TOPIC:

CARDIGAN BOER WAR MEMORIAL,
GUILDHALL,
CARDIGAN,
SA43 1JL.
WALES.


The Guildhall.


The memorial scroll tablet on the first floor of The Guildhall is not in an area open to public access. However, a polite request to view the memorial allowed me time to take these photos.

The memorial was unveiled in December 1903 by Mrs. Delme Davies-Evans, the wife of Colonel Davies-Evans, Lord Lieutenant of Highmead. The Colonel was ill and so could not attend leaving his good lady to take the honour of unveiling.


The coat of arms of Cardigan.


The makers name W H THOMAS, CARDIGAN inscribed to the brackets beneath the scroll.


The Roll of Honour of the men who made up an entire company (F Company, Ceredigion Volunteers) of the 1st Pembrokeshire Volunteer Battalion of the Welsh Regiment.

The inscription on the memorial as follows:

"SOUTH AFRICA
1899 1902

THIS SCROLL
WAS ERECTED BY VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS
IN HONOUR OF THE OFFICERS AND MEN WHO
VOLUNTEERED AND SERVED IN THE
SOUTH AFRICAN WAR

1st Volunteer Battalion Welsh Regiment
Captain R W PICTON EVANS
Lance Corporal JOHN EVANS
Private GEORGE W JAMES
Private DAVID E OWENS
Private W M THOMAS
Private JENKIN JONES
Private W G RICHARDS

3rd Volunteer Battalion Welsh Regiment
CORPL. J E LEWIS

30th Company Imp. Yeomanry
SERGT. Major IVOR TROLLIP
SERGT. Major L E PERRY

Canadian M I
Private ARTHUR STOREY

Woejenhog Volunteer Rifles
Private JOHNNY JONES

Bethune's M I
Private T J JONES

Unfortunately, there does not appear to be a memorial in the county of Ceredigion to the men who died while on active despite there being a number of local casualties described on other websites.

To follow on from this post, I will add biographical information for the men named on the scroll, and also dedicate a post to the fallen of the county.

CARDIGAN BOER WAR MEMORIAL BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

CAPTAIN RICHARD WILLIAM PICTON-EVANS
Richard William Picton-Evans was born on 3rd October 1872 at Tintern Cottage, Cardigan, West Wales. His father was William and mother Caroline. His siblings were Edith M and Lawrence P.
The Census of 1891 records Richard living at Newick House, Bath Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

For his service in the rank of Captain with 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Welsh Regiment he was awarded the Queen's South Africa medal with clasps Cape Colony/ Orange Free State/Diamond Hill/Belfast and South Africa 1901.

At some time during 1901 he married Katherine Frances Blake and welcomed children of the union, Richard Arthur Lawrence on 17th December 1902 and William in 1905.

On 19th October 1906 he embarked on a grand tour embarking on the "Jerome" (The Booth Steamship Company) from Liverpool to Manaus, Brazil.

Upon his return from his travels, it would appear that he was once again residing in Argoed, near Cardigan in West Wales according to the 1911 Census. Indeed, he was the Mayor of Cardigan in 1913/14.

His military career was to continue with the advent of the First World War where he served in the rank of Major and was mentioned in despatches during his service on the eastern front.
Sadly, he died on 13th September 1918 at Gaza Hospital aged 46.
He is commemorated on the Cardigan War Memorial for the First World War and also on a memorial tablet located in St. Mary's in Cardigan.

7528 LANCE CORPORAL JOHN EVANS
John Evans was born in Blaenporth, Cardiganshire in 1876.
He attested to the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Welsh Regiment at Cardigan on 23rd February 1900 at the age of 24 years and 8 months. A Bank Clerk by occupation he was 5' 6 1/2"in height and weighed in at 148lbs. His range of chest expansion was 35 1/2" to 36 1/2". He was of a dark complexion, brown eyed, dark haired and Church of England by denomination.
He was promoted to Corporal on 21st March 1902, and was discharged at his own request on his return from South Africa on 1st July 1902.
His next of kin was Thomas Evans of Llwyndwris, Boncath.

6270 PRIVATE WILLIAM JONES JAMES
Was born in 1882 at Llandysul, Cardiganshire and attested to the 1st Battalion Welsh Regiment aged 18 on 04/01/ 1900 at Cardiff. He was a Collier by occupation and was 5' 21/2" in height, weighed 123lbs, chest range 36" to 38". He had a fresh complexion,grey eyes and brown hair. Church of England was his faith.
He deserted on 31st August 1900 and was awaiting trial on the 1st September (it seems a very short period of desertion!). He was finally sentenced to 28 days imprisonment with hard labour, and returned to duty on 9th October.
He was awarded the Queen's South Africa medal with clasps Cape Colony/Orange Free State and Transvaal. Also the King's South Africa medal with both date clasps.
He married Anne Evans on 3rd April 1907 residing at 4 Howell Street, Cilfynnydd, Pontypridd. The couple had three children.
He served during the First World War suffering a gunshot wound with the British Expeditionary Force in 1914. He was entitled to the 1914 Star, War and Victory medals for his Great War service. Additionally, he was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry being published in the London Gazette on 21st August 1917.
His total military service was 19 years and 27 days.

