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Australians
in the Boer War
Oz-Boer Database Project |
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Full Record
Hint: This site is intended as a search aid - not a definitive source. It is essentially an index to documents that seem to relate to this person plus a very brief precis of relevant elements. Sources often conflict and I also flag things with a ? when I am unsure. So if the information below is important to you, then please check the original sources to see what else they contain (and in case I have inadvertantly introduced transcription and/or precising errors). There can be additional information that was not included in the database for both space and copyright reasons.
| Surname | | DRUM |
| Given Name(s) or Initial(s) | | Patrick I |
| Regimental Number | | 371 |
| Rank | | Private |
| Unit Name | | 1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles |
| State | | NSW |
Extracts and Comments
(from Sources as shown) | |
Murray: DRUM Patrick I.
McLachlan: ?DRUM J killed or died.
Murray: 'D'Sqn. missing Kareefontein 23.4.1900.
B5204: missing found deceased, Queen's South Africa medal and 2 clasps (Drief. & CC).
Dunn&B : details of death.
URL2: Pte. P DRUM (not DENUM previously reported missing) killed in action near Bloemfontein.
URL3: Mr. R MATTHEWS, formerly dentist of Harden NSW, who accompanied the second contingent as a member of the Mounted Infantry, writes to Mr. James DRUM, postmaster, Harden, under date 29.4.1900 from Bloemfontein, as follows - No doubt you have heard about your brother Paddy's capture by the Boers, and naturally all of you will be very much cut up about him; but without trying to buoy you up and console you with false hopes, I will give you my candid opinion about his present position as a prisoner. If we look back on how the Boers have generally treated their prisoners, we will find that in the majority of cases they have been treated with every consideration. Of course there are isolated instances of where they have been ill-treated, but generally in these cases they have had something to revenge. But in your brother's case they had no thing, as not a shot was fired at them from our side that day. Another thing we have to be thankful for is that he was not shot, and also is not in any danger of it now. Perhaps he is safer with them than he is with us, for one never knows what the morrow may bring forth. Now I will tell you how his capture was effected. I might say that had I been with him we would either have both been here now or both been prisoners, for I would never have left him. When his horse was killed under him the worst of it was it was the first time he had ever been out without me. But to proceed. Paddy and I were sleeping together on last Sunday, when about 9 pm a sergeant came and woke Paddy, and told him to be ready at 2 am to go out with a scouting party towards the Glen. I desired to go, but they had sufficient for the purpose required. Accordingly at the hour arranged off they went, fifty strong, and the next thing I heard was that Paddy had been captured. The following is the account that one of the men who was with him related on their return: 'Three of us were detailed to proceed to the right and keep a sharp lookout. After journeying a mile or so without seeing any thing of the enemy we were returning, when, after going a hundred yards, suddenly from behind a kopje about eighteen Boers appeared, and commenced firing on us in volleys; but none of us were hit, although in some instances the bullets came within an unpleasant distance of us. They then mounted and chased us. They dismounted two at a time, and recommenced firing. They fired by twos dismounted, the others galloping on. Then the leading two would dismount, and so on. Travelling some hundreds of yards, DRUM was slightly in the rear. All at once his horse fell dead, having been hit in a vital part. DRUM, of course, was thrown. By this time the Boers were within seventy yards of us, and seeing we could do him no good by attempting a rescue, we galloped on, expecting every minute to be laid low. We know DRUM was not hurt, because we saw him get up and make an effort to escape, but being horseless, while his pursuers were mounted, he was quickly overtaken, and had no option but to surrender. The last we saw of him was being led away by the Boers.' I will let you know the very moment I hear any tidings of him. Probably he may write you from Pretoria; if so, let me know at once, as we would like to know, Paddy being a general favorite with all our troop. None of our lads were with him that day, which accounts for his being left as he was. Paddy and I have been through many hardships and dangers together, sometimes nearly losing the number of our mess, and I feel his absence very keenly; but, believing he is safe, I expect before another month to have the pleasure of giving him a hearty hand shake. It is not the Boers we have to fight so much as the country. By that I mean that the formation is so rugged and broken that for miles and miles it is a natural fort. There are few places that six men cannot hold against an attacking force of a hundred had they a little of British or Australian pluck. At present we are at Bloemfontein, being refitted, which we badly need. We are getting new helmets, horses, and saddles. Our own saddles proved worthless, cutting our horses backs terribly.
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| Source References | |
Murray: Official Records of the Australian Contingents etc. page(s) 68 203
B5204: National Archives of Australia series B5204
Dunn&B : Boys in Green: Centenary History of 1st Australian Horse page(s) 27
Syd. Herald : Sydney Morning Herald newspaper date(s) 9.4.1901
Evg. News: Evening News (Sydney NSW) date(s) 26.6.1900
| | External Link URL1 | | www.hagsoc.org.au/sagraves/nmcdb/nmcdb-search.php | | External Link URL2 | | nla.gov.au/nla.news-page1344430 | | External Link URL3 | | nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113718784 |
Please email me if you can
contribute any other relevant information about this person (eg any
other military service, where in Australia they came from or when/where
they died). Also, if you find an external link broken.
Apology: For some time now it has been difficult to keep up with the newly available sources (especially the Trove newspaper site) plus the flow of contributions and queries. So I have been forced to prioritise maintenance and data entry over replying to correspondence. Nevertheless, your contributions are being added to the database and acknowledged on the contributions page and, although my replies are many months behind, I will attempt to get to them more often.
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Oz-Boer Database
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