TOPIC:

In Queen's Gardens, Palmyra Square, Warrington (in 1974 Warrington was moved from Lancashire to Cheshire). The statue was modelled on Lieutenant-Colonel William MacCarthy O'Leary, commanding officer of the regiment, who was killed while leading the South Lancashire's successful attack on Pieter's Hill.

liverpoolannie.blogspot.com/2005/10/lt-c...carthy-oleary-w.html

www.millstreet.ie/blog/2015/10/02/lieute...ary-coomlogane-house

ballingearyhs.com/journal1996/mccartyoleary.html


The memorial is very inclusive compared to most others in the UK, having two suicides, five who died at sea, and one man who died as late as Christmas Day 1902 named on it. I've added dates of death to most of the men, and, finally, have listed some South Lancashire deaths that don't seem to be recorded on the memorial.

CAPTAIN N. M. LYNCH. CAPTAIN C. G. F. G. BIRCH. LIEUTENANT F. M. RAPHAEL. LIEUTENANT H. R. KANE.
13.11.1900...............................24.1.1900.........................................24.1.1900...............................................27.9.1901

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND MEN
NO.
1698 Q.M.SERGT. C.H. BARROW 2.1.1902
1109 SERGT. G. PENWILL 17.5.1901
2367 SERGT. J. CANDY 24.1.1900
4792 SERGT. S. BRIDGE 28.11.1901
3239 SERGT. G. GRAY 26.3.1900
5503 SERGT. H. HEPPENSTALL 23.11.1901
1821 SERGT. T. ORR 22.2.1900
3108 SERGT. A. THOMAS 24.1.1900
2502 SERGT. W.H. WHEATLEY 27.2.1900
4271 SERGT. J. WHITTAKER 7.4.1900
3457 SERGT. J. THRELFALL 23.5.1902 Suicide while in military prison
4690 LCE. SERGT. A.T. THROP 15.3.1900
2280 LCE. SERGT. T. KINRADE 7.1.1902 Suicide
2875 LCE. SERGT. J. HESKETH 21.5.1902
4558 LCE. SERGT. H. MONKS 22.2.1900
2843 CORPL. D. CONNOLLY 9.3.1900
2498 CORPL. W. NEILSON 6.7.1900
2461 CORPL. T. WORRALL 24.2.1900
3355 CORPL. A. WILLIAMS ?
1026 CORPL. J. LAPPING 8.2.1900
4962 CORPL. E. RAE ? - 4965 Corporal F. Roe, unknown date and place ?
5802 LCE. CORPL. J. BARNFATHER 22.4.1901
5466 LCE. CORPL. J. DARN 27.2.1900
4658 LCE. CORPL. T. SMITH 24.1.1900
4111 LCE. CORPL. F.H. CHAPMAN 12.11.1900 Sergeant?
5043 DRMR. F. J. HACKET 8.6.1900
4260 DRMR. G.T. McGARAGLE 28.6.1900
2749 PTE. J. ALDRED 1.4.1900
3086 PTE. J. ARMITAGE 20.3.1900
5749 PTE. J. ASTBURY 16.2.1901
5311 PTE. A. BEER 5.7.1902

5715 PTE. H. BIRKENHEAD 13.5.1900
4879 PTE. H. BIRKETT 9.1.1902
4121 PTE. G. M. BRAID 21.3.1900
2401 PTE. J. BRAMWELL 27.4.1900
4100 PTE. E. BRENNAN Unknown date and place
2718 PTE. R. BROWN 22.2.1900
1976 PTE. T. BROWN 24.1.1900
5767 PTE. A. CANNING 12.3.1900 At sea
3338 PTE. J. CANNING 10.11.1901
5837 PTE. A. CANTRILL 11.8.1901
3233 PTE. G. CHEETHAM 8.3.1900
4254 PTE. J. A. CHINNERY 24.1.1900
4079 PTE. C. J. CLIFFE 12.12.1899 At sea
2847 PTE. W. CONNOR 31.1.1901
5073 PTE. C. CRAWFORD 26.9.1901
3013 PTE. P. J. CUNINGHAM 12.8.1902
3486 PTE. P. DEVINE 27.2.1900
5318 PTE. J. H. DEWHURST 22.4.1900
2997 PTE. T. DOLAN 28.1.1900
5750 PTE. W. DOYLE 24.1.1900?
4167 PTE. C. DUCKWORTH 26.9.1901
5621 PTE. J. DUFFY 8.6.1900
4950 PTE. J. DUMBILL 24.1.1900
4094 PTE. J. FAGAN 26.6.1902
2592 PTE. T. FARNEN 22.2.1900
4092 PTE. W. R. FARQUHAR 16.5.1900
5872 PTE. W. FORBER 24.2.1901
3370 PTE. W. A. FORD 26.9.1901
4425 PTE. A. GARLICK 27.3.1900
5273 PTE. R. GARNETT 8.5.1900
3531 PTE. W. GELLON 23.2.1900