PRIVATE DAVID E.OWENS
There were three possible candidates for the identity of this man, but none could be named with any certainty.

PRIVATE W.M.THOMAS
Again, no satisfactory conclusion.

PRIVATE JENKIN JENKINS
Another blank drawn!. Difficult to pinpoint individuals with surnames such as this, so common in Wales.

7533 PRIVATE W.G.RICHARDS
William Grown Richards was born in 1880 and attested to the 1st Battalion Welsh Regiment on 23rd February 1900 aged 20 years and 10 months.
He died in 1956 at Narberh, Pembrokeshire.

7390 CORPORAL JOHN EVANS LEWIS
Born in 1874 in Cardigan, John attested to the 3rd Battalion Welsh Regiment at Cardiff at the age of 26 years and 4m months. He was a Bank Cashier and was 5' 8", 144 lbs, chest range 35" to 37" and had a dark complexion. He had dark grey eyes, black hair and practiced Church of England religion.
His next of kin was given as his father at Lloyds Bank House, Cardigan.

SERGEANT MAJOR EDWIN IVOR RAYNES TROLLIP. DCM
Edwin Trollip was born in 1875 at St. Mary's, Cardigan.
He attested to the 30th (Pembrokeshire) Company 9th Battalion of the Imperial Yeomanry on 19th February 1900 at Tenby at the age of 25 years and 3 months. He was 5' 7 3/4" in height, 141lbs in weight with a chest range of 33 1/2" to 35 1/2". His complexion was sallow, eyes blue and hair dark. He was of Church of England by denomination.
His occupation was noted as Rancher.

His next of kin was Mrs. Letitia Trollip of Brogau House, Cardigan,who was most likely his wife as the abbreviation (m) as often used to denote mother is not present, but I could be wrong!
He was discharged to civil employment at Elandsfontein as the rank of Squadron Sergeant Major on 6th July 1902 after serving for 2 years and 171 days, which was a lengthy stint for an Imperial Yeomanry man. He was 27 years and 8 months old at this time. His place of residence upon discharge was given as Heath's Hotel, Johannesburg, and he left the service with "Very Good Character " recorded.

He was mentioned in dispatched in the London Gazette dated July 29th 1902 and awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal on 31st October 1902.

His Queen's South Africa had the bars for Cape Colony and Orange Free State. He was also entitled to the King's South Africa medal with both date clasps.

SERGEANT MAJOR LAWRENCE EBENEZER PERRY
Lawrence Perry was born in 1880 at St. Dogmaels, Pembrokeshire. The Census of 1881 finds him living at St. Dogmaels, Pembrokeshire with his 38 year old mother, Anne Perry, brother William H (9), John H (3) along with servants Benjamin Gwynne (22), Mary Davies (21), Meg Jones (17) and Martha Mathias (13). With four servants employed we can safely assume that the family was middle class and of comfortable means. Note, no father present on census day.
He attested to the 30th (Pembrokeshire) Company 9th Battalion of the Imperial Yeomanry on 31st January 1901 aged 21 years and 8 months. He had been an apprentice fitter at Bridge End Foundry for a year.
He was 5' 4", 115lbs and chest range of 33" to 34". Church of England by denomination.
His next of kin was given as William Phillips of Trefraid, Kilgaron, Pembrokeshire.
Lawrence was discharged from the service on 15th July 1901 at Shorncliffe following just 166 days of service due to a rupture.

ARTHUR STOREY
Said to have served with the Canadian Mounted Infantry, but no information about him found.

PRIVATE JOHNNY JONES
Served with the Uitenhage Volunteer Rifles, but no satisfactory information found to report at this moment in time.

PRIVATE T.J.JONES
For this man I will quote from "Steinaeckers Horsemen" by Bill Woolmore (2006):

"JONES THOMAS, Trooper No. 1237: Served previously as Trooper No. 926 with Bethune's Mounted Infantry from 15 April 1900 until he was discharged 'with ignominy' on 9 November 1900. Roll for this unit endorsed 'NO MEDAL'. Enlisted in SH on 12 January 1901. NOK: Mr. J. Jones, Abbey Forge, Dogonelia, Pembrokeshire, England (sic Wales). Discharged medically unfit at PMB on 9 September 1901. QSA medal with clasps Transvaal & SA1901 issued on 4 February 1907.

