Extracts and Comments
(from Sources as shown) | |
Murray: Queen's South Africa medal and 5 clasps.
AJHR(NZ): NZ inquiry into HMT 'Britannic' & 'Orient'.
Fogg: OiC Cyclist Section, injured in fall from horse.
West Australian: Lt. JOSS & cyclists carrying despatches to Eerste Fabrieken captured 9 Boers.
Source:# 417 JOSS Wynard A Lieutenant 8NZ, NZDF file 3837.
URL1: ?JOSS Wm. Saddler 9369 10NZ.
B5172: next of kin in Brisbane Qld.
URL3: remained in S. Africa for further service when 5QIB returned to Aust.
URL4: Alexander WYNYARD-JOSS OBE of Wilston Heights Qld., died in Brisbane aged about 84 and cremated at Mt. Thompson Chapel 14.1.1954, Boer War Captain & WW1 Major, commanded 52 5QIB cyclists until terrain became too rough.
URL6: PRESENTATION TO LIEUTENANT WYNYARD-JOSS. The employees of the Massey-Harris branch of the Canada Cycle and Motor Car Company Limited, whose bicycles were chosen by the Commandant (Colonel FINN) for the cyclists section which accompanies the Fifth Contingent, met together last [28.2.1901] evening at the request of the management. Mr. A WYNYARD-JOSS, who goes in command of the company, was asked to attend, and was presented with a beautiful Colt's revolver by Mr. AV DODWELL, the Queensland representative of the company, as a mark of goodwill and esteem. Mr.JOSS, in acknowledging the gift, said it would remind him when in South Africa of his Massey-Harris friends in Queensland, and he hoped with it's aid to secure a few order's from the Boers for Massey-Harris bicycles. The health of Mr. JOSS was toasted with musical honours, and hearty cheers were given for him as the officer in charge of the first cycle corps to leave Australia.
URL7: A letter from Lieutenant Wyn. JOSS, in command of the Cycle Soldiers in South Africa, to Mr. AV DODWELL, dated from Wondersboom Camp. 10.7.1901, and just to hand, has been handed to us with kind permission to use some extracts. Wyn opens with a reference to the kindly remarks of Bennett BURLEIGH on the work of the cyclist. Wyn. says it is little short of wonderful the way the bikes have stood the trouble. He says - "We are all, bar four, mounted on, horseback now, the machines being sent to Pretoria until such times as we can get better roads. It possible I shall send you one back fully equipped with overcoat, rifle, axe, blankets, haversack, two bandoliers, 150 rounds ammunition, water bottle, and small bundle of wood strapped on just as we rode through that awful trek. Well, I am very fit and although we have had a lot of sharp fighting, am glad to say I have not lost a man. I do not know if I told you that five of my men were captured while despatch riding, and their rifles and bikes taken from them. I made it up that very day by capturing two Boers, fifty horses, 160 head of cattle. 3000 sheep, and as the Boers retired over the hill, poured a volley into them, and saw two drop. The place was named, Mason's Rest, and I was in advance, the captured cyclists being in the rear of the column.
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