I've looked for coverage of the deaths in the St Helens Reporter, and it pretty much only reported the deaths of Yeomanry, officers, and the nurse. It should also be noted that those named on the plaque were from the Borough of St Helens, not solely the town. Lieutenant Stapleton-Bretherton was connected with Rainhill, 3½ miles from St Helens, and is remembered on a plaque in a Rainhill church.
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The first death reported on was that of a Regular, so not recorded on the plaque; his death was also covered in the Liverpool Mercury.
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A ST. HELENS MAN KILLED AT THE BATTLE OF BELMONT.
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THE MAYOR VOICES THE FEELING OF ST. HELENS.
....We believe that several soldiers hailing from this town have been killed in the Transvaal war; but, however this may be, information has been received that amongst those who lost their lives in the attack on the Boers at Belmont was Lance-Corporal George Pattison, son of Mr W Pattison, of Green End, manager of the Whitecross Collieries. Mr Pattison was in the Grenadier Guards, and paid a visit to his family a short time ago, impressing many people with his soldierly bearing. The family have the sincere sympathy of the people of St. Helens.
....Mr Pattison has received a great many letters of condolence, including one from the Mayor of St Helens (Councillor Beecham, J.P.). The Mayor wrote as follows:—
Town Hall, St. Helens, Nov. 28.......
....Dear Sir,—
........It is with much regret that I hear of your sad loss. I fear your son will not be the only St. Helens man who will give his life for his country in South Africa, but their bravery will remain in our minds. I feel constrained to send you these few words of sympathy, and believe they voice the sentiments of my fellow-townsmen.
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....Captain Michael Hughes, 2nd Life Guards, has also written to Mr Pattison, and says from his acquaintance with the deceased, he felt that a finer or handsomer man he had never seen in the whole brigade of Guards. The only consolation was that he died in one of the finest charges that our soldiers have ever made.
....Mr Pattison enlisted at Chester six years ago, and was close on 26 years of age. He sailed from Gibraltar on October 26, and had only been in South Africa eight days before he met with his death. The force of which he formed one behaved with conspicuous bravery at Belmont.
The St Helens Reporter, Friday 1st December 1899
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Clara Evans' death in South Africa has already been posted -
www.angloboerwar.com/forum/17-memorials-...ursing-service#43275
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A ST. HELENS LADY GOING TO THE FRONT.
....Miss Clara Evans, formerly of Prescot-road, St. Helens, is one of the six nurses chosen from the staff of the London hospital by the Princess of Wales to proceed to South Africa on Saturday. Miss Evans has for the past three years been at the London Hospital, and has had a good deal of experience in the men's surgical ward. She is to have an interview with the Princess of Wales before leaving England. The nurses will probably travel in the Dunnotar Castle, by which Lord Roberts sails on Saturday. The Mayor of St. Helens (Councillor Beecham) has sent Miss Evans a letter of congratulations, accompanied by a nurse's wallet containing an outfit of instruments.
The St Helens Reporter, Friday 22nd December 1899
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BRASS TABLET IN HONOUR OF LOCAL VOLUNTEERS.
....At a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee, held on the 24th ult., it was resolved, with a view to there being a permanent record in the Borough of the fact, that a Brass Tablet be obtained, to be fixed in some suitable position in the Town Hall, and that thereon be inscribed the names of the Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and Men of St Helens, who, being attached to, or members of, the various Volunteer Forces (Yeomanry, Engineers, and Rifles), have patriotically offered themselves to, and been accepted by, Her Majesty's Government for Active Service in their country's cause at the seat of war in South Africa.
The St Helens Reporter, Tuesday 6th February 1900
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THE RELIEF OF LADYSMITH.
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ST. HELENS NAMES IN THE CASUALTY LIST.
....In the course of the advance of General Buller's relief force, the South Lancashire Regiment suffered severely, though only ten men were killed during the three days' fighting. Eight of these men were reservists who rejoined the colours last October. The greater proportion of the wounded were also reservists.
....The following are the names and addresses of the reservists:—
KILLED ON FEBRUARY 22.
....Private T Farnen, 14, Fox-street, St Helens.
....J Ryan (2633). There is considerable doubt that Private J Ryan of St Helens, as the number given in the official list, and that kept by the Mayor (Councillor Beecham), do not correspond.
The St Helens Reporter, Friday 9th March 1900
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ST. HELENS YEOMANRY IN ACTION.
