Quite a large write-up of his death in the same paper.
...."The list of casualties in South Africa, published by the War Office last Saturday morning, contained the melancholy intelligence of the death of another Meltonian at the front, in the person of Pte. W. Manchester, of the 1st Suffolk Regiment, eldest son of Mr. Councillor Wm. Manchester, of the Parade, Melton Mowbray, who died of thrombosis at Springfontein, on the 12th inst. Only on Saturday morning a letter written by the deceased from Pretoria was received by his sister, in which he gave, as the columns of the Journal have already testified, a most interesting and succinct account of the incidents connected with the war, in which he had been concerned. It was during the perusal of this letter by Mr. Manchester, that his son, Mr. Fred Manchester, scanning over the casualty list in the morning papers, came across the name of his brother as among the dead, and the shock to the family caused by the sad news may be imagined. On Wednesday, Mr. Manchester received an official notification of his son's death, the missive also conveying the regret of Lord Roberts at the occurrence. Pte. Manchester, who was twenty-eight years of age, had been in South Africa for a period of fourteen months, and during that time had taken a very full part in the fighting, and had also had his share of the exciting incidents of the campaign. His regiment, in the early part, was with General Gatacre's Column in the north of Cape Colony. In one of the fights near Rensburg, the Suffolks gallantly charged and took a kopje, which was subsequently named Suffolk Hill. Pte. Manchester also took part in the exciting struggle for possession of the train load of supplies, which ran away down an incline in the same district. In a letter from the deceased soldier, which was published a few weeks ago, he describes the battle and entry of Lord Roberts's victorious army into Pretoria, the Suffolk Regiment being one of the first to enter the town. The day previously, the deceased had a narrow escape from shell fire, three pieces striking the ground with great force within a yard of him, while in a subsequent action near Carolina, a bullet grazed his helmet as he was taking cover behind an ant-heap. He had been with his regiment to a number of other places before returning again to Pretoria, where, as stated, his last letter was despatched from, although his death took place at Springfontein. In the letter referred to he stated that he was one of a draft of one hundred and fifty of the Suffolk Regiment which had been selected for India, and he expressed his disappointment at not having the prospect of being home early in the new year. At the time he wrote, about a month ago, he appeared to be in good health, and it is conjectured that his death was primarily due to a wound he received, and that complications set in. The deceased was very well known in Melton and the neighbourhood. Mr. William Manchester desires to tender his sincere thanks to his numerous friends, for the kindness and sympathy shown him in his sad bereavement."
The Grantham Journal, Saturday 22nd December 1900
