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Dumbarton 4 years 10 months ago #67742

  • BereniceUK
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In the grounds of the Municipal Buildings, Dumbarton.
www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/fo...ale-boer-war-9234727

Not all the men were from the town of Dumbarton; D.W. Moore lived at Jamestown, between Balloch and Alexandria, north of Dumbarton, and W. Kelly lived at Maryhill, which is south-east of Dumbarton, and now part of Glasgow.

ERECTED BY THE CITIZENS OF DUMBARTON
IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO LEFT THE BURGH
TO FIGHT FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN SOUTH AFRICA
AND WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES
DURING THE PROGRESS OF THE WAR
1899 - 1902
"DULCE ET DECORUM EST PRO PATRIA MORI."

CAPTAIN PETER ROBERT DENNY 1ST (KING'S).
DRAGOON GUARDS. ATTACHED TO 14TH HUSSARS.
DRIVER W. WALLACE. ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY.
" J. M'GHEE. SCOTTISH RIFLES.
" F. CADNEY. 1ST HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY.
" J. PONSONBY. A. & S. H. (MILITIA).
AND
1ST DUMBARTONSHIRE RIFLE VOLUNTEERS, SERVICE COMY.
ARGYLL AND SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS.
SERGT. J. C. MORRISON.
CORPL. W. L. L. FITZWILLIAMS.
PRIVATE R. M. DUNCAN.
" W. KELLY.
" D. W. MOORE.
" M. DONNELLY.

I'm still having problems with the photo-hosting site I use, so it may be that some of the images aren't visible (but they are there).


The memorial from behind.



DEATH OF DUMBARTONSHIRE VOLUNTEER AT THE FRONT. - The death has taken place at Wynburg of Private W. Kelly, of H (Maryhill) Company, 1st D.R.V. Private Kelly died of enteric fever, and his death is the first that has taken place among the Dumbartonshire Volunteers accepted for active service.

The Lennox Herald, Saturday 16th June 1900
___________________________

We notice in a despatch from Katbosch, dated 13th June, Corporal L. Fitzwilliams, of the A. & S. Highlanders, is reported to be a prisoner of war. He is stated to be uninjured. Doubtless the soldier named is the Private Fitzwilliams who was one of the Dumbarton Volunteers accepted for active service.

The Lennox Herald, Saturday 23rd June 1900
___________________________

REPORTED DEATH OF A DUMBARTON ARTILLERYMAN. - A casualty list on Saturday contained the name of Gunner William Wallace, of the 17th Battery Royal Field Artillery, as having died of enteric fever at Bloemfontein. The entry is supposed to relate to Driver Wm. Wallace a Dumbarton reservist, who was called up, and left the town about the New Year. We understand Driver Wallace's relatives have written to the War Office requesting official verification of the death, and a reply states they will make inquiries and send further notice. Driver Wallace was through most of the fighting under General Gatacre, and after he was recalled he was put on garrison duty at Bloemfontein, at which place, if the report be correct, and it has only too many appearances of being true, he has contracted his fatal disease. The deceased leaves a wife and two children.

The Lennox Herald, Saturday 30th June 1900
___________________________

DEATHS.
At Bloemfontein, South Africa, on 19th ult., of enteric fever, Driver William Wallace, 17th Battery, R.F.A., late of Dumbarton. - Deeply regretted.
At Heilbron, South Africa, on 24th June, of enteric fever, Private John C. Morrison, Volunteer Company, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and late of Dumbarton.
_________

IN MEMORIAM.
Mrs William Wallace, 49 High Street, Dumbarton, begs respectfully to return thanks for kind expressions of sympathy received in connection with the death of her dear husband.
_________

