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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Southern Nigerian Volunteers


Simon_Fielding

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I have a man on the war memorial I'm researching whose relative gave me some very useful info:

Orlando Horatio Lund Woodward, was my great uncle, he was a colourful character

who had travelled to America, many parts of Africa, was involved in much

military unpleasantness in South Africa and was an escort at Cecil Rhodes

funeral. At the outbreak of war he was managing a gold mine in Ashanti (Ghana),

he managed to return to fight in WW1 as the 'only white man' in the Southern

Nigerian Volunteers (or so a letter I have from my Great Uncle explains). His

three brothers, my grandfather Leslie Archibald Woodward survived the war as a

lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery, My great uncle, Gerald de Maine

Woodward also survived the war as a lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery and

My great uncle Stanley Woodward who had emigrated to Australia survived the war

after serving throughout as a sergeant in the Anzacs. Their mother Elizabeth

Woodward kept the George Hotel in Bewdley. Uncle Orlando is buried on a plot in

the church cemetery Tourcoing.

I'm unfamiliar with the South Nigerian Volunteers - any suggestions??

Best

Simon

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Simon

This may not be of much help but the 'Official History of the War: Military Operations Togoland and the Cameroons 1914 to 1916' by Brig.-General F.J. Moberly lists the following volunteer units:

Gold Coast Volunteers

Gold Coast Railway Volunteers

Gold Coast Mines Volunteers

Ashanti Mines Volunteers

According to the Official History they had a total strength of around 900 and were armed with rifles or carbines, four 7 pounder guns and four machine guns. They could be called out on active service in the event of danger of invasion or rebellion but were not liable for service outside of the Colony or Ashanti

Given Woodward's mining background perhaps he was in one of the two Mines Volunteer units. I have come across no other reference to the Southern Nigerian Volunteers. That's not to say it didn't exist!

regards

james w

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Me neither James, but that's a useful start! Cheers.

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Thanks for the lead Terry!

Simon

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