TOPIC:

William Bell Scott Leathart was born in 1878 at Bracken Dene House, Low Fell, Gateshead. Bracken Dene House still stands and was recently on the market for offer in excess of £1.5m. The inset in the photograph describes the Bracken Dene estate when it was put up for sale in 1897.



William was the 13th of 14 children born to James Leathart (1820-1895) and Maria Hedley (1840-1899). He would have spent his childhood years surrounded by paintings of various Victorian artists including the Pre-Raphaelites – these days the collection would be worth many millions of pounds. They would have included these three all painted about 15 years before William was born.



On the left his father painted in 1863 by Ford Maddox Brown, in the centre his mother painted in 1862 by Dante Gabriel Rossetti and on the right his mother and three eldest sisters painted in 1864 by Arthur Hughes. There you have three names to conjure with – three members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Other visitors to the house are known to have included William Morris & John Ruskin.

The Pre-Raphaelites even contributed to William’s name as William Bell Scott was another member of the Brotherhood and was William’s Godfather, who was reported to be at loggerheads with John Ruskin.

Look through the window in the painting of William’s father, James, and you see a factory and small ship sailing on the River Tyne. James gained his wealth from being an industrialist – he was born in Alston in Cumbria, a lead mining area. His father was a struggling mining engineer in Alston but James was a youth of enterprise and aged 14 secured an apprenticeship at one of the major lead manufacturer’s in England, based in Newcastle upon Tyne. He rose rapidly through the ranks and by the age of 31 had become the managing partner of the firm and their factory is depicted in Ford Maddox Brown’s painting. The ship reflects that he was also a Director of a ship building firm.

In 1858 James married well, to Maria Hedley, the daughter of the Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne who was a soap manufacturer. James had Bracken Dene built for them to live in, raise a family and display his art collection. By this time he was also Honorary Secretary to the Newcastle School of Art whose Principal was William Bell Scott.

The 1891 Census found 12 year old William studying at the privately run “Eastman’s Training School for H.M.S. Britannia” located at 28 South Parade, Southsea, an establishment to which Charles Dickens had sent one of his sons 30 years earlier. H.M.S Britannia was a Naval Training Establishment based in Southsea.

So William seems to have been bent on a naval career but something changed as he ended his school days at Rossall School in Fleetwood, Lancashire. How do we know this? – because he is listed on their Boer War Memorial and an October 1898 newspaper lists him as a member of the Old Rossallians Hockey Team. He seems to have been a bit of a sportsman, as the Lichfield Mercury tells us he and one of his elder brothers, Percival Wilson Leathart, played in the “Lichfield County Tennis Tournament” in July 1898. They both lost in the first round of the men’s singles but did rather better in the men’s doubles making it to the second round. When playing with Miss A Sale, William did even better as they progressed to the semi-finals.

In 1897 William became apprenticed to John Simpson, a mining engineer at Heworth Colliery which was just two miles to the north of Bracken Dene. One would assume this came as a bit of culture shock to William and during his time there four underground deaths occurred – two due to small rock/coal falls and two due to the workers being hit by the waggons used to transport the hewn coal, they ranged in age from 14 to 48.

On the 15 January 1900, William attested for one year’s service in the Imperial Yeomanry and gave his occupation as “Mining Engineer”. At the medical on the next day he was recorded as being 5 ft 9 inches tall and weighing in at 12 stone. His complexion was described as fair, his eyes blue and his hair dark – so presumably he did not inherit his mother’s red hair. By the time he attested both his parents were dead, his father died in 1895 and his mother in 1899. Consequently he gave Percival as his next of kin. It would appear that the 1897 sale of Bracken Dene was not proceeded with as William gave Percival’s address as Bracken Dene, Low Fell, Gateshead.

William was assigned to the 55th (Northumberland) Company, 14th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry and given the regimental number of 10039. The 55th Company departed for South Africa 3 months later from Albert Docks, London aboard the SS Winkfield (Transport Ship 99).

William and his comrades came close to never seeing South Africa when the Winkfield, still 80 miles from Capetown, collided in fog with a passenger ship, the SS Mexican. According to second hand newspaper reports the side of the Mexican was split down to the waterline and the bow of the Winkfield was badly buckled and the Mexican sank the next day. However, we do not have to rely on second hand reports alone as two of William’s comrades described the incident in letters they sent home which were published in local papers:-

Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail 2 May 1900

ACCOUNT OF THE WINKFIELD COLLISION.

