Information Request - Col Ferreira, DSO

[dphillipsd]

Can anyone provide me with any information on a Colonel Ignatius Philip Ferreira, DSO? He was born in Grahamstown in 1840 and fought in the war of 1876 against Sekukuni, Chief of the Pedi tribe, in the Eastern Transvaal.

[dphillipsd]

Does anyone have any idea where I can look? I have a picture if it helps.....

[Greeves]

Ferreira

Apparently he is seen as one of Johannesburg's pioneer's...

http://www.joburg.org.za/facts/streets.stm

http://www.joburg.org.za/facts/water.stm

[dphillipsd]

Hey Geoff,

Thanks for the info - already knew that though!

I am looking specifically for info on his military career and why he earned the DSO.

[Greeves]

2 articles on the Sekukuni Wars

I found two online articles on this campaign from the South African Military History Society. They might be the ones to contact for this. Maybe you've seen this already but here you go anyway:

http://rapidttp.com/milhist/vol026nk.html

http://rapidttp.com/milhist/vol025hk.html

The second link is actually the first part of the article. Both mention Ferreira several times, especially the 2nd part. Interestingly, the first article mentions that he was later CMG not DSO. I believe the articles are from 1973.

Geoff

[Greeves]

Hey Geoff,

Thanks for the info - already knew that though!

I am looking specifically for info on his military career and why he earned the DSO.

I didn't even notice that you were from South Africa...makes sense that you would know something about him!

[dphillipsd]

Hey,

Thanks for the info - already found those though

Would I be correct in saying that the CMG was the Order fo St Michael and St George? If so, what was the criteria for that award? I have an article saying he won the DSO, hence my asking....

[Greeves]

Yes the CMG is the Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George. It is the 3rd of 3 grades and in the 19th Century was used to reward distinguished service in the colonies and protectorates of the Empire. So, it would have been very appropriate for Ferreira. Also the DSO wasn't instituted until 1886 (I don't know why I didn't think about that at first) so unless he saw action after the Sekukuni Wars - I doubt he won it. It seems that post-1886 Ferreira was heavily involved in overseeing the goldrush camps so unless he had Boer War service - on the British side...

What's interesting is that the CMG's ribbon is very similar to the DSO's