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Steve - Many thanks, I would have gone to Canon Hill Park to look for myself but I live 150 miles away. I am currently seriously thinking of spending a short holiday in the Smethwick/Birmingham area. I left Smethwick in 1973 in pursuance of my career in the water industry - if somebody had said at the time you will be back in 50 years time for a holiday I would have told them they were stark staring mad. Strange how one's perspective on life changes. David.

Well three days ago I did not know Smethwickian Lance-Corporal 12793 Thomas Richard Pursall of the RAMC existed. Inspired by one of Berenice's Cemetery posts I searched the Uplands Cemetery in Smethwick via "FindaGrave" and Thomas Richard who died in S Africa in May 1900 stuck out like a sore thumb. So that led to his Family Memorial since when, with the help of other members of this Forum, I have learnt he served in the 24th Field Hospital and is commemorated on the RAMC Boer War Memorial in Aldershot and on the Birmingham Boer War Memorial in Canon Hill Park. From the Forum shipping records I can also work out he arrived in S Africa aboard Transport Ship No.91 (SS Orotova) in late February 1900.

So just two more questions:
1. Where was the 24th Field Hospital located between February & May 1900? - can I assume Kimberley because that is where he died of enteric fever.
2. Where, if anywhere, is he commemorated in S Africa? He is not on the Kimberley Boer War Memorial and obviously not on the Honoured Dead Memorial.

David

Field Hospital 24 may have been a hospital ship named Orotavo, there was also a 24 attributed to another ship called Ellora.
There was also a 24th Stationary hospital at Aliwal North.

Pursall 12793 Lance Corporal Demise: Died of disease - enteric fever 16 May 1900
Place: Kimberley..... West End Cemetery, Kimberley
Source: In Memoriam by S Watt


Dave.......

The Kimberley West End Cemetery Memorial list 9 members of the RAMC - all Privates and none with a name resembling Pursall. The Medal Roll you found for me shows a Private 7214 G J (or T) Wilkes died a month later than Purdsall but he is not one of the 9 on the memorial.
www.angloboerwar.com/forum/17-memorials-...d-cemetery-kimberley

According to the ship data on this forum Orotava was Transport no.91 and not a hospital ship. The shipping records state "Yesterday afternoon at Birkenhead the Orotava embarked ………… 41 men of the No.24 Field Hospital." It is a bit hard to work out when yesterday was but definitely late Feb 1900 and probably 22nd. The Ellora one for October 1899 involves a "?" and suspect terminology: "Transports arrived today: Ellora with 18th and 24th Batteries (?) Field Hospital"

Oops,
Sorry David my mistake, the Orotava carried the 24th Field Hospital from Birkenhead on the 25th February 1900 to South Africa.

Have found the service records for 13 of the NCO's & Privates who are listed on the 24th Field Hospital Medal Roll. For 11 their South African service started on 23rd February 1900. For the other 2 - one on 15th December 1899 & the other on 8th February 1900. So I can only say Thomas Richard Pursall probably sailed out on the Orotava.