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A LAAGER CAPTURED
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SEVERAL CASUALTIES
....A correspondent of the Press Association telegraphs as follows:—
....Prieska, Thursday: Colonel Adye completely surprised the rebels at Kheis on Tuesday. Besides the waggons in the laager, he captured the flocks of the rebels and a quantity of arms and ammunition. The 44th Battalion R.A. shelled the enemy from the left bank of the Orange River, while Colonel Adye took his mounted troops across a drift and got in the rear of the rebels by a wide turning movement. The rebels opposed the crossing, which was effected with out loss. They were caught between two fires, but made a strong resistance, and their losses were heavy, chiefly wounded. About twenty wounded prisoners were taken.
....The British loss was seven killed and eighteen wounded. Many of our men were treacherously fired upon while carrying their wounded comrades. Colonel Adye remained in possession of the laager.
....Four of the names included in the casualties to the Yeomanry, reported in the engagement at Kheis, are those of St. Helens men—viz., Private J. Fairclough, of Peasley Cross, killed; Private W. Swire, plumber, of George-street, wounded; Private F. J. Roberts, Vincent-street, wounded; and Private Dancer, wounded.
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THE DEAD COMRADE
....Trooper John P. Fairclough, whose death is noted above, was one of the finest-looking members of the "B" troop of Lancashire Hussars. Although he would not have attained his 20th year until the 23rd of this month, he was 5 feet 10 inches in height, and well built. He resided with his parents in Peasley Cross-lane, and in civil life was employed at the Whitecross Colliery. Deceased had only been in the troop two years, but was a very efficient member, and all who knew him regret his death at so early an age. His parents received word from the War Office on Friday that their son had been killed, and naturally the news has been the source of great grief to them. Deceased has a brother in the same troop, who fortunately came through the action without injury.
The St Helens Reporter, Friday 8th June 1900
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THE LANCASHIRE HUSSARS IN ACTION.
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MEMORIAL SERVICE AT HOLY TRINITY CHURCH.
....On Sunday morning the "B" Troop of the Lancashire Hussars, under Sergeant-Major Cook, marched to Holy Trinity Church, Parr Mount, where they attended Divine service as a mark of respect to the memory of Private J Fairclough, who was recently killed in action in South Africa. The Rev J M Courtenay conducted the service, and the Rev William Davies, curate, preached. In the course of his sermon he said we lived in a Christian country, from which the Gospel was sent out to the uttermost parts of the earth. Yet even in this country there were thousands of people who were almost ignorant of the great festivals of the Church. This showed not their want of privileges but their indifference. There were events in the course of one's life which made a lasting impression on us. Take for instance, the great topic of the present day. For the last eight months one subject had been present to our minds, one which it would take some time before it would fade away. He alluded to the great struggle in which our country was still engaged in endeavouring to remove some of the grievances under which our fellow-subjects had for years been labouring in South Africa at the hands of a cruel and tyrannical Republic. Grievances there were, and no one could deny that the war was a just one. The preacher then briefly sketched the nature of these grievances, and went on to say that the war was looked upon by the vast majority of the people as being the only means of setting matters on a permanent basis. A spirit of the utmost loyalty had been displayed in the colonies. The war had been long and tedious, and would live long in our memories. It had brought some people sorrow. In almost every town in the country, valuable lives had been lost, cut off in the prime of their manhood. We had felt it in St Helens in many places. They were all present that day for the purpose of paying their respect to the memory of one who belonged to the parish, and who was called away a short time ago to fight for his Queen and country. They, he was certain, could sympathise with the parents and members of the bereaved family, and it would e some consolation for them to know that the young man had met with a gallant death. He had read that Lord Roberts was a very religious man, and that Lord Methuen was such. Nearly all the great captains at the front were men of simple lives and religious feelings. The example those men had set in regularly attending Divine service must be of enormous moral influence. Might their prayer that day be that God would bring the war to a just and lasting peace, and also that God would give our soldiers courage in danger, temperance in victory, and mercy in death.
St Helens Reporter, Tuesday 12th June 1900
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DEATH OF A ST. HELENS YEOMAN.
....The news of the death of Mr J R Brooker, of St Helens, at Beira, from dysentery has been received with regret by a large circle of friends at St Helens. Mr Brooker was the son of a former manager of the St Helens branch of the London and Midland Banking Company, and for some time was in the Town Clerk's office and a sergeant in the St Helens Engineer Volunteers. When the order came for a detachment of the St Helens Engineers to be raised for service in South Africa, deceased offered his services, but as is known the detachment was disbanded. On the call by the War Office for Yeomanry Volunteers Mr Brooker joined the Leicester troop of the Warwickshire Hussars, and was accepted for foreign service. His troop was despatched to Beira, and on Saturday his relatives at St Helens received a telegram from the authorities stating that he had there succumbed to dysentery on the 6th inst.
