TOPIC:

My Gt Grandfather was Henry Wilson (Service number 30593)
Rank Private (Trooper) , Regiment 60 (North Irish Horse) Company 17 Battalion Imperial Yeomanry. I understand, through inherited family'wisdom' that he drowned whilst 'trying to save a native', during the Boer War. I have discovered that he did down in the Wilge Rive on 1 April, 1902. I would like to know what were the circumstances surrounding his death, also any details of his parents, ancestry. He was born in Darlington, Co Durham, and his father's name was Walter (on his marriage certificate). He signed up in Belfast, but his wife was living in Dublin. Any help gratefully appreciated.
Apparently there is more info in 'In Memoriam' by S.Watt. If anyone has a copy and can look him up that would be wonderful. Thanks, Doug

Doug - Welcome to the forum,

His attestation papers (2 pages), service records (2), medal rolls (2) & Soldier's Effects (1) can all be found on Ancestry - if you send me a private message with your email address happy to download them and forward.

Yes he did drown at Wilge River on 1st April 1902. Normally attestation papers & service records died with the man but for some reason not so for members of the IY.

Regards, David.

Doug,

I have looked him up in Watt. Unfortunately there is no additional information beyond what you already have.

I notice that a bronze Royal Humane Society Medal was awarded to a guide in the Field Intelligence Department for saving the life of a native in the Wilge River just two days before your great grandfather drowned –
Guide Montague CLIFFORD (Bronze; Wilge River, Orange River Colony, 30/03/1902)
Previously served as 2319 Private Montague Clifford, Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry.
"On the 30th March 1902, a Kaffir, in attempting to cross the Wilge River, Orange River Colony, was with his horse swept away by the strong current. Clifford, at great risk, went in and, with difficulty, succeeded in saving him".

Could this relate to the same event?



Below is the casualty report published in the press at the time (1 May 1902)



Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, 1 May 1902

..

Doug - Some more info to be going on with regarding your ggf:

When he attested in Belfast on 16th February 1901 he was 26 years old and 5ft 6inches tall (average height for the time).

He was working as a Stone Mason and had completed six years of an apprenticeship to Fisher & Sons of Halifax, Yorkshire.

He agreed to allot one third of his pay to his wife who was living at 15 Goldsmith Street, Dublin. Details of his 1898 wedding are given and they had a daughter Mona born on 3rd September 1900.

He embarked for SA on 2nd March 1901. He was posthumously awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal with the 3 state clasps – Cape Colony, Orange Free State & Transvaal. I would have thought he qualified for the two date clasps as well and I might have overlooked the medal roll covering these.

Below the medal roll giving details about death – it was drawn up in Dublin on 11th March 1903 but I have cut the bottom off to allow posting – your ggf is bottom of the ones shown.

Doug

For your records.
Your G G Grandfather was entitled to the 2 QSA medal clasps.



Dave......