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IL unexpectedly encountered the illustrated Memorial plaque in St.James Anglican Church, 173 Kent St., Sydney.


A check of the Palmer roll indicates as follows:
Capt. D.F.Miller, as Lt., wounded at Witpoort on 16.12.1900 serving with NSW Bushmen
as Capt., Died of Disease at Harrismith on 29.051902 serving with NSWMR.
Lt. R.H.Harriott would seem to be "Lt.W.Harriott", severely wounded at Diamond Hill on 12.06.1900 with NSWMI
and Died of wounds 14.06.1900.
Lt. C.O.Basche, Died of Disease at Bloemfontein on 16.04.1900 and serving with NSWMI.

IL very much regrets not being able to give any absolutely firm unit details regarding the three ORs; Drivers W.M.Ellis, T.Morrissey or J.Stewart. He thinks that the reason being is all abovementioned soldiers no doubt served with the NSWales Army Service Corps (that being a part of the NSW Land Forces); however once in SA the officers at least joined or were seconded to fighting units.
The three ORs may well have sailed to SA on their own account (possibly after missing the enlistment ballots) and joined locally recruited regiments there. This was a common occurrence. IL thinks he is on reasonably firm gound when opining that the "Driver T.Morrissey" is probably the "32716 Tpr. T.Morrissey" of PoWLH who Died of Disease at Kroonstad on 19.06.1901.
Regarding Driver J.Stewart, there are several possibilities with Colonial SA units and the only "W.Ellis" in the Palmer roll was a "n/n 11th Coy, I.Y." who was Killed in Action at Harrismith 28.07.1901.
Thanks to all who have read this far.
IL.

Wow! Superb!

Very nice, Ian, thanks for posting.

From Colin Roe's OzBoer DB

Walter M Ellis, Trpr 891 NSW Lancers died aboard Harlech Castle18-11-1900 (The papers for W Ellis IY show no connections with Aus.)
Confirms Morrissey as PoWLH, WO127 shows his forenames as "Thomas Francis"
Nothing on John Stewart - perhaps he died in Aus.

Regards
Meurig

Meurig
Thanks for extra info on Walter Montrose Ellis. Consulting the ALH Studies Centre (IL is getting better with this type of thing), he finds that 891 Tpr. W.M.ELLIS enlisted in NSW Lancers 01.01.1900 and served it the Third Draft. The Town and Country Journal of 08.12.1900 records that Tpr Ellis died of pneumonia and was buried at sea (on the indicated date) with all troops lined on deck. The Journal also said that he had served in the whole campaign, including the Relief of Kimberley.
The medal roll for NSWLancers records that the Next-of-kin of Tpr. Ellis received his QSA medal bearing the clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill and Belfast. He is not noted as "Deceased" on the medal roll; which was signed at Parramatta by Major G.L.Lee, NSWL.

The portrait of Walter Melrose Ellis herewith:

and using the fantastic Deaths at Sea Register on FmP this is where he is buried, in the Indian Ocean off the west coast of Australia:

Meurig
He might be sharing that part of the ocean floor with the missing Malaysian airliner. There is an interesting fault line south of him, and a curious sinuous feature to the north. An ex-colleague, a retired marine geologist, now lives in Cambridge. Perhaps I should ask him to explain the latter feature. Thank you for an unusual addition to this forum.
Regards
Brett