1914-15 Star (CPL. F. GREAVES, 2ND M.R.); British War Medal (316643 F/CADET F. GREAVES. R.A.F.); Victory Medal (SGT. F. GREAVES. 2ND M.R.); War Medal 1939-45 (62614 F. GREAVES); Africa Service Medal (62614 F. GREAVES); Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officer’s Decoration (GV) (LIEUT. F. GRAVES. 2ND R.N.C.); Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal (GV) (LT. F. GREAVES. 2ND NATAL CARBINEERS)
Frank Greaves was born in Newcastle, Natal on 23 October 1890, the son of Senator, the Honourable Frank Greaves Senior, J.P. and his wife Edith. Educated in Birmingham, Frank senior emigrated to Natal in July 1881, settling in Newcastle, Northern Natal where he, over time, became the Editor and Proprietor of the Newcastle Advertiser and a highly respected and influential member of his community.
Frank Junior was sent to Michaelhouse at Balgowan in the Natal midlands for his secondary school education. Michaelhouse was modelled on the English Public School system and provided the young Frank with a moral compass and integrity which was to serve him well throughout his life.
On leaving school he opted for a career in optics which he studied in London from 1907 until 1910, qualifying as an Optician on completion of his course. Having returned to South Africa aboard the “Umvoti” sailing from London on 21 June 1910, he took up service with the 2nd Royal Natal Carbineers on 19 October of that year, the start of an almost life-long association with that regiment.
A keen sportsman he played Currie Cup cricket for Natal being capped in 1913 and also represented Northern Natal Districts in cricket, hockey, tennis, rugby and golf. He also, in the same year, found the time to marry Gertrude Mabel Ada Halford on 9 August.
When both the 1st and 2nd Natal Carbineers were mobilised on 18 August 1914, in answer to a call from the Prime Minister, Louis Botha, no. 1918 Corporal Greaves (promoted on 26 January 1914) numbered among their ranks.
Promoted to Sergeant in October 1914, he was with “H” Squadron throughout most of the German South West Africa campaign, having landed in the territory from the S.S. “Glen Orchy” on 9 December 1914, where the Carbineers formed part of the 7th Mounted Brigade with the Central Force operating out of Luderitzbucht. On 25 March Greaves was repatriated to South Africa and hospitalised at Maitland with Chronic Gastritis, after treatment he was discharged to return home thereby missing out on the on the fight at Gibeon on 27 April 1915.
The choice facing the combatants who had now been discharged was either to take the fight to the Germans in the East African theatre or the Western Front or, simply, to pack it all in and go home – this was, after all, a voluntary army at work. Greaves, deciding that the war was not yet over for him, looked at the various options open to him. At that time the Royal Flying Corps was in an expansion phase and extensive recruiting was being undertaken in the far reaches of the Empire for suitable young men to train as airmen. The much fabled Major Allister Miller, who is credited with being one of the founding fathers of South African aviation, was tasked with recruiting 30 pilots from South Africa. The response was so overwhelming that Miller was eventually able to choose almost 450 suitable young men, all of whom eventually qualified as pilots after receiving training in the United Kingdom. Spoilt for choice he was able to select the very best from the plethora of young chaps who came forward.
Greaves was among the successful candidates and, on 26 September 1918, boarded the H.M.T. “Umvuma” at Cape Town, destination England, where he was appointed as a Flight Cadet in what was now the Royal Air Force. Assigned no. 316643, he was attached to the C.D.D. for a matter of weeks before the signing of the Armistice took place and, suddenly, the war was over. Greaves was discharged from the R.A.F. on 16 December 1918 in consequence thereof and sailed for home.
His medals for the Great War were issued by two different authorities – the 1914/15 Star and bilingual Victory Medal by the South African Government and the British War Medal by the Imperial authorities.
On returning to Newcastle he immersed himself, once more, in his profession as an Optician, interspersed with his duties as a Sworn Appraiser. Continuing his relationship with the Natal Carbineers he was promoted to the rank of Squadron Sergeant Major in April 1923. The peacetime role of an Active Citizen Force soldier was one of drills, parades and other activities designed to keep the volunteers fighting fit and ever ready and Frank Greaves was no exception, fulfilling his military obligations without complaint. He was also very civic minded and served as Mayor of Newcastle from 1921 to 1923.
On 23 August 1923 a request for his promotion was recommended and forwarded by the O.C. 2nd Mounted Rifles (2nd Natal Carbineers) This recommendation was endorsed and approved and, on 8 September 1923 the Adjutant General’s Office wrote to the District Staff Officer, No. 4 Military District, Pietermaritzburg granting “approval for the appointment of Squadron Sergt. Major Frank Greaves to commissioned rank” with effect from 4 September 1923.