3299 PTE. R. GOULDING 26.9.1901
1287 PTE. P. GRANEY 14.3.1900
4664 PTE. C. GREDART 8.3.1900
5694 PTE. J. HALE 18.1.1902
4876 PTE. C. HARDING 1.4.1900
5973 PTE. L. H. HAYWOOD 22.2.1900
5942 PTE. J. HEATON 12.1.1901
5366 PTE. C. HERON 5.12.1900
2425 PTE. W. HIGGINS 17.3.1900
3151 PTE. P. HOGAN 26.3.1900
3296 PTE. R. E. HOWICK 19.1.1901
5757 PTE. J. HUGHES 28.11.1900
5692 PTE. E. INGMAN 24.1.1900
4221 PTE. D. IRWIN 15.8.1901
3257 PTE. J. JACKSON 27.10.1901
5704 PTE. I. JEFFRIES 9.4.1900
3396 PTE. T. W. JENNINGS 27.4.1900
2391 PTE. E.JOHNSON 22.2.1900
5656 PTE. J. JOHNSON 21.5.1902
3631 PTE. E. JONES 24.1.1900
3269 PTE. M. JONES 26.9.1901
1971 PTE. R. JONES 3.3.1900
3533 PTE. S. JONES 27.2.1900
5144 PTE. T. JONES 11.9.1901
3430 PTE. W. JONES 27.2.1900
3619 PTE. P. KEANE 29.3.1900
5798 PTE. R. KEATING 26.9.1901
4738 PTE. T. LAMBERT 2.10.1901
5312 PTE. J. LESLIE 26.3.1900
3406 PTE. J. LYNCH 17.7.1900
2388 PTE. P. MALONEY Unknown date and place

5853 PTE. W. McBRIDE 12.7.1901
2451 PTE. J. McDONALD 15.5.1900 At sea
3651 PTE. J. NEILSON 25.5.1900
2891 PTE. E. O'NEIL 20.1.1900
5666 PTE. T. PARKER 1.1.1900
5544 PTE. E. PENNINGTON 26.9.1901
3508 PTE. R. PENNINGTON 27.2.1900
5120 PTE. R. PRICE 3.6.1902
4146 PTE. J. QUIGLEY 26.3.1900
4507 PTE. E. REYNOLDS 24.5.1900
5897 PTE. J. RILEY 24.7.1900
3345 PTE. C. ROBERTSON 4.3.1900
2633 PTE. J. RYAN 27.2.1900
5756 PTE. J. RYLANDS 11.3.1900
5807 PTE. T. SIGGINS 9.1.1901
2824 PTE. A. SMITH 27.2.1900
5075 PTE. J. SMITH 24.6.1900
5454 PTE. P. M. STUBBS 30.4.1900
5758 PTE. C. THOMPSON 22.12.1899 At sea
2947 PTE. J. TORNEY 30.6.1901
5917 PTE. A. TOWERS 6.10.1900
2783 PTE. T. TRAINOR Date and place unknown - 24.1.1900?
3414 PTE. E. TRAYNOR 30.5.1900
5654 PTE. J. WALKER 26.9.1901
3353 PTE. H. WALMSLEY 22.2.1900
5099 PTE. J. WARD 25.12.1902
3366 PTE. E. WARDLE 17.5.1901
3054 PTE. H. WARREN 27.2.1900
5624 PTE. F. WEBSTER 24-25.3.1900
3863 PTE. C. G. WOOD 18.2.1901

MILITIA RESERVISTS LEINSTER REGT.
........ATTACHED TO 1ST BATTN.
432 PTE. M. FOLEY Unknown date and place
1113 PTE. J. TWOHEY 25.5.1901

3RD BATTALION
OFFICERS
MAJOR E. K. HEATH. LIEUTENANT E. M. HANBURY. LIEUTENANT C. H. WALKER.
17.5.1901............................13.10.1900............................................20.9.1901
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND MEN
5979 CORPL. T. MURPHY 28.5.1900
5311 LCE. CORPL. F. DODD 18.5.1900
2214 PTE. J. BROWN 26.5.1900
5543 PTE. T. CANTELLO 13.10.1900
3658 PTE. J. CASSIDY 26.4.1901
2443 PTE. J. CASSONS 30.5.1900
4502 PTE. J. DOLAN 27.4.1900
4770 PTE. T. EGAN 5.6.1900

