Boer War 1899 -1902

Captain David John Ham, the eldest son of the Hon D. Ham MLC was born in 1859 near Ballarat, Victoria.

After leaving school he spent time in Queensland and New South Wales before settling in the Western Port area where he engaged in grazing and went into partnership with his brother, William breeding horses.

In 1895, he married Margaret Watson, sister of Lieutenant George Watson and they purchased “Warrenda”, a 620 acre property near Bittern.

David’s community service saw him President of nine different societies, including the President of the Hastings Football Club, a councillor for ten years, twice Shire President and in 1891 he was elected Justice of the Peace.

Hastings Football Club

David Ham played for the Hastings Football Club during the 1890’s, alongside his brother William.

The Mornington Standard reported that David Ham was appointed Vice Captain of the Hastings Club in 1893.

David also served as the President of the Hastings Football Club for 6 years from 1894 till 1899.

Photo: Hastings Football Club 1898

It is believed that David Ham is seated in the front row on the left

Frankston and Hastings Shire Council

The City of Frankston records show that David Ham entered Council in 1892, serving ten years until 1902. During that time he served two terms as Shire President “Mayor” in 1895/96 and again in 1898/99.
The Frankston and Hastings Shire remained until 1960 when they became the Shire of Frankston and the Shire of Hastings.  In 1966 Frankston became a City and in 1994 under a municipal review saw the Shires of Hastings, Flinders & Mornington merged to form the Mornington Peninsula Shire.

Hastings Battery

Back in the 1890’s the world was indeed a different place than we know it today, but one thing that does remain the same is fear. Threat from afar has changed little in the century and more that has past back in 1890’s it was the threat of Russia invading our shores that was at the forefront of minds. This is before federation so the states were responsible for the defence of our lands, so a decision was made to secure our borders with small forts in strategic locations.

One of these areas was Hastings on Westernport where the Hastings Battery was formed with David John Ham, a fine horseman at the command. They secured two large guns and moved these weapons by bullocks thus they became known as the Beef and Battery due to this unique way of transporting the weapons. It was not long that the name of the unit became that of the Ham and Beef Battery in recognition of their commander. The unit became very popular with the local youth of Hastings and it was seen as a threat to the local football and cricket teams with its discipline and use of weapons attractive.

The group performed at the Hastings Battery Minstrel Troupe and entertained the Community becoming very popular; in fact they were the only entertainment in town at the time. The Russians never came and the Ham and Battery was disbanded just before the turn of the century.

Boer War

The Anzac legend was forged on the battlefield of Gallipoli and The Somme during World War 1. However the spirit of that legend had much earlier beginnings with those men from Australia who fought in South Africa during the Boer War in the late 1890’s

This was an Australia before federation where the States ruled and mother England was still firmly in place as the homeland for most Australians. When the call came for Victorians to enter the skirmish in the South of Africa locals of the Peninsula heard the call, eager to put their life on the line for good old England. One of those from the Hastings District was David John Ham who was commissioned as Captain in 1899 only months before setting sail as part of the 3^rd contingent from Victoria known as the Victorian Bushmen’s, mostly untrained and unknown in the skills of battle. They were selected only on a strict test in riding and shooting.

Ham excelled in South Africa and was involved in one of the most eventful battles of the war fought at Elands River Camp on August 3, 1900. That morning 3500 Boers with nine guns shelled the camp, this was in retaliation of a raid held the night before under General De La Ray that gained procession of several kopjes (Boer villages). The Boers attacked as the sun rose, shells bursting into fragments everywhere as the 400 defended the garrison. All were Australian, completely surrounded but none were faltering, the enemy were only 700 yards away but could not be seen as they readied themselves to return fire from the positions held.

For 10 minutes the battle was intense with bullets pouring in, men either side of Captain Ham were Trooper Bird and Corporal Smith were both hit by shells suffering horrendous wounds, Ham ordered that they be taken by wagon but there was a lot of confusion. Ham then ordered his men to follow him to take up a position on a slight bank away from the barrage, where they built a small shelter at the rear of the 700 oxen that were tied up. The bullets still whistled around them splintering the rocks, finally the oxen were targeted by the shooting and were falling 10 to 20 at a time, one of Ham’s men Trooper Fortune leapt out of his shelter and cut the beasts loose with his knife freeing them from certain death.

The firing continued into the night and almost all of the men had shrapnel injuries including Captain Ham. During the night the shells ceased but Ham and his men got no rest as the dug themselves in readiness for the dawn and another barrage. Water was becoming a premium as the Boer’s had the river cut off so it came down to get water or surrender as another day in the head of the African sun would be almost impossible for the men. A decision was made to send a team in the night to obtain water for the men and horses. This proved successful apart from the loss of 2 men in a fight near the river.

Daylight on the second day and the battle continued with Australians having a much better go of it now they were dug in and prepared and able to return fire, losses were low during this day. Word had come through that a column of Australians led by Carrington was coming to the rescue but this did not deter the Boer’s who continued to fire at the garrison. On the third day the firing ceased as the Boer’s put up the white flag and sent a messenger with a letter asking the Australians to surrender and congratulant us on our defence under such fire. A consultation of officers was held and it was decided to hang out so Colonel Hore sent them back this message.

“We hold the camp under instructions. It is to be held by colonial troops of Her Majesty and we refuse to surrender”.

The Boer’s were now in complete supremacy having defeated the rescue team led by Carrington the now again attacked the garrison with force, nearly all the horses were gone including the two bought to Africa by Ham himself. A bullet hit the rifle held by Ham splintering it too pieces he commented that it would make a great memento to bring back to Victoria.

The men were couped up for days and began to challenge the boer snipers to fire at them as they dared leave the shelter, Ham had to order them not to do so, hearing one of them accuse him of cowardice because he would not let him out. The stress was now a factor with all of the men but Ham himself had not slept for three nights having only naps during the day. Night attacks were always imminent.

After 13 days relief finally came and the Boer’s had cleared off, Lord Kitchener himself made an appearance commenting on the excellent trench that Ham and his men had prepared and the spirit with which they had fought.

Ham heard one Englishmen state. “What beggars these colonials are for fighting, if it had been our Tommies they would have surrendered”.

When the dust had settled in the camp after 14 days of intense fighting the Union Jack flag was still flying in the centre of the garrison even though it was riddled with bullets, over 2000 shells were fired into the camp with 600 in the first 4 hours.
This splendid defence of the Elands River post by a small party of Australians against the pick of the Boer army is acknowledged on all hands to have been the most glorious incident of the war. Captain David John Ham was highly praised for the part he took in the defence of the post

This is an extract of a letter written by David John Ham on August 17, 1900 the day after the actual event, to see the entire letter see the Adelaide Chronicle Nov 3 1900.

“NO SURRENDER”

A DEED THAT WILL LIVE

NOBLE AUSTRALIANS

THE EVENT OF THE WAR

PRAISED ON ALL HANDS

Welcome home parade for soldiers from the Boer War, including Captain Ham, at Hastings in 1901 Promoted to Major, Ham returned to South Africa in 1903 to take up work as a stock and station agent in Johannesburg and later becoming an auctioneer, but he contracted a spinal malady which left him permanently an invalid and because of that he returned to Australia in 1906.

Although physically incapacitated, he was mentally very active and devoted much of his time to literary pursuits.

Major David John Ham died at his home in Caulfield in 1936, aged 77.