Boyd Robert Horsbrugh
Encyclopedia
Boyd Robert Horsbrugh was an English ornithologist and military man, best known for his 1912 book The Gamebirds and Waterfowl of South Africa, a collaborative work with Claude Gibney Finch-Davies.
and the Royal Military Academy
at Sandhurst.
from 1898–99 and saw service during the Bai Bureh
rebellion. For his services during this operation, he was awarded the Protectorate Expedition Medal with clasp.
While stationed in Sierra Leone he became a lifelong member of the Avicultural Society of Great Britain, occasionally contributing articles to their journal. A local chief brought him birds to study, one of which was a hornbill that became a valued pet until killed by another pet - a Large-spotted Genet (Genetta tigrina). He also raised two African Grey parrots that became his constant companions and learnt to talk, as well as a turaco
that regularly shared an early morning bath with him. Horsbrugh had an undoubted skill with and an understanding of wild birds.
to take part in the Boer War
. He served mainly with Lord Methuen
and was promoted to Captain early in 1900.
In May of that same year he came under fire from the Boer forces while fording the Rhenoster River. He was among the troops that relieved the town of Lindley
and the 13th Yeomanry Battalion on 27 June 1900. For the next two years he was moved all over the country in a seemingly endless war. His duties took up much of his time and energy, so that he published no bird articles during this period.
Just before the end of the war in 1902, he was invalided back to England. For his services he received the Queen's Medal
with three clasps and the King's Medal with two clasps.
. He devoted a large amount of time to studying particularly gamebirds and waterfowl in their natural habitat. During his tour he met, courted and married Elizabeth Mitchell of Philadelphia. She was to prove a steadfast partner who shared a lasting interest in birds.
, where he and his wife were allocated an officer's house on top of Naval Hill. It was an idyllic location, teeming with birds. Horsbrugh built some large aviaries in the garden so as to acquire first-hand knowledge of their breeding and habits.
In June 1905 his younger brother, C.B. Horsbrugh (1874–1952), joined them on Naval Hill, but soon took up employment with the Transvaal Museum
in Pretoria
under Dr. J. W. B. Gunning
. Besides hunting together, the two brothers often made trips into the veld to study birds in their natural habitat.
When C.B. Horsbrugh returned to England in 1907, he also took along a considerable collection of live South African birds, causing great excitement in the avicultural world.
Early life
He was born the elder son of Charles Bell Horsbrugh, a Captain and Adjutant of the 2nd Central India Horse, later the Central India Horse. At an early age he was sent to England, attending Wellington CollegeWellington College, Berkshire
-Former pupils:Notable former pupils include historian P. J. Marshall, architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, impressionist Rory Bremner, Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge, author Sebastian Faulks, language school pioneer John Haycraft, political journalist Robin Oakley, actor Sir Christopher...
and the Royal Military Academy
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
at Sandhurst.
Military service
On 25 February 1893 he joined the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, serving in Ceylon with them for two years. He was transferred to the Army Service Corps in 1895 and was posted to Ireland where he was promoted to Lieutenant in 1896.Sierra Leone
Horsbrugh was stationed in Sierra LeoneSierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
from 1898–99 and saw service during the Bai Bureh
Bai Bureh
Bai Bureh was a Sierra Leonean ruler and military strategist who led the Temne and Loko uprising against British rule in 1898 in Northern Sierra Leone.-Early life:...
rebellion. For his services during this operation, he was awarded the Protectorate Expedition Medal with clasp.
While stationed in Sierra Leone he became a lifelong member of the Avicultural Society of Great Britain, occasionally contributing articles to their journal. A local chief brought him birds to study, one of which was a hornbill that became a valued pet until killed by another pet - a Large-spotted Genet (Genetta tigrina). He also raised two African Grey parrots that became his constant companions and learnt to talk, as well as a turaco
Turaco
The turacos make up the bird family Musophagidae , which includes plantain-eaters and go-away-birds. In southern Africa both turacos and go-away-birds are commonly known as louries. They are semi-zygodactylous - the fourth toe can be switched back and forth...
that regularly shared an early morning bath with him. Horsbrugh had an undoubted skill with and an understanding of wild birds.
Boer War
1899 saw him back in England for only a short while before being drafted to South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
to take part in the Boer War
Boer War
The Boer Wars were two wars fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Oranje Vrijstaat and the Republiek van Transvaal ....
. He served mainly with Lord Methuen
Paul Methuen, 3rd Baron Methuen
Field Marshal Paul Sanford Methuen, 3rd Baron Methuen GCB, GCMG, GCVO was a British military commander.-Early life:...
and was promoted to Captain early in 1900.
In May of that same year he came under fire from the Boer forces while fording the Rhenoster River. He was among the troops that relieved the town of Lindley
Lindley, Free State
Lindley is a small town situated on the banks of the Vals River in the eastern region of the Free State province of South Africa. It was established by an American Presbyterian missionary named Daniel Lindley, who was the first ordained minister to the Voortrekkers in Natal.The settlement of...
and the 13th Yeomanry Battalion on 27 June 1900. For the next two years he was moved all over the country in a seemingly endless war. His duties took up much of his time and energy, so that he published no bird articles during this period.
Just before the end of the war in 1902, he was invalided back to England. For his services he received the Queen's Medal
Queen's South Africa Medal
The Queen's South Africa Medal was awarded to military personnel who served in the Boer War in South Africa between 11 October 1899 and 31 May 1902. Units from the British Army, Royal Navy, colonial forces who took part , civilians employed in official capacity and war correspondents...
with three clasps and the King's Medal with two clasps.
Tour of the United States
As part of his convalescence in 1902, Horsbrugh emarked on an extensive tour of the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He devoted a large amount of time to studying particularly gamebirds and waterfowl in their natural habitat. During his tour he met, courted and married Elizabeth Mitchell of Philadelphia. She was to prove a steadfast partner who shared a lasting interest in birds.
Return to South Africa
After a stay of two years in Kent, Horsbrugh was again sent to South Africa in 1905 to enforce the imperial peace. He was posted to BloemfonteinBloemfontein
Bloemfontein is the capital city of the Free State Province of South Africa; and, as the judicial capital of the nation, one of South Africa's three national capitals – the other two being Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Pretoria, the administrative capital.Bloemfontein is popularly and...
, where he and his wife were allocated an officer's house on top of Naval Hill. It was an idyllic location, teeming with birds. Horsbrugh built some large aviaries in the garden so as to acquire first-hand knowledge of their breeding and habits.
In June 1905 his younger brother, C.B. Horsbrugh (1874–1952), joined them on Naval Hill, but soon took up employment with the Transvaal Museum
Transvaal Museum
""The Ditsong National Museum of Natural History, formerly Transvaal Museum, is a natural history museum situated in Pretoria, South Africa....
in Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
under Dr. J. W. B. Gunning
J. W. B. Gunning
Jan Willem Boudewijn Gunning , was director of the Transvaal Museum and a medical practitioner....
. Besides hunting together, the two brothers often made trips into the veld to study birds in their natural habitat.
Return to England
The Horsbrughs left for England in July 1906 on four months' leave, and took along a large number of live birds. On the train trip from Bloemfontein to Cape Town, Boyd Horsbrugh travelled in the guard's van to ensure the proper feeding and care of his charges.When C.B. Horsbrugh returned to England in 1907, he also took along a considerable collection of live South African birds, causing great excitement in the avicultural world.