Private J. A. Bex, of the 55th Company of the Imperial Yeomanry, and late of the Daily Mail staff, West Hartlepool, sends us an account of the collision of the Winkfield with the Mexican, 80 miles from Cape Town on April 5th. He relates that on the night before the collision the Imperial Yeomanry turned in at 9.30 p.m., and afterwards spent a merry time, as it was expected to be the last night on board prior to reaching Cape Town. It was like a last night in camp, the singing of songs and general hilarity making sleep absolutely impossible. Towards 1 a.m., however things moderated, and soon all was quiet, when the ship’s foghorn was set going.

A thick fog had just come on, and in about five or six minutes the look-out man shouted, “Light on the starboard bow, sir” and immediately the engines of the Winkfield were put full speed astern. He (Private Bex) was awake at the time and looked through the port-hole just in time to see the Mexican emerge from a fogbank and crash into the Winkfield. He thought his end had come, and would never forget the experiences that followed. The terrible crash awakened everybody, and many rushed on deck after getting lifebelts. But there was no confusion or undue excitement. All were quiet and orderly, and when the men fell in at their allotted places perfect silence prevailed. The order was given to prepare the boats and everything made ready for the possible abandonment of the Winkfield. Numbers of men had nothing on except their shirts, and as the night was very foggy and a heavy mist was falling it was most miserable.

Captain Goldbourne, of the Winkfield, was on the bridge, and his splendid example of coolness and courage was followed by his officers and crew; while Captian Roden, of the Imperial Yeomanry, manifested similar qualities, and received every support from his officers and men. It was then discovered that the damage to the Winkfield was not serious, and that she was in no danger of foundering. But the Mexican began showing signals of distress, and Capt. Goldbourne asked for volunteers to man the boats, as he intended to make an effort to save the passengers on the Mexican, which he thought was sinking rapidly. The call for volunteers was received with a loud cheer and instantly numbers of the Yeomanry gave themselves up to the perilous work of rescue. It was then seen that the Mexican was in no immediate danger of sinking and the Captain of the Winkfield decided to wait till daybreak before launching the boats. Increased signals of distress however compelled Captain Goldbourne to give the order to go, and two boats, each in charge of one of the Winkfield’s officers, put off from the ship. A good look out was kept all around the Winkfield as it was known that some boats had been sent off from the Mexican with passengers. About 4.30 a.m. one boat came alongside, but owing to the heavy seas she had great difficulty in getting near the companion ladder. However, the boat at last succeeded in doing so, and the pasengers were safely landed. They included several women, about a dozen men, and two or three children. They presented a pitiful appearance. Some had scarcely any clothes on, and were wrapped in ship’s blankets, which were saturated through by the heavy seas. It was then ascertained that the Mexican had 140 pasengers on board and a large number of mails for England and that she had left Cape Town at four o’clock the previous afternoon. The force of the collision had carried away her bridge, part of the upper deck, together with some of her boats and davits aft. Shortly after five a.m., the narrative continues, the welcome dawn arrived. The seas continued heavy, but they did not interfere with the work of rescue. Six more boats were sent off, and altogether fifteen boats were counted in the water, all crowded with a living freight, and making for the Winkfield. The occupants of the first few boats to arrive – after the one already mentioned – consisted entirely of the crew of the Mexican. When they were asked to go back and assist in saving the remaining passengers they absolutely refused to do so, and their boats had to be manned and taken back by the crew of the Winkfield and members of the Imperial Yeomanry.

At 10 a.m. all the passengers were landed, and then the work of bringing off the mails was proceeded with. This continued till 11 a.m., when another steamer hove in sight, which proved to be the transport Montrose, from Liverpool, with the Pembrokeshire Yeomanry on board. She offered her assistance, which was, however, not needed, and after some delay, during which she lowered a boat, she steamed off towards Cape Town. As the Mexican was riding the sea fairly well it was decided to take her in tow. Although the Winkfield was badly damaged forward, the satisfactory speed of five knots was made, but at the end of an hour and a half the Mexican signalled that she must be abandoned as she was rapidly making water. The hawser was cut adrift and the Captain and officers came on board. At seven o’clock she was finally abandoned. Those on board the Winkfield watched her till her lights suddenly disappeared, when all concluded she had sunk. At daybreak the next morning Table Mountain came into view, and the Winkfield dropped anchor in the magnificant bay, which was filled with transports and all kinds of craft. On the following day the 55th Company marched through Cape Town to Maitland Camp and had their first taste of real soldiering.

