Vere Palgrave Stent (1872-1941) Journalist and war correspondent, theatre critic, playwright and author Born in Queenstown, Cape Colony in 1872, Vere was the son of the architect Sydney Stent,[1] and the brother of the actor Lionel B.
[2] He initially worked for the De Beers mine, and later became a news correspondent with various newspapers: Stent served in Raaff's Rangers,[3] the Chartered Company's Irregular Forces 1893 as Sub-Lieutenant promoted Lieutenant and then Captain, November 1893; served with Colonel Gould-Adam's column entering Matabeleland from south, representing the Transvaal Advertiser; he resigned his commission on conclusion of the war, In December 1893 he was correspondent to the Press, Pretoria, and on General Joubert's staff through the Malaboch War in 1894, also correspondent with General Schalk Burgher through the Low Country Campaign of 1894.
Stent was present at battle of Thaba Amamba and Matoppo Campaign under Gen. Plumer; he accompanied Cecil Rhodes to the Great Indaba with Rebels,[4][5] and was mentioned in despatches by Gen. Carrington.
[6][7] Stent represented the Reuters News Agency during the Siege of Mafeking from 1899 to 1900;[8] In 1900 he accompanied the 11th Division under Gen. Pole-Carew to Komati Poort.
Besides many articles and reviews, his best known publications include Short South African Stories (1909, compiled with his sister, Joan) and A Personal Record of Some Incidents in the Life of Cecil Rhodes.