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They certainly would fit the description of the typical Imperial Yeoman of that stage in the war.
The other two fellows on the list likewise. I have a fair bit of information for them both to be posted here when time allows!. Links to the newspaper reports are very much appreciated.
Many thanks for your pics of the memorials in SA Elmarie.

Elmarie - whilst chomping on the daily cereal I was attracted to F Coptcoat on your photo of the Mooi River Cemetery Memorial as an easy find on Ancestry etc because of his unusual name. So it proved and I have found him on a public family tree created by his great-great nephew. Sadly he does not display a photo of the man himself but there is a superb cabinet photo of his parents and his mother's dress suggests she was in mourning at the time. I am going to contact the FT creator and offer him a copy of your photo in exchange - if that is OK with you? If so, besides attributing it to Elmarie Malherbe should I also include the organisation you work for? David.

David,
You can use the photos with the greatest pleasure. I've scanned so many photos from books over the last few years and am not sure from what source I got them.

Elmarie

117 SERGEANT GEORGE JAMES BUTCHER

George James Butcher was born in 1875 and baptized on 31st May 1875 at Bishopstrow, Wiltshire. His father William Butcher was a master miller and his mother's name Meg.
George followed in his father's trade by becoming a miller himself, presumably in the family business.
When the call went out for young men to join the Wiltshire Imperial Yeomanry, George volunteered and was sent to South Africa with the unit to fight for the empire.
He was slightly wounded at Tafel Kop on 2nd October 1900, but obviously recovered from his injury to continue with his service.
The next chapter of his story is the final sad event of his death from enteric fever at No.4 General Hospital, Mooi River, Natal on 6th February 1901.

The Register of Deceased Soldiers Effects (80724) informs us that his father William received the account of £17 1shilliing and 10pence. George's peacetime profession of miller is also recorded on this document.

Back in South Africa, George is commemorated on the Mooi River memorial monument 12
Aswell as his commemoration at St. Denys' Church, Warminster, a plaque was commissioned which is located on the South Wall of St. Aldleims Church at Bishopstrow, Wiltshire.
It's poignant inscription thus:

"LOVING MEMORY OF SERGEANT GEORGE JAMES BUTCHER 1ST COMPANY WILTSHIRE IMPERIAL YEOMANRY WHO DIED AT MOOI RIVER ON THE 6TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 1901 AGED 25 YEARS FROM A FEVER CONTRACTED ON ACTIVE SERVICE IN SOUTH AFRICA. THIS MEMORIAL ERECTED BY HIS SORROWING PARENTS WILLIAM AND MEG BUTCHER."

Another example of the middle class gentlemen that made up the early Imperial Yeomanry squadrons.

31 PRIVATE THOMAS RUGG


Memorial plaque commemorating Private Thomas Rugg located in St. Mary the Virgin Church, Boyton Manor, Boyton, Salisbury, Wiltshire.

Thomas Rugg was born in quarter 4 of 1878 to parents Thomas Snelgrove Rugg who was a farmer and his mother Emily.
1881 finds the family living at a farmhouse, Boyton, Warminster, Wiltshire. The children of the family were Jonas (6), Elizabeth (4), Thomas (2).
The family also had two boarders Alice Forward (24) and Mary H Harris (17).

Thomas enlisted in the Imperial Yeomanry and saw service with the unit in the South African war, and appears to have not been wounded or taken prisoner as far as I can ascertain from the casualty lists.
However, fate dealt a cruel blow to this young volunteer on what I assume would have been his homeward journey due to the end of his tour of duty or perhaps he was invalided home. He died aboard the ship SS Simla on 4th March 1901 and was buried at sea off Las Palmas.
The Register of Deceased Soldiers Effects (77533) reports that his father Thomas received the final account for Thomas in the sum of £10 8 shillings and 8 pence.

Remembered in perpetuity at the church of St. Denys, Warminster and at St. Mary the Virgin (please see above image and address).
The memorial plaque at St. Mary the Virgin is a rectangular tablet with a stone surround and dedication in black inscribed as follows:
"SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF THOMAS RUGG, IMPERIAL YEOMANRY VOLUNTEER: YOUNGEST SON OF THOMAS SNELGROVE RUGG OF THIS PARISH; WHO BELOVED AND LAMENTED BY ALL, WHILE SERVING HIS KING AND COUNTRY IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN WAR, DIED AT SEA MARCH 4TH 1901, AGED 22."

For service rendered with the 2nd ( Wiltshire) Co. 1st Battalion Imperial Yeomanry, Private Thomas Rugg was awarded posthumously the Queen's South Africa medal with clasps Cape Colony, Wittebergen and South Africa 1901.

The war in South Africa had claimed another son of middle England.

Last week I was working in the Warminster area and decided to visit St. Aldhelms church at Bishopstrow to attempt to view the memorial to George James Butcher.
Unfortunately, the church was locked up and apparently only open infrequently for services.
So, a couple of pics of the outside of the church is the best I can do for the moment!






Working over there next year, but if any forum member happens to be in the area maybe you could have better luck than me and get a snap of the memorial plaque if indeed it still exists!