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In the Municipal Buildings, Crewe. Due to a display stand having been placed partly in front of the plaque, I was unable to take a photo from directly in front.
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........................................................................................SAPPER F. ANKERS
..............................................................................................." .......T. COOPS ..............................................................................................." .......F. J. EVANS
..............................................................................................." .......A. H. FOY
..............................................................................................." .......W. MADELEY
..............................................................................................." .......T. ROBERTS
..............................................................................................." .......S. ROBINSON
..............................................................................................." .......W. TALBOT





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. .... The sad news was received at Crewe on Wednesday of the death of Sapper A. H. Foy, a Crewe Engineers' Reservist, who has been attached to the 8th Company of the Royal Engineers, and who died at Orange River on April 15th from an attack of enteric fever. Sapper Foy was about 20 years of age, and had been connected with the Crewe Engineer Corps for about four years, being a member of B Company, of which the Acting Adjutant of the battalion (Captain Stones) is the company officer. The painful intelligence was received with feelings of deep regret on the part of the late sapper's colleagues in the corps, and also his shopmates in the railway works, and universal sympathy is expressed with his parents, who reside in Beech-street, in their bereavement.
The Crewe Guardian, Saturday 21st April 1900
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. ....In last Friday's issue it was our painful duty to record the death of a Crewe Engineer Reservist, Sapper A. H. Foy, a young man, aged about 20 years, who was attached to the 8th company of the Royal Engineers, and who died at Orange River on the 15th inst., as the result of an attack of enteric fever. To-day we regret to announce that this terrible disease has been responsible for the death of another Engineer Reservist, Sapper F. J. Evans, who was with the 31st company of the Royal Engineers. The late Sapper Evans was a married man, and had been connected with the Crewe Engineers for a number of years. His kind and genial manner won for him the esteem and respect of his comrades in the corps, to whom the sad news of his death will be a source of sincere regret. He leaves a widow and two children to mourn his loss. They reside at Sydney, and the utmost sympathy will be felt in their bereavement. A pathetic incident in connection with Sapper Evans's death is the fact that on Thursday morning Mrs. Evans received a letter which was written by the man himself some weeks previously, when he was in the neighbourhood of Spion Kop. At the time he wrote home he was apparently in perfect health, and the letter itself was coached in such a manner as to clearly suggest that he was then as happy and as contented as could possibly be expected. Later in the day Mrs. Evans was reading the cheerful epistle which she had received to her mother, and while so engaged a post office messenger arrived at the house and handed her a telegram. This was, unfortunately, a message from the War Office conveying to her the distressing intelligence thather husband died from fever at Modder River on the 14th inst.
The Crewe Guardian, Wednesday 25th April 1900
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. ....The news of the tragic death of Lieut. Trotter, of the Crewe Engineer Corps, has caused a most painful sensation in the town. Only a week ago Lieut. Trotter left Crewe in charge of one of the two contingents of volunteers who were bound for South Africa, and that he should have come to such an untimely end is a source of deep regret to all connected with the local battalion of volunteers, as well as to a wide circle of other friends in the railway works at Crewe, amongst whom this young gentleman established himself as a great favourite. On Wednesday evening Lieut. Trotter was exercising a charger which he thought of taking with him to South Africa when the horse bolted, and though he made a gallant effort to check its mad career, the animal collided with a fence. The rider was badly thrown, his skull was fractured, and he died almost immediately. Lieut. Trotter was exceedingly popular with his brother officers in the corps, and was also held in high esteem by the rank and file of the company to which he was attached.
The Crewe Guardian, Saturday 13th April 1901
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Lieutenant Charles Maitland Forbes Trotter was the son of the Rev. J. G. Trotter, vicar of Polesworth, Warwickshire, and the nephew of Mr. J. K. Trotter, Assistant Adjutant-General at the War Office. The two sections of the Crewe Volunteers at Chatham formed the escort and bearer party when the body was taken from the barracks to Chatham railway station. The funeral at Polesworth was a military one, and a firing party of 40 men of the 2nd Cheshire Engineers, and their band, travelled by special train from Crewe to Polesworth; Colonel Cotton-Jodrell also attended the funeral in Polesworth churchyard. Lieutenant Trotter was aged 19 when he died. Having been a student at Uppingham School, he may be remembered on the memorial plaque there.
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. ....Information reached Crewe on Friday to the effect that Sapper John Darlington, a Crewe railway engineer, who left Crewe Works with a party of engineers for South Africa early this year, had been shot at Bloemfontein. The deceased was a young man, and attached to the A Company of the 2nd Cheshire Railway Engineers.
Cheshire Observer, Saturday 25th May 1901
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. . ....Crewe turned out on Monday evening in thousands, and accorded the detachment of Crewe Engineers who volunteered for active service in April, 1901, the heartiest of welcomes on their safe return home. When it became generally known that the Volunteers landed at Southampton on Sunday every loyal Creweite expressed a determination to again give vent to their feelings of appreciation of the patriotic manner in which the men had responded to their country's call, and the town on Monday presented a gay and festive appearance. Many of the streets were gaily bedecked with flags and bunting in honour of the occasion, and, in the work of decoration, the inhabitants vied with one another in producing the best effect.
....The men, with bronzed faces, and looking hale and hearty arrived at the railway station about 5.30 o'clock, and were there met by Colonel Cotton-Jodrell, C.B., the commanding officer of the corps and the other officers. They numbered 42, and were under the command of Lieutenant Davenport, and as they detrained they were greeted with ringing cheers. Several of their number had been left behind, some having decided to stay in South Africa, and others having been left in hospital, and the occasion was one that reminded the large concourse of the people of the tragic circumstances under which Second-Lieutenant Trotter met his death at Chatham prior to the corps setting sail last year, his absence being particularly noticeable. The men, having been formally welcomed by the officers on the platform, marched to the Market-square to the appropriate strains of the battalion band, and with an escort of thousands of the townspeople. On the square the men were cordially received, on behalf of the town, by the Mayor (Alderman McNeil), with whom were the ex-Mayor (Dr. Wilson), and Councillors Hatton and Hoptroff, and scenes of intense enthusiasm were witnessed.
....In a happy speech, the Mayor, who wore his chain of office, extended a hearty welcome to the men, and remarked that it was a matter for great thanksgivings and rejoicing that they had safely returned home. He congratulated them on the creditable manner in which they had acquitted themselves while in South Africa, and trusted that the day would be far distant when they would again be called upon. Peace now established he fervently hoped would be lasting and honourable. (Cheers.) He also hoped that their friends in the treatment they meted out to them would be discreet while regarding the day as one of happiness and joy. (Cheers.) He called for cheers for Lieutenant Davenport and the returned heroes, and the call was responded to lustily, the cheering continued until the crowd dispersed.
