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Richard Fordham Flower was related to Flower and Sons, brewers of Stratford-on-Avon (1831-1967, then taken over by Whitbread's).
www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespea...n-avon-brewing-town/

The Fordham Flower Farmers' Memorial Challenge Cup was competed for until at least 1969, and is now on display at the Warwickshire Yeomanry Museum, Warwick.









....Sergeant Sidney Carter, son of Mr. Benjamin Carter, of Wickhamford, near Evesham, who has just returned invalided from South Africa, where he has been serving with the Warwickshire section of the Imperial Yeomanry, has furnished the press with a graphic account of how the late Lieutenant Fordham Flower met his death. "It was," says Mr. Carter, "at Hammond's Kraal that Lieutenant Flower received his fatal wound. We were advance party to the column that day, and had orders to scout on the right flank over very difficult country indeed. The ground was covered with bushes and rocks, and you could not see ten yards in front of you. We had been fired on several times during the course of the morning, and when the Boers opened fire on us we had orders to hold them till the infantry came up. We did this. Lieutenant Flower, who was in command of the 4th Troop, dismounted us as soon as the Boers opened fire, and sent the horses back out of the firing line. Lieutenant Flower advanced at the head of his men by means of rushes of from 20 to 40 yards each. When you have done your rush you 'duff' down in the grass, and then make another. When they saw us advancing the Boer fire slackened, and Lieutenant Flower got up on his knee to have a look round, when a bullet fired from our right flank struck him in the back. He cried out, 'Oh, I am shot; send for a doctor.' Fetching the doctor was a very dangerous mission, for you had to go right across the ground over which the bullets were flying, but Jim Bannister, of the Stratford Troop, went. We saw, however, that poor Mr. Flower was fatally wounded, and he knew it himself. He was in fearful pain till the doctors injected morphia. Just before they moved him from the place where he had been shot he shook hands with us all round, wished us all good-bye, and said: 'I did my duty, didn't I, now? Tell my mother how I died.' With that he ordered us to leave him and proceed with the Wilts Infantry to the firing line again. Lieutenant Flower was put in an ambulance, but before he could be got to the temporary hospital he died. You cannot crack him up too much; he was so faithful to his men. He always got us food and bread, and if any of the men wanted some money at any time he had only to ask him for some. If Lieutenant Flower had any with him you may be sure the man did not ask in vain. You cannot put in too good a word for him. We buried him under a large tree at midnight, and many were the tears that were shed. The grave was covered with stones, and has been fenced round and a nice cross erected by Sergeant-Major Smart. The grave has been photographed, and we all hope to get a copy."
Leamington Spa Courier, Friday 18th January 1901
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....A meeting of subscribers to the Farmers' Memorial to the late Lieutenant Richard Fordham Flower (who was killed in South Africa) was held at the Shakespeare Hotel on Friday last. The chair was taken by Mr. Hewer, others present being Messrs. Joseph Hawkes, J. James, T. Hughes, J. F. Burke, W. Hughes, and J. Palmer (hon. sec.).
....Mr. Hawkes proposed, "That the balance in hand be invested by the Committee, and that they be empowered (out of capital and income) to provide a cup annually, of a value not exceeding £10 10s., to be shot for by members of the 8th Troop of Warwickshire Yeomanry Cavalry." They would remember that at the first meeting held to perpetuate the memory of their friend, Richard Fordham Flower, that it was decided that they should collect a sufficient sum of money, the interest of which was to be devoted to the purchase of a cup to be shot for each year. They knew by the returns that they had been fairly successful, but they had not collected a sufficient sum, the interest of which would purchase a cup to be shot for each year. If only the interest was used to purchase a cup as far as he could see they would only have a cup to be shot for once in three years. He thought the best way of dealing with the matter was to rescind the former resolution and to invest the money, the Committee to be empowered to purchase a cup of the value not to exceed ten guineas. By that means the sum of money which had already been subscribed would last for a number of years; and he thought the best way to perpetuate their friend's memory was to keep it alive by a memento that would be valued by those who won it. If they only had a cup purchased from the interest on the money, it would not create sufficient interest. He was sure the Committee had done what they thought for the best.
....The Chairman thought Mr. Hawkes had expressed the feeling generally of the subscribers and of the Executive Committee.
....Mr. Burke said he had heard it suggested that the memorial should take the form of a challenge shield, the names of the winners to be placed upon it.
....In answer to a question, the Secretary said the fund amounted to nearly £160.
....Mr. Burke said it was a usual thing in Volunteer companies to have a shield, such as the Elcho Shield. If the £150 were spent on the shield they would get a handsome trophy.
....Mr. T. Hughes seconded the resolution. The Committee were practically unanimous that the memorial should take the form of the resolution. He thought it was a very good decision to come to, because in one case they gave a cup of the nominal value of £5, and competitors would not take sufficient interest in it. If they gave a cup value ten guineas it would perpetuate the memory of Lieutenant Flower, because a man who won it would inscribe his name on it, and it will be handed down to posterity. Probably the money would last 20 years. They would have 20 cups, and they would be distributed about the country, and that in itself would perpetuate the memory of the deceased, because they would be handed down from father to son.
....The resolution was then put and carried unanimously.
....Mr. James agreed that was much the best way to spend the money. They all loved and respected Lieutenant Flower, and these cups would last for their lifetime. Those who came after them would not have the same interest in a cup as they who knew the deceased.
....The Chairman said Major Dugdale had promised him £1 a year if they could get money enough to pay for a ten guinea cup without touching the capital. He should like to thank all those who had assisted them, and he should prefer closing the fund as soon as possible. They had not met with the success they fully expected, but nearly as much as they expected.
....The names of Messrs. Hewer, J. Hawkes, and W. Hughes were suggested as trustees, and it was agreed that another meeting should be held to which they should be submitted.
....A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the meeting.
Leamington Spa Courier, Friday 11th April 1902

A fascinating read and excellent photographs. Many thanks, Berenice.

His family also privately published a very attractive memorial volume of 43 pps printed on hand-made paper and with 2 photos of Flower.

The book also mentions the cup

Thank you very much, dunnboer. So this is the original cup, which was first competed for in October 1901. What happened as a result of the meeting held in April 1902? Were a number of cups produced, to be retained by each years' winners, or did they opt for a challenge shield?

Other memorials dedicated to Lieutenant Fordham Flower are a stained glass window and plaque in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon; a stained glass window in St Michael's Church, Broadway, Worcestershire; and a plaque in St Eadburgha's Church, again in Broadway.

He's also named on the Warwickshire Regiments' memorial www.angloboerwar.com/forum/17-memorials-...rwickshire-regiments and on the 5th Company Imperial Yeomanry memorial plaque, both in St Mary's Church, Warwick.

Petronella Station Cemetery, South Africa - British Memorial