A Fine Collection of Medals to War Correspondents x477


The Queen’s South Africa Medal awarded to Mr. Daniel Innes Calder, Special Correspondent for Reuter’s Agency in Basutoland during the Boer War, who was personally complemented by Baron Reuter and made the subject of a substantial testimonial on account of his intrepid reporting during the conflict


Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Mr. D. Innes Calder. “Reuter.”) nearly very fine £1,000-£1,400


Daniel Innes Calder was born in Fraserburgh, Scotland in 1866. He served for seven years as a journalist in South Africa, including during the Boer War as special correspondent for Reuter’s Agency in Basutoland, seeing much action and performing some impressive feats of journalism, services for which he was personally complemented by Baron Reuter and made the subject of a special testimonial following his return to Britain in 1901. His brother, also a war correspondent, died of dysentery whilst working for Reuters during the Boer War.


The following obituary appeared in print following Calder’s death in 1907: ‘His many friends in Fraserburgh, and in other parts of the country, will regret to hear the death of Mr Daniel Innes Calder, a partner of the printing and publishing firm of Messrs Calder Brothers, Fraserburgh. The sad event took place on Saturday morning at his residence, Seamount, Fraserburgh. Mr Calder had not been in robust health for some time, but he was at work at his office little more than a week ago. He was only 41 years of age, and had an interesting career as a journalist. After having been for several years a reporter on the “Fraserburgh Advertiser,” Mr Calder, prior to leaving Fraserburgh, was editor of the paper, but on account of ill-health he left for South Africa in the end of 1896. On arrival at Cape Town, he made his way to Bloemfontein, where he saw the late President Kruger, and heard him make his speech on the fatal close alliance between the Transvaal and the Free State, the outcome of which was the war. After a short residence in the Orange Free State capital, Mr Calder went to Maseru, Basutoland. Here he met Sir Godfrey Lagden, then Resident Commissioner, and became connected with Reuter’s News Agency. Leaving Basutoland for Swaziland, where he was appointed editor of the “Swaziland Times,” Mr Calder found himself in a different country, and climate, and among quite a different race of people. When he had been about a year and a half in Bremensdorp, the Boers declared war, and Swaziland being under Dutch, or rather Transvaal, administration, all Britishers had to clear out of the country as best they could. There being no railway nearer than the Delagoa Bay line, the long trek to the railway had to be done in waggons. After a visit to Lorenzo Marquez, Mr Calder went back to Basutoland, his brother, another of Reuter’s correspondents, having succumbed to dysentery. It was worthy of note that his brother was the correspondent whose message of the relief of Kimberley was the first information of the great event received in Britain. After a stay of a month or more in Basutoland, during which time Ladybrand, close to Basuto border, was besieged, Mr Calder left to join General Hunter’s forces. There were plenty of “scraping” then, and Mr Calder frequently accompanied Colonel Damant in a skirmish. He was also with the 2nd Brigade, and while attached to saw the burning of Bothaville. He was at the capture of 11 guns, taken from the Boers in a hot action, when the gallant and able Colonel Le Gallais and a number of other officers were killed. During the engagement De Wet was personally in command of the Boers. The report of this important capture of guns Mr Calder had in London five or six hours before Lord Robert’s official despatch was received, and for his smart work he received great credit from Reuter. He continued with General Bruce Hamilton’s forces until ordered north to Kitchener’s great drive, which thanks to the irregularity of the trains, he just missed. Making a short stay in Pretoria, he travelled to Ladysmith, and on to Harrismith, in which district General Rundle was operating. After following the fortunes of the Guerilla warfare for a time, he covered the long journey from Ladysmith to Bloemfontein by train, and thence to Basutoland , where he received leave to return home after a stay of five years in the country. On several occasions he rode, through difficult country, and obtained information of great value, which he managed to transmit by telegraph to his agency, earning from those in whose service he was the highest encomiums for intrepidity, smartness, and accuracy. His services were specially acknowledged when he returned to this country in 1901. Then he was personally complemented by Baron Reuter, the head of the Agency, in London, and made the recipient of a substantial testimonial in recognition of his services. Mr Calder was one of the few war correspondents who received a medal from the Government, as a mark of appreciation of his services in connection with the war. One of his most prized meetings was his interview with Sir Hector Macdonald. He called upon “Fighting Mac” in Aliwal North where General Macdonald was acting as Commandant. The gallant general received him with much warmth and on taking his departure after a long conversation Mr Calder received a hearty invitation to make another call on an early date. Locally Mr Calder was a great favourite, his bright and witty disposition making him very popular wherever he went. He took a great interest in many local institutions, especially those of a sporting and recreative kind. He was a prominent member of the Fraserburgh Liberal Club. In the Mid Street Congregational Church on Sunday afternoon, feeling reference was made by Rev. Thomas Johnstone, to the loss the congregation has sustained by the death of Mr Calder. The funeral which will be a Masonic one, takes place to Kirkton cemetery this afternoon.’ (The Fraserburgh Herald and Northern Counties Advertiser, 19 March 1907)


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