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2851 PRIVATE A. LAMMAS

As usual, the attestation papers for deceased men of the Worcestershire Regiment no longer exist. Our only hope of researching these casualties is by searching the Census records and local newspapers and journals.
This is certainly the case for Private Lammas.

From the "Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Redditch Weekly Messenger," dated Saturday March,10th, 1900; page 8:

"PORTRAITS OF LOCAL MEN"



PRIVATE A. LAMMAS, 2ND WORCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT "

"This man, who is the son of Mr. W. Lammas, Willow Gardens, Sidemoor, Bromsgrove, was a Reservist who was called up to join his regiment on December 12th, and he sailed for the Cape a little later in the month. He was killed in the action at Rensburg, on February 12th. Our portrait is from a photograph taken some time ago. Private Lammas passed into the Reserve. It may be added that a brother of Private Lammas died while serving in the Army in India."

Private Lammas was interred with his comrades at Colesberg Military Cemetery.

He was entitled to the Queen's South Africa medal with the single clasp Cape Colony.

I do recall seeing his QSA in an old auction catalogue, so therefore remains extant.

2851 PRIVATE A. LAMMAS.

A FURTHER TRAGIC TWIST

The further you investigate an individual involved in the conflict you very often uncover other backstories associated with them.
Here is such a case.

From the "Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Redditch Weekly Messenger," dated January 5th, 2901:
"DEATH OF A SIDEMOOR MAN"
"4313 Private E. Harrison, whose death from enteric fever, at Reitfontein, on Christmas Eve, was reported last week, is a Sidemoor man. He was in the Militia Reserve, and was drafted out to South Africa last Easter, being posted to the 2nd Worcestershire Regiment. Private Harrison was 25 years of age, and he leaves a widow and four children. Two of the children cannot walk, one being born since the deceased left for the front. Mrs. Harrison's experience has been an exceptionally sad one. In February her brother, Private A. Lammas, of the 2nd Worcesters was killed in action at Slingersfontein; and now her soldier-husband is dead, she is left a widow with a family of young children whose ages range from 7 months to 5 years."

Some families always bear more than their fair share of sacrifice in times of war....

Steve - you wrote above "Some families always bear more than their fair share of sacrifice in times of war...." in this case even more true than you realised.

Sarah Jane Harrison (nee Lammas) married again two years after Ernest's death to another Bromsgrove man Frederick Troth. Frederick served in the Worcester Regiment in the Great War and on 2nd March 1915 died in France from enteric fever!

Sarah was baptised in Bromsgrove on the same day as two of her older brothers Thomas & Arthur. She and Arthur can be found at the top of page 56 of the baptism register:



Arthur's birth was registered in Bromsgrove in the first quarter of 1874 and the 1891 Census found him, aged 18, already a soldier serving in the Worcestershire Regiment and residing in their barracks at Norton Juxta just outside Worcester.

Here is a clearer copy of his caricature as it appeared in the Bromsgrove & Droitwich Messenger of 10 March 1900:

David,
Thank you for adding to this poor fellow's thread.
The extended family really were unlucky in times of war!

Steve,

A list of the casualties from Slingersfontein. 12 February 1900

Adams J 4134 Private Missing in action
Allen J 3556 Lance Corporal Killed in action
Benitt 4887 Private Wounded
Bratt W 2875 Private Prisoner
Brazier A 3777 Private Prisoner
Buckle W 4502 Private Wounded
Calfe F 4295 Private Wounded
Carr M R Lieutenant Wounded
Carrington J 4203 Private Killed in action
Carter F 3334 Private Wounded
Carter W E 4026 Sergeant Killed in action
Cocklan M 4126 Private Wounded
Coingham C Lieutenant Colonel Killed in action
Cole H 4445 Private Prisoner
Cooling J 3554 Private Wounded
Coughtrey F 4397 Private Wounded
Crumpton A 2834 Private Prisoner
Danks E 3086 Private Killed in action
Davey S 4444 Private Prisoner
Deverill F 4672 Private Killed in action
Donnelly W 4450 Private Wounded
Donovan A 4176 Sergeant Wounded
Dyer H 3688 Private Wounded
Earle C 4772 Private Missing in action
Fielder W 4326 Private Wounded
Finch W 4463 Private Wounded
Gilks J 4478 Private Missing in action
Green G 2863 Private Wounded
Hanley F 4133 Private Missing in action
Jeffs H 3770 Private Prisoner
Jeffs T 2911 Lance Corporal Wounded
Jobson G 4586 Lance Corporal Missing in action
Johnson W 4600 Private Missing in action
Jones F 4830 Private Wounded
Knight G 4022 Corporal Wounded
Lammas A 2851 Private Killed in action
Marshall C 4627 Private Wounded
Mason W 4292 Private Killed in action
McNaughton J 3782 Private Killed in action
Meadons T 4141 Private Missing in action
Miles R 3550 Private Missing in action
Moore A 3090 Private Wounded
Morris J 2803 Private Killed in action
Nash H 3198 Corporal Wounded
Parker A 4093 Private Killed in action
Parton J 3213 Private Killed in action
Pimm W 4918 Private Killed in action
Pitt T 4603 Private Wounded
Pratt G 3961 Private Wounded
Pritchard J 4232 Corporal Killed in action
Roberts J 5002 Private Wounded
Ruxton W F H Lieutenant Wounded
Sheen W 4152 Private Wounded
Stevens C 3080 Private Wounded
Stubbs E 3724 Private Prisoner
Styles A B 4274 Lance Corporal Prisoner
Turley A 4565 Private Killed in action
Waldron W 2908 Private Wounded
Walker J 4146 Private Wounded
Ward J 3563 Private Wounded
Watkins E 2558 Sergeant Killed in action
Weissner W 3935 Private Killed in action
Wheeler O 4383 Private Prisoner
White H 4937 Private Wounded
Wood F R 2303 Sergeant Killed in action

David I would be very interested in your source for the above list which, in my humble opinion, contains some errors. An example: 2834 A Crumpton is listed on the memorial that still stands on top of Worcester Hill as amongst those either killed in action or died of wounds in "defending this position" on 12 February1900. In the first newspaper casualty reports he was not listed but later he was listed as a severely wounded prisoner as shown below in the Bromsgrove & Droitwich Messenger of 24 February 1900. He also has "Deceased" against his name on the battalion medal roll.