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Moranthorse1 wrote “ I hope to hear about any connections of Smethwick men to the Worcestershire Regiment during the Boer War.”

Steve – to date I have identified 10 Smethwickians who served in the Worcestershire Regiment during the Boer War.

12th February 1900 was a black day for the 2nd Worcesters – it was also a black day for Smethwick. Corporal 4232 John Harry Pritchard & Private 4203 John Carrington both had Smethwick connections. Pritchard was born near Droitwich in Cutnall Green (which you must have driven through living in Stourbridge) but before the start of the Boer War the family moved to Smethwick and at the time of his death his parents and younger siblings lived in Dibble Road, Smethwick. I think Carrington was probably born in Dudley but the Smethwick Telephone reported his death and added that his widow lived in Union Passage, Smethwick. They got married in Dudley not long before he sailed for South Africa. Dudley has a greater claim to him than Smethwick and quite rightly his name appears on their Boer War Memorial (see attached photo).

Private J Walker (resided in Smethwick, given name and regimental number not known) & Lance-corporal 3832 John Ball (born in Smethwick) also served in the 2nd Worcesters and so were presumably also present on the black day but survived.