TOPIC:

Extract from a letter by Private Albert Hall, a reservist in the 2nd Somerset Light Infantry, sent from Cape Town, and dated 5th June 1900:—

"Temperance work is doing well for our soldiers here, and there is every need of it, for only last night an incident occurred, which shows the drink in its true light. There are a lot of low drinking saloons here and two corporals were in one frequented by foreign sailors. A quarrel arose between them and two Italians, and both were stabbed fatally. These two men (the corporals) had been through several engagements and escaped, now they have died here like dogs in British territory."
The Blackburn Times, Saturday 30th June 1900

Who were the two corporals?

I have had a trawl through the casualty rolls and found 1101 Private T.C. Bryan of the 6th Battalion Middlesex Regiment who was killed in a brawl on 4th June 1900 in Cape Town. Both Hayward (1982) and Watt(2000) give the same information.
Watt also says that Bryan was interred in the Maitland Cemetery, Cape Town and commemorated on monument 1.
I can find no record of a second fatality on that date .

The medal roll entitles Private T.C. Bryan to the QSA with the single clasp Cape Colony. In the Remarks column is simply written "Deceased."

As the letter was written only the next day. the report he heard about the fight was maybe more rumour than fact at that point.

Thanks for your response, Steve.

I wonder if Albert Hall was Methodist?

Albert was spot on, just the one Corporal though
The second man was Corporal T Dickens 7622 / 6th Battalion The Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Killed in a brawl 4th of June 1900 Cape Town.

Happy New Year

Dave.......

Thanks Dave,

AHH, yes, I've got Cpl. Dickens now in Hayward and backed up with Watt.

AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU TOO!

Cheers Steve