Orkney Herald 9 May 1900

LETTER FROM AN ORCADIAN AT THE FRONT.

The following is an extract from a letter received from Mr D. Fred. M’Neill, son of the Rev. Dr M’Neill, of Holm, who is a trooper in the 55th Company, Imperial Yeomanry, and was on board the transport Winkfield, which collided with the Mexican:-

Maitland Camp, Cape Town, 9th April 1900.

……..About 1.30 a.m. last Wednesday, as we were all sleeping soundly in our hammocks, we were awakened by a terrific crash and heard a yell, “All hands on deck and man the boats!”. We seized life-belts and rushed on deck to our boats, and soon had them swung out and manned. Then the Captain came along and said we were not badly damaged, and that in the meantime there was no danger. This was good news for us, as you may imagine, as there had been a gale for two days, and the sea was running pretty high. The Captain said he had to lie to, to see if the other vessel required any assistance. In a short time the other vessel fired five guns, and sent up rockets, which meant she was in need of assistance, so our military captain came and asked for volunteers to go and help her. I was selected with three others to go in the first boat. We scrambled into the boat and were lowered into the sea, and were nearly swamped to start with. We got away but could see nothing, as it was dark as pitch. We pulled away for an hour, and once when we were on top of a wave, we saw a rocket go up from her, and we pulled for her for all we were worth. We met a boatload of sailors coming from her; we asked if there were ladies on board, and they said they were, and they said the vessel was sinking fast, and refused to go back with us to save them, so we had to go by ourselves. We got about twenty on board, and pulled back to the Winkfield with them, and got three more boats from her back with us again for the rest of the passengers. We made four trips between the other vessel and ours and got all the passengers and all the crew and nearly all the mails safely on board our boat. The other vessel proved to be the Union liner Mexican, from Cape to Southampton, five hours out with mails and passengers. The ladies were in a terrible state , as most of them had nothing on but their sleeping apparel, which was not very much. As there are no cabins on board a troopship, we set off a piece of the troop deck for them by putting ropes across and hanging blankets over them. The Mexican still floated, so her Captain tried to get his crew to go on board for the ladies luggage, but they refused, as they said she might sink at any minute as she had been struck admidships and there was a big hole in her side. The Yeomanry volunteered to get it, and off we set again and succeeded in getting most of the luggage on board, much to the pleasure of the ladies as may well be imagined. I never saw such a set as the crew of the Mexican in my life. Utter cowards they were, and no sooner were they on board our boat than they started grumbling at not getting some drink, but we watched them and set a guard over the spirit room, so they could not break it open if they tried to rush it. We next tried to tow the Mexican to Cape Town, but she gradually settled down, so we cut the hawser and stood by to see the last of her. We lost sight of her at eight o’clock and concluded she had sunk, but we lay to all night to make sure, and in the morning, as she could not be seen, we came on to Cape Town and dropped anchor in Table Bay on Friday.

I have a splendid chestnut mare (thoroughbred), a hunter, that can go like a bird. Eighteen of us are to go on outpost duty tomorrow, thirty miles from here, as the Boers have been trying to break up the railway and the bridges. On Saturday night the patrol was fired on, but no one was seriously hurt……..I am enjoying this immensely. D Fred M’Neill.

So two accounts from a rather different perspective – one from an observer of the rescue operation and the other from a participant in the rescue operation. It is very likely that William was one of the other three rowing alonside Fred M’Neill as his 1901 obituary has this to say “In the collision which occurred between the Winkfield and the Mexican shortly before the former steamer’s arrival at Capetown, W. B. S. Leathart was one of the first to volunteer to man the boats which rendered such invaluable service in rescuing the Mexican’s passengers and crew.” William would have been an obvious choice for selection as no doubt during his schooling days at Southsea he had gained experience in rowing at sea.

Two further letters home tell us what the 55th Company got up to in the two months after they eventually landed at Capetown on 7th April 1900. The Winkfield’s bow was repaired when she returned to England and then she returned to being a troopship until after the war had ended. A Board of Trade Inquiry was held into the collision and both Captains were exonerated of blame.

Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail 2 May 1900

THE LOCAL YEOMANRY - 55TH COMPANY AT SANNA’S POST

Private J A Bex, of the 55th Company, 14th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry, and late of the Northern Daily Mail staff, West Hartlepool, has sent us a letter dated Sanna’s Post, Orange River Colony, May 28th, the place where the disaster to our arms took place on March 31st, a convoy and seven guns being captured by the Boers. The Company received sudden orders to leave Bloemfontein and march due east. When they started it was announced that they were to go to Bloemfontein Waterworks, 25 miles from the capital, and the march was accomplished without rations. The Company passed Bushman’s Kop, where on 23rd April, General Ian Hamilton had a skirmish with the enemy. The camp at Sanna’s Post was not very large, and comprised one battery of artillery, a battalion of the Gloucester Regiment and the 55th Company of Yeomanry. The Gloucesters guarded the waterworks, whilst the Yeomanry furnished the patrols and Cossack outposts. At 5.30 a.m. each morning small parties went out to visit the farms in the neighbourhood, and every person found without a pass was brought into camp and detained. The Cossack outposts consisted of three men posted on a Kopje which commanded a good view of the surrounding country. Every waggon, horseman, or person of any kind was stopped, and unless a statisfactory account was given the men were taken prisoners and the waggons detained. Every man in the Company was in best spirits, and declared that this was the best camp they had yet had. The work was of such an interesting character and the rations were better than anything they had previously experienced. The only article of diet which could not be got in sufficient quantity was bread, which was brought from Bloemfontein twice a week, and then the price was one shilling for a very small loaf. The celebrations on the Queen’s Birthday made the most enjoyable day yet spent in the country. The drum and fife band of the Gloucesters led off proceedings after breakfast, and the special dinner consisted of springbok (shot by the officers the previous day), with tender mutton, preserved vegetables, and soup. In the afternoon a football match took place between the Gloucesters and the 55th Company, Private Purdy being the only West Hartlepool represenative on the Yeomanry side. At half time the Yeomanry were leading by one goal to nil, but the Gloucesters gradually wore down their opponents and won comfortably by 3 goals to 1. In the evening the 55th Company gave a smoking concert, over which Captain Roden presided, and some extraordinary talent was unearthed. Later a bonfire was built, rum punch served out, and all the men in camp stood round in a ring to sing the National Anthem. Captain Roden had previously congratulated the 55th Company on the thoroughness of their work and the willingness they had always manifested, and said he had been informed that theirs was the next company that would be sent to join Lord Robert’s force in the Transvaal. At eight o’clock the next following morning one of the patrols rode in with the news that the party had been fired upon, and that Sergeant Spencer, who was in charge, had been shot through the helmet. Immediately Lieutenant Cunningham and twenty men were despatched to the place but after several hours’ search no sign of the enemy was to be seen. On Saturday morning the letters and newspapers came, and when the West Hartlepool contingent learned that West had won the Durham Cup they were besides themselves with joy, and only hoped that West Socker had achieved a similar distinction in the Association competition. The same afternoon about 800 Basutos passed through the camp on the way to Bloemfontein, and during their short stay created much interest. In exchange for pipes, tobacco, knives, &c., they gave the Yeomanry bracelets, necklaces and knobkerries. Proceeding, Private Bex says that Sunday is just the same as any other day in the war. The day’s duties have to be performed the same way, but a difference is made in the diet, an “extra special” being conceded in the shape of fried bacon for breakfast and two quarter pound cakes of Rowntree’s Queen’s chocolate. The men are thoroughly satisfied with this particular camp and were in no hurry to leave it, though they did not expect to remain for more than another week.