5772 PTE. A. ELLIOTT 2.6.1900
2781 PTE. D. FLYNN 8.5.1900
5000 PTE. J. FORBER 3.1.1901
2446 PTE. J. FOWLER 11.7.1900
1018 PTE. E. HARVEY 25.5.1900
6712 PTE. J. HILTON 15.5.1900
6425 PTE. J. JONES 23.4.1901
5679 PTE. S. KNOWLES 22.4.1900

6468 PTE. R. LESTER 1.6.1900
6057 PTE. M. MAHON 1.4.1900
2991 PTE. J. McCABE 25.4.1901
1764 PTE. G. MALLINSON 8.4.1900
2005 PTE. J. MATTHEWS 19.6.1900
4096 PTE. P. MONAGHAN 9.2.1901
2298 PTE. C. MURTHER 5.4.1900
4371 PTE. T. NAUGHTON 6.6.1900

5528 PTE. W. RAYSON 2.3.1901
3596 PTE. J. RIGBY 31.5.1900
6584 PTE. A. SCHOFIELD 6.4.1900
4670 PTE. T. SPARKES 22.6.1900
6710 PTE. A. TOLLETT 3.4.1900 Follett?
340 PTE. C. TRAVIS 19.3.1900
6288 PTE. A. WATERWORTH 24.5.1900
986 PTE. W. WOOD 23.3.1900

VOLUNTEER BATTALIONS
7022 LCE. CORPL. J. FISHWICK. 18.4.1900
7034 PTE. W. BLACKWOOD. 2.4.1900 At sea
7171 PTE. A. RICHARDSON 7.5.1901
7067 PTE. T. C. SUDLOW 3.6.1900
7118 PTE. F. WOODS 15.9.1900


Additional deaths

1st Battalion
3103 Private J. Appleton 1.4.1900
583 Sergeant W. Brett 1.4.1900
5597 Private G. Jones 1.4.1900
3470 Private P. R. Keeley 1.4.1900
7067 Private G. Ludlow 3.6.1900
2339 Private J. Poy 1.4.1900
1102 Sergeant G. Renny 1.5.1901

3rd Battalion
Private C. Howard - died in UK

….The memorial to the late Colonel O'Leary and officers and men of the South Lancashire Regiment who fell in the Boer War is expected to be unveiled at Warrington about the end of November, and it has been decided to ask the Prince of Wales to perform the ceremony.

Manchester Courier, Thursday 4th October 1906


….Next Thursday will be observed at Warrington as a general holiday on the occasion of the visit of General Sir Redvers Buller, V.C., who has undertaken to unveil the memorial which has been raised at a cost of £1,500 in Queen's Gardens, to the South Lancashire Regiment, for their services in the war in South Africa. The South Lancashires, who served under General Buller in Natal, greatly distinguished themselves. They were in the thick of the Spion Kop slaughter, and they received some hard knocks subsequently, but they had the gratification of taking a leading part in clearing the Boers from the neighbourhood of Ladysmith, and in finally ridding Natal of their presence. The base of the monument records the names - an ample list - of the officers and men of the Regulars, Militia, and Volunteers of the Regiment who fell, and above this rises the majestic figure of Lieutenant-Colonel MacCarthy O'Leary, who fell while gallantly leading his men in the final charge on Pieters Hill. General Buller reporting on this action of the 27th of February, 1900, said: "The main position was magnificently carried by the South Lancashire Regiment about sunset." Colonel O'Leary is represented with rifle in one hand and field glass in the other. The sculptor, Mr. Alfred Drury, A.R.A., has succeeded in making an exceptionally fine portrait-statue. ….Preparations have been completed for giving General Buller a rousing reception. By request of the Mayor the works and shops will close for the afternoon, and the banks and schools will follow their example. The town will be gaily decorated, and the local throng will be swelled by contingents from Widnes and St. Helens, who are jointly interested in the regiment with Warrington, and from other towns in the vicinity. On Wednesday night General Buller will be the guest of Colonel Legh, of High Legh Hall, and on Thursday he will proceed by road to Warrington. He will arrive at Warrington Bridge at 12 45, and will be met there by the Mounted Infantry of the 1st V.B. South Lancashire Regiment, who will escort him to the Town Hall. Certain formalities over, he will proceed to Parr Hall for luncheon, accompanied by the Mayor (Alderman James Smethurst), the chairman of the Memorial Committee (Mr. Henry Roberts), Brigadier-General W. Fry, Colonel R. H. Hall, D.S.O., Lieutenant-Colonel M. H. Hall, D.S.O., Colonel F. A. Adam, Brevet-Colonel J. H. Verschoyle, Major A. G. Cartwright, Colonel Simpson, Colonel Reid Walker, Major A. C. Adair, Colonel Ridgway, Colonel Legh, Mrs. Legh, and the sculptor.
….The actual ceremony of unveiling is timed for three o'clock. Afterwards the General will be escorted by the Mounted Infantry through the town, over Warrington Bridge, and on to Stockton Heath on the return journey to High Legh Hall.
….The memorial fund has been raised by a committee of military and municipal workers, a working men's committee having collected and handed over the substantial contribution of £200 of the £1,250 already in hand. It may be stated, to show how high the spirit of patriotism ran at the time of the War, that the Militia Battalion was one of the first battalions to volunteer for active service - which it did unanimously - and that no fewer than four contingents of Volunteers went to the front from Warrington.

