I recently acquired the following medal. Unfortunately, the full identity of the recipient is still unknown to me and I am hoping that some bright spark will be able to help me to solve this riddle.
Single – QSA one bar Cape Colony: (1728 Private G.H. Waite, D.E.O.V.R.) Nearly Extremely Fine.
Private G.T. Waite of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Volunteer Rifles is recorded as having “Died of Disease” at the Orange River on 23rd May 1900.
Neil Orpen in his well known Regimental history records that 7 members of The Dukes were killed or died of wounds during the War, including most famously their Commanding Officer Lt. Colonel William Alfred Spence V.D. late Middlesex Regt at Faber’s Put on 30 May 1900 whereas 38 of their number died or disease. These being in addition to a number of casualties of those who joined Kitchener’s Horse.
The relevant QSA medal records that this medal was issued on 17 October 1902, a marginal note adding “Died. De Aar Hospital”.
Unfortunately, I have not, as yet, been able to determine his first names.
Familysearch have published two documents relating to his death online.
The first form detailing “Information of a Death: Act No 7 of 1894” provides the following details but unfortunately only records his initials.
He was twenty four years old and died whilst on active service as a Private in the D.E.O.V.R. Interestingly the cause of his death is recorded as “Toxic Mania”, the duration of his illness being 3 days. The “Medical Man” noted on this form was Surgeon Major Grenville Edwin Moffet, a seasoned career R.A.M.C. medical doctor, the intended place of his burial being the Cemetery: Orange River Station. The informant, presumably the individual who provided the information and signed this form was E. Edser, his qualification being recorded as “Sergeant R.A.M.C. Adult inmate” Stationary Military Hospital Orange River Station. His death was registered by John F de Nel the Deputy Registrar for the District of Hope Town on 11 August 1900. Edmund Edser was born c1872 and was also a long serving member of the R.A.M.C. rising to the rank of Sergeant Major. Like so many he was back in uniform during the Great War being appointed Hon. Lieutenant and Quartermaster. He ended the War as an Honorary Major, was Mentioned in Despatches and was awarded the O.B.E. to go with his two clasp QSA and Edward Army Long Service medal.
The second document was signed by Civil Surgeon W.G. Sutherland c/c Hospital Orange River on 16 November 1900. This Death Notice simply records his details as Pte G.H. Waite, D.E.O.V. Rifles, his date of death as 23 May 1900 at the Stationary Hospital Orange River. Interestingly Civil Surgeon William George Sutherland is listed on three separate QSA medal rolls however in each instance the relevant entry is marked “No Medal” but unfortunately an additional note as shown on the Ancestry copies of these medal rolls is too faint to decipher. He was born in 1866 and is recorded as serving at the Orange River from 6 October 1900. Perhaps the reason for him missing out on the award of the QSA medal was the death of his sixty eight year old widowed father, William Sutherland, also a medical Doctor back home in England on 11 December 1900. The 1901 English Census records him practicing medicine in Covent Garden in the City of Westminster.
I would presume that Private Waite was with his unit at Matjesfontein in April and early May 1900 and that he was a member of the force which was ordered to join Lieutenant General Charles Warren to clear the Boers and rebel forces from the vast expanse of open country to the south west of Kimberley. Records reflect that his battalion was ordered to join Warren’s force and it was presumably soon after that he was taken ill while in the vicinity of Douglas.
Unfortunately, my initial researches have not revealed his full name. Several possibilities crop up on Ancestry and I have even thought of looking through some of the Waite probate documents available on Familysearch but that is a fairly long shot. I am hoping that someone has access to the Regimental attestation forms or can conjure up some other bright ideas to reveal his full name. Like so many others who served he deserves to be remembered.
RobM