The St Helens Reporter, Tuesday 19th June 1900
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A ST. HELENS YEOMAN AT THE FRONT.
Kheis, June 7th, 1900.......
....DEAR SMITH,—
........No doubt you will have read of our little engagement last Monday week and the grand victory gained over the rebels here. They had a splendid position. We left Draghoender on Saturday, May 26th, camping 18 miles out, and on to Stuff Kraal the following morning, where we joined the Gloucester Mounted Infantry, Nesbitt's Light Horse, and the 44th Battery of Artillery, they were passing through Draghoender the day before we left. The Warwick Yeomanry should have joined us the same night, Sunday, but missed their way in the dark. However, they found the drift they were supposed to cross at daybreak (Monday). The column marched out of Stuff Kraal at 7 a.m., the Artillery going 3 miles down the river side to a kopje where they could shell the enemy's laager at 2,700 yards range, the troops remaining at the same place that we fired from the week before. The first shot from cannon was the signal to cross, "B" Troop first, the others to follow if the enemy's fire was not heavy. Several shots came, but no one was hit, from seven men entrenched opposite the drift. The sound of the Artillery's guns must have frightened them as they left skins, blankets, shawls, and saddles in the trenches, going bareback. If they had remained they must have killed a lot, so well were they situated. The pits were from 5 to 7 feet deep lined with boulders to rest the barrels of their rifles on, and only 150 yards range. While watering on Sunday morning the Artillery horses were fired at by the same seven. All being across, the order was advance in skirmishing order, gallop, and after about 2 miles had been covered, right shoulder. The Lancashires were on the right, Gloucesters left, and Nesbitt's centre. There was little opposition for a while, several shots coming, but when near the place from whence they came, there was a white flag held and no rifle to be seen, probably it had been dropped and covered with sand. Closing in to here you could see nobody, but shots whizzed by, and to make it worse the Artillery's shells were dropping uncomfortably near, they not expecting our men up so soon. While under cover from shell fire a great many of the rebels made their escape without being seen. Sergeant Ward and J Fairclough were killed, Roberts wounded in the knee, Dancer neck, and Swire top of head and leg, the bullet going through both trousers pockets. All these were "B"; Sergeant James Macdonald and Bennett wounded, "D." Clarke of "A" died on Wednesday morning from wound in neck, and was buried by the side of Captain Tyndall, staff officer, and Lieutenant Matthews, Gloucesters, who died during Tuesday night. Captain Jones (our captain) was shot in the ankle. The Gloucesters had 2 wounded, a sergeant and a private, opposite here at the drift, where the Warwick Yeomanry tried to cross. Major Orr-Ewing, a corporal, and private were killed and several wounded, including our doctor (Dr Dunn). There is an island in the middle of the river, and on it were eight men hid amongst the trees. The doctor wanted to assist some one at the river's edge, and exposed himself, held up his arms and pointed to the cross on his arm, but that didn't prevent him being shot in the leg; all the wounded are doing well, going away to-day to Imperial Yeomanry Hospital near De Aar. We only picked up three of their wounded, and one died last Friday. They must have taken a lot with them, as there is always a deal more wounded than killed. We have buried 10, including the commando, and while on patrol the Gloucesters have found graves of 5 and 2. We had 16 prisoners this side (without the wounded), and a dirty lot they were. One man would be 60, and several wouldn't be 20.
I remain,............................................
J. PENDLEBURY, Corporal.......
The St Helens Reporter, Tuesday 3rd July 1900
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LIEUTENANT T. DOUGLAS PILKINGTON KILLED IN ACTION.
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....The inhabitants of St Helens and surrounding districts will hear with regret the news that arrived in St Helens late on Friday afternoon, of the death of Lieutenant T. Douglas Pilkington, of the Royal Dragoons, who was killed in action at Nitral's Nek, near Pretoria, on Wednesday, whilst his regiment was defending the position against the Boers. Lieutenant Thomas Douglas Pilkington was the eldest son of Mr Thomas Pilkington, J.P., D.L., a member of the firm of Messrs Pilkington Bros, and late of Knowsley Cottage, but now of Holme Lacey, near Hereford, and Sandside, Thurso, N.B.
