Markham Family

B. T. K. MARKHAM.
Union Service.—August 10th, 1914: As member of A.C.F., Union Defence Force (Lieutenant, 2nd Mounted Brigade Train); called to Pretoria and attached to Headquarters Staff, Transport and Remounts, Union Defence Force. October, 1914: Promoted to Temporary Captain, Transport and Remounts. January, 1915: Promoted to Temporary Staff Captain, Transport and Remounts, Union Defence Force. July 14th, 1916: Released from above appointment. Mentioned in dispatches for South-West Africa campaign.
Imperial Service.—July 15th, 1916: Granted Temporary Imperial Service Commission, with rank of Captain, for service in connection with Carrier Transport, Central Africa (G.E.A. campaign). Unit: S.A. A.S.C. (T. and R.). December 10th, 1916: Appointed Chief Transport Officer, Nyassa-Rhodesia Field Force. November 28th, 1917: Appointed Assistant Director of Carrier Transport, Nyasa-Rhodesia Field Force, with rank of Temporary Major. (In charge of all Carrier Transport with General Northey’s forces). April 10th, 1919: Released from Temporary Imperial Commission on demobilisation.
Mentioned in dispatches by Brigadier-General E. Northey, C.B., A.D.C. (London Gazette, 25/9/1917). Awarded the Military Cross, 1918, New Year Honours.
Theatres of War in which Served: During Rebellion and South-West Africa campaign, at Headquarters, Union Defence Force, Pretoria. During German East Africa campaign : German East Africa, Portuguese East Africa, and Nyassaland.
While in charge of Carrier Transport with General Northey’s forces was in command of about 16 officers, 66 other ranks, and from 25,000 to 30,000 native porters. Was not wounded.

An unpublished manuscript "Memories of my Father" by his daughter contains some interesting titbits of Benjamin's life:
When he was four months of age, his Mother, who was just 22 years of age, died of tuberculosis. They were travelling by ox-wagon from Bulwer to Durban to seek medical help for her when, sadly, she died. Tom was told how he had been fed on condensed milk and water from the streams that they passed!
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In his early years, he was taught by his Father and then by a tutor. In 1887, he became a boarder at Hilton College. With a twinkle in his eye, he used to say, “Hilton College rolls in knowledge and feeds on bread and porridge.” He told of how he travelled on horseback to Hilton from Bulwer. Accompanied by an African who then took his horse back home, they would sleep over in an African hut on the way.
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He was made a Justice of the Peace and came to be relied on as a good citizen and friend of both races. Like his father, who had helped translate the Bible into Zulu, my Father was an excellent linguist who was fluent in Zulu. He was greatly respected by the Africans. He was tireless in rendering help where it was needed. For example, he was a pretty nifty carpenter, and so when the Africans built their church and needed help, he put the roof on. I remember seeing him make a coffin for an African child who had died, and how grateful the parents were.
When he retired he was an Agent for land owners in The Valley of the Thousand Hills, and he was often off on horseback down there. When Indunas visited us they greeted Father with the salute “BAYETE”. I was always very impressed. No-one coming to our home went away emptyhanded; even the dogs were always given a bowl of water. Before he died, a piece of ground near the Court House was set aside and called ‘Markham Place’.
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He was Church Warden for 31 years, from 1919 -1950, and a Synod Representative for a period of about 25 years. He cared for the Cemetery, too. When there was a funeral, it was his responsibility to oversee the digging of the grave. Prisoners were engaged to do the digging; it was particularly hard work because of rocky soil. I can see him now, coming in late from supervising, hurriedly changing into a suit in order to return to the Church for the Service. Generally, he read the Lessons, lead the singing, tolled the bell, kept the books and hosted the visiting Parson.

The funeral of Major B. T. K. Markham, M.C., took place recently at the Parish Church, Camperdown. He was the eldest son of the late Rev. B. Markham, of Bulwer, and was 78 years of age. He left a pleasant memory among both his European and non-European friends.
Major Markham started his military career at a very early age, serving throughout the 1914-18 war, during which time he was twice mentioned in dispatches. In November, 1917, he was made Assistant-Director Carrier-Transport, Nyasa-Rhodesian Field Force, under Brigadier-General Northey, C.B., and in 1918 was awarded the Military Cross.
At the close of World War I he was appointed to Camperdown by the Government Veterinary Department, from which he retired in 1927.
Major Markham is survived by his widow, two daughters, Mrs. T. F. B. Massingham, of Maritzburg, and Mrs. R. Wallace, of Venterspost, and six grandchildren.

The Hiltonian May 1951 p78

MAJOR B. T. K. MARKHAM, M.C., J.P.
Benjamin Thomas Kelly Markham died at his home in Camperdown on 14th December, 1950.
He left Hilton in 1889, and during 1888 and 1889 had been a member of the school’s 1st XV, of which the late Cyril Robinson was captain. He began his military service at an early age, and served throughout World War I, during which he was twice mentioned in dispatches. In 1917 he was made Assistant Director of Carrier Transport in the Nyasa-Rhodesian Field Force, and in 1918 was awarded the Military Cross. At the close of the war he was appointed to Camperdown by the Government Veterinary Department, from which he retired in 1927.
He became a well-known and well-loved figure in the district, mainly from his fine sense of duty and Christian charity. He was churchwarden in the parish of Camperdown for over thirty years, and was a licensed Lay Reader. He will be sadly missed both in his home district and in Maritzburg, where he had many friends.

Addresses:
1913: Isandlawana, Natal (Natal Civil Records Marriages Pietermaritzburg 1913 #976)
1937: Camperdown, Natal (Pietermaritzburg Estate Files 1937 #25658 film 007869167 image 403)
1942: Camperdoen, Natal (Pietermaritzburg Estate Files 1942 #35082 film 007869094 image 2085)

The Markham Family

Benjamin Thomas Kelly Markham

Margaret Hazel Irene (Markham) Massingham