Jonson, Jephthah (Private, b.1876 - d.1901)

Place Africa: South Africa, Transvaal
Accession Number AWM2018.1160.1
Collection type Private Record
Record type Collection
Measurement Extent: .5 cm; Wallet/s: 1
Object type Letter
Maker Jonson, Jephthah
Pollitt, Anne
Place made Australia: Queensland, South Africa: Transvaal
Date made 1900
Access Open
Conflict South Africa, 1899-1902 (Boer War)
Copying Provisions Copyright expired. Copying permitted subject to physical condition. Permission for reproduction not required.
Description

Collection associated with the Boer War service of No. 381 Private Jephthah "Jeff" Jonson, Fourth (Imperial) Contingent, Victorian Imperial Bushmen, 1900-1901. Jonson was a 23-year-old stock rider when he joined the Fourth (Imperial) Contingent, Victorian Imperial Bushmen to fight in the Boer War. Allotted to A Squadron as a private, he embarked from Melbourne for South Africa in May 1900. The collection consists of a two-leaf letter Jonson wrote to his sister Mary ("Min") from "Buffels Hock" (presumably Buffelshoek in the Transvaal) on 26 October 1900. Jonson writes that he has been on a long patrol pursuing Boer troops for the last three days, managing only four hours sleep in the heavy rain. He discusses current operations as part of a flying column of 2,000 men under the command of Brigadier General Lord Erroll, noting that in a recent raid they managed to kill 10 Boer troops, capture 23 prisoners, and secure some 300 head of cattle and 2,500 sheep. He also discusses the rough terrain and that he is on to his fifth or sixth horse since arriving, as the first (his favourite) took sick, several have not managed well on the rocky hills, and one was shot and killed in battle.

Jonson was killed in action near Hartebeestfontein on 18 February 1901. Included with the collection is a printed chapter excerpt on Jonson from Anne Pollitt's "James Henry Arthur Macdougall and Family" (2018; call number F 929.20941 J27). The book relates to Pollitt's grandfather, James Macdougall, who was married to Jonson's sister Mary. The chapter gives brief details on Jonson's early life and traces his service and death with the Victorian Imperial Bushmen. It also includes a typed transcript of Jonson's letter to Mary, as well as a photocopy of a handwritten letter sent by Joe Burke to David Jonson describing the circumstances of his brother's death.