....Similar scenes were enacted throughout the remainder of the evening wherever the men were met. The men speak of the excellent treatment they have received while on active service, and add that although they have seen little fighting they have experienced "stiff" work, remarking that they have had a hard time.
....The officers who accompanied Colonel Cotton-Jodrell to the railway station to welcome the brave contingent of Volunteers were: Colonel Kennedy, Major Tandy, Captain Stones (acting adjutant), Captain Jackson, Lieutenants Lemmon, Greenhough, Caneda , and Black. There were also present the corps Instructors—Sergeant-Major Williams, R. E., Sergeant Robb, R. E., and Sergeant Jones, R. E.
....Colonel Cotton-Jodrell was most anxious to address the men before they were dismissed on the Square, but the tumultuous enthusiasm was such that he could not make his voice heard, and he finally gave up the attempt in despair. The crowd got wedged in with the Engineers, and after the Mayor, who spoke from the balcony of the Post Office, had concluded his words of welcome, the vast concourse of people who literally packed the Square became absolutely uncontrollable, so great was their display of enthusiasm. They dragged the men out of the lines, and reared them shoulder-high, and it was even impossible for the Volunteers to be formally dismissed. As a matter of fact the majority of them had to elbow their way off the Square as best they could, and as one by one they succeeded in getting clear of the thick of the crowd they were immediately surrounded by a host of friends who were anxious to shake them by the hand, and welcome them back to what, in the case of the bulk of the men, is their native town.
. ....The following is a complete list of the men who returned on Monday evening:— .........................Lieutenant Davenport (in command)
.........................Sergeant W. J. Haughton.
.........................2nd Corporal Hinett.
.........................Sapper J. Brookshaw.
.............................."......H. Boden.
.............................."......W. H. Battison.
.............................."......E. Brett.
.............................."......R. Chester.
.............................."......A. Crawley,
.............................."......G. H. Crawley.
.............................."......W. Cooke.
.............................."......A. M. Dodd.
.............................."......W. P. Edge.
.............................."......A. Fox.
.............................."......R. Friend.
.............................."......G. J. Hill.
.............................."......W. J. Hewitt.
.............................."......T. Hewlett.
.............................."......A. C. Parsonage.
.............................."......W. Mottram
..............................."......J. Prince.
. .........................Sergeant H. W. Hitchcock.
.........................Corporal A. Ross.
.........................2nd Corporal R. T. Upton.
.........................Lance-Corporal F. W. Hart.
.........................Sapper S. J. Bailey.
..............................."......C. H. Bennett.
..............................."......J. Jones.
..............................."......J. Key.
..............................."......R. Maddocks.
..............................."......T. E. Purcell.
..............................."......P. Powell.
..............................."......H. Price.
..............................."......C. D. Preston.
..............................."......J. Reade.
..............................."......E. Robinson.
..............................."......T. Shaw.
..............................."......C. W. Tandy.
..............................."......A. Stockton.
..............................."......W. A. Tomkins.
..............................."......A. Wareham.
..............................."......T. Winder.
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....Of the first section there had been previously invalided home, Corporal W. Worrall, Lance-Corporal T. Wale, and Sappers C. Fox and J. Lewis. Sapper E. Fox, another member of the first section still remains in South Africa. Only one member of No. 2 Section, Sapper A. T. Thurstan, had been previously invalided home, and there still remains in South Africa, Sappers E. Rhead, J. W. Thompson, and W. D. Thomas. It is understood that those men who have been left behind have accepted civilian appointments on the Governemt railways.
....Sergeant Hitchcock, the senior non-commissioned officer of No. 2 Section, had a severe attack of fever while in South Africa, and he had another slight attack during the homeward voyage, which confined him to his bed for about six days. It was at one time doubtful whether he would not have to remain at Netley upon his arrival at Southampton, but, happily, his recovery was so satisfactory that the medical authorities certified him as being fit to proceed direct to Crewe with the rest of the troops.
....Captain Collins, who was in charge of No. 2 Section, has decided to remain in South Africa, having obtained a lucrative appointment as an official of one of the Government railways. It will be remembered that this officer volunteered to take the place of the late Lieutenant Trotter, who met with such a shocking fatality during the brief period that the men were located at the headquarters of the Royal Engineers at Chatham, before setting sail for the front. When Mr. Collins went out to South Africa he was a lieutenant in the Engineer Corps, but has since been promoted to the rank of captain.
. ....On Tuesday morning the returned volunteers paraded at the Corps Institute at ten o'clock for a formal inspection by Colonel Cotton-Jodrell, C.B. The men looked particularly smart in their khaki uniforms, and came in for general admiration as they wended their way in twos and threes to the Institute. Colonel Jodrell, who was in uniform, drove from Reaseheath Hall, accompanied by Lieutenant Davenport, who had been his guest, and upon arrival at the Armoury the two officers were met by the Acting Adjutant (Captain Stones). Before the men received the order to "fall in" Colonel Jodrell engaged in conversation with several of them, and briefly questioned them as to their experiences while on active serice. He specially congratulated Sergeant Hitchcock upon the marked distinction which he had received in one of Lord Kitchener's latest despatches for the distinguished service which he had rendered. The troops afterwards proceeded to the large room at the rear of the Institute, and both sections were then inspected by their commanding officer. At the conclusion of the inspection
....Colonel Jodrell addressed the men in a few appropriate words. He congratulated them in the name of the battalion upon the splendid service which they had rendered, and the great honour which they had thus conferred upon the corps and the town generally. He was glad to see them all looking so well after so many months of hard work; and he felt personally proud to be in command of a corps of volunteers who had responded so loyally to their country's call. In conclusion Colonel Jodrell informed the men that it was the intention of the officers of the corps to entertain all those belonging to the battalion who had been on active service when the remainder of their comrades had returned home.
....The men were highly pleased with the kindly words of welcome and encouragement addressed to them by their Colonel, and were also gratified to find that their service had been so highly appreciated by the War Office authorities.
....Before leaving the Armoury the volunteers were informed that they would remain on leave until such time as the necessary discharge papers and other documents were received from Chatham.
....As an evidence of the joy and thankfulness that is felt throughout the town at the return of the two volunteer sections, we may mention that every street in which any of the men reside was gaily decorated on Monday with flags and streamers. In many instances the decorations were carried out to quite an elaborate scale and nothing could have exceeded the warmth of the reception accorded to the men by their immediate friends and neighbours. Scenes of remarkable enthusiasm were witnessed in different parts of the town as each man arrived at his home after leaving the Market-square, and every resident in the street turned out to join in the welcome.
The Crewe Guardian, Saturday 9th August 1902

