In St Giles's Cathedral, Edinburgh. The company was raised in Edinburgh.
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Erected by the Scottish Sharp-
shooters & Friends in memory
of their Comrades who fell in
South Africa during 1900-1901
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LIEUTENANT H. ANDREW
SERGEANT J. A. KERR
SERGEANT E. J. LIDDIARD
CORPORAL J. BOYD
CORPORAL J. B. DEAS
CORPORAL T. W. RHOADES
TROOPER P. B. RUSSELL
TROOPER B. GREIG
TROOPER A. BETHUNE
Lieutenant H Andrew. Died from dysentery, at Harare, 9.7.1900
12617 Sergeant James Allan Kerr. Died from wounds, at Kimberley, 22.1.1901
12625/12635 Sergeant Edwin James Liddiard. Killed in action at Tanwater, 23.2.1901
12525 Corporal Jack Boyd. Died from wounds, at Klaarstroom, 2.2.1901
12636 Cpl James Beatson Deas. Died from enteric fever, at Pietermaritzburg, 27.6.1901
12624 Cpl Theodore W. Rhoades/Rhodes.
12612 Trooper Patrick Brown Russell. Died from enteric fever, at Fort Tuli, 3.12.1900
12580 Trooper Bennet L. Greig. Died from enteric fever, at Masvingo, 15.10.1900
12650 Trooper Alexander Bethune. Died from enteric fever, at Thaba N'chu, 13.12.1901
The men named below are in the order of their listing on the plaque.
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THE LATE SERGEANT JAMES ALLAN KERR.
....Sergeant James Allan Kerr, son of Dr Kerr, late Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools, died recently from injuries sustained in the Boer war. Mr Kerr, who was in his 26th year, had been for a short time administrator of a coffee plantation in Brazil; but joined the 70th Squadron of the Scottish Sharpshooters nine months ago, first as corporal and afterwards as sergeant. On 14th December last he was sent out from Stabbert's Farm, between Boshof and Kimberley, with a patrol to search for a Boer laager. He had ten men with him and two native scouts mounted. Some hours later two men of the patrol galloped in, saying that they had been fired on by a strong party of Boers concealed in a kopje, that bullets were spinning all around them, and that Sergeant Kerr had given them the order to turn and flee for safety, remaining himself to the last to see that all his men got away. Sergt. Kerr was wounded. Forty men started back to look for him, and with great difficulty found him at last about five in the morning of the 15th. He had lain there from a little before sundown the previous evening, with a broken leg. He was taken first to Boshof and then to Kimberley hospital, at which latter place he died. In a letter the Colonel of the Sharpshooters said: "Every day I miss him. He was the best sergeant I had in the squadron, and there was no one, either officer or man, whom I could worse have spared. Whenever any special patrol or other important work had to be done, Sergeant Kerr was always the man to be chosen."
Edinburgh Evening News, Thursday 31st January 1901
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PERTH VOLUNTEER DIES AT THE FRONT.
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WELL-KNOWN VOLUNTEER.
....Information has just been received in Perth of the death of Mr J. B. Deas, of the Imperial Yeomanry, at Pietermaritzburg from enteric fever. Deceased is a son of Mr Deas, manufacturer, of the well-known firm of Messrs Garvie & Deas, Perth. Mr Deas, who was well known in Perth, was a young man of great promise, and took a great interest in volunteering matters. He was a sergeant in "A" Citizen Company of the 4th V.B.R.H., and was one of the best shots in the company. At the time when volunteers were called for to go to the front Sergt. Deas was one of the first to come forward, but as no sergeants were wanted from his company he could not get away with the first company of the Black Watch Volunteers. Mr Deas was very anxious to get out to the front, however, and he afterwards joined the Edinburgh Sharpshooters, and went through a great many engagements, being with Colonel Plumer in trying to relieve Mafeking. The news of his death will be received in Perth with deep sympathy.
Dundee Courier, Wednesday 3rd July 1901
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Patrick Brown Russell's father lived at Auchenraith House, Blantyre (near Hamilton, Lanarkshire), and owned coal mines in the Bothwell area. Patrick himself had lived at Wishaw House, Wishaw, which it seems he rented, rather than owned. In the 1891 Census Patrick was recorded as being 33, born in Cambuslang, and he was a coalmaster. Married to Margaret, with four children, Margaret, Mary, Archibald, and Patrick. So Patrick would have been aged approximately 42 when he died in South Africa.
...."The death occurred at Brookside, Moffat, this morning, from a throat affection, of a well-known Lanarkshire gentleman in the person of Mr Archibald Russell, jun., son of Mr Archibald Russell. coaImaster. Auchenraith, Bothwell. A fortnight ago, news of the death in Africa of the youngest brother of deceased, Mr Patrick B. Russell, of the Scottish Sharpshooters was notified by the War Office."
Edinburgh Evening News, Thursday 27th December 1900
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Edit: Patrick is named on his father's grave memorial in Bent Cemetery, Hamilton, and his age at death was 43.
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DEATH OF A JEDBURGH ATHLETE IN SOUTH AFRICA.
....Last night Mr Thomas Greig, farmer, Wooden, received a telegram intimating the death of his elder son, B. L. Greig, who went out to South Africa with the Scottish Sharpshooters. Deceased, who was of a frank and most likeable nature, was an old Fettes boy, and a prominent Rugby football player, having been captain of Jed Forest Club last season. His early death has caused deep sorrow in Jedburgh and district, where the family are well known.
Edinburgh Evening News, Wednesday 17th Ocober 1900
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....In Jedburgh, and Indeed all over the Borderland, the news of the death in South Africa, from enteric fever, of Mr Bennet L. Greig. of the Scottish Company of Sharpshooters, has been received with feelings of painful regret. Trained on the playing fields at Fettes and endowed with rare physical strength, Ben Greig blossomed into a slashing forward, and was a great favourite everywhere, and especially popular at Riverside. For several years he rendered splendid service to Jed-Forest, and at the time of his departure for the front, he was captain of the club. He was frequently selected to play In representative "trial" matches, and though he failed to gain his "cap"—a distinction which he would have borne well—he was asked the other year to accompany the Scottish team to Ireland as reserve, an invitation which he was obliged to decline. He was a jovial and kindhearted comrade, and his death, just when the war seems over, and his return was being looked forward to, is peculiarly pathetic.
Edinburgh Evening News, Friday 19th Ocober 1900
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FUNERAL OF A SCOTTISH SHARPSHOOTER IN SOUTH AFRICA.
....Mr Thomas Greig, farmer, Wooden, near Jedburgh, has received letters from the officers commanding the Scottish sharpshooters regarding the death of his son, Bennet L. Greig, who went to the front with the sharpshooters, and died of enteric fever. He was a well-known Rugby forward and an old Fettes boy. Lieutenant-Colonel Hill writes to say that the officers and men desired especially to convey to Mr Greig their deepest sympathy in his sad bereavement. Lieut. Nairn Clark, commanding "B" troop, after expressing his most sincere sympathy, states that the funeral was very impressive. Colonel Hill is taking steps to have a tombstone erected over his grave.
Edinburgh Evening News, Wednesday 21st November 1900
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I contacted Jed-Forest Rugby Club to ask if they had any further information on Bennet Greig, but they don't.