Bermuda's unknown Boer War soldier
Two years ago the Bermuda Historical Society held a mini-auction to raise funds. Historian and former National Trust president Andrew Trimingham generously donated a group of three medals, which had come into the possession of his father, the late Sir Eldon Trimingham. I secured them for $35.
The medals were the Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902 (Boer War) and the 1914-1918 war Medal accompanied by the Mercantile Marine Medal. The Queen's South Africa Medalwas inscibed "F. Dolan - Steam Road Transport", andd the other two medals "Fred Dolan".
Fred Dolan served in the Boer War as a civilian in an unusual unit.
On November 1, 1899, at the comencement of the Boer war, men were recruited from 45th. Company, Royal Engineers to form the Steam Road Transport whose job it was to drive and maintain traction engines. The original complement of men was 112 but because the troops were bad drivers, civilians were recruited.
By the end of the South African war in May, 1902 the strength of the unit was 730 of which 156 were "civvies". Off the railway line the vehicle of choice was oxen, and traction engines augmented the supply of animals. The later proved more efficient. Mud proved to be the traction engine's downfall.
In March, 2001 Mrs. Winifred Scott, a UK researcher, located in the Public Records Office in London the medal rolls for Fred Dolan. For service in South Africa he was entitled to the medal clasp "Cape Colony"; but the real surprise came when documents for his World War 1 Service showed he was born in Bermuda in 1861.
There is no better source for historical research in Bermuda than Mrs. C.F.E. Hollis Hallett, and sure enough she provided the answer.
Fred Dolan was the son of John Thomas Dolan and Jane (Minors - surely from St. David's). He was baptised in St. Peter's Church, St. George's on December 8, 1861. Fred was the fourth of eight children and Mrs. Hallett noted that the name Dolan has a variety of other spellings such as Dowlan and Dowling.
Fred Dolan served in the Merchant Navy during World War I as an Able Seaman and applied for his medals on December 30, 1919. His address was given as Dock Street, E1, London.
Presumably we will never now know how a 40-year-old Bermudian ended up in South Africa during the Boer War and why, at the age of 54, he joined the Merchant Navy.
Hopefully, Fred Dolan's story will join those of perhaps more illustrious heroes at the Defense Exhibit, Maritime Museum. A Bermudian who served Bermuda well. Thank you, Mrs. Hallett, for finding him.
