Pioneer Days

10 years of Rhodesian progress – from an original BSAC handbook produced for the Greater Britain Exhibition held at Earls Court in 1899.

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It is difficult today to appreciate just how brave and hardy were the early pioneers who opened up the wilderness which became Rhodesia.  There was nothing at all to be had other than that which could be brought by wagon through literally hundreds of miles of virgin bush. The wagons and their drivers had to cross land having no roads of any description and the rivers to be crossed had no bridges.  There were no towns and everything that a man might want had to be built from scratch. Yet within a few years the pioneers had laid the foundations for a modern country.

This selection of pictures is taken mostly from my own 1st edition publications covering the period up to the founding of the Rhodesia Pioneers’ and Early Settlers’ Society which came into being on 12th September 1904. There are also some which have probably not been published before, and others probably not seen since before 1905, including some private photographs donated by one pioneer descendant who wishes to remain anonymous.

The first flag raising ceremony 13th September 1890.
Lt. Tyndale-Biscoe raising the Union Flag on 13th September 1890.

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Tented camp at Salisbury September 1890
Tented camp at Salisbury September 1890

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Early house in Salisbury c 1891
Early house in Salisbury c 1891

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First Auction on Pioneer Street, Salisbury
First Auction on Pioneer Street, Salisbury

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Harley Hills c 1891
Hartley Hills c 1891

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A mining camp at Hartley, west of Salisbury near junction of the Zimbo River with the Umfuli, c 1891
A mining camp at Hartley, south west of Salisbury near the junction of the Zimbo River with the Umfuli, c 1891

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Pioneers leaving Hartley for a nearby gold-field c 1892
Pioneers leaving Hartley for a nearby gold-field c 1892

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Mashona kraal 1890s
Mashona kraal 1890s

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Mashona huts and grain bins early 1890s
Mashona huts and grain bins early 1890s

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Arlington Heights near Salisbury, 1895
Arlington Heights near Salisbury, 1895 – the farm of William Harvey Brown, an American naturalist who came up with the Column in 1890 and went on to become Mayor of Salisbury.

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On the farm; a scene from the 1890s
On the farm; a scene from the 1890s

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Ruins of Porta Farmhouse 1896 near present day Norton.
Ruins of Porta Farmhouse 1896 near present day Norton.

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Salisbury Laager 1896
Salisbury Laager 1896

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Mrs E.F. Coleman, in the centre, with her boarders at her premises cr. First Street-Manica Road, Salisbury 1896.
Mrs E.F. Coleman, in the centre, with her boarders at her premises cr. First Street-Manica Road, Salisbury 1896.

The above private photograph, with names as below, was kindly sent in by Cathy Rogers a descendant of the Coleman / Moodie pioneers.  It shows a group of Salisbury residents in late 1896.

Standing: L.F.H. Roberts, Famhanar, F.W. Inskipp, W.S. Honey, Rev. Pellett, (top, unknown), Freeman, Capt. R.C. Nesbitt V.C., (unknown), W. Grimmer, E.F. Coleman, B. Morris, (unknown), Swemmer.

Sitting: Mrs L.F.H. Roberts, (née Coleman), S.N. Arnott, Mrs T.B.Hulley (née Coleman), Mrs E.F. Coleman (née Moodie), Rankin, Mrs S.N. Arnott (née Coleman), Frank Hulley, Jose Nesbitt, Cecil Hulley, Nora Nesbitt (in front of Mrs Coleman), Lonely and Sixpence.

Having researched the above, some further information may be mentioned.

Mrs E.F. (Margery Hester) Coleman (brother of Thomas Moodie) came up with the Moodie trek in 1892. She ran the first boarding house in Salisbury and was evidently a renowned cook.

Capt. Randolph Cosby Nesbitt V.C. of the M.M.P. (immediately behind Mrs Coleman) earned his V.C. in leading the successful “Mazoe Patrol” which rescued the beleaguered party of mining families at the Alice Mine, Mazoe which had been attacked and surrounded by natives during the 1896 rebellion. Capt. Nesbitt later became a Native Commissioner with many years service.

Famhaner is likely mistyped and may well be G.W. Farmaner later Civil Commissioner in Salisbury.

F.W. Inskipp was a draughtsman in the Surveyors Dept.

Frank Hulley may well be F.B. Hulley who was a Native Commissioner.

Mrs T.B. Hulley was the wife of Lt. Thomas Benjamin Hulley who was later Assistant Magistrate in Umtali and Native Commissioner for Inyanga.

W.S. Honey was William Honey who was a member of the first, under-resourced, relief patrol sent to rescue the miners and their women folk at the Alice Mine, Mazoe. He later returned with the second patrol.

S.N. Arnott was a member of the second successful patrol sent to rescue those surrounded in the Alice Mine laager.

