Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal clasp Bechuanaland (27 CPL. L.D. ELS. C.POL.); Queens South Africa Medal clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State (27 CPL. L.D. ELS. CAPE P.D.1.); Kings South Africa Medal clasps South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (27 SERJT: L.D. ELS. C.P.DIST.1.)
Louis Dennis Els was born in Somerset East, Eastern Cape of South Africa on 30 August 1866. He enlisted with District 1 of the Cape Police (King William's Town) on 4th November 1889. At the time he was described as being 5.11 ft tall with red hair and brown eyes.
He saw service in the Langeberg expedition of 1896 where a serious epidemic of rinderpest had broken out in Bechuanaland affecting many herds. The government took drastic measures and issued regulations to combat the outbreak that included the slaughtering of infected herds. The Bataplin tribe from the former Crown Colony land objected to the regulations and refused to implement them. Also a minor Bataplin chief named Galishiwe fired on a Cape Police party that came to arrest him at Pokwani in connection with the murder of a German trader living nearby.
1896 was also an auspicious year for Els on another front - he wed Annie Maria Sophia Elizabeth Nel at Stutterheim in the Eastern Cape on 19 November 1896 - he was described as "Cape Police" on the marriage certificate.
Els fought in the Anglo Boer War from beginning (11 October 1899) until end (31 May 1902) and was awarded both Queen and King's South Africa medals - issued in 1903 and 1905.
He passed away on the Recreation Ground, East London at the age of 58 on 17 May 1924 whilst watching a football match and was described as a Pensioner of the S.A. Police. Interestingly, he named one of his children "Redvers Buller Els" - and was clearly enamoured by the General of that name.
Medals are in good condition unless indicated otherwise. Sold with some research
