to do so.

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The discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand in the Transvaal in 1886 was to draw the attention of the world to Southern Africa. William’s father was probably attracted to travelling to Rhodesia (now known as Zimbabwe) by the possibility of becoming rich through gold mining. Rhodesia was named after Cecil Rhodes whose three main financial interests lay in Kimberley diamonds, Witwatersrand gold, and Southern Rhodesian mines and lands.

Southern Africa in the second half of the 19th century was characterised by tension between Dutch speaking settler farmers (Boers) and the British Empire. This culminated in the First Boer War, 1880-1881. The result was the independent Transvaal Republic.

The Jameson Raid was conceived by Cecil Rhodes, Premier of the Cape and his co-conspirator and business associate, Alfred Beit. Its purpose was two-fold, to deliver the riches of the Transvaal by precipitating the overthrow of the legitimate Kruger government and ensuring the annexation of the republic to the British Empire.

The raid was led by Leander Starr Jameson. He left on 29 December 1895 and surrendered on 2 January 1896. The results included embarrassment of the British government; the replacement of Cecil Rhodes as premier of the Cape Colony; and the strengthening of Boer dominance of the Transvaal and its gold mines. The raid was a contributory cause of the Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902).

Earl Grey was an ardent imperialist. He was invited by Cecil Rhodes to join the British South Africa Company. Grey was the link between Rhodes and Colonial Secretary Joseph Chamberlain before and during the Jameson Raid in 1895. He then replaced Sir Leander Starr Jameson, the leader of the raid, as administrator of Rhodesia, thus directly responsible to Cecil Rhodes for conduct of the colony’s business.

William visits his sister Sarah Ann at Emmaville before travelling to Southern  Africa. Sarah Ann is 19.  By 1901 she is living with her grandfather, William Lawson and her uncle William (Bill) Lawson at Miners Cottage Homes, Ryton. Her given occupation is housekeeper.

Was this a holiday with Jane Laybourn, William’s mother’s sister, or is this his father’s sister Mary Jane, who later emigrated to Southern Africa?

William says he travels on the Union Boat Athenium, but it is more likely to be the Union Boat Athenian.

Stick-pulling was a contest of sheer strength and endurance and was very popular sport in the 19th century.

 

It is not entirely clear what is the meaning of Sandaur, but possibly it is a sport from the Indian Sub-Continent as shown by this video.

 

Cape Town Harbour 1898, showing the extension seaward that became known as the Victoria Basin. Photograph : Library of Parliament
Cape Town Harbour 1898, showing the extension seaward that became known as the Victoria Basin. Photograph : Library of Parliament Cape Town

William arrived in Cape Town and immediately left to the rail station. He would have had the briefest views of Cape Town at this time.

Cape Town's Victoria Station - the second to be built. Work commenced by P.M. John Molteno in 1875. Image taken from direction of Adderley Street in circa 1900. Cape Archives. Cape Town.
Cape Town’s Victoria Station – the second to be built. Work commenced by P.M. John Molteno in 1875. Image taken from direction of Adderley Street in circa 1900. Cape Archives. Cape Town.

William talked about the accommodation on the train saying, ‘it was wooden seats for three of us’.  Does he mean that there were three of them travelling together, i.e. William + two others he knew or does he simply mean a three seater for three strangers?