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Attack on Cummings Store, 1896
Attack on Cummings Store, 1896

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Battle of Colenbrander's Farm, 1896
Battle of Colenbrander’s Farm, 1896

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Charge of the Afrikanders at the Battle of Colenbrander's Farm
Charge of the Afrikanders at the Battle of Colenbrander’s Farm

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Belingwe store and laager during the 1896 rebellion
Belingwe store and laager during the 1896 rebellion

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Escape of Maj. Burnham 1896 following his successful mission to kill the M'limo, the chief witch doctor of the Matabele who instigated the 1896 rebellion.
Escape of Maj. Burnham 1896 following his successful mission to kill the M’limo – believed to be the spiritual leader of the Matabele who instigated the 1896 rebellion.  Burnham was lauded around the world for his bravery and daring.
Escape of Major Burnham and Mr. Armstrong from chasing natives after their successful mission to kill the M’Limo. Colourised by Colin Weyer from an early b&w print (see left/above) drawn by artist Frank Dadd (1851-1929)
Escape of Major Burnham and Mr. Armstrong from chasing natives after their successful mission to kill the M’Limo. From an early b&w print (see left/above) drawn by Frank Dadd R.I. (1851-1929) from a sketch by an officer with the Imperial forces. Colourised by Colin Weyer.

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Cape Cart en route to Salisbury 1897
Cape Cart en route to Salisbury 1897

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Picnicking in Mashonaland taken from the Umtali coach c 1898
Picnicking in Mashonaland taken from the Umtali coach c 1898

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Wayside store near Gwelo c 1898
Wayside store near Gwelo c 1898

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The Founder on his farm near the Matopos Hills. Mr. Rhodes is standing to the left.
The Founder on his farm near the Matopos Hills. Mr. Rhodes is standing to the left.

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A General View of the "Home from Home" in Rhodesia
A General View of a “Home from Home” north of Bulawayo c 1900

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The Authoress in her Garden near Bulawayo
The Mistress of the house in her Garden near Bulawayo

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The Homestead Kitchen near Bulawayo
A Homestead Kitchen near Bulawayo

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Three illustrations of real life incidents of a pioneer woman in Rhodesia: 

"My horse snorted and objected but I urged him in" - Aida Redhead
“My horse snorted and objected but I urged him in” – crossing a drift during heavy rain.

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"With a yell I sprang back from it" - Aida Redhead
An unwelcome visitor – a frequent occurrence on a homestead.

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“A lion! – a lion!” – an incident in the life of a Rhodesian pioneer farmer’s wife.

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Travelling in Rhodesia 1890s
Travelling in Rhodesia 1890s

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Mashona women grinding corn
Mashona women grinding corn

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A Mashona woman going to market 1890s
A Mashona woman going to market 1890s

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A Mashona family outside their hut.
A Mashona family outside their hut.

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A Mashona village amidst a typical rocky outcrop 1890s
A Mashona village amidst a typical rocky outcrop 1890s

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Zimbabwe Ruins - Conical Tower 1890s heavily overgrown with vegetation.
Zimbabwe Ruins – Conical Tower 1890s heavily overgrown with vegetation.

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Zimbabwe Ruins - Temple Enclosure 1890s still overgrown with vegetation.
Zimbabwe Ruins – Temple Enclosure 1890s still overgrown with vegetation.

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A Traveller's Difficulty. The driver does not know which way to make the oxen turn to avoid throwing the wagon into the river. The family wait safely on the bank while the matter is resolved.
A Traveller’s Difficulty. The driver does not know which way to make the oxen turn to avoid throwing the wagon into the river. The family wait safely on the bank while the matter is resolved.

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A transport rider outspanned for breakfast on the Umtali-Salisbury road c 1898
A transport rider outspanned for breakfast on the Umtali-Salisbury road c 1898

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A typical early Mashonaland farmhouse. The family group and some hunting trophies. c 1898
A typical early Mashonaland farmhouse. The family group and some hunting trophies. c 1898

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A early settler's house in course of construction in Mashonaland
A early settler’s house in course of construction in Mashonaland

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Post Office at Bulawayo. The mail coach has just arrived. c 1897
Post Office at Bulawayo. The mail coach has just arrived. c 1897

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Salisbury, Rhodesia in 1896
Salisbury, Rhodesia in 1896

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A typical scene during the days of Ox Wagon Transportation
A typical scene during the days of Ox Wagon Transportation

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Before the railway – Transport riding in the eighteen nineties
Before the railway – Transport riding in the eighteen nineties

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Rhodesian homestead c1900

Rhodesian homestead c1900

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Government House Bulawayo early 1900s
Government House Bulawayo early 1900s
.The old Bulawayo Club, 1897Members on the verandah of the Bulawayo Club 1897
1. unknown  2. P Sneddon  3. AC Evans  4. Fleming  5. Sir Frederick Frankland  6. A Molineux  7. Douglas Hawksley  8. T Tompkins  9. blurred  10. Dr. Hans Sauer  11. PBS Wrey  12. unknown  13. Marquand  14. unknown  15. Fred. Crewe  16. Maj. Walter Howard
(click on the picture and then again for a closer view of the members)

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Journey to Hunyani 1899

Messrs. Thomas & Hawksley (in cart) with native boys on road to Hunyani, 1899

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Natives watching Coronation parade, Cecil Squere, Salisbury, 1902

“Salisbury Club, boys watching Coronation Parade in Cecil Square, 1902”

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A Cape Cart on the road the Ayrshire Mine

Outspan in the bush; a Cape Cart on the Ayrshire road North West of Salisbury, 1902

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Chiefs on Coronation Day, Salisbury, 1902

Native Chiefs on Coronation Day, Salisbury, 1902

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Salisbury viewed from Jameson Ave, 1903
Salisbury viewed from Jameson Ave, 1903

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Looking North along First Street, Salisbury c 1905
Looking North along First Street, Salisbury c 1905