[North Britain] The deceased officer, who was only 24 years of age, was appointed second lieutenant in the Royal Dragoons on June 9th, 1897. In October last he went out to South Africa with the 1st Royal Dragoons, and about 3 months ago he and other officers with a small number of men, whilst out on reconnaissance duty, were attacked by the enemy. Lieutenant Pilkington, in a gallant manner, stood by a brother officer, who was severely wounded, and was taken prisoner by the Boers. He was sent to Pretoria, and on the capitulation of that city to Lord Roberts, he was released. Previous to his capture, he had been through several engagements, but escaped injury. On his release, he returned to active service, and became attached to the 2nd Royal Dragoons (Scots Greys). His regiment was at Nitral's Nek, and on Wednesday was attacked by the Boers, and Lieutenant Pilkington was unfortunately killed. On receipt of the news at St Helens, the flag at Messrs Pilkington Bros. Works was placed at half-mast.
The St Helens Reporter, Tuesday 17th July 1900
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PROMOTION FOR THE LATE LIEUTENANT T. D. PILKINGTON.
....The Daily News says:— Promotion for a number of officers serving in South Africa, and now "recovered prisoners of war," is announced in Friday night's Gazette. There is a pathetic side to the case of Second-Lieutenant T. D. Pilkington, 1st Dragoons. On recovering his freedom, he was appointed "to be Lieutenant Supernumerary to the establishment, pending absorption" and has since been killed in action.
The St Helens Reporter, Tuesday 24th July 1900
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ST. HELENS YEOMEN AND ENTERIC FEVER.
....St Helens people will regret to know that Mr Henry Saunders, joiner and builder, of St Helens, received information from the War Office on Tuesday night, that his second son, Trooper Samuel Taylor Saunders, of the 32nd Company Imperial Yeomanry, had died from enteric on Saturday last, the 4th inst., after two days' illness. Trooper Saunders was one of the second batch of the members of the B Troop of the Lancashire Hussars who went out to South Africa about a year ago. He had been through very many engagements, under various commanders, and was latterly engaged pursuing De Wet. He was twenty-one years of age, and formerly worked as a joiner for Mr Herbert Helsby. Saunders's companion, Trooper Joseph Parr, who went out at the same time, and Trooper Cox, of St Helens, are reported as ill from enteric, also Trooper Little, of St Helens, who was also in the 32nd Company, is reported to have died on January 2.
The St Helens Reporter, Friday 10th January 1902
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LIEUTENANT STAPLETON BRETHERTON KILLED IN ACTION.
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....The people of Rainhill and district will learn with deep regret of the death at the front of Lieutenant R C L Stapleton Bretherton. The following details are taken from the Daily Telegraph:— "Second Lieutenant Robert Charles Lucius Stapleton-Bretherton, of the Royal Fusiliers Mounted Infantry, who was killed at Ronderan, in the Frankfort district, on Thursday last, was the secod son of Mr Frederick Stapleton-Bretherton (who, born Bretheron, assumed by Royal license the additional name of Stapleton in 1864), of Heathfield House, Fareham, Hants., and The Hall, Rainhill, Lancashire, by his marriage with the Hon. Isabella Mary, second daughter of the twelth Baron Peter, and sister of the present peer. He was born on August 31st, 1875, and had for some years previous to joining the Regular Army held a commission in the 3rd Battalion (Militia) of the Hampshire Regiment, being seconded in September, 1898, for employment with the Gold Coast Constabulary. He was gazetted a captain in the Militia in May, 1899, and after his battalion had been embodied for over four months was transferred to the Royal Fusiliers as a second lieutenant in June, 1900. He had only been in Africa for a short time."
St Helens Reporter, Friday 7th February 1902
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Finally, a post-war death in St Helens.
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A ST. HELENS SOLDIER'S DEATH.
....Last night a St. Helens labourer, named John Thompson, 29, who went through the North-West Frontier Campaign in India and the Boer War, in which he was wounded, died at St. Helen's Hospital as the result of injuries received yesterday afternoon on a siding at the St. Helens collieries. He was trimming slack on the siding, and after an engine, which was shunting some waggons, had passed, he was found at the side of the line with shocking injuries to his face and head, and his left arm and shoulder smashed. It is thought he slipped on the slack.
The Manchester Courier, Friday 12th December 1902
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Thompson's death and the inquest were more fully covered in The St Helens Reporter, of Friday, 19th December, 1902, and if anyone would like to read that, I'll add it. His home address was 21, Railway Street, St Helens, and the accident occurred on the Ravenhead branch of the London and North-Western Railway. His regiment wasn't mentioned, and his name was spelt in the Reporter as 'Thomson.' However, I've looked at the possible birth registrations and his birth surname was recorded as being 'Thompson.'
