TOPIC:

Sgt Rosser Francis Memorial 7643 SWB , St Cadocs, Church Trevethin , Pontypool, Wales, UK

Welcome to the Forum and thanks for posting your photos of this memorial. If you edit your post by clicking on the “Insert” buttons the photos should appear on screen.

The unveiling of the memorial on 18th June 1904 was reported in several newspapers – here is the text on the memorial:



He is also commemorated on the National Welsh Boer War Memorial in Cathays Park, Cardiff and on the SWB Memorial in Brecon Cathedral.

He can be found in the “Register of Soldier’s Effects” which adds the following information – he attested/enlisted on 11 February 1901 at Newport, South Wales and he was a carpenter by trade.

He was posthumously awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal with two clasps – Cape Colony & South Africa 1901.

South Wales Gazette, 14th November 1902

Capt. Morris said the Newbridge Company of Volunteers held a unique character as it had contributed a larger number of men than any other particular volunteer company in South Wales. More, our men were the mainstay of the Active Service Company of the South Wales Borderers. The only melancholy note was the lamented death of Sergeant Rosser Francis, who lies in a soldier’s grave ‘neath the African sun. Capt. Morris asked the audience to pass a vote of condolence to Mr Francis, the aged father of deceased, by standing on their feet, which was done amidst deep silence.

Miss Morris now presented Sergeant Rosser Francis's medal to Sergeant-Instructor Phelan, by whom it was to be conveyed to Mr Francis.

Link to Find a Grave.
Primrose cemetery.
Sgt R Francis died of disease (Enteric)

www.findagrave.com/memorial/246090617/a-francis

We have a problem - Peter H of FaG says Rosser went out to SA in January 1900 whereas his entry on the Register of Effects says he did not enlist until February 1901. In my experience Peter H's write-ups on FaG are accurate but in this case he seems to have failed to appreciate that Rosser was a Volunteer rather than a Regular when the AWB started - perhaps not surprising because the Volunteer Service Companies attached to the 2nd Battalion SWB do not have separate Medal Rolls and I suspect the Registers of Effects (held by the National Army Museum) have only been digitised since Peter H did his research.

The more you look into Rosser the more interesting he becomes. His father was married 4 times and Rosser was the result of his last union. His previous wife had started out life as Leah Rosser. The commanding officer of the 2nd Volunteer Service Company which Rosser served in was a Captain Rosser. This might partly explain why the officers of the battalion went to the trouble and expense of erecting this memorial to an NCO who did not suffer a glorious death.

More research needed but afraid I shall be otherwise occupied for a few days. Once again thanks for posting photos of what is turning out to be an interesting memorial. Regards, David.