ST. MICHAEL'S AND ALL ANGELS CHURCH,
BASKERVILLE STREET,
CLYRO,
POWYS,
HR3 5SF.
WALES


St. Michael's and All Angels Church, CLYRO.


Memorial plaque to left.


Memorial plaque to Captain J. E. T. Crichton

The memorial tablet is of brass with a decorative margin of leaves. The central inscription this:

"IN LOVING MEMORY
OF
JOHN ERNEST THEODORE CRICHTON
CAPTAIN 1ST MANCHESTER REGIMENT
WHO DIED OF WOUNDS AT BELFAST. S. AFRICA
14TH FEBRY. 1901. AGED 24.
BAPTIZED AT THIS CHURCH 10TH DECBR. 1876."


Captain J. E. T. Crichton.


His grave marker in South Africa.

Watt(2000) tells us that he was wounded on 13th February 1901 and died of wounds at Schwartz Kopje, Belfast on 14th February 1901 and that he was interred at Belfast Cemetery and commemorated on monument 30.

Palmer (1999) gives the following biographical information:

"Captain John Ernest Theodore Crichton, Mounted Infantry Company, Manchester Regiment, died at Belfast 14 February 1901, of wounds received in action the previous day at Schwartz Kopje. He was born October 1876, educated at Cheltenham, and entered the Manchester Regiment September 1896, being promoted Lieutenant October 1897, and Captain September 1900. Captain Crichton served throughput the Siege of Ladysmith, and afterwards in the Transvaal, and was mentioned in despatches, London Gazette 10 September 1901. His name is inscribed on the Eleanor Cross War Memorial erected at Cheltenham College."

ST. BARNABAS CHURCH, DREFACH FELINDRE, LLANDYSUL, CARMARTHENSHIRE SA44 5XG. WALES.


St. Barnabas, Drefach Felindre.


The impressive memorial to Corporal William Frederick Jones.


Memorial inscribed thus:

"IN
MEMORY
OF
CORPORAL WILLIAM FREDERICK JONES
SON OF THE REV. THOMAS JONES
RECTOR OF THIS PARISH
BORN
FEB 13. 1870
FELL AT GABERONES
SERVING IN COLONEL PLUMERS COLUMN
FOR THE RELIEF OF MAFEKING
FEB 13. 1900
and was buried in the Gaberones Cemetery.
ERECTED BY HIS FRIENDS
AS A TOKEN OF THEIR ESTEEM WND
AFFECTION."

The WW1.Wales webpage description as follows:

"William Frederick Jones, Corporal, Rhodesia Regiment. William was born on 13 February 1870, the son of Revd. Thomas Jones, and Margaret Jones, of Drefach Felindre. He served with the British South Africa Police, and was attached to the Rhodesia Regiment, which was part of Plumer's Column. The Column was working to relieve the Siege of Mafeking, when William died of wounds suffered during an engagement with the Boers at Gaberones Crocodile Pools on 13 February 1900. He is buried at Gaberones, which is today in Botswana."

Watt (2000) and Palmer (1999) confirm the above. Watt writes that William is commemorated on monument 2 at Gaberones.

Ancestry search raised the Medal Roll for British South Africa Police WO100/238, which gives William the regimental number 562 and confirms his entitlement to the Queen's South Africa medal with the single clasp 'RHODESIA'.
'Died' is entered in the Remarks column of the roll


562 Corporal William Frederick Jones: British South Africa Police

GABERONES CEMETERY

SERGEANT MAJOR LAWRENCE EBENEZER PERRY

Steve - found this on Find A Grave but no photo of his grave. Surname incorrect which is probably why you did not find it. St Dogmael's also spelt incorrectly.

The funeral took place on Friday of Mr Lawrence Ebenezer Parry, whose death took place at Hendre, the residence of his uncle, Mr Phillips, on the previous Tuesday, at the age of twenty-five years. Deceased served in the Boer War, going out with the first contingent of the Pembrokeshire Imperial Yeomanry. He was invalided home, but subsequently returned to the war, where he rapidly gained promotion. The effects of the illness he contracted never left him and shortened his life. His death occurred three months to the day he returned from South Africa. The funeral was a large one, and the interment took place at St Dogmells Churchyard, the Vicar and Curate officiating.
[The Cambrian News, Friday 15th December 1905]

Have now found the article and it has been transcribed correctly.

Also attached the record of his burial on 1st December 1905 and map showing where he was living at 10 months old (so probably born there) - Tre-Rhys anglicised on the 1881 census to Trerees and misspelt on the 1891 census; and to the north where he died aged 25. Although both farms are now in Pembrokeshire could well have been in Ceredigion at the time.