Louis John Poulter - 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.