Lot Essay
The Royal Marines Detachment from H.M.S. Niobe was landed at Walfisch Bay, a British enclave in German South-West Africa, in January 1900, in unusual circumstances explained in The Times History:
'[A] serious problem was presented by the existence of a considerable population of roving Boers in the interior of the [Cape] colony. When towards the end of January a rumour reached the German authorities that a commando of these Boers had collected with the intention of seizing Walfisch Bay, they were somewhat at a loss how to deal with it with the small forces available, and requested the British to make their own arrangements for the protection of the place. A detachment from H.M.S. Niobe, together with some of the Duke of Edinburgh's Rifles from Cape Town, were landed at Walfisch Bay, and spent some dull weeks waiting. Meanwhile the commando, it is said, coming across great abundance of game on their way, spent their ammunition, gave up all idea of military operations, and were never heard of again' (Volume III refers).
H.M.S. Niobe was stationed off South Africa from 25.11.1899 to 23.8.1900. 600 men received the Queen's South Africa Medal of whom 129 received the clasp 'Cape Colony'.
'[A] serious problem was presented by the existence of a considerable population of roving Boers in the interior of the [Cape] colony. When towards the end of January a rumour reached the German authorities that a commando of these Boers had collected with the intention of seizing Walfisch Bay, they were somewhat at a loss how to deal with it with the small forces available, and requested the British to make their own arrangements for the protection of the place. A detachment from H.M.S. Niobe, together with some of the Duke of Edinburgh's Rifles from Cape Town, were landed at Walfisch Bay, and spent some dull weeks waiting. Meanwhile the commando, it is said, coming across great abundance of game on their way, spent their ammunition, gave up all idea of military operations, and were never heard of again' (Volume III refers).
H.M.S. Niobe was stationed off South Africa from 25.11.1899 to 23.8.1900. 600 men received the Queen's South Africa Medal of whom 129 received the clasp 'Cape Colony'.