Note 10 — Chapter V

Lieutenant-Colonel Spreckley was the son of the late Mr. George Spreckley of Derby, and was born in 1865. After spending four years on an ostrich farm, he joined the British Bechuanaland Police in 1885, and remained two years. He was quartermaster in the South Africa Company’s pioneer expedition to Mashonaland in 1890, and a Mining Commissioner in Rhodesia from 1891 to 1894. He served with the Salisbury Horse against the Matabele in 1893 and 1894, for which he was awarded a medal, and on the outbreak of the Matabele rebellion in 1896 he was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the volunteer force which fought against the rebels. He greatly distinguished himself during that campaign, and Sir Frederick Carrington spoke highly of him in his despatches. He did good service in the conduct of a successful engagement at Umquasa, and commanded an important patrol to Shiloh and Inyati. His services were rewarded with a C.M.G. He was manager of the Willoughby Consolidated Company at Buluwayo. He, with Colonel Plumer, had fought during the various engagements on the Transvaal border, and was present at the relief of Mafeking.