Description
Queen’s South Africa, 2 bars, Cape Colony, SA 1901, Sergeant John Samuel Cawood, Nesbitt’s Horse.
Officially impressed; “Serjt J.S. Cawood Nesbitt’s H.”
Sometime cleaned.
Confirmed on the medal roll, issued 23rd June 1913.
John was born on 8th January 1878 at Langholm Farm in Bathurst, Eastern Cape.
During the Boer War, having worked as a Farmer, he signed up for Nesbitt’s Horse aged 21 on 29th December 1899 at Bathurst.
One of the original 300 of the regiment, the Regiment being raised in December 1899 by Colonel Nesbitt.
Starting off as a Trooper he ended his service as a Sergeant.
Nesbitt’s Horse was named afters its Colonel Richard Atholl Nesbitt 1837-1905, was well into his 60s at the time, but was an old Veteran Campaigner of various earlier South African Wars.
The regiment saw significant service during the war and participated in many engagements with the Boers, they were also mostly employed on advance scouting duties. Most of the men were “Colonials” in South Africa with good knowledge of the country and the farmers employed such as Cawood typically had good horsemanship and rifle skills.
Following his service in the Boer War, he married Ada Maria Clayton on 15th December 1903 at Cuylerville.
He later died on 17th December 1955 at Violjoenskroon, Free State, South Africa, being a 77 year old retired farmer.
The Cawoods of South Africa, 1820 Settlers.
The Cawoods first came to South Africa during 1820, from Keighley Yorkshire.
John Samuel Cawood’s grandfather Samuel Cawood was 12 years old at the time, travelling for a new life in South Africa with his father David and Mother Mary, part of Hayhurst’s Party on the John.
His grandfather “The Honourable Samuel Cawood” Mayor of Grahamstown, was well regarded as the MP for Albany, he was lucky to have children as well, given that in 1832 he and 2 of his brothers were at the Kraal of the treacherous Zulu Chief Dingaan, shortly before the massacre of the Boers and their families under Retief, the Cawood brothers made a lucky escape. During their escape they were confronted by an entire hunting party of Hottentots whom the brothers fought and killed all but one.