Manchester Courier, Monday 18th February 1907




…."There is a tradition," said General Sir Redvers Buller, "that Warrington is a King's City. Certainly the South Lancashire men who served with me in South Africa proved they were true King's men to the backbone." It was a sentiment that had a most direct application to the day's proceedings in which the General was the leading figure. From all parts of the borough of Warrington, and from towns and villages throughout the district, people yesterday came forth to welcome Sir Redvers and to see him unveil a handsome statue, set up in memory of the men of the South Lancashire Regiment - Line, Militia, and the Volunteers - who gave their services and their lives for their country in the South African War. There was a peculiar significance in the presence of the famous general on this occasion, inasmuch as the Regiment represented formed part of the Lancashire Brigade, which in turn made up a substantial part of the field army operating under his command in the engagements before Ladysmith. In the General's own despatches at the time a glowing tribute was paid to the work of the South Lancashires, and it was appropriate that the memorial, set up in honour of the brave men that fell, should bear the counterfeit presentment of their gallant commander, who was killed in the very act of leading his men into action. The memorial, which occupies a most admirable site in the centre of the Queen's Gardens, is a portrait-statue of Lieutenant-Colonel MacCarthy O'Leary, who was in command of the South Lancashire Regiment. He was shot down while leading the attack on Pieter's Hill, which overlooks Ladysmith, and was one of the keys of the position during hostilities that culminated in the relief of the beleaguered town. The statue, which is of bronze, is the work of Mr. Alfred Drury, A.R.A., and ranks as an excellent example of the sculptor's art. It is supported on a huge pedestal of granite, on the sides of which are panels setting forth, for the benefit of present and future generations, the occasion for its erection, and giving names of the officers and non-commissioned officers who were numbered among the dead in the campaign. The names total over two hundred. The cost of the memorial was fifteen hundred pounds, and this amount has been raised by public subscription, and contributions from officers and men of the South Lancashire Regiment. ….Warrington's interest in military matters, and its enthusiasm for such deeds of bravery, heroism, and self-sacrifice as are now commemorated in solid and substantial form, were evidenced by the way the town laid itself out to give recognition to the day's official proceedings. The numbers of Union Jacks and flags and banners of other kinds that were displayed would have done credit to a town honoured by the presence of royalty. It was in the most emphatic sense a hearty welcome that General Sir Redvers Buller met with on driving into the town at mid-day from High Legh Hall, where he had been the guest of Colonel Legh. He was accompanied by Colonel and Mrs. Legh and Lady Ikerrin, and on reaching the borough boundary at Latchford was met and escorted by a detachment of Mounted Infantry. At Warrington Bridge, nearer to the centre of the town, a number of cadets from Stonyhurst College stood at attention, and at the Town Hall, which, plentifully and tastefully decorated with flags, looked quite a pretty sight in the bright sunlight, a guard of honour, composed of men of the 1st Volunteer Battalion South Lancashire Regiment, was drawn up. The General's carriage was followed by cheering crowds, and on his arrival at the Town Hall the reception accorded was again most enthusiastic. General Buller and Colonel and Mrs. Legh were received by the Mayor of Warrington, Alderman James Smethurst, and subsequently, in the Mayor's Parlour, a series of formal introductions took place. Among those present at these proceedings were: The Mayor and Mayoress, Miss Smethurst, Mrs. Allison, Mr. A. H. Crosfield, M.P., Mr. and Mrs. Robert Pierpoint, Brigadier-General W. Fry, Lieutenant-Colonel M. H. Hall, D.S.O., Colonel F. A. Adam, Brevet-Colonel J. H. Verschoyle, Colonel Simpson, Colonel Reid Walker, Colonel and Mrs. Edelston, Colonel Ridgway, Alderman W. Bolton, Alderman Francomb, Alderman Bennett, Mr. Henry Roberts (chairman of the Memorial Fund Executive Committee), Mrs. Roberts, the Town Clerk (Mr. J. Lyon Whittle, hon. secretary of the fund), Mr. John Fairhurst (hon. treasurer), Mr. C. J. Newton (hon. secretary Working Men's