Lieutenant Trotter received a silver cigar case & matchbox and cased silver-mounted pipe on his departure from Polesworth, Warwickshire, on 30th March 1901. As recorded in Berenice's superbly researched piece above, Trotter was killed in a riding accident eleven days later, on 10th April.


Tamworth Herald, 6th April 1901.

POLESWORTH.
PRESENTATION TO LIEUTENANT C. TROTTER.
An interesting gathering took place at St Editha’s Coffee House, Polesworth, on Saturday evening. Mr Charles TROTTER, the son of the Rev. J.G. Trotter, vicar of Polesworth, volunteered for service in South Africa and was accepted. Lieut. Trotter already holds a commission in the Crewe Volunteers (Engineer Corps), and has just been gazetted as Second Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers. At the gathering a small memento was presented to him in the shape of a silver-mounted pipe, in case, a silver cigarette case, and silver match box, with his initials.
The Rev. W.M. Shepherd occupied the chair and opened the proceedings, remarking that they all admired the spirit of loyalty and devotion which inspired Lieut. Trotter to volunteer.
Mr Harry Adcock made the presentation, and in the course of his speech said he regretted that time had not allowed them to make a better present, it was only a few friends and not a parochial affair, as he would have liked it to have been.
Lieut. Trotter suitably replied, and the proceedings terminated with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne”. Among the ladies and gentlemen present were Miss G. Trotter, Miss May Trotter, Miss K. Trotter, Miss Dorothy Heming (Mancetter), Messrs T.H. Royles, Harmston, J. Stevenson, Wm. Lawton. H. Adcock, R.G. Stokes, E.W. Pearce, Thos. Lawrence, B. Mallinson, Wm. Bird, W. Marshall.


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