MEMORIAL SERVICE IN ST. AUGUSTINE'S CHURCH, DUMBARTON.
On Wednesday evening, in this beautiful church, a funeral or memorial service was held out of respect for the late Lance-Sergeant J. C. Morrison, who died of enteric fever at Heilbron, on the 24th of last month. Young Morrison, who was a member and chorister in St. Augustine's Church, was a member of the regimental band of the 1st D.R.V., which is connected with C (Dumbarton) Company, and when the Government called for volunteers for the front, he was one of those selected and proceeded to South Africa with the county contingent. His is the second death among the twenty-one "good men and true" who left for Dumbartonshire, Private Kelly of Maryhill and lance-Sergeant Morrison both dying from disease. The service was well-attended, the church being completely filled. Dumbarton volunteers turned out in uniform. There was an exceedingly large muster. The officers present were Colonel A. Denny and Lieut. Brock. In his conducting of the service, the Rev. Dr Stephen was assisted by the Rev. Mr M'Connell, who presently has charge of St. Augustine's, Dr Stephen being on leave of absence; and Mr J. R. Yeates, who read the lesson. The hymns were "Fight a good fight with all thy might," "Now the labourer's task is o'er," and "Peace, perfect peace, in the dark world of sin." Dr Stephen, addressing the assemblage, dispensed with the formality of a scripture text. He said their service that evening was in memory of John Morrison. They felt a little proud, it was natural, some months ago, as a congregation, when first four out of the five volunteers that left and went to the front, and then another, making five out of the six, went from their small congregation. It was natural to feel a little proud in the patriotism and devotion of the young fellows who went forth to fight the battles of the country. They had a hope they would all come scathless home again, to receive from them, from the whole community, the welcome they would have received had they all been spared. They prayed there every time they met that the God of Battles would cover their heads in the days of fighting and preserve them alive, but while they hoped and prayed they knew what were the risks of war; yet they hoped against hope; though not certain they would all return, and they all never would. One had gone to the other, and they believed, the better land, and they should see his face no more. They knew the risks of war were not only in the bullet but, what had been more deadly, in the pestilence and sickness that destroyed in the noon-day. He who had fallen came scathless out of battles, yet the pestilence laid hold of him, and, young and healthy as he was, he had fallen a victim. While they commemorated his memory before God, he lay in the ground, covered by the veldt of South Africa. He was a soldier's son and he had found, though not in battle, a true soldier's grave. He was not at home, and sorry was he at the absence, when the young fellows appeared in their uniform, and proud of it they were; and they were proud of them, as they looked at them in his congregation and knew where they were going and what was their duty. They did not leave until they drew near to the Lord's Table, and sought strength and help to make them strong to do and suffer in His name's sake. He had seen, and so had they, many a picture of the war; but one of the most touching and striking he had looked upon was that of a communion by a military chaplain, held on the open veldt; strong, brave fellows, officers and men, with battle in front of them to-morrow, and certain death to some of them, drew near, the Union Jack covered the communion table, and the sacred elements were administered. There they were, and as the chaplains had reported, more soldiers in South Africa had received Holy Communion than had ever received it at home. So he was proud all who went out from their little church had come to the Lord's Table to receive there the sacrament. It might be their last, to him it was the last. He stood there, bidding farewell to his comrades in the choir, for he was in their church boy and man a chorister. He knew him well, much and well he loved him, for he deserved to be loved. He stood there, and they bade him good-bye and farewell, with many a blessing and prayer; he stood with tears in his eyes and voice choked so that he could not find words to say what he felt. Was that a foreboding of the future? Who knew? It had been so. It was a farewell and good-bye for ever here. Now he had gone. All they had was his memory, but still that in the case of a good and honest life was a precious legacy. They, his comrades in the volunteers, knew him, and knew if he spoke the truth of him. He was not there to pronounce a false eulogy because he had fallen in battle. He spoke of what he and they would have said of him had he come back in person and mingled himself once more among them. He was an honest, manly fellow, sacrificed in this most costly war; costly in the treasure they b had spent, still more costly in the precious lives, their dearest treasure - the treasure of their hearts and homes they could never recover. Money, for they were a rich nation, they might have given; but the dear fellows who had fallen, they could never come back to fill their hearts. They were paying a heavy sacrifice yet, he believed, not an unworthy sacrifice. they were paying a sacrifice that would repay them all hereafter. It would, indeed. The issue of the war would repay them if they only had the patience; if they waited on God's time and will. It would repay them in this way. They should very soon have a righteous government in the whole of south Africa, and would deliver that land from a crafty and selfish oligarchy. What should be more, they should be even-handed and just and kindly with the native races. Never more should they oppress them. Never more should the hand of the white man be lifted in revenge or anger against the poor black, whose country it was. Africa was the black's country, not ours. God had given them that country, and placed them in that land just as He had placed them here. They held South Africa in trust, and unless they governed it in trust for and on behalf of these black men, Britain should be accursed of God, and deserved to be accursed. He measured a white man by his conduct towards the black. He measured the Boers so, and said they were justly condemned and damned for their cruelty and oppressive conduct towards the natives, while Britain had learned a lesson. And then, again, there was this other great benefit. They had by this war welded into one commonwealth the vast empire of the Anglo-Saxon race. the sound of cannon had done what the work of diplomacy could never have done. god had made the Anglo-Saxon race supreme in the world; not to make gains and get rich, but to extend His kingdom and the blessings of His kingdom among the manifold races of the earth. And then, again, we needed the lesson as a benefit to ourselves. We were fast going down the current of the tide of gross selfishness and materialism when war came, the trumpet sounded and the whole nation was aroused. The war would not leave them where they were - it would make them a better people. He hoped and believed; he had unbounded faith in the race; they would be obedient to Him who called them. What should he say more than that they were there that night in memory of their fallen brother, who had come out from the shades and mysteries of the world into the clearer light of the everlasting day. He loved him, and they loved him. God's mercy be on them; peace be with the name and memory now and ever of John Morrison. The solemn and impressive nature of the ceremony could not fail to touch the hearts of all present. It was concluded by the measured and melancholy strains of the Dead March in Saul being pealed from the organ by Mr Askham, the audience the while standing with reverent mein.

The Lennox Herald, Saturday 7th July 1900
___________________________

DENNY INSTITUTE. - Col. Denny, M.P., has kindly presented to the Institute photos. of the South African section of the 1st D.R.V., and of Private Kelly, the first member of the section lost in South Africa. In an accompanying letter he states: - Since then we have lost two others, Private Morrison and Private Moore, whose photos. I will send framed as in the case of Private Kelly, when I get them. The gifts will prove valuable mementoes.

The Lennox Herald, Saturday 8th September 1900
___________________________


Additional information Dumbarton-related - St Augustine's Church www.angloboerwar.com/forum/17-memorials-...ch-dumbarton?start=0
Logie Fitzwilliams www.angloboerwar.com/forum/7-genealogy-a...tley-20-5-1901#56548
Peter Denny www.angloboerwar.com/forum/17-memorials-...ttached-14th-hussars
The following user(s) said Thank You: Elmarie, SWB

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