Henry Arthur Giles

son of Henry Arthur Giles

Henry Arthur Giles was born 1877 at Mount Pleasant, South Australia, son of Henry Arthur and Eleanor Rowena Giles (nee Owen).

Arthur enlisted in the Boer War

Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 – 1954), Friday 20 July 1900, page 3

Trooper Giles Writes.

Trooper H. Arthur Giles, of Mount Pleasant, who was farewelled at Mount Barker with the local members of the Imperial Bushmen, writes to a friend from the Manhattan on June 10 :-

A few lines to let you know that although still far away my thoughts fondly stray to the old rustic bridge by the mill. Leaving Port Adelaide on May 1, we had a very fair passage all the way, and arrived at Fremantle on May 7. An hour after we landed we were in the Town Hall being entertained, and we had a good time. Next morning we all took train to Perth and were entertained there, after which we paraded the principal streets. We left for South Africa that night. We arrived at Beira on the 28th, but as all the unloading has to be done by lighters (there being no wharf and two other transports waiting to unload) anchored to await our turn. After being there for a week we got orders to proceed to Durban, 800 miles further down the coast. Beira is port on the mouth of the River Pungwee, in Portuguese territory, with 2000 European inhabitants and 8000 coolies. We were not allowed on shore at all. We reached Durban on Wednesday, June 6, but have anchored about half-a-mile out, awaiting orders. We may probably have to wait some time yet. All hands are very much annoyed at the delay, and, what is worse, we may not land for another month, and even then we will very likely be too late to see active service. We only lost five horses on the voyage. Up till last week we got very bad tucker, and hardly enough at that. Things got so bad that a deputation interviewed the Colonel and threatened we would work no more if they did not give us better food, and, the Saints be praised, we are getting decent grub now. I hope you are not frozen. It is beautiful climate here—warm, sunny days, but cold nights. The Mount Barker boys are well and, like myself, are anxious to get off the boat and do something.

Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 – 1954), Friday 5 October 1900, page 2

WITH THE IMPERIAL BUSHMEN.

Letters from Trooper Giles.

The following are extracts from letters received from Trooper H. Arthur Giles, of Mount Pleasant, now serving with the Imperial Bushmen:—

After leaving Port Elizabeth we had a four days’ ride in the train in horse boxes, cattle trucks, and ordinary carriages. I was stowed with 15 others in a brakevan, without seats, and at night we had to sleep on the floor without blankets. On arrival at Bloemfontein we were ordered on to Kronsberg, arriving there at midnight. At daylight on the following morning we started to pitch our camp, but at 10 a.m. received orders to be in the saddle to escort a convoy to Lindley. We only had a drink of tea and a few biscuits and started at 2 p.m. with the convoy, comprising 100 wagon-loads of provisions. You cannot imagine the state of our horses after having been seven weeks on the boat, four days in the train, and then starting afield half day’s spell for this journey. I caught a dreadful cold in the train. Of course we are camping out with a single-width piece of waterproof to lay on and one thin blanket over us. The days are warm, but the nights are very cold and frosty. Our journey has been through splendidly grassed and well-watered country. We had our first active engagement on Tuesday, June 26, and the following day. One of our men was badly wounded, and three taken prisoners, one of whom (Hawksley) was ostler at McMillan’s Mannum Hotel about four years ago. We were all eager for a fight, but most of us have had quite enough in the two-days’ battle.

Since leaving Lindley and coming to Bethlehem we have had four more days’ fighting on the 30-mile journey. We have already been in six engagements and expect to be in several more when we get away from here, where we are having a week’s spell. Two of our men have been mortally wounded and about 12 others badly wounded, while the English soldiers had about 70 killed and wounded. Our force was about 2000, and we captured two of the Boer guns and estimated that we killed over 100 Boers, besides those that were wounded. There are over 20,000 British troops camped here now. The nights are very frosty, and the ice remains on all water until 10 a.m. We are anxiously hoping the weather will soon be warmer.

Just arrived at Heilborn (August 16)

After leaving Bethlehem we went to Bullfontein, and self,and about 70 others were told off to hold a position, while our comrades were ordered to Lindley, and we have not seen them since. , We are now attached to the 15th Battalion lmperial Yeomanry and have had some very heavy fighting. On July 23 the guns started 7 a.m. and continued almost unceasingly till 10 a.m. next morning, but we succeeded in driving the Boers from their position, which was a very strong one, being in the neck of a high range of mountains. Some of their entrenchments were a mile long. They must have lost very heavily, although we did not see many dead. . We think our casualties were about 50. We followed up the Boers till Sunday, July 29, when 6000 of the enemy surrendered. We thought our fighting was now over and we should go on to Kroonstadt and join our own troops, thence to Pretoria. Soon after starting, however, we were ordered on to Harrismith, which we entered in a triumphal march, headed by the Seaforth Highlanders and the Imperial Yeomanry, in all about 7000, under General MacDonald, of the Highland Brigade.

We are now under General Hunter. After one day’s spell at Harrismith we started for Kroonstadt, and when within a day’s march of that place were disgusted to hear the Boers were in the vicinity of the town. So we had to be after them again, and had a hard day’s fight last Tuesday, but drove them out of their position at a cost of 40 of our men. I cannot say where we are going next. I am well, but this is a terribly cold country—much colder than Mount Pleasant, but the ground is much drier. We get frosts every night, and water-bags are frozen every morning; even running water is frozen over. lt is a beautiful country for water and feed—really capital agricultural and grazing country. Wheat, maize, onions, and potatoes grow well, and fruit-trees luxuriantly. We are still sleeping in the open without tents, so have the full benefit of the cold. We cook for ourselves now, and prefer it to squadron cooking, as we live better. We are in hopes of getting letters here, as the railway runs through this town.

Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 – 1954), Friday 2 May 1919, page 3…

Mr. Arthur Giles, after an absence of 19 years, is at present on a visit to his relatives. He left here as a volunteer to the South African war, where he settled at the close of hostilities, and later did his bit in the recent war. His many friends will be pleased to renew friendship with him, and give him a kindly welcome, and will be greatly interested in hearing some of the many wonderful experiences he has had during his long residence in Africa.

Arthur died in South Africa in 1954.