Mr. Serjt. J.W. Duckham Umvoti M.R.; Volunteer Force

"Duckham was born at Bridgewater in England in 1841, and died at Greytown, Natal in 1908.
Only 60 Vol. LS Medals were awarded to men of the Colony of Natal between 14.1.1896 and 13.1.1903, when the Col. Aux. Forces LS Medal was introduced. His name appears as the only U.M.R. man included in the very first list of names gazetted on 14.1.1896. In the total of 60 recipients, there are only 4 awards to the U.M.R. The Natal Hussars with a strength of 40 men served in the Zulu War with No. 1 Column and then with the 1st Division. Duckham saw action at Middle Drift on 20.5.1879. The U.M.R. was a small unit at the time of the Boer War and the medal roll lists only 149 names, of which 40 received only the Natal clasp. The U.M.R. saw service on the Zululand Frontier in Sept. - Oct. 1901. The U.M.R. also served in the Natal Rebellion 1906, in GSWA during the Great War, and in WWII. It is still in existence today as an armoured unit.
Duckham is mentioned in the following books:
South African War, the Medal Roll (Forsyth); The Volunteer Long Service Medal (Tamplin).
Zulu War, 1878-1879. The Natal Hussars was mobilised on 25.11.1878, and with other Natal Mounted volunteer corps operated with the column of Colonel Pearson of the Imperial forces along the coastal road in southern Zululand. The force was engaged in the action of Inyenzane on 22.1.1879, and proceeded to Eshowe whence, after a few days when the news of the disaster to British arms at Isandhlwana was received, the Natal volunteers were hurried back to Natal where they were joined by the Isipingo M.R. and were employed till the end of the war guarding the Natal-Zululand border along the Tugela River. During this period the only fighting participated in was a skirmish at Middle Drift with a Zulu force endeavouring to raid into Natal but was there checked and driven back.
Anglo-Boer War, 1899-1902. Under Major Geo. Leuchars the U.M.R. took part in the Relief of Ladysmith. The regiment was employed holding the Tugela drift north of Greytown and there held and checked the Boer force endeavouring to raid Natal behind the main British force about Colenso further westward. After the Relief of Ladysmith the U.M.R. joined the Natal Volunteer Brigade under Major-General John G. Dartnell north of Lady-smith in April, 1900. The Brigade formed part of the British force which advanced northwards culminating in the battles of Ingogo and Laings Nek and the expulsion of the Boers from Natal. After reaching Volksrust the Brigade was sent back to the Dundee district and was employed on duties of guarding the frontiers of Natal and in operations in the adjacent eastern Transvaal until the end of October, 1900. The Natal Volunteer force was then demobilised leaving a composite mounted regiment in the field till the end of the war. No. 1 QMS Duckham is named on the nominal roll of the Umvoti Mounted Rifles, a colonial unit of the Boer War of 1899-1902 compiled from a short hand- written list dating from 1903, WO 127 at the National Archives, Kew. (See UMR Muster Roll on AngloBoerWar.com Duckham served from 29.9.1899 to 11.1.1903)"

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