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It seems likely that a plaque to the memory of Jack Greensill has been lost, as it was removed from Christ Church, Accrington, probably in 1969, along with all the other memorials and tablets that were on the walls (including a WW1 memorial). I'm still trying to find out what then became of the plaque.

The two photographs below have been supplied by John Simpson, of Accrington Library, and my thanks to him for trying to get the best possible image of what is probably the memorial plaque - its location in the photo would seem to show it above the vicar's pew.






GREENSILL. - Hearne Seymour (Jack), in his 21st year, the third dearly-loved son of Edward and Harriette Greensill, Christ Church Vicarage, Accrington, sergeant, 3rd Batt. Sharpshooters, 91st Comp. I.Y. Fell fighting with Colonel Damant's column at Tafelkop, December 20th, 1901.

Manchester Courier, Saturday 28th December 1901


This will have been a sad Christmastide at Christ Church Vicarage. On Xmas Eve the Rev. E. and Mrs. Greensill received the regrettable news that their son, Sergt. E. Greensill, of the 91st Company of Imperial Yeomanry, had lost his life while fighting for his country in South Africa...…….

Hearne Seymour Greensill, or "Jack" as he was popularly known, was the third son of the Rev. E. and Mrs. Greensill, and was in his 21st year. He was educated at "The Philbards," Maidenhead, and subsequently at Manchester Grammar School. He obtained a clerkship in the Bank of England when 18 - the youngest age at which he could take up that position - and commenced duty in London. Being at the time a member of the Civil Service Volunteers, he offered himself for service when the war broke out, but he was too young and was not accepted. Later on, however, he joined the 3rd Company of Sharpshooters 23rd Batt. Imperial Yeomanry, and was sworn in on March 1st, 1901. On arriving at Cape Town on April 20th of the same year, the 3rd company became known as the 91st. Mr. Greensill had received a letter, written at Frankfort, from his son on the 14th December - a fortnight to-day. He had taken part in engagements at Thaba 'Nchu, and had been working in the Springfontein districts, and latterly at Heilbron and Frankfort. At the time the telegram from the War Office bearing the sad tidings was received at the Vicarage Mrs. Greensill was suffering from indisposition, and what to Mr. Greensill and the whole family was a great shock, came to her as an especially hard blow. Mr. Greensill was to have conducted service at Christ Church on Christmas morning, but his place was taken by the Rev. W. A. Kent, curate of St. John's. Mr. Kent announced the sad news to the congregation, and asked them to pray that God would help the Vicar, Mrs. Greensill, and family to bear up with patience and fortitude. The members of the congregation were deeply moved, and there was a general expression of deep sympathy with the worthy Vicar and his family when the service was over. Most of the congregation had not heard of the sad event until Mr. Kent made the announcement. The Rev. J. T. Lawrence took the early communion service...…….

Accrington Observer and Times, Saturday 28th December 1901

The Rev. E. Greensill, vicar of Christ Church, Accrington, has received a letter from Sergt.-Major J. Ingarfield, of the 91st Company I.Y., relating how Sergeant Greensill, also of that company, and son of the Rev. E. Greensill, met his death. "On December 19th," says the writer, "55 men of the 91st Company Imperial Yeomanry, with the rest of the column, moved off for an eight days' march. On the morning of the 20th, 35 of them were taken for gun and pom-pom escort. About 6 a.m. 13 Boers were seen on a ridge about 1,800 yards away. The guns then galloped on to a small ridge and unlimbered. It was a perfect trap. There were 300 Boers in a line just below the ridge, and as soon as the first shot was fired the men fell in heaps. Sergeant Greensill was shot through the forehead, and fell dead instantly. Three of his fellow-sergeants were shot down alongside him, and I am the only sergeant left."

Burnley Express, Saturday 15th February 1902


To perpetuate the memory of Sergt.-Major Jack Greensill, who was killed in action in the contest Briton v. Boer, a brass tablet has been placed in Christ Church. The tablet has been placed directly over the Vicar's family pew, and it bears the following inscription: - "To the glory of God and in loving memory of Hearne Seymour ("Jack") Greensill, third son of the Vicar of this parish, Sergt.-Major 91st Company Imperial Yeomanry, Colonel Damant's column (Sharpshooters). Killed in action whilst gallantly defending the guns at Tafelkop, Orange River Colony, December 20th, 1901, in his 21st year. This tablet is erected by friends and patriots." "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori."

It will be remembered that the news of Sergt.-Major Greensill's death reached Accrington last Christmas Eve. When eighteen he went to London and obtained a situation in the Bank of England. When the war broke out he offered his services, but being under the age limit was not accepted. But on March 1st, 1901, he volunteered successfully, and was drafted into the 3rd Battalion of Sharpshooters. whilst out at the front he gained rapid promotion, being the youngest of the six sergeants under Colonel Damant.

Accrington Observer and Times, Tuesday 29th July 1902


A brass tablet has been placed in Christ Church, Accrington, over the Vicarage pew, in memory of Sergeant-major Hearne Seymour (Jack) Greensill, third son of the Vicar of the parish, who met his death at Tafelkop on December 20th, 1901. The tablet itself, executed by Messrs. Frank Smith and co., of London, is a work of art, the cost of which was defrayed by the unsolicited subscriptions of the many friends who felt deeply for the vicar and his wife in their trouble, and who had either known young Greensill as a friend or had watched his career with deep interest. He was the youngest Sergeant in the column, and was raised to the rank of Sergeant-major by his Captain a short time before the battle. He was mentioned in Lord Kitchener's despatch, the first with five others as "specially noticed from the 91st Company Imperial Yeomanry, which was escort to the guns in the same action, and sacrificed itself almost to a man."

The following is the full inscription: - To the Glory of God, and in loving memory of Hearne Seymour (Jack) Greensill, third son of the Vicar of this parish, Sergeant-major 91st Company Imperial Yeomanry, Colonel Damant's Column (Sharpshooters). Killed in action whilst gallantly defending the guns at Tafelkop, Orange River Colony, December 20th, 1901, in his 21st year. This tablet is erected by friends and patriots. "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori."

Manchester Courier, Wednesday 13th August 1902

That is great research, Berenice. Thank you

Thanks, David.

A second memorial to Sergeant Greensill was an inscription on his father's gravestone, the stone being shown in the photo below, taken on the date of the funeral at Christ Church. All the gravestones were removed from the churchyard in 1969: -

Frankfort Cemetery, South Africa

Frankfort Cemetery, British Memorial

Hi
Greensill was one of 8 men who were mentioned for the Tafelkop Action: "Specially noticed from the 91st Company, Imperial Yeomanry, which was escort to guns in the same action and sacrificed itself almost to a man"
Henk