TOPIC:

hello all,
I hope I am doing this correctly but if I am not then I am sure that some kind soul will put me on the right track.
My interest -
My great grandfather Thomas Webb, private, 1st Battalion the suffolk Regiment, no 2276, was killed on the 1st jan 1900 at Grassy Hill.He is mentioned on Colesberg military cemetery ( among other places) but I cannot find any mention of the cemetery on here so far but I have found a short piece on the Suffolk regiment.
I have a photo of him, his medal and his chocolate tin but I would like to find out more.

Hi Monty, welcome aboard !
I had a quick search for your great grandfather. I started with the 1st Suffolk QSA medal roll and note that he received the QSA with Cape Colony clasp. On the roll (WO 100/174 pg 391) the date of death has been entered as 'KIA 6 January 1900'. On the casualty return it notes 2276 Pte. T Webb, 1st Suffolk Regt as 'Missing' and then under remarks "Died'. Place of death is listed as 'Colesberg' and the date is given as '6 January 1900'.

Grassy Hill (Graskop in Afrikaans) is now known as Suffolk Hill.

This might be of interest:
www.thebarracks.co.za/coleskop.htm

If his date of death is 6 January 1900 then it is likely he was killed in the same action that Captain Arthur Wale Brown was captured in near Rensburg. Capt Brown died of his wounds in Pretoria and is commemorated on the Suffolk Hill Memorial at Colesberg.

Another officer killed in that action with the 1st Suffolks that day was Lt Seymour James Carey. It might be worth your while to try follow up on these two men as it is possible that you will be able to gain a greater understanding of the action through possible records describing their capture/death.

Cheers,

Mark

Thank you Mark for the info.

As the Suffolk Hill memorial at Colesburg is such a big one and I have seen it on other sites and found Thomas name on the lists I am just surprised that I cannot find any mention of it on here.

Thank you again, Monty

Hello Monty,

Only about 30% of the men who served in the Boer War are listed on the site. Sadly, there are more omissions than men and women listed.

Regards
David