TOPIC:

Hi All,

Capt Reginald Cathcart (9 Nov 1870-22 Feb 1900), KRRC (4th Bn, volunteered for active service with 3rd) was killed during the Tugela River operations. I am trying to locate his grave, presumably in S.Africa but possibly in England.

There is mention (at the end of the below passage) of a marble obelisk on "Green Hill". Does anyone know whether it still exists? Better still, does anyone know where he might have been buried, if not there?

Thanks

Cathcart.—Capt. the Hon. Reginald Cathcart, 4th Batt.
King's Royal Rifle Corps, was killed in the operations on
the Tugela, Feb. 22nd, 1900. He was the fourth son of
Earl Cathcart, was born Nov., 1870, and educated at Eton
(Mr. Radcliffe's). He entered the King's Royal Rifle
Corps from the Royal Military College in Nov., 1891, being
promoted lieut. Jan., 1895, and capt. Jan. 25th, 1900. Capt.
Cathcart, who was known by Green Jackets as " Reggie "
Cathcart, left many to mourn for him. He was an
athlete and sportsman, and fond of all manly games. In
1896, a team of his battalion, trained and led by him, won
at Aldershot the shield presented by H.R.H. the Duke of
Connaught, for an obstacle race. Fifteen Regimental
teams, each of 106 officers and men, armed and accoutred,
competed. Capt. Cathcart held the post of Superintendent
of Gymnasia, at Malta, from Nov., 1896, to March, 1899,
where he was well known. He belonged to the 4th Batt.,
but volunteered for active service with the 3rd Batt., and
proceeded to South Africa in Nov., 1899. He was present
at the battle of Colenso, where his old school friend,
"Freddy" Roberts, King's Royal Rifle Corps, fell, and he
was one of six brother officers who carried him to his
grave at Chieveley. Capt. Cathcart was also at the
action at Potgieter's Drift. At Spion Kop the 3rd King's
Royal Rifle Corps attacked the two peaks on the north
of that position, the right half battalion took the Sugarloaf
hill and the left half battalion captured the centre hill of
the range. Though lame, and suffering from abscess in
the foot, Capt. Cathcart, with his company, led the left
half battalion up the precipitous hill, and they were the
first to gain the summit. An account of this attack will
be found in despatches published in the L.G., Feb. 8th,
1901, page 951, where " F Company leading under Capt.
Cathcart " is specially referred to. Capt. Cathcart was
also present at the various actions round Cingolo Hill.
Having crossed the Tugela on the pitch dark night of
Feb. 22nd, he was killed by a random shot, which struck
him in the forehead, during a charge with fixed swords.
The scene of action—Green Hill—is west of Pieters
Station, about three miles due north of Colenso. A
marble obelisk now marks the position. It bears this
inscription : " In memory of officers, non-commissioned
officers, and riflemen, 3rd Batt. King's Royal Rifle Corps,
who were killed in action at this spot, Feb. 22nd and 23rd,
OFFICERS WHO FELL IN SOUTH AFRICA. 55
1900. They formed part of picquets which drove off the
enemy's attack and held this ridge all night, in spite of
determined efforts to dislodge them." Beneath this
inscription appear the names of Capt. the Hon. R.
Cathcart, Sergt. J. Flower, and twenty riflemen.

Hello Tom

From The Register , gazetteer data is from: A Gazetteer of the Second Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902 (Military Press, Milton Keynes 1999) HM & MGM Jones. According to In Memoriam, Steve Watt, University of Natal Press, 2000 he is buried on "Wynne Hill".

Capt Reginald Cathcart

A brief look at Watt, confirms him as attached to the 3rd KRRC and states he was interred at Wynne Hill and his name appears on the regiments memorial there.

TomP-C wrote: Hi All,

Capt Reginald Cathcart (9 Nov 1870-22 Feb 1900), KRRC (4th Bn, volunteered for active service with 3rd) was killed during the Tugela River operations. I am trying to locate his grave, presumably in S.Africa but possibly in England.

There is mention (at the end of the below passage) of a marble obelisk on "Green Hill". Does anyone know whether it still exists? Better still, does anyone know where he might have been buried, if not there?

Thanks

Cathcart.—Capt. the Hon. Reginald Cathcart, 4th Batt.
King's Royal Rifle Corps, was killed in the operations on
the Tugela, Feb. 22nd, 1900. He was the fourth son of
Earl Cathcart, was born Nov., 1870, and educated at Eton
(Mr. Radcliffe's). He entered the King's Royal Rifle
Corps from the Royal Military College in Nov., 1891, being
promoted lieut. Jan., 1895, and capt. Jan. 25th, 1900. Capt.
Cathcart, who was known by Green Jackets as " Reggie "
Cathcart, left many to mourn for him. He was an
athlete and sportsman, and fond of all manly games. In
1896, a team of his battalion, trained and led by him, won
at Aldershot the shield presented by H.R.H. the Duke of
Connaught, for an obstacle race. Fifteen Regimental
teams, each of 106 officers and men, armed and accoutred,
competed. Capt. Cathcart held the post of Superintendent
of Gymnasia, at Malta, from Nov., 1896, to March, 1899,
where he was well known. He belonged to the 4th Batt.,
but volunteered for active service with the 3rd Batt., and
proceeded to South Africa in Nov., 1899. He was present
at the battle of Colenso, where his old school friend,
"Freddy" Roberts, King's Royal Rifle Corps, fell, and he
was one of six brother officers who carried him to his
grave at Chieveley. Capt. Cathcart was also at the
action at Potgieter's Drift. At Spion Kop the 3rd King's
Royal Rifle Corps attacked the two peaks on the north
of that position, the right half battalion took the Sugarloaf
hill and the left half battalion captured the centre hill of
the range. Though lame, and suffering from abscess in
the foot, Capt. Cathcart, with his company, led the left
half battalion up the precipitous hill, and they were the
first to gain the summit. An account of this attack will
be found in despatches published in the L.G., Feb. 8th,
1901, page 951, where " F Company leading under Capt.
Cathcart " is specially referred to. Capt. Cathcart was
also present at the various actions round Cingolo Hill.
Having crossed the Tugela on the pitch dark night of
Feb. 22nd, he was killed by a random shot, which struck
him in the forehead, during a charge with fixed swords.
The scene of action—Green Hill—is west of Pieters
Station, about three miles due north of Colenso. A
marble obelisk now marks the position. It bears this
inscription : " In memory of officers, non-commissioned
officers, and riflemen, 3rd Batt. King's Royal Rifle Corps,
who were killed in action at this spot, Feb. 22nd and 23rd,
OFFICERS WHO FELL IN SOUTH AFRICA. 55
1900. They formed part of picquets which drove off the
enemy's attack and held this ridge all night, in spite of
determined efforts to dislodge them." Beneath this
inscription appear the names of Capt. the Hon. R.
Cathcart, Sergt. J. Flower, and twenty riflemen.

Ladysmith Anglican Church Memorials

www.angloboerwar.com/forum/6-places/2586...-church?limitstart=0

Thank you SWB that is tremendously helpful in locating the marble obelisk. It certainly confirms that he died there but not necessarily that he is buried there. I wonder whether you might know where they buried other men from his battalion who died on the same day. It might yield a clue either to his burial location or to suggest his body was repatriated. Many thanks indeed for your help.