Louis John Poulter

Louis Poulter was born 03 Jan 1893 to Henry and Harriet Poulter (Whatley); He married Elizabeth Beatrice Hornigold on 06 Oct 1917 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa; They were married in St John the Baptist Church, Walmer, South Africa and celebrated their Diamond Wedding anniversary in 1977. He courted her for 10 years before they were married at the church where he was a bell ringer for 12 years. They had six children of whom they outlived two. There children were: ERICA MAY Poulter, TREVOR IVAN Poulter, VERNON GODFREY Poulter, DAPHNE MARGERIE Poulter, LEONARD ELWYN POULTER , Neville Geoffrey Poulter.

In 1977 they were living at 193 Church Road, Walmer. Louis, who lived in Walmer for 91 years and Elizabeth, (Bessie as she was known) ran a dairy farm for 27 years in Walmer, a suburb of Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Golf Villa Dairy was situated on land bordered by Church and Short roads between 13th Avenue and 14th Avenue. He built up dairy herd to 72 and with the aid of eigth labourers, he did his own deliveries. Bessie was the book-keeper.

Louis was a keen fisherman and it was his favourite occupation. He retired at 45 and he always found plenty to do until ill health prevented him from following his various pursuits.

He passed away at the Red Cross Home, Walmer, Port Elizabeth, South Africa on the 12 Jul 1984. He was buried on 16 Jul 1984 at the Forest Hill Cemetery in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

WW1 Soldier

First service in Southern Rifles

On the 4th of August 1914 the world was at war – The Allied powers which included Great Britain were ranged against the Central powers and South Africa was called upon to assist in the effort by invading the territory adjacent to her borders, German South West Africa.

The 7th Dismounted Rifles (Southern Rifles) first order of business was to assist in the quelling of an internal rebellion playing out within South Africa between the Union Defence Forces under the command of the prime minister, General Louis Botha, and a force of rebels comprising burghers from the old Transvaal and Orange Free State who were unhappy with the decision to assist Great Britain in a war with Germany.

For this purpose the 1st Southern Rifles (as they were known) were placed under Military District No.3 until 13 December 1914 by which time the rebellion was, to all intents and purposes, a thing of the past. Louis John Poulter at the age of 21 joined the Southern Rifles during this time on the 19th October 1914 with the rank of Trooper and was placed in C Squadron First Troop.

On 16 March 1915 the 1st Southern Rifles entered the German South West African theatre as part of the Northern Force operating out of Walvis Bay from 23 March 1915. The Northern Force were probably the most active of the various forces, taking the fight to the Germans and forcing them up northwards in the territory until, on 9 July 1915, they surrendered at Otavi signaling the end of the campaign. The Southern Rifles were used to protect the vital lines of communication on the march to capture Windhuk along the line from Walvis Bay to kilometre 13 beyond Swakopmund thus playing an invaluable role in the campaign.

He received the 1914-1915 Star medal for this campaign in German South West Africa. Most of the South African men were now faced with a choice – either join the numbers being raised for the fight in German East Africa, join the 1st S.A. Infantry Brigade for the fight in France and Flanders or, simply, go home and about their business. Louis Poulter was to go home and was discharged on the 20th July 1915 but he was to join the fight in German East Africa the following year.

Second period of service in the 1st Mounted Brigade

Louis Poulter joined the 9th SA Horse of the 1st Mounted Brigade at the age of 23 on the 4th April 1916. On the 1st of May that year they departed from Durban aboard the HMS Armadale Castle and arrived at Kilindini Harbour in Mombassa, Kenya on the 8th May where they disembarked to take part in the East Africa campaign of WW1.

The 9th South Africa Horse joined the 2nd Division in Tanzania on the 7th July where General van Deventer was waiting for the accumulation of suppliers before he could advance on the enemy where the rearguard had retired to Chambala and the main body at Dodoma. The 2nd Division then engaged the German forces over the coming months.

Louis returned to South Africa aboard the SS Ingoma on the 19th December 1916 before the campaign was over possibly due to ill health as the 9th South African Horse was still involved in engaging the enemy on the 25th December where they had dismounted because all the horses had succumbed.

He was discharged on the 28 February 1917 at Wynberg to return to Port Elizabeth. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal for his service in WW1.



Sources


  1. From East London to Lovat's Scouts - Tommy Duncan
  2. SS Ingoma, Durban, South Africa, July 1917
  3. General Smuts' campaign in East Africa