Committee), Major Smythies, Major Appleton, Major A. G. Cartwright, Major A. C. Adair, Major M'Iver Roome, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Drury, Mrs. John Crosfield, Mr. W. Monks, Captain Waring, Mr. F. A. Frost, Mrs. Pickmere, Canon Willis (Rector of Warrington), and many others. Subsequently General Sir Redevers Buller carried out an inspection of the guard of honour. Shortly afterwards he was conveyed, in company with the Mayor, officers of the South Lancashire Regiment, and other guests, to Parr Hall for luncheon. ….Many thousands of people thronged the streets surrounding the picturesque Queen's Gardens, and it was only with the utmost difficulty that those holding cards of invitation to be present at the ceremony of unveiling the memorial statue could make their way into the grounds. A guard of honour of men of the 2nd V.B.S.L.R. was formed up facing the statue, and on the arrival of General Buller a general salute was given. Among those present at the veiling ceremony, in addition to many of those already mentioned, were Mrs. MacCarthy O'Leary, widow of Lieutenant-Colonel MacCarthy O'Leary, and her children.
….Mr. H. Roberts, as chairman of the memorial fund executive committee, on behalf of the committee and subscribers, formally asked Sir Redvers Buller to unveil the statue. Mr. Roberts said the people of Warrington were glad to welcome Sir Redvers not only for his long and distinguished services to his King and country, but also because of his long association with the South Lancashire Regiment. The speaker quoted General Buller's despatch after the relief of Ladysmith to the effect that "the enemy's position was magnificently carried by the South Lancashire Regiment." The people heard with joy of the relief of Ladysmith but with sorrow learnt of the death of the gallant commander of the South Lancashires, whose memory, and that of his brave comrades in arms they were now glad to honour. ….General Sir Redvers Buller then unveiled the statue, amid loud cheers, and, in asking the Mayor of Warrington to accept it on behalf of the town, said it was a memorial figure of a gallant man and to the men of a gallant regiment. He hoped it might stand there "nearly for ever" to remind the passers-by that everybody had a supreme duty to his beloved country, and that there was in this world such a thing as heroism. There were times in all conditions and in all the affairs of life - in war and otherwise - when we had to meet our enemy and to fight him, and to strive to defeat him. Heroism was the one factor in life which should really teach us how to meet our end. The memorial was not only a memorial to gallant soldiers; it embodied a really true and valuable instruction to everybody that in their lives, whatever danger or difficulty or moral sin confronted them, they must meet it and fight it to the death.
….The Mayor, in accepting the memorial, spoke of the value it would be as presenting an object-lesson for future generations.
….Colonel Adams proposed and Colonel Ridgway seconded a vote of thanks to General Buller, who briefly replied, and with this the proceedings ended.
….After driving out of Warrington General Buller paused at Stockton Heath, and, at the invitation of the Stockton Heath Tree-planting Committee, planted a tree in Victoria-square.

Manchester Courier, Friday 22nd February 1907

www.millstreet.ie/blog/?s=maccarthy+leary

Drury - www.bowmansculpture.com/gallery/artist/alfred-drury
www.speel.me.uk/sculpt/drury.htm

Sir Redvers Buller died on 2nd June 1908, so this was likely to have been the last ABW memorial he unveiled, and possibly even the last war-related official engagement that he attended.

What a lovely statue. The officer is carrying a sporting .303 rifle [Lee Speed], which is a nice touch.

I read - and I thought it was in one of the links I posted, but now I can't find it - that because the Boers were so good at picking out the British officers from the rank and file by their not carrying rifles, Colonel O'Leary was told to go into action carrying a rifle; however, he refused because he thought that officers shouldn't be armed with a rifle, so instead he carried a dummy rifle into action at Pieter's Hill.

Berenice
A very imposing memorial indeed. Regarding the "unknowns", (Brennan, Maloney, Trainor and Foley), the only one I could find in Palmer was "2783 Pte. T. TrainEr" who was missing in action at Spion Kop on 24/1 and taken captive as he was noted as "released". Perhaps the "unknowns" died post war of war-related sickness?
Regards
IL.