Newcastle Courant 30 June 1900

LOCAL YEOMAN’S EXPERIENCE

Corporal T. H. Thorp, of the 55th Company, 14th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry (Northumberland and Durham contingents, C Company), writes as follows from Bloemfontein Waterworks, under date 30th May:- We see more life every day now. After leaving Maitland Camp we rode our horses with full marching kit to Cape Town, then entered the train, and had a three days’ and three nights’ ride, calling at Springfontein; but finding all well, we came right on here. We had a beautiful run, yet saw many sad sights, consisting of graves, pieces of uniforms and helmets, dead horses by the score, and oxen likewise. Arriving at Bloemfontein the first sight that met our eyes was a military funeral, with, in all, ten bodies. These were being taken from the hospital to the cemetery, and were mostly fever cases which had resulted in death. Fortunately we were only there 48 hours, and then set out on this march which occupied one day. We are now living on the best, viz., fresh mutton and lamb daily. We supply guards and patrols day and night, having had to search all farms and houses in order to find firearms and ammunition. When we call they give us a jolly good feed, and all we can carry back to camp in the way of eggs, butter, milk, and vegetables, also poultry. The greatest scarcity of all is tobacco and matches. A few of our fellows have been sent home sick, but on the whole we are in good condition, anxiously waiting to get into action. Of course we are on active service, and our posts are none too safe, but at the same time we want a chance in order to prove our worth at a charge. The water we drink is direct from the reservoirs and is tip-top when flavoured with rum every night. It goes down well. The rum portion of our rations and the gift of chocolates we received is still being issued out, proving most acceptable. Most of us will be quite competent when we return to fill vacancies in laundries, having all this sort of thing to do daily. We have some good sport in the way of shooting (the cartridges used are found all over the place and reserved for the purpose). There are any amount of deer to “pot”, so venison is a common dish at present. We bathe in the Modder River about 3 p.m., and it is absolutely charmimg after a heavy morning. Sergt. Fred Spencer narrowly escaped being shot a few days since, the bullet passing through his helmet. Since then we have collared four prisoners in the same direction.

Unfortunately, these two letters were written only two days apart. Private J A Bex does write another letter to his old paper in July 1900 but all we are told is that he has been in No.9 General Hospital in Bloemfontein for 3 weeks suffering from fever but he is now better and hopes to rejoin his regiment, now in the Kroonstad district, shortly. He also reported that “numbers” of his company were in hospital.

We know from William’s obituary that he was sent to hospital in Bloemfontein, presumably the same one as Private Bex, at the end of November 1900 and never returned to active service. So William spent just under 8 months on active service on South African soil. As far as I can ascertain only 3 members of the 55th Company were killed owing to enemy action during this 8 months – 1 at Virginia on 1 October 1900 and 2 at Doorn River on 5 November 1900. Rather more died of disease.

William’s obituary appeared in the Newcastle Daily Chronicle of 18 March 1901:

DEATH OF A LOCAL YEOMAN

William Bell Scott Leathart died from enteric fever on the 13th instant, at Bloemfontein. He sailed with the 55th Company Imperial Yeomanry on 13th March 1900, in the S.S. Winkfield. In the collision which occurred between the Winkfield and the Mexican shortly before the former steamer’s arrival at Capetown, W. B. S. Leathart was one of the first to volunteer to man the boats which rendered such invaluable service in rescuing the Mexican’s passengers and crew. On reaching Capetown, he was stationed at first at Maitland Camp. He then proceeded to Bloemfontein and Sanna’s Post, assisting to defend the waterworks from the attacks of the Boers. Thence he went with the rest of his company to the Zand River and Doorn Kop, where he took part in several engagements with the enemy, and proved himself to be a most efficient scout. Illness soon made itself felt among the men of the 55th; and those who retained their health were subjected to a severe strain. This proved too much for Leathart’s strength, and at the end of November last he was seized by enteric fever, and sent to Bloemfontein. After several weeks of severe illness he became convalescent; but instead of being invalided home, he was kept out in South Africa, and hoped to be soon back to his regiment. It is to be feared, however, that detention in the insanitary town of Bloemfontein is responsible for the second attack of enteric, to which he succumbed on Wednesday last.

W. B. S. Leathart was 22 years of age, and was the youngest son of the late James Leathart, J. P. of Bracken Dene, Low Fell. At the time of the Colenso disaster, he was serving his time to be a mining engineer at Heworth Colliery under the direction of Mr John Simpson, and promptly volunteered to go to the front. He will be deeply mourned by his many friends at Low Fell and at Heworth Colliery.

A drawing based on a photograph was also included:



William was posthumously awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal with 3 clasps - "Cape Colony", "Orange Free State" and "South Africa 1901"

William’s name appears on 7 different memorials, although two are at the same location.

1. A stained glass window in St Helen’s Church, Low Fell erected by his brothers and sisters. They also erected another window dedicated to their parents – their father was a chuchwarden at St Helen’s for many years.

2. In the same church is a plaque erected by officials and fellow workers from Heworth Colliery and friends in Low Fell.

3. The Low Fell Boer War Memorial: an obelisk topped by a statue of a soldier, unusually located on the pavement of Durham Road, Low Fell, Gateshead. The obelisk bears 5 names of soldiers who fell.