On 21 March 1924, a Medical Report on an Invalid was held at Roberts Heights in respect of Greaves. The disability was defined as Pleurisy contracted at Roberts Heights on 17 March of that year. A 33 year old Greaves had obviously been “exposed” to the cold winter elements in Pretoria whilst on course giving rise to this state of affairs. The Doctor wrote, “Contracted a chill on duty. Developed a small patch of pleurisy in left axillary area, also pains in lumber area.”
As part of the readiness required, Officers and men were put through a seemingly interminable round of Courses (instruction) – Greaves attended Course 120 in April 1924, just out of hospital, and the commandant’s individual report stated, “a good stamp of officer – keen and has good command. Failed to qualify in Military Hygiene paper. This officer was on sick list for a time, which was a handicap.”
Notwithstanding this fact, approval was given for his promotion to full Lieutenant on 11 June 1924 (effective 4 September 1923)
The next occurrence of import in Greaves’ life came on 18 March 1932. This was the day the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal was transmitted to the Officer Commanding for “presentation on a suitable occasion” to Lt. F. Greaves, 2nd N.C. This award, sometimes hard to come by, necessitated 20 years of uninterrupted service in the ranks before application could be made for its award. In Greaves’ case, service in World War 1 was deemed double thereby making him eligible for its award. That wasn’t the only exciting turn of events at around that time; on 21 June 1934 a nomination was sent through for Greaves’ to be promoted to the rank of Captain. The 2nd Natal Carbineers were to be reorganised into a Machine Gun Regiment on 1 July 1934 and it was felt that he should fill a Captain’s post in the unit. A Course was arranged for the 8th November at the Military College in Pretoria as it was “desired to try Lieutenant Greaves with more responsibility.” Quite what happened is unknown but, on 10 November a memorandum was sent “deleting” the name of Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) Greaves from the Nominal Roll of Course 276 G.
It must be remembered that part-time soldiering was an arduous business, not only physically demanding but also demanding on one’s family and, especially, one’s business interests and it must have cost Greaves a substantial amount in time and money terms to attend courses far from home. What would partially have compensated for this sacrifice was the award, on 26 February 1937, of the Volunteers Decoration. This award was for “Efficient and thoroughly capable officers of the Volunteer Force” and was awarded for military service of twenty years.
Greaves was now starting to sport quite an array of medals to add to those he qualified for in World War I.
On 22 June 1938 A Recommendation for Promotion to the substantive rank of Captain was called for with effect from 18 March 1938, this was duly approved and Greaves now had another pip on his epaulette.
Things were hotting up for Greaves – on 9 November 1938 his O.C. wrote to the Adjutant General as follows:
“I have the honour to recommend that Captain Greaves be promoted to the substantive rank of Major from date of qualification on Senior Officers’ Course 381 G. In view of Capt. Greaves long service, it is specially desired that he be made senior to officers Phillips and Henderson. The position has been made clear to the officers concerned.”
This stirred up a veritable hornet’s nest with the A.G. writing back stating that “longer service is not in itself accepted as a reason for the supersession of Capt. Phillips.” This resulted in the request being put on the back burner or “in abeyance” but not for long; Greaves’ O.C. was hell bent on promoting him and now went to the extent of submitting a letter from Phillips wherein he stated that he had no objection to being superseded. This was on 25 April 1939.
Smelling a rat the A.G. fired back on 28 August 1939 (this was two weeks before war broke out) asking for a copy of the minute addressed to Capt. Phillips by the O.C. 2nd R.N.C. to which Capt. Phillips’ letter was a reply.
There was of course, no letter and the O.C. Natal Command had to step in to save the blushes of his colleague by writing to the A.G. stating that Phillips’ had not been written to but had been “spoken to personally”. The upshot of all of this was that Greaves was promoted to the substantive rank of Major with effect from 14 September 1939.
South Africa, at the start of the war, was in a state of unpreparedness and it took almost eight months and sometimes longer to get the necessary infrastructure and logistics together before the thousands of volunteers who were enlisting could be brought on strength. On 14 August 1940 Greaves, a veteran of the Great War and a long serving soldier in a peace-time capacity, was deployed as a Company Commander with the F.F.B. – Field Force Brigade as a Captain (Acting Major) on a pay scale of 23/6 per day and free medical attendance for himself only. The employment was regarded as purely temporary and subject to being passed as Fit after a medical examination. Should he pass as Fit; Greaves was to make his way to Ladysmith by the earliest train, a warrant being provided for this purpose. Deployments to either the F.F.B. or the S.S.B. – Special Service Brigade – were, in many quarters, regarded as being reserved for those who weren’t “up to” an Infantry or front-line posting either through age or, in many instances, lack of competence. Greaves was only months away from his 50th birthday at this point which would answer why he was destined for the F.F.B.
Having been made the offer as far back as 6 April 1940, Greaves accepted the appointment and made plans to be in Ladysmith on 12 April of that year. Having arrived in Ladysmith Greaves found himself to be surplus to requirements and a waiting game was now the order of the day. Not long after he was posted to the I.R.T.D. - Infantry Reserve Training Depot – at Zonderwater outside Pretoria, which is where he was when the A.G. asked for a report on him to be furnished to them a.s.a.p. The report was duly sent on 6 December 1940 and read as follows:
“This officer has qualified in the following courses,
• 613 M – Mortars
• 509 M – Bren Gun
• 552 M – Platoon Sergts.
• 617 M – Vickers
• 697 M – Cover & Camouflage
Major Greaves has been under my command for three months. I have found him a most useful officer. He is an experienced soldier and has a sound military knowledge.
Major Greaves has my entire confidence.
(Signed) D.N. De Wet
Lieut. Colonel”
The powers that be must have liked what they saw and Greaves was posted permanently to the I.R.T.D. but, like all things in a time of war, the posting was to prove to be a temporary one. On 20 February 1941 he was on the list for transfer to the Cape Corps base in Kimberley. Required to assume duty on 6 March 1941 Greaves was attached to the 17th M.T. Company, part of the General Service Corps (G.S.C.).
Just back to the courses attended for a moment – the remarks made by his Instructors at the Military College make for some interesting reading. On one occasion they said the following:
“A Senior Officer, who, in spite of his experience is most disappointing, although he has qualified in weapons his knowledge of them is average and he cannot employ them tactically. Is unlikely to inspire confidence in subordinates.”
On another occasion, “Below the average of the course, but has quite a good knowledge of tactics. Inclined to be slow and indecisive. Benefited considerably from the instruction, and improved towards the end of the course” and, just to indicate that he was not a complete dunce, “Very keen and interested, though somewhat slow. Good instructional ability. Will make a good Coy. Officer.”
15 October 1941 found Greaves the O.C. of 163 Works Coy., Cape Corps, S.A.E.C. A transfer to 159th Works Coy, S.A.E.C. at Premier Camp was now in the offing in August 1942 and on 20 August the transfer of “this officer” from the Cape Corps to the S.A.E.C. was requested. He was now attached to the E.R.T.D. – Engineer Training Depot. Sadly though he was not absorbed into the S.A.E.C. and the request was made that he be transferred to “some other arm of the service”
On 27 November he was instructed to report to the C.A.T.D. where he was to await further instructions – if Greaves was developing the impression that no-one wanted him he could be excused as it certainly appears to have been the case.
On 5 December 1942 he requested a transfer to the Cape Corps or I.M.C. (Indian and Malay Corps) as he “is accustomed to handling non-Europeans and can speak Zulu.” The transfer was recommended and Greaves was, with effect from 1 January 1943, transferred to the 3rd (Natal Scottish) Battalion, 1st Reserve Brigade where he was placed temporarily in command until Lt. Colonel Sumner arrived.
Greaves wasn’t getting any younger and, as has been seen, was flitting like a butterfly from unit to unit until someone decided to retain his services. A man’s self-esteem can only take so much and it came as no surprise when, on 21 May 1943, approval was granted for his permanent release having been medically boarded “E”. Greaves now returned home to Oakdene, Newcastle which is to where, on 23 September 1943, the Commissioner of Pensions wrote to him as follows:
“I beg to inform you that following the Medical Board held on you in Johannesburg on 5 June 1943, the Military Pensions Board has accepted your claim in respect of effects of coronary thrombosis as arising out of and in the course of the discharge of your military duties and award you a conditional pension of £ 184 per annum based on 80% disablement for the period 5 October 1943 to 30 September 1944.
All told Greaves had 17 years and 6 months service as a Commissioned Officer to add to his 3 years 7 months of Full Time service during the war. A total of 21 ½ years in uniform.
Frank Greaves died at Newcastle Hospital, to quote from his obituary which appeared in The Star on 2 July 1953, “last night at the age of 62 after a long illness. He was a well known personality throughout Natal and was the only son of the late Senator Frank Graves.
Major Greaves was a former Mayor of Newcastle from 1921 to 1923 and as Mayor officiated at the opening of the first iron works in the town.
He represented the Northern Districts at Rugby, golf and cricket and in 1912 played Currie Cup cricket for Natal. He was for many years Messenger of the Court and also chairman of the B.E.S.L. and the Discharged Soldiers Demobilisation League.
Greaves was survived by his wife and daughter, Dorothy Mary Mabel Wilkinson. His two sons had predeceased him; Frank Greaves in 1936 and John Halford Greaves in 1937 (they were both minors) He left behind a 1948 model Hudson and the contents of his optician and jewellers shop at 70 Scott St. Newcastle, in addition to an estate valued at £ 18 437.
On his tombstone in the family plot in Newcastle stand the words, “At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we shall remember him. We shall meet again.”
Sold with a quantity of research including group photos wherein Greaves appears.
