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Sgt. Senior of the King Williams Town Town Guard 7 years 1 week ago #52517

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Henry Stanham Senior

Sergeant, No. IV Company, King William’s Town Guard – Anglo Boer War

- Queens South Africa Medal to 59 Serjt. H.S. Senior, K.W.T.T.G.

Harry Senior was born in St. George, Middlesex, England the son of Thomas Senior and his wife Lucy on 25 February 1858. At the time of his baptism on 19 March the family were reported to be living in Half Moon Street and his father’s occupation was given as Servant.


Harry Senior is sixth from the left in the middle row of this 1908 photo

Three years later, during the 1861 England census the family had moved to 34 Long Acre in London, the site of the “Kings Arms” – a public house of which Mr Senior, having risen in the world, was the Publican. This profession was not without its dangers and the Morning Advertiser of June 12, 1862 carried an article wherein under “Middlesex Sessions”, Thomas Senior featured. The article read as follows,

“John Lamont and John Edwards were indicted for unlawfully attempting to steal a gold watch and guard chain, value £21, the property of Thomas Senior, from his person. The prosecutor was Mr Senior, was the landlord of the Kings Arms public-house, Long Acre and he deposed that on the morning of the 23rd May at 3 o’ clock he went over to a public-house opposite, the Blue Boar’s Head, and was drinking brandy and soda water in front of the bar with some friends. The prisoner Lamont got in front of him and began talking, and directly he felt his watch drawn from his pocket. He saw the watch guard in his hand, and immediately charged with him with attempting to steal it, and gave him in charge.

The jury found both prisoners guilty.”

At some point Harry Senior elected to relocate to South Africa where he made a home for himself in King Williams Town in the Eastern Cape. A keen cricketer he soon immersed himself in the social life of this small frontier town which had been the base of many a regiment during the various Kafir Wars over the years.

Joining the local Militia he was a member of E Squadron and was, in August 1898, recorded as having represented them at cricket against the Saracens followed by the Recreation Club and then the Wanderers in December of that year. He switched sides for the next round of matches playing for the “Casuals” against the “Chancers” in February 1899. All of these tranquil small town pastimes were taking place against the backdrop of impending war.

In October 1899 the two Boer Republics of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State declared war on Great Britain and, although the threat was very much distant in the initial stages of the conflict, Boer Commandos slowly began to move south into the Cape Colony in their quest for the sea. According to the 1899 King Williams Town Voters Roll, Senior was a Salesman by occupation. Along with most small towns a call to arms was made and heeded by the local men – King Williams Town was no different and a Town Guard was hastily put together to help ward off any potential Boer incursion.

Senior enlisted on 18 February 1901 as a Sergeant with no. 59 and was deployed to help man the town’s defences. Most Town Guard chaps kept their employment and would turn out for drill and night guard duty – ever vigilant in case of a potential Boer attack. For his efforts he was awarded the Queens Medal issued off the medal roll dated 10 March 1906.

Nothing more was heard from Senior until he passed away in Grey’s Hospital on 5 January 1936 at the age of 77 years 11 months. A retired Drapery Salesman by occupation his end wasn’t a pleasant one – the Coroner returning a verdict of suicide, “death due to gunshot wound self-inflicted.” He took almost 3 ½ hours before finally expiring. A bachelor all his life Senior bequeathed the sum of £30 to Jane Simpson, a widow “for her kindness and nursing attention to me.” He also bequeathed the same amount to one Carl Heinrich Grosse. He further directed that his clothing be distributed among the “store boys of Messrs. Beauchamp, Booth and Company” and his furniture be sold and the money realised to be given to his nephew Hugh Watson of Brakpan, Transvaal.








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