4. The Gateshead Boer War Memorial, an obelisk topped by a statue of a winged Victory, in Saltwell Park, Gateshead. The obelisk bears 154 names, 77 who served and returned and 77 who did not return.

All of the above 4 memorials can be found within a couple of miles of each other. The other three are listed in increasing distance from his home of Bracken Dene, Low Fell.

5. Northumberland & Durham Imperial Yeomanry Boer War Memorial, North Aisle, St Nicholas’ Cathedral, Newcastle upon Tyne. The memorial consists of a stained glass window with a plaque bearing 94 names underneath. An eigth could be claimed here as his name appears on a roll held in the Cathedral Archives naming all the men who volunteered in Newcastle for service in the Imperial Yeomanry during the Boer War.

6. Newcastle upon Tyne Boer War Memorial, Haymarket: an obelisk topped with a statue of a winged Victory. Shields at the base of the bear the names of 370 fallen soldiers.

A five mile journey north from Bracken Dene will bring both the above two memorials in to view but you need to cross northern England going 125 miles SW to get to the last.

7. Rossall School Boer War Memorial, Fleetwood, Lancashire. An intricately carved wooden board within the School Chapel. Bears the names of 17 Old Boys who fell in the Boer War plus 2 who fell in the Indian Frontier Wars of 1897-1898.

All the above memorials have already been posted by other forummers, especially Berenice.

Footnotes:

Towards the end of his life James Leahart’s lead manufactory ran into financial difficulties caused by competition from cheap foreign imports and he had to sell off some of his treasured paintings. After his death in 1895 the financial situation worsened and the majority of the paintings were sold at Christie’s in 1897. However, modern day catalogues and books refer to some of the most famous Pre-Raphaelite paintings as “once in the James Leathart collection” as part of their provenance. Maria also contemplated selling Bracken Dene but this obviously did not happen and there were Leatharts still living there at the time of WW2.

William’s elder brother Percival continued to play tennis and also golf and became an ENT Surgeon in Newcastle. He had a son who also became a medic and his obituary reported that he could be seen delivering his children to school in a Rolls Royce before cycling off to work on a decrepit bicycle. In the late 1960’s this grandson helped the Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne to track down the paintings that once made up his grandfather’s collection and an exhibition was held.

Heworth Colliery closed down in 1963.

An excellent post, David. Great research and supporting pictures. Many thanks.

Another painting - of the SS Winkfield found on ArtUK.



Note the date on the caption is in error as the Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette tells me she was launched a week before Christmas 1899 and the voyage with the 55th Company on board was in effect her maiden voyage. Surprisingly none of the previous reports I had read pointed this out. Thus, I think the date should read July 1900 - which fits with the known active dates for the man who painted her. This would mean the painting depicts the start of the Winkfield's second voyage to South Africa after her battered hull had been repaired. July 1900 also fits with the Shipping Records to be found on this Forum:

Dateline Albert Docks, July 27 1900. The Winkfield sailed today with 12 officers, 250 men and 247 horses. Those listed on board were:
13th Hussars – Captain A H R Ogilvy, in command, and Lieutenant A W B Spencer
Remount Officer – Captain W G Eden
2/Yorkshire Light Infantry – Captain S C Taylor
2/Lincolnshire Regiment – Lieutenant R F G Bromhead & 82 men
8th Hussars – 2nd Lieutenants C E Soames & R W Allen & 65 men
1/Cameron Highlanders – 2nd Lieutenant J McLeod
Late Natal Carbineers – Mr C E J Miller
Civil Surgeon – Mr H E Birmingham
Civil Veterinary Surgeon – Mr A J Hines
Chaplain’s Dept. – The Reverend F H Fisher
1/Highland Light Infantry – 94 men
Few other drafts.

Incidentally both the Winkfield and Mexican were built on Wearside.

Interestingly the collision seemed to become a cause celebre in legal circles. The owners of the Mexican successfully sought redress from the owners of the Winkfield - after all it was the Winkfield who ran into the Mexican - but they only recovered part of the value of the Mexican. Then the Paymaster-General had a go and sued the Winkfield's owners for the value of the lost mails - he failed as the Judge ruled that he had no legal liability to the senders of the mail. On-line you can find several discussions on the legal implications of this judgement - one being a 11 page PDF! Being a mere chemist, I got lost halfway through the opening paragraph - do we have any lawyers on board! I think the